In an unexpected turn of events, Millersville's Police Chief Bryan Morris has been tapped to serve as the city's interim city manager, a decision made without prior interviews or considering the four people who had expressed interest in the position. This move came into effect following the rapid resignation of Tina Tobin, the previous interim city manager, whose tenure was marked by significant upheavals within the city's administrative structure. Notably, Tobin's exit coincided with days of public scrutiny and was confirmed by a resignation letter she submitted, stating her final day would be April 26, as reported by NewsChannel 5.

Before Morris's appointment, there had been notable contention within commissioners’ ranks regarding the selection process for a new city manager. The commission, having previously engaged in an abrupt hire-and-fire method, found itself at a crossroads again. Commissioner Cristina Templet voiced concerns about the hurried approach, saying, "How can we vote on hiring somebody when we haven't even interviewed him?" she told Aol.com. Templet had also made known her intentions to decline a vote set to take place during Tuesday's meeting, an indication of the divisions within the board.

Morris's advancement to the interim role happened despite a lack of discussion or approval concerning his compensation for these dual responsibilities. It was a Commissioner Alisa Huling suggestion that ultimately led to a 3-1 vote in favor of Morris, with David Gregory dissenting and Templet abstaining. The latter remarked, "It was already decided, so you can pass," as votes were being solicited, highlighting the predictable outcome of the appointment process, according to The Tennessean.

The backdrop of this decision has been rife with controversy. Former Interim City Manager Tobin faced accusations of ethics violations and was criticized for swiftly dismissing key officials. This included firing a police chief who had been on the job for only five weeks and a fire chief, which led to near-total resignation from the fire department. Additionally, her approach to administrative changes after her appointment, under similar circumstances of no interviews, raised eyebrows. These decisions drew ire from the public and some commissioners alike, as evidenced by the turbulent city meetings highlighted by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.