Judge OKs CAT board shakeup, new members take seats – Savannah Agenda

By Eric Curl

July 5, 2025 – Chatham Area Transit has a new board, with some new and familiar faces, following a Chatham County judge’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Georgia House Bill 756, and clearing the way for board’s reorganization. Meanwhile, the fiscal-year budget, which was to start on July 1, still needs to be adopted, and the transit agency is without a permanent CEO, although a recently removed interim leader has been re-appointed to the position for the time being.

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley ruled on Wednesday that six individual CAT members and Chatham County lacked legal standing to contest the law, which dissolves the 9-member board and establishes a new 11-member board with revised appointment powers.

The complaint alleged that the state legislation amounted to an unconstitutional bill of attainder by removing the board members without caused, and conflicted with state laws governing the transit agency.

However, the court found that the board members had no constitutional right to continue serving since the General Assembly can legally dissolve or restructure local authorities it created. In addition, the legislation does not single out individuals for punishment, as the lawsuit claims, but instead restructures the public board for broader regional representation, while allowing for the former board members to be reappointed. Also, the laws continues to ensure that a majority of the board members are appointed by city and county representatives, as required by state law.

The judge’s ruling came on the same day that the newly formed board was appointed. At the meeting on Wednesday, the new board elected Savannah Alderman Detric Leggett as chairman and Savannah Convention Center General Manager Kelvin Moore as vice-chairman, according to a press release. Other members include Tourism Leadership Council President & CEO Michael Owens, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bert Brantly, and former CAT CEO Faye DiMassimo, who now serves as Savannah’s chief of planning and development.

Pending board appointees include two Chatham County commissioners and one county resident, according to the press release.

The former CAT members that brought the lawsuit are Bobby Lockett, Anthony Noha, Marsha Buford, John Taylor, Tabitha Odell and Gertrude Robinson – none of whom have yet to be reappointed to the new board.

Meanwhile, the new board re-appointed Stephanie Cutter to serve as the interim Executive Director/CEO after the previous board removed her from the position last month. (Leggett cast the sole opposition vote to Cutter’s removal, while two board members, Mary Snowden and Marsha Buford, were absent.)

The new board now takes on the task of finding CAT a permanent CEO/Executive director, which was left vacant following DiMassimo’s resignation about one year ago.

In addition, the board has to adopt a budget for the 2026 fiscal year. which was supposed to start on July 1. The previous board failed to pass the budget and later approved a resolution based on 2025 expenditures to continue the transit agency’s operations as a temporary measure.

The new board is planning to schedule a retreat to review the FY 2026 budget. The board’s first regular meeting is scheduled for July 29.