By Beth Alston

AMERICUS — The Americus Mayor and City Council holds a called meeting at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 in the council chambers to discuss the hiring of a city manager. Mayor and council announced on Feb. 8 that they had chosen a finalist to fill the position — Charles L. Coney, former city manager of Hampton, and former assistant city manager of Macon-Bibb County consolidated government.
According to published reports, Coney was fired from his position in Hampton in November 2018, for various offenses, among them “failure to provide a budget on time, not listening to members of the public and not listening to the City Council,” according to city officials. The report, published in the Henry Herald on Feb. 14, says that Conley hired Albany attorney Maurice King Jr. who sent notice to the city of Hampton of Coney’s intent to sue “for damages arising from violations of his state and federal constitutional rights.” The notice also alleges racial discrimination, harassment, libel and violation of Georgia’s Open Meetings and Records laws, and more.
In February 2018, Coney sued Macon-Bibb County, claiming he was passed over for a promotion due to his race, according to a story reported in the Macon Telegraph.
According to information provided by the City of Americus, Coney has lived across the United States working with Arby’s Inc., MCI Telecommunications, Cotelligent, and REXAM and consulting experiences with Coca-Cola, Pepsi- Cola, Home Depot, City of Atlanta, City of Denver, City of Fitzgerald, Macon-Bibb County, City of Hampton, and many other governments.
Coney is a summa cum laude master of business administration graduate from Keller University with a concentration in project management and human resources. He earned his bachelor of science in technical management from DeVry University, studied industrial engineering at Mercer University, and graduated with an associate of science in engineering technology from Middle Georgia College. Additionally, he has certifications from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at The University of Georgia and disaster and crisis management from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He has membership and/or service with various professional organizations.