By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayetteville's new/old city manager will start work April 12.

City Council Monday unanimously approved a contract in which former city manager Joe Morton will resume his old post.

Morton will earn $82,000 a year, plus $300 a month gas and auto allowance, with any future salary increase at the discretion of council.

“This is really great news,” Mayor Kenneth Steele said last week after a tentative agreement was reached with Morton.

The city will benefit greatly from the fact that Morton will be up to speed almost immediately, Steele said. With budget time fast approaching, Morton's knowledge of the city and his strength in budget matters will come in handy, he added.

Morton, who left the city manager's post two years ago to take a position as Peachtree City's assistant city manager, held the Fayetteville position from 1994 to 1998.

He hadn't thought about returning to Fayetteville, Morton said, but a city councilman phoned him and asked if he was interested.

”My initial reaction was that I didn't think so,” he said, “but I sat down with the mayor and talked about the advantages and disadvantages, and there were a lot more positives than negatives.”

City Council has had one change since Morton left town — Mayor Mike Wheat retired and was replaced by former Councilman Kenneth Steele, who was replaced by Planning Commission member Bill Talley.

“I'm familiar with Bill and worked with him on the Planning Commission, so that's not a problem,” said Morton. “I think I've got a good sense of the direction they're looking for right now and I believe I can help them get there,” he said.

“I like the vision and goals of the council, the Main Street program and how that fits into things... I think it's a pretty good match-up,” he added.

Morton has spent most of his career in city government in Georgia, including four years as city manager in Cairo and two more as assistant city manager there. He was also assistant city manager in Moultrie for several years during the 1980s.

Fayetteville has been without a full-time city manager since Jan. 12, when former manager Michael Bryant was suspended pending an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint. The investigation was ended when Bryant resigned last month.

Police Chief Johnny Roberts, who is also assistant city manager, has filled in as acting city manager during the interim.