Etowah Commission terminates Simms contract

Patrick Simms

The Etowah County Commission voted Tuesday to terminate the contract of Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Simms, charged in February with sex abuse of a child in Chambers County.

Simms will be paid three months' compensation under the terms of his contract. That will be a little more than $27,500. He also will be paid any accrued vacation and sick time, but his health insurance will end immediately.

Simms was charged after Chambers County authorities say he allegedly abused a child younger than 12 on Feb. 8. The incident was reported to authorities by the child's mother and occurred while Simms was driving in the county.

Under the terms of Simms' contract, it can be terminated after a conviction without other stipulations.

Simms has continued to receive salary and benefits according to the terms of his contract since he was placed on leave.

His contract was renewed in July 2013 and expires in July 2016.

According to his contract, the county can terminate the agreement without cause by putting together a lump-sum cash settlement equal to three months' salary.