City manager’s contract not renewed

Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. The Monticello City Council last week decided not to renew the contract of City Manager Seth Lawless when his three-year contract expires on Sept. 30, leaving the future status of the position up in the air for the time being. Had the council not acted at its special meeting on Thursday evening, June 20, Lawless’ contract would have automatically renewed for another three years on July 1. Hence the council’s urgency in deciding the issue as soon as possible. As City Attorney Mitchell Herring explained it, the council’s action did not preclude it from negotiating some other arrangement with Lawless once the present contract expires. But had it no