The Anderson County Commission decided to table any discussion about how the county handled sexual harassment allegations against Circuit Court Clerk Williams Jones.
At least seven female employees have complained about him to the county's human resources department.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank requested having an independent counsel look into how the county handled the allegations, but commissioners voted 15-1 during their meeting Monday night in favor of tabling discussion on the mayor's request.
Commissioner Jerry White was the lone commissioner who voted to discuss the allegations.
"I would like to know who knew what, and when," White said. "And I think that was what the public was looking for us to do tonight."
"I think we could've talked about why we didn't move forward on this beforehand," White said. "A lot of folks are thinking this is strictly political, which it's not."
Instead, the commissioners went with the legal advice from the lawyer representing the county.
Commissioner Tim Isbel read a letter from the lawyer to the commissioners, saying, "I believe the best practice is for county officials to refrain from comment, and I respectfully request you do so."
Mayor Frank tried to challenge the decision, but commissioners decided not to bring the motion back.
"The employees, the taxpayers, the departments that are over these policies, should all know how this should proceed," Frank said.
Frank wants to know how and why complainant Gail Harness was put on paid administrative leave.
She also wants to know why allegations initially brought in September didn't come before the commissioners until February.
"The law director has the ability to call commission into an executive session," Frank said. "In August, given the nature of this complaint, the gravity of this complaint, I think commission and the county mayor's office should've been made aware of the discussion."
White said Monday's move essentially kills any more public discussion about the dispute.
"We're probably not going to talk about it anymore until the special investigator asks us to," White said.
The next commission meeting is April 16.
Isbell said he wants to be transparent, and assured people at the meeting he and the commission are doing everything they can to be honest.