After just eight months on the job, Jarvis Sims has resigned under fire as Greensboro city manager. The Greensboro City Council voted 3-2 to accept his resignation at a special meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Almost since he began, Sims was criticized for not being in his office and being unavailable to talk to residents, council members, and staff. Instead, according to City Attorney Adam Nelson, Sims was working from home and expected to return soon.
According to the severance agreement provided to the Lake Oconee News, Sims resigned on Dec. 19. Councilmembers Cynthia Rivers and Jontavius Smith voted against accepting the resignation. Neither would comment Tuesday on their decisions.
Earlier in December, Smith tried to get a city council vote on his motion to ask Sims to resign. It was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem David Neal, but it was ruled out of order by Mayor Corey Willaims. Tuesday, Neal joined councilmembers Morris Miller and Chris Moore in supporting acceptance of the terms of Sims’ resignation.
Sims’ salary has been $130,000.
Under the agreement, he will work until Jan. 31 to tie up loose ends and will get $65,000 in severance pay.
Neal told the Lake Oconee News that he supported the severance agreement.
“We’ve got a lot of things going on, a lot of issues to address,” Neal said. “It’s a hands-on job. I’d like to see the next city manager here daily. I’d like to see him out in the community, active with citizens.”
Sims’ employment record has been choppy in recent years. Before Greensboro, he served for a year as interim county manager in Newton County for one year.
Starting in 2018, he worked in the Augusta-Richmond County government as deputy city manager, then interim city manager.
On April 1, 2021, he was terminated from the Augusta job when a new city manager was hired.
However, he subsequently filed legal action against the city-county government for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Court documents state that Sims was diagnosed in 1998 with chronic kidney disease and in 2020 was told by his doctor it had become stage 5. Sims’ legal filing said his doctor advised him that he needed to take time off to prepare for a kidney transplant. It’s unclear if he has had the transplant.
Sims has either said he had no comment or not responded to emailed questions.
In the severance agreement with Greensboro, Sims specifically waives his right to sue the city for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Neal says the city will now work with the Georgia Municipal Association to find a new city manager.