On the threat of termination, Lafayette City Manager Frank Etheridge has exercised his option to resign.

The letter says that he leaves "reluctantly", after a surprise executive session in which four of five council members agreed Monday night, to support the ouster.

Etheridge wrote that he was "shocked by the suddenness" of the vote against him. Mayor Neal Florence also expressed surprise at the council's quick move for termination. No one has yet commented on the reasons for the city manager's dismissal.

Defending his performance in the job for the past year and a half, Etheridge wrote "under my leadership, the city ended the budget year slightly in the black, as shown in the 2-12 audit." He said the city was operating at a deficit of more than 650-thousand dollars when he took the job in 2011.  

 The letter concluded with the offer to support any needs to close out open issues.