Chance takes stand in appeal of firing

CUMMING - Former Forsyth County Planning Director Jeff Chance has told his side of the story as a civil service board hearing into his firing continues.

Chance has said all along that his dismissal was politically motivated and he said that under oath Monday.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Chance told the Forsyth County Civil Service Board that a zoning dispute involving a Cumming auto salvage business was behind his firing not, as the county has alleged, misuse of his county e-mail account and other policy violations.

Chance, who was fired in August, testified he was under pressure from members of the planning commission and county commission to approve a zoning amendment that would favor the firm.

Chance singled-out County Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse as one of those who urged him to sign-off on the zoning change. But Laughinghouse took the stand Monday and denied pressuring Chance on the matter.

Chance did admit to some of the e-mail allegations but said he did not misuse his county e-mail account to a degree that warranted his firing.