Fort Oglethorpe City Attorney Ron Goulart will make $75,000 this year under a contract the council approved Tuesday.

Goulart said an ongoing civil case involving former city employee Glenda Nunnally’s allegations of false imprisonment and sexual harassment is one reason he asked for a 50 percent increase in salary. He made $50,000 last year.

The council approved the new contract with opposition from Councilman Richard Egeland, who earlier in the meeting moved to cancel a contract for Goulart to provide court services until a method of providing accountability was put in place.

Until Tuesday, Goulart was working for $50,000 a year providing legal advice to the city and attending meetings. That contract allowed him to bill the city an additional $85 an hour for other services, such as court representation and lawsuit defense.

However, Goulart said he had never charged the city an hourly fee because he preferred to do business without keeping tabs on his time. In December, Mayor Judd Burkhart got tentative council approval for an additional $25,000 contract for Goulart to provide court representation and cover any other issues the city asks him to handle.

The matter was tabled in December. On Tuesday, Egeland moved to cancel the contract but only Councilman Harold Silcox voted in favor with him.

Egeland said the council shouldn’t have a contract without more accountability.

“I have no idea what he’s doing for $25,000,” Egeland said.

“Have you asked Ron Goulart something that he hasn’t told you?” Burkhart asked.

Egeland didn’t answer the mayor, but did say the council should be given more information on what Goulart does for the additional money. Goulart said he doesn’t regularly make formal reports to the council, but communicates with the city in meetings, phone calls and through memos as necessary.

“I have made a good faith effort to keep Mr. Egeland informed on anything he’s inquired about,” Goulart said, adding that Egeland rarely uses his services. He said he spends 25 to 30 hours a week working for the city.

Councilman Steve Brandon said he supports accountability measures but opposed canceling the extended legal services with Goulart.

“It was my understanding that we wanted to get together and discuss what the city attorney does (before renewing or letting the contract lapse),” he said.

The council made no other changes to Goulart’s contract.

Egeland won’t run

Egeland’s seat is up for election in November, but he said he won’t run for a second term, partly because of his disappointment in matters like this one.

He left the meeting Tuesday night during the middle of a closed session in which he said the council was “grilling the city manager” regarding an employee he replaced.

Two council members used Goulart’s legal services in an attempt to begin the process to fire City Manager Jim Dinley in October; Egeland said he believed the council and mayor played favorites with who they hold accountable and treat favorably. He said Goulart was a favorite and Dinley was done “dirty.”

Egeland said Fort Oglethorpe citizens are not involved enough in city government and he wishes they would stand against corrupt politics.

“The people of this city are gutless,” he said. “The only times they’re up in arms is if you raise taxes or the water bill.”

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