City council approves 8-month severance package for embattled city manager Harry Black

City Manager Harry Black has 30 days to decide if he wants to resign from his job and leave with $174,000 in his pocket. In a 7-to-1 vote Thursday, Cincinnati City Council agreed to an 8-month buyout for City Manager Harry Black, if he decides to resign by April 30.  The deal would cost taxpayers more than $180,000. The city agrees to pay $174,000 worth of his salary, $6,000 in attorney fees and health insurance for eight months.  Black, who did agree to an 18-month buyout of his job, has not indicated if he will take this offer.  Only Councilman Jeff Pastor voted against the deal, and Councilman Greg Landsman was absent. In a statement, Pastor said he voted against the severance package because it "does not dignify the hard work of the city manager and does not take into consideration his family's needs."