BREAKING IN GWINNETT!! “More Suspicious Activity By Snellville Councilman Sabbagh

Oct. 30, 2012 - PRLog -- By Kenneth Stepp

"First he threatened and lied to members of the Marietta City Council. Now it appears he’s trying to pull a fast one on the city of Snellville."

A few months ago, city councilman Mike Sabbagh proposed that the city install a separate WiFi network to provide internet access for visitors to city hall and town green. Shortly after that, Mayor Kelly Kautz put the proposal on the council’s “Consent Agenda”. That’s troubling because unless a council member asks for a specific item to be removed from the Consent Agenda, it is considered to be approved unanimously.

It appears that’s what Kautz and her ally Sabbagh were counting on. The WiFi system had not been competitively bid, yet they apparently thought they could slide the proposal past other council members by stating that a competitive bid wasn’t required or needed. When council members began asking questions, Sabbagh tried to use his technical background to push the plan through. Video of a council meeting shows Sabbagh stating, “If I might mayor, this is along the line of business I’m in. The roughly $9,000 for this service for WiFi is pretty inexpensive, pretty inexpensive.”

Sabbagh claims to be an electronic engineer employed by the FAA, and boasts about that out almost every opportunity. But if Sabbagh is the electronics expert he claims to be, how does he explain the fact that the city manager has been able to obtain quotations for the WiFi installation that are approximately $2,000?

Either Sabbagh does not have the knowledge he says he does, or he had something to gain by convincing the council to spend $9,000 for something that could be purchased for about $2,000.

Based on a number of Sabbagh’s other activities, including his false statements to the Marietta council, we suspect the latter reason. Gwinnett Ethics is currently compiling information for a possible ethics complaint regarding Sabbagh’s appearance in Marietta. We’re also looking into his suspicious actions in connection with Snellville’s intention to install a new WiFi system. There seems to be a pattern developing here.

         In this economy, we do not need inept or dishonest leaders.

         Send tips or info to info@gwinnettethics.org