Hampton council amending city manager removal policy

The Hampton City Council is attempting to change its policies regarding the city manager position.

The Hampton City Council is attempting to change its policies regarding the city manager position.

The Hampton City Council approved Oct. 9 the first reading of an ordinance amending the procedure for removal of a city manager, calling the existing process as laid out in the old ordinance “conflicting and confusing.”

The text of the amended ordinance states that it would allow for the council to “suspend, with or without pay, terminate, or take other disciplinary action against the city manager at any regularly or specially called meeting by a majority vote of the entire council, provided all terms of the city manager’s contract regarding discipline are adhered to. The Mayor has the authority to vote in the case of tie vote.”

Should that happen, the city manager would have the right to request an appeal with 72 hours, and that appeal would be heard by the council within 30 days before either affirming or reversing the action.