DAPHNE— In one of its very first acts, the new city council terminated long time City Clerk David Cohen.

In a unanimous vote of the new council, Cohen was fired from his position with the city. Cohen has served as the city clerk since March 2001, nearly 12 years.

“After individual meetings with Mayor (Bailey) Yelding, it became apparent that the city clerk did not have the support of the new council,” District 3 City Councilman John Lake said later. “I would have been happy with him staying on personally but we wanted to show solidarity on the city council.”

After the motion was passed, Cohen walked out of the meeting. Lake said council members tried to warn him the termination was coming but did elaborate further.

The city clerk is the only employee of the council and has to be reappointed to the job. Assistant City Clerk Rebecca Hayes will be the acting city clerk until the position is filled. Ads will be placed to advertise the job opening. Lake said that if the process takes place as it usually does, interviews will be held at a public meeting. See Friday’s edition of The Courier for more details of the new council’s first meeting.