The

search for a new Fayetteville city manager is

expected to begin later this week.

Former

city manager Michael Bryant has until Thursday to

change his mind and rescind his separation

agreement with the city. After a month of

suspension pending an investigation into employee

complaints against Bryant, City Council last week

approved an agreement to allow Bryant to resign,

halting the investigation.

City

officials have not revealed the nature of

employee complaints. The Citizen has filed suit

in Superior Court seeking to have that

information made public (see related story).

The

agreement provides that Bryant will continue

receiving his salary for seven two-week pay

periods, can continue his medical insurance for

up to six months, and will receive his accrued

vacation. In exchange, Bryant agrees to return

any city property in his possession. Both parties

agree not to file any legal action over the

separation.

Once

the agreement is finalized, and depending upon

any delay caused by the Citizen lawsuit, the city

will advertise for a new city manager in Georgia

Municipal Association publications. Before Bryant

was hired in 1998, similar advertisements brought

more than 50 responses.

City

officials will study resumes and application

letters and gradually reduce the number of

candidates to a handful who will be interviewed

The

process will take at least three months, council

members predict, but officials hope to fill the

position as soon as possible.

"I'd

like to get a person on board before the final

work on the [fiscal 2001] budget," said

Mayor Kenneth Steele. "The city manager is

charged with the day to day administration and

must adhere to the budget, so it's important that

[he/she] be in on the process."

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