City Manager John Shirey is only one vote away from losing his job after Councilman Chris Monzel's Saturday evening announcement that he is in favor of sacking the city manager.

        Mr. Monzel said he is joining fellow Republicans Pat DeWine and Phil Heimlich on council in calling for Mr. Shirey's firing. The other council member to publicly announce that he would support a move to remove Mr. Shirey is James Tarbell, a Charterite.

Shirey

        “I've decided to vote to dismiss Mr. Shirey,” Mr. Monzel said in a telephone interview Saturday night.

        Though he gave Mr. Shirey credit for a job well done with the administration of the Fort Washington Way project, Mr. Monzel, 32, said, “Basically, look at just recently with the civil unrest and the direction of the city, we just have no leadership coming from the city administration.”

        Mr. Monzel, an aerospace engineer from Winton Place, had not advised Mr. Shirey of the decision on Saturday.

        “I think it would have been a matter of courtesy if he had talked to me first,” Mr. Shirey said after learning of the announcement. “I also find it remarkable that he is ready to fire me since he hasn't once talked to me about my performance.”

        Mr. Tarbell applauded Mr. Monzel's announcement.

        “I think that it is very good that he signed on,” Mr. Tarbell said.

        “This is another step in the right direction. I hope we can wrap this up soon so we can get on ... and stay focused.”

        Other council members could not be reached for comment.

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