City Council Releases Interim Report on Mayor Bodker

The Johns Creek City Council [Monday night] released a 28-page interim report on the investigation of Mayor Mike Bodker on City Charter, ethics code, and state or federal laws violations. The report was prepared by the Decatur law firm of Morton, Wilson & Downs with attorneys Robert Wilson and Keri P. Ware handling the 5-month long investigation. 

The reasoning for the release of an “interim report” is explained, as follows:  “In light of the Mayor’s efforts to delay this investigation, his failure to produce the documents he committed to produce, and his misleading and incomplete statements to the public, we believe it appropriate to report to the Council the status of our inquiry.” 

Report conclusions:

·        Mayor Bodker accepted a benefit from a developer, and he had a conflict of interest when he voted on at least one rezoning matter for that developer when it came before City Council.

·        Mayor Bodker violated the Executive Session Confidentiality by disclosing a landowner details about an executive session in which the Council was discussing the potential purchase of land from that landowners. 

·        Mayor Bodker acted contrary to the directive of Council and exceeded his authority as Mayor in contacting the mayor of a neighboring city concerning matters that the Council had unanimously agreed (including the Mayor himself) to keep confidential during an executive session over potential litigation. 

Wilson and Ware said 40 people were interviewed during the investigation, including the mayor, city council, former council members, city staff, and other witnesses outside City government.

Report highlights:

·        “The Mayor has sought to delay this investigation and refused to produce certain documents relevant to it, which has impeded the completion of our work.”  

·        “Questions remain as to other allegations against Mayor Bodker, which cannot be definitively answered without the requested documents.” 

·        “The Mayor’s failure to produce the very documents that he contends will clear him of any wrongdoing raises serious questions about those documents and the implication that the documents would actually be harmful to the Mayor.”