CFO Spends 45 Minutes a Day Reading Celebrity News

Blue Ridge, Ga – Internet history showcased Fannin CFO spends 45 minutes a day using county computer for personal use, including celebrity news and job searches.

After CFO Gazaway’s entanglement in the juror Facebook selfie controversy that cost the county $7,100, lost a week of criminal court, and pushed back a child rape and aggravated assault case, she was noticeably absent from the August 13 board of commissioners’ meeting.

Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson and Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson called for an executive session, which appeared to be about Gazaway. However, that can’t be confirmed, but it did relate to personnel matters.

After exiting the executive session, Chairman Stan Helton and Johnson seemed to be upset.

The commissioners took no action concerning personnel matters during that executive session. To make a motion for personnel matters, like a dismissal, the county attorney provides the commissioners with proper wording to absolve the county of any wrongdoing. The executive session serves as a place to make these requests. Fannin County’s attorney is hired by the chairman to serve at his/her pleasure.

When asked about Gazaway’s absence, Helton responded that she had something else to do that night.

Helton also praised Gazaway’s ability to perform her job, “Mrs. Gazaway is a highly competent CFO. She works very hard for the county. She made a mistake like we all do from time to time, and I am ready to move forward.”

Helton did confirm that he and Gazaway had a serious conversation about her behavior on social media and ensures it will not happen again. The county didn’t add anything to Gazaway’s personnel file concerning the incident.

When reached for comment, Johnson stated, “My confidence in the CFO was at the bare minimum before the [Facebook incident]. Gazaway should not be posting to social media during work.”

Gazaway’s county computer internet history confirmed that she wasn’t using the county computer to check her social media accounts.

However, the history did show Gazaway spending an average of 35 to 45 minutes a day researching celebrity gossip articles and other finance director jobs.

Internet history pulled from multiple days established this trend for Gazaway. She arrives at work at 7 a.m. and leaves around 5 p.m. Her internet history does provide work-related searches.

However, it deviates throughout the day to celebrity news articles such as “Pink dyes daughter’s hair pink in support of Jessica Simpson,” “Which celebrity children look like their parents,” or “Brie Larson’s Love Life.”

When asked if regularly researching entertainment articles was appropriate for employees during the workday, Helton said it was not appropriate.

“[Gazaway] is here at 7 a.m. or earlier until 5 p.m. and is entitled to breaks. I am sure that she will be more careful in the future,” stated Helton.

As for the job searches, Helton explained that Gazaway sometimes likes to research other CFO positions and show the Chairman the pay scale to joke with him about her salary.