HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — The Stockbridge city council has taken steps to oust one of its members.
The community says the political infighting isn't getting the city anywhere.
The city manager says there is an allegation of misconduct but was short on details. Meanwhile, community members said what is happening at City Hall is hurting the city.
Stockbridge City Councilman Rich Steinberg wanted the investigation into his own conduct to be discussed publicly.
But, Monday night, the council voted to head into a closed executive session.
"I move that the law firm of Wilson, Morton and Downs file a charge pursuant to section 2.17 of the charter against Councilman Steinberg," someone said in the session.
That motion set the stage for the council to kick Steinberg out of office.
"Yes it concerns me that all of this was presented in private and it's not been made public and I’ve not been provided, you know three days later, with a copy of any of the investigative report of anything else," Steinberg’s attorney, Chris Balch, said.
Balch says the allegations against his client are not criminal but he believes the city hired an outside firm to look into emails the councilman sent regarding city business.
Stockbridge residents say the political infighting is just the latest in a series of battles they say are holding the city back and creating a financial strain on taxpayer money.
"People would rather see the money spent out into the city," Tavaras Powell said.
The Stockbridge city manager would only say they are looking at Steinberg’s "alleged inappropriate conduct" and "the allegations stem from an investigation which was authorized and voted on unanimously by the full council, in July of 2014."
“It's embarrassing to see them go through this,” Powell said.
The council will schedule an investigative hearing to discuss the findings of this civil inquiry.
The city manager told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh the city has yet to determine if the investigative hearing must be held publicly or if it should be conducted in executive session.