Freeport council votes 3-1 to fire City Manager Lance Petty, cites investigation recordings

The Freeport City Council voted 3-1 to terminate City Manager Lance Petty for cause under “section 2 point e” of his employment agreement, citing an investigation report and recorded material discussed at the meeting.

A council member moved “to terminate city manager Lance Petty under section 2 point e of the employment agreement for cause as was exposed by the investigation report on chief Howe and all associated recordings, which revealed insubordination, gross and willful negligence against the city, as well as creating a hostile workplace, including evidence in recorded format reflecting assault against city council and a documented documented and hard recordings that reflect murder against the city councilman and is being currently being investigated by state law enforcement.” The motion was seconded and carried by a 3-1 vote.

Councilman Jarvis Davis urged colleagues and the public to obtain the records and “hear and see for yourself,” saying the recordings were public record and encouraging anyone who doubts the evidence to check open records. Another council member said they had printed transcripts of audio recordings and intended to make them public; the meeting record shows those transcripts were described as already public as of Tuesday. City officials referenced an investigation into Chief Howe and said state law enforcement is currently investigating the matter; no further details about the status of that investigation were provided at the meeting.

Council members did not detail transition steps for city management during the meeting. The transcript records one council member voting “nay” and others voting “aye,” with the mayor announcing the 3-1 tally.