As they work to reach a new contract with City Manager Darwin Watson, Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to terminate his old contract. At a Monday meeting, the vote was unanimous to end the contract originally reached in February of 2016. It expired in February of this year, and had been extended month-to-month before the city commission approved an new contract in October. However, Watson has not signed that new contract. City Commission Personnel and Finance Committee Chair Edward Isom told us the commission’s move Monday night was needed as the body seeks to negotiate a new agreement with Watson, and that he remains the city manager. Watson, for his part, told us he has “no idea” if he’s still the city manager. Isom told us the next step is to work out kinks in the October agreement and move forward with Watson as city manager.
