The Flower Mound Town Council Monday voted to officially relieve Town Manager Harlan Jefferson of his duties.

Council members voted 5-0 to terminate the employment of Jefferson immediately, after coming out of closed session at the conclusion of a specially called meeting at town hall.

No reasons were given for the council's action.

A second motion was made and passed unanimously to authorize the mayor to execute a settlement agreement with Jefferson.

Jefferson's severance package will be 22 months.  His contract had 36 months left on it.  At the request of Jefferson, the Town has agreed to a mutual confidentiality provision and non-defamation agreement as part of the formal settlement.  A total dollar amount for the settlement has not been calculated.

Jefferson was placed on paid administrative leave by town council on Sept. 22.  Chuck Springer, Assistant Town Manager/Chief Financial Officer, was named to assume Jefferson's duties in the interim and will continue in that role until a new Town Manager is hired.

Jefferson was named town manager in April 2006 and served as Flower Mound's Deputy Town Manager and CFO prior to that. There were three years left on Jefferson's current employment contract.

Flower Mound Mayor Tom Hayden told The Cross Timbers Gazette last week that the Jefferson’s pending departure primarily had to due with a change in direction for the town.

"We are at a point in time where we want someone with a different perspective," said Hayden. "Mr. Jefferson has worked for the town of Flower Mound for the last 15 years and this is the way that things have always been done.  We want a fresh perspective."

A search for a new Town Manager will begin immediately, and will be "focused on transforming the Town’s municipal government into a customer centric organization for the benefit of the residents and business owners in Flower Mound," according to a press release issued Monday night.