The county manager may be suspended or removed at the pleasure of the county commission
by a majority vote of the county commission. In case of suspension or removal the
county manager shall be given a written statement of the reasons for such action.
He may within five days from receipt thereof request a public hearing thereon before
the county commission, which request shall be filed with the clerk of the county commission.
Upon receipt of such request, a hearing shall be set not earlier than ten days, nor
later than 15 days from the date of such request. Pending such hearing, and until
final action has been taken thereon, the county manager may be suspended from office
and all of the duties thereof performed by some other person designated by the county
commission to perform such duties. The action of the county commission in suspending
or removing the county manager shall be final; provided [however, that] during the
period of 12 months immediately following the appointment of any person to the office
of county manager, such person may be removed at will by the county commission or
other governing authority, without notice, without cause, and without the necessity
of any public or private hearing, it being the intention of this provision that a
newly appointed county manager shall be on probation for a period of 12 months following
his election and qualification.
