Former Hampton City Manager to appeal termination

Hampton's former city manager Charles Coney, who was ousted from the post two weeks ago, will soon get a chance to challenge his termination.

A special-called meeting set for Dec. 11 includes an appeal by Coney for the city manager position, which he lost Nov. 13 in a 4-3 vote by the Hampton City Council. Mayor Steve Hutchison cast the deciding vote to terminate after the six- member council deadlocked on what to do.

Coney said he was let go because of issues surrounding the Henry County community's 2019 budget. Hampton operates on a fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. But because it was unable to agree on an annual budget this fall, the city, which had a budget last year of $9.1 million, is now running on a month-to-month schedule.