MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A complaint filed against Milledgeville Mayor Gary L. Thrower by a local resident contending he violated the city’s ethics ordinance during a Jan. 10 city council public hearing will move forward to the second stage.

The decision was made Monday by the three-member Milledgeville City Ethics Commission.

Patricia Hicks serves as chairwoman of the city’s ethics commission, along with fellow members Dr. Jeff Siler and Irvin E. Griffin.

A date has yet to be set for the second hearing.

During that time, members of the city’s ethics commission will get a chance to hear comments from those wishing to talk about the case on both sides.

Local resident Virginia Knapp filed the complaint.

During Monday’s hearing, which lasted slightly more than an hour, Thrower did not comment. Instead, he allowed his attorney, John Underwood, of Peachtree Corners, to speak on his behalf. Thrower retained Underwood last Thursday to represent him.

Knapp, who was accompanied to the meeting by her husband and three of their four children, pointed out in her complaint that county tax records reveal that Thrower owns or co-owns multiple properties, one of which is located at 301 S. Wilkinson St.

The property is located on the same block as the two properties in the historic district, which are owned by Richard Sims, a local resident and developer. Sims’ properties are located at 230 and 240 W. Washington St.

During a Jan. 10 city council public hearing, Thrower broke a tie council vote that will allow Sims to renovate his two properties and then lease them to college students in the future.

“The area of interest is in the very heart of the Milledgeville historic district, and having a developer purchase numerous historic homes in an area he understands is addressed by a specific/detailed city ordinance (O-1305-006), which does not allow for such uses raises several questions,” Knapp wrote in her complaint.

Sims’ request to provide residences to 23 college students was previously denied by the city’s planning and zoning commission. P&Z board members voted 4-1 on both matters to deny Sims’ requests.

Knapp contends that Thrower’s tie-breaking vote on Jan. 10 sets what she called a precedence, “and has huge implications.”