By Andrea Calcagno
 
June 18, 2009
 
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - The Grants Pass City Council voted to terminate City Manager David Frasher Thursday night, in a 5-2 vote in front of a packed house at the Rogue Theater.
 
Councilors did not give a public reason for the termination, which takes affect July 1st because Frasher's severance package was not budgeted into the current fiscal year. After the public comment portion of the meeting, Interim City Attorney Douglas McGeary advised the council not to give any reasons for the possible termination due to legal repercussions for the city and council members personally.
 
Before the meeting, a group defending Frasher protested in front of the theater. The group has begun efforts to recall six members of the city council. They filed paperwork last week to begin collecting signatures for an election to oust the council president and another member. The group says it will file petitions next dealing with four members who took office in January. State law gives officeholders six months before they are subject to recall.