THOMASVILLE — An Albany attorney representing Thomasville residents concerned about city matters is demanding that disallowed travel expenses be deducted in Thomasville City Council members’ next pay cycle.

Christopher S. Cohilas’ letter to the council and other city officials Monday stated there is no policy authorizing reimbursement, and taxpayers should not have to pay the expenses. 

The demand for repayment should include not only expenditures in violation of the $40 per diem, but expenses that are clearly not allowed under the current policy, the letter stated. Expenses not allowed include alcohol and “in-town dining, which by its very definition means that it could not be associated with any travel,” the attorney wrote.

Also, the letter stated, expenses for non-council members, such as family, should be reimbursed immediately to the city.

“Mayor Greg Hobbs’ statement that he would continue to use a city credit card to pay for expenses for his family flies in the face of Georgia law and literally exemplifies what absolutely is not permissible under good ethics or Georgia law,” Cohilas wrote.

“Hobbs has been recently quoted as stating that the travel policy adopted by the city in 2015 — and which was reviewed in February 2018 — does not apply to council members. His statement is false. … This has been confirmed by the recent report issued as a result of Lanigan & Associates P.C.’s audit of the city’s finances,” the letter stated.

The report further affirms the travel policy is in place, the letter stated, and it limits travel per diem rates to $40. 

“While we understand that Hobbs and Council member David Hufstetler may not like the policy because it seeks to limit their spending within reasonable limits, it remains the city’s policy until such time as the city either rescinds the policy or adopts a new one,” Cohilas wrote. “To the extent that the city takes the position that there is no policy governing travel expenses and reimbursements, then ironically, there is no authority for there to be any reimbursement of any expenses to the city council members for travel.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820