Savannah: Divided board votes to hire former city manager to be next city manager

Garry Welch

The Savannah City Commission voted 3-2 Thursday night to hire its former city manager, Garry Welch, to replace soon-to-retire City Manager Tom Smith.

As part of that decision, commissioners authorized Mayor Bob Shutt to negotiate the employment contract with Welch.

Voting in favor of hiring Welch were Shutt and Commissioners Kent Collier and Blake White. Opposing were Commissioners Wes Wilkerson and Matt Smith.