Morrow City Manager Ron Few fired in surprise move

MORROW The Morrow City Council voted nearly unanimously Tuesday to fire City Manager Ron Few amid a brewing battle between the city and its business and tourism group.

Mayor Pro Tem Hang Tran and council members Jeannell Bridges and Larry Ferguson voted to fire Few while Councilman Chris Mills abstained. Tran made the motion and cited the city's recent battles with the Morrow Business and Tourism Association over funding.

As the MBTA issue was cited, association director Mike Twomey gasped in shock from the audience.

Tran also said she felt Few was circumventing the council with regards to the hiring of certain unspecified department heads.

After he was fired, Few grabbed some paperwork and slumped out a side door behind his desk. Mayor J.B. Burke then asked police Capt. James Callaway to escort Few out of the building if needed.

Few was hired by the council in an equally surprising and controversial move that split the council in January. During his brief tenure, he found himself at the center of controversy again during the hiring of new police Chief Melvin Douglas in August.

The council was split on naming a temporary replacement for Few however. Motions by Ferguson to name police Capt. Greg Tatroe and fire Chief Mark Herendeen failed by a 2-3 vote. A motion by Bridges to name Public Works Director Anou Sothsavath also failed by 2-3 vote.

Ferguson and Bridges voted for Herendeen, Tatroe and Sothsavath, while Tran and Mills voted against them. Each time, Burke cast a tie breaking vote by siding with Tran and Mils.

The council then voted to name Economic Development Director Sylvia Redic as acting city manager by a 3-2 vote. Tran and Mills voted for Redic while Bridges and Ferguson voted against her. Burke again cast the tie-breaking vote for Redic.

Stay tuned to http://www.news-daily.com for further details and video of the decision.

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Morrow City Manager Ron Few fired in surprise move