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Cairo council approves Booker Gaynor as city manager in 3-2 vote
Summary
The Cairo City Council voted 3-2 to appoint interim city manager Booker Gaynor to the permanent post, approving a starting salary figure recorded as roughly $126,250 and a $6,000 car allowance amid public comments both defending and criticizing the hire.
The Cairo City Council voted 3-2 to appoint interim city manager Booker Gaynor as the city manager, approving a starting salary figure the meeting transcript records as approximately $126,250 and a $6,000 car allowance.
The appointment followed public comment and brief council discussion. An unnamed council member moved that the council hire "interim city manager Booker Gaynor as the city manager"; another unnamed council member seconded the motion. After a short period of discussion the council called the vote and the motion carried 3-2.
Supporters and critics addressed the council before and after the vote. One public commenter said, "I must say something about a dark cloud earlier. Like, the city has a dark cloud... We gotta move forward and think outside the box," urging unity behind the council's choice. Booker Gaynor addressed the meeting after the vote, saying, "My whole thing has been to move this community forward no matter what position I had to be... we came up with a strategic plan that each and every last one of y'all had an opportunity to put into it. If you wanna know my agenda... I will be bringing back to you for an official vote and official adoption." Gaynor also disputed criticism of his character and referenced allegations that appeared in public comment: "...there's been more journalistic energy spent on trying to... demonize me versus the $2,200,000 worth of unauthorized withdrawals. I've never got a request for that. Right." These remarks were made on the meeting record.
The transcript records the salary amount imprecisely; the motion as read contained a repeated, fragmented figure that the mover restated before the motion was seconded. The council approved a $6,000 car allowance in the same motion. The precise effective date of Gaynor's appointment and the full employment terms beyond the stated starting salary and car allowance were not specified in the transcript.
The council's decision closed the agenda item; Gaynor said he would return to the council with the strategic plan the group had discussed for formal adoption. The transcript does not show any additional formal directions to staff or a roll-call record listing how each council member voted by name.
