Members of the Milledgeville City Ethics Commission listen to an ethics complaint filed against Mayor Gary L. Thrower by Virginia Knapp during a hearing at City Hall. Members of the city ethics committee include (from left): Dr. Jeff Siler, Patricia Hicks and Irvin E. Griffin. Attorney Tom Richardson, who is helping the ethics commission with legal matters concerning the ethics case, is seen at far right.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A three-member city ethics board ruled Tuesday that Milledgeville Mayor Gary L. Thrower violated the city’s ethics ordinance.

The board convened for nearly three hours in City Council chambers and returned from deliberations to announce the ruling.

Local resident Virginia Lynn Knapp filed the complaint contending that the mayor should have recused himself from discussion and a subsequent vote on two pieces of property up for rezoning at the Jan. 10 City Council public hearing.

The two properties are located at 230 and 240 W. Washington St. — both of which will be renovated and made into residences for a total of 23 college students in the city’s historic district.

The mayor co-owns property at 301 S. Wilkinson St., which intersects with South Washington Street and “is on the very same block of the two historic homes impacted by his tie-breaking vote,” according to Knapp.

“A violation of the ethics ordinance has taken place,” said Patricia Hicks, who serves as chairwoman of the city’s ethics board. “Based on the findings, the committee will be submitting our findings to the city council for their recommendation.”

The motion was seconded by ethics board member Dr. Jeff Siler. When a vote was called, the third member of the panel, Irvin E. Griffin, supported Hicks and Siler.

Hicks said that the findings by her and her colleagues were based entirely on the city’s ethics ordinance.

City Council members are expected to receive the findings of the ethics board in writing sometime in next few days, Hicks said.

“Basically, we will be sharing with them what areas of the ordinance we found that was in violation,” Hicks said. “The ordinance, itself, outlines some of the disciplinary actions that they will decide upon. They can either take such action or not take any. The only thing we have to do is submit our findings as having been substantiated and report our findings to City Council.”

Immediately after the decision was rendered, Mayor Thrower talked with reporters.

“I still stand behind my decision,” Thrower said, referring to the Jan. 10 city council meeting where he broke a 3-3 tie among council members that granted local businessman Richard Sims’ request so that he could develop two properties he owns from single-family dwellings to multi-group residences for college students. “It was the right decision. I don’t think there was any conflict (of interest). The ordinance clearly states that I had to have a substantial interest in the property being voted on, and I had zero interest.”

Thrower, who was represented by defense attorneys John Underwood and J. Patrick O’Brien, said he felt it should have been an open and shut case.

“But it’s part of the process and we will deal with it and move on,” Thrower said.

He and his attorneys have not decided whether or not they will appeal the ethics case and findings to Superior Court.

Knapp, meanwhile, who presented her complaint without representation of legal counsel, said it was about doing the right thing and not going against Thrower just because of the position he holds in city government.

“He’s a public official; he’s my mayor and I voted for him,” Knapp said. “I’m going to hold him to the standards that any public official or any mayor should be held to. I felt what happened was wrong. The ethics board agrees with me. They’ve made their judgment in my favor. It’s not necessarily a joyous occasion, but it’s how I see right verses wrong.”