City officials in Brookhaven withheld information in public disclosures about an employee’s complaint accusing former Mayor Max Davis of sexual harassment, according to the Brookhaven Post and ajc.com.
Citing city documents released under the state Open Records Act, the Post said a city employee complained that in February Davis sprayed her buttocks with an aerosol and the employee considered the incident to be sexual harassment.
On May 13, a city spokeswoman confirmed a complaint of sexual harassment had been made regarding the incident and was being investigated.
But that same day, Davis apologized publicly to two employees who were present during the incident and said “the action was innocent and was not intended to bring discomfort.”
Also that day, City Attorney Tom Kurrie released a statement denying an investigation of sexual harassment was being conducted and said there was no claim of sexual harassment against the mayor.
On June 15, ajc.com and The Brookhaven Post published newly released city memorandum from Davis and City Manager Marie Garrett that revealed more information about the incident, including an statement by Garrett that “I believe that the mayor took a liberty and crossed the line doing something I consider to be sexual harassment.”
Davis, Brookhaven’s founding mayor, resigned the post to run for the District 80 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. Members of Brookhaven City Council elected District 1 Councilwoman Rebecca Chase Williams to complete his term.