Watkins resigns as Decatur youth services director

Decatur Youth Services Director Brandon Watkins has resigned after being placed on paid leave. He confirmed his resignation on Monday and denied being suspended but noted that he did not understand the reasons for his leave. Watkins stated he plans to continue helping young people in Decatur, where he grew up, while seeking another job. Mayor Tab Bowling was informed of Watkins' resignation on Friday but did not disclose the reasons for the paid leave. Retired DYS Director Bruce Jones will temporarily lead the program until a new director is hired. Jones previously filled in for Watkins while he was on leave in February. Watkins was appointed as DYS director in 2020 after a long and controversial search. In the past year, he faced issues with communication and attendance, which led to a letter from the mayor addressing his performance. After meeting with the mayor last May, Watkins believed they had resolved their differences. With Watkins’ departure, the city now has four open director positions, including the recently vacated planning director role. The City Council plans to conduct an in-house search for a replacement, and if necessary, might hire a search firm for broader outreach. The council recently spent $40,000 to find candidates for the planning director position.