Hampton council upholds city manager decision

The Hampton City Council voted at a Jan. 3 called meeting to uphold the firing of city manager Charles Coney after an appeal hearing. The council upheld Coney’s November firing by the same vote taken the first time. Errol Mitchell, Stephanie Bodie and Henry Byrd voted in favor; Ann Tarpley, Elton Brown and Willie Turner voted against. Mayor Steve Hutchison cast the deciding vote. Two ordinances regarding the city manager’s job description were passed at the Jan. 8 regular meeting. For now, the interim city manager is Marie Garrett, who was approved by the council at a Dec. 27 called meeting.