By Janet Perez | Your Valley
The Florence Town Council met for the first time Monday after it voted to fire Town Manager Russell Martin on Sept. 27.
The council voted 6-1 to end Martin’s employment. Only Councilmember Jose Maldonado voted in favor of keeping Martin.
In two open calls to the public during Monday’s meeting, fewer than one dozen residents addressed the council, many of them voicing their opposition to Martin’s firing.
“I would like to request a reconsideration of the decision made last week regarding Town Manager Russell Martin. As a resident, we want confidence in our council and our mayor. You hired someone six months ago to fill a vacant spot that had been open for a year. He was only given six months and let go. Do you know how impossible it is to affect any sort of change in six months,” asked Florence resident Amber Hitchcock. “I heard nothing but positive feedback about the work that he was doing from community members and businesses, so I just urge you to reconsider that decision.”
