MEIGS — The Meigs City Council entered executive session Monday following a report by Mayor Cheryl Walters to discuss potential punishment for public works director Charles Wimes but did not reach an agreement.

Walters said Wimes may have violated Georgia Code § 36-37-6 when he allegedly sold two city vehicles Jan. 10 without providing public notice or accepting bids.

The mayor said she spoke Monday with officials at the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office who informed her the statute may have been violated with the transaction but that no criminal penalty is attached to the law.

City attorney Thomas Lehman also spoke with Walters on Monday and advised her that any further action on the matter must be taken by the city council.

“There is no criminal penalty. It was an administrative error, even though it did violate a state statute,” Walters said. “A decision must be made by the city council. That is what I was so advised by the city attorney.”

The city council entered into executive session to discuss the issue but did not reach a decision.

Wimes is alleged to have found a purchaser in Albany for the city-owned vehicles, a 1995 Chevrolet S-10 and a 1997 Ford F-150, and sold them without taking bids for $200 and $300. The money was then deposited into the city’s general fund Jan. 14.

Walters said she was not aware of the sale of the property and that the council had not approved the transaction.

A resident contacted Walters asking why he was unable to bid on the vehicles, alerting her to the transaction.

Walters said she spoke with Wimes about the transaction Monday. The mayor said Wimes stated former police chief Darrell Laster was responsible for the sale.

Laster told Walters that the police department was in no way involved in the sale of public works vehicles and was only responsible for police equipment.

Walters said she spoke with other public works employees as part of her investigation and had not yet completed all of her questioning.