More on John Hagood's Ouster: Watch our video of the City Commission action Tuesday and read an update from Thursday's follow-up meeting

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera King. Watch our video of Tuesday night's action regarding the issue of the city manager along with an update from Thursday night's city meeting. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Less than 48 hours after City Manager John Hagood was ousted, as of September, if not sooner, two residens urged the City Commission tonight to name an acting city manager.

"The process of choosing a city manager could take six months," Bouchelle Island resident Bill Koleszar said he told the commission earlier tonight. He said he and fellow citizen Robert Rees asked that citizens have input in the selection of the next city manager.

"You've got to have that citizen imput," Koleszar reiterated, "especially in ding a national search.

City Personnel Director Carol Hargy gave a 5-minute presentation to the commission on the procedural steps in selecting a new manager.

The city manager issue came to a head Tuesday when resident Robert Tolley asked the city to say goodbye to Hagood. Th city manager had no problem with that, even offering to stay until September, provided the city honor its contractural severance agreement, which calls for him to receive close to $290,000 in salary and benefits. That vote was 3-2, with Mayor Sally Mackay and commissioners Randy Richenberg and Lynne Plaskett prevailing over commissioners James Hathaway and Jack Grasty.