Hawthorne city manager fired

In a commission meeting Thursday night, Hawthorne commissioners voted 3-2 to fire City Manager Ed Smyth.  The move comes amid a major budget crisis in which the city is operating over two months into the fiscal year without a balanced budget.

Mayor Eleanor Randall and commissioners Deloris Roberts and William Carlton voted to sever the employment agreement with Smyth.  Commissioners Harry Carter and Matthew Surrency voted against the move.

A complete story will be in the Dec. 23 print edition of Alachua County Today.