By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

TRENTON - City Council has rejected an effort to fire Trenton's city manager.

An ordinance proposed by Councilman Michael Jett would have sacked Patrick E. J. Titterington after about 20 months in Trenton for insubordination and incompetence.

Jett was supported by Councilwoman Melissa Hobbs, but the other five council members voted against at Thursday's meeting.

"I think he has done a fine job," Councilwoman Sandra McDonell said of Titterington. "We should have been ashamed. He walked right into a firestorm. ... I think he's gotten a bad rap."

Bypassing the typical three readings for a new ordinance, council roundly rejected the ouster, with Mayor Roy E. Wilham saying he was "hard-pressed to find validity in the resolution."

Jett authored the resolution based on personal experience and the results of a community survey. However, Councilwoman Rhonda Freeze said the results of the survey showed only 0.6 percent of responding Trenton residents wanted the city manager fired.

Titterington later said he felt the reasons Jett had for firing him were not legitimate.

"This is what I had hoped," he said. "I really appreciate the support of the majority of the council."

After the meeting, various audience members from an overflow crowd hugged and congratulated Jett for his stance.

"I cannot do any more than I've already done," Jett said. "Collectively, council will go back to managing the business of the city."

In other action, an ordinance to rezone 52 acres of former farmland for a possible subdivision failed. Proposed is a 141-home development by Cristo Homes off of Howe Road.

E-mail jgambrell@fuse.net