By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

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 by City Council members.

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.”