Evening star., 1963-05-21
Move to Leave
Forced Council
To Fire Briggs
BY WILLIAM DUKE
Star staff Writer

resigned" his $25, 5,500-a-year
Job a week before the County
Council convinced him to stay
by firing its fiscal consultant.
This was the report OF sey-
eral top Republican leaders
who closely questioned @. o. P.
council members about the fir
ing Of consultant John r.
Briggs at a meeting in the Ma
tional All Center Wednesday
night.
The questioning indicated
that between the May Z and
May IA council meetings. Mr..
Butcher was persuaded to
change his "irrevocable" de-
cision to leave the county to q
Briggs or me" ultimatum.
Mr.. Briggs was under q $25,-
000-a-year contract to provide
the council with advice on fis-
cal matters. His actions, how
ever, had caused concern among
many county career officials
who thought he was subverting
Mr.. Butchers authority, grant,
ed by the county charter, and
was being groomed to replace
him.
Agreement Broken
County Council President
John A. Floyd said that there
was a gentleman's agreement"
not to publicly discuss Mr..
Butchers resignation. He said
the agreement was broken at
the Republican meeting by an
other council member, and only
then did he outline the events
leading to Mr.. Briggs custer
a move opposed by Mr.. Floyd.
The decision to fire Mr..
Briggs came during a closed
session Of the Council on May
IA, when 1t became apparent
that Republican Council mem
bers Thomas M. Wilson and
Mary A. Hepburn would join
Democrats Grover K. Walker
and Jerry T. williams to keep
Mr.. Butcher, who has been a
top county official for Is years.
The vote ito oust MFR. Briggs
was never completed. because
1t became obvious that there
was no point In any one saying
anything further" Mr.. Floyd
was quoted as telling the Re-
publican leaders.
leadership Disturbed
Some segments of the G. O.P.
leadership have been disturbed
over the Briggs affair. Others
admit privately. however. that
If they had been faced with a
choice between Mr.. Butcher
with long experience in the
county. and Mr.. Briggs. they
probably would have made q
similar decision.
The leaders also were told
that Mr.. Butchers first request
to be relieved Of duty came on
May Z Immediately after the
council had given him q vote
of confidence. That vote was
engineered to stop press re-
ports that there was difficulty
between the county manager
and the Republican majority
Of the council" the council an
nouncement said.
Mr.. Floyd repeatedly told the
leaders that Mr.. Butcher said
his decision was irrevocable,
and that he refused to change
this statement after he had
been asked TO change his mind
by Mr. Floyd and other council
members. The council preSi-
dent quoted Mr.. Butcher as
saying that he had considered
the resignation for several
months.
EmplOye Invitation
Then the next thing I
knew" Mr.. Floyd said. "Dr.
Wilson called for an executive
session at the May IA meeting
on a personal matter, and told
us that Mr.. Butcher had agreed
10 stay II Mr.. Briggs were fired
by o'clock the next day.
At today'S meeting OF the
council. Mr.. Floyd made a
statement saying the Butcher
Briggs matter lis finished busi-
ness"
Mr.. Floyd asked council
members II they had any com
ments. and only John H. HlSer
replied. He said he wanted
added TO the minutes the state
ment he released last Saturday
criticizing the council for act
! ing on the mstter while he was
out OF town.
The Briggs Butcher affair
has brought 10 head the irn-
tation between the Republican
controlled council and career
county employees. some OF whom
are registered Republicans.
In the six months OF their
tenure In office. the new coun-
Gil has forced out" two other
county officials. popular with
staff
Both County Attorney Alfred
Carter and Economic Develop
ment Director John HaSsett
left after well-publioized dis
putes with the council.