By WTOC Staff| January 26, 2021 at 4:19 PM EST - Updated January 27 at 12:11 AM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Chatham Area Transit Board of Directors voted Tuesday to fire the new CEO.
By a 6-3 vote, CAT Executive Director and CEO Bacarra Mauldin was relieved of her duties effective immediately.
Mauldin was hired as the organization’s new CEO in June of 2020. She joined CAT from the New Orleans RTA.
CAT Board Chairman Deidrick Cody said he could not provide more details surrounding Mauldin’s removal because the issue is a personnel matter.
Board members WTOC spoke with say the board’s relationship with Mauldin had been discussed before. However, Vice Chairman Clinton Edminster says there was no reason given for her firing and he believes this action will have consequences for several in the community.
“I’m disappointed that we can’t recognize success and leadership when it comes to our town and I just hope we can really find it within ourselves to reconcile with what we’ve done and figure out a way to move forward,” said Edminster.
“When you’re dealing with a board and the votes are not on your end, the majority of the vote went the other way and they had a consensus of what they felt should happen for CAT. I’m just hoping that we didn’t allow a diamond to run away because of personal feelings,” said Alderman Detric Leggett.
Both Edminster and Leggett voted against removing Mauldin.
Chief Administrative Officer David Stearns was appointed by the board to serve as the interim CEO on a temporary basis. According to a news release from CAT, the board plans to meet again this week to appoint a long-term replacement.
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