The St. Patrick’s Day holiday didn’t keep people from attending a called meeting in Social Circle Tuesday, as city hall’s community room was filled with concerned citizens.

Their concern was of the recent dismissal of City Manager Doug White. The city council voted to dismiss the 13-year city manager, on Feb. 23, after tabling his reappointment decision from January.

White’s last day was to be March 31, until a contingent of supporters, headlined by former Social Circle Mayor Jim Burgess came before the council Tuesday.

“Mayor and members of the City Council, I respectfully request that you reconsider and reverse your action to terminate the employment of Mr. Doug White, our City Manager, at the end of this month,” Burgess told the council.

He then listed six reasons why White should remain in his potion.

Among those reasons were his nearly 20 years of service in Social Circle, as city manager under mayors Frank Sherrill, Burgess and Hal Dally, along with his tenure in other municipalities and experience managing cities with their own electric and gas systems.

Burgess then listed White’s financial prudence and his high character.

“He is a person of great personal integrity and is highly respected by his employees,” Burgess said. “He has built a strong and professional management team that provides efficient delivery of municipal services.”

White has helped plan and carry out the truck by-pass, a new fire station, expansion of city’s water and sewer system and downtown master plan, Burgess said.

“Of great concern to me with the loss of Doug White at this time could be potential economic damage caused by the reluctance of potential industrial or commercial projects to locate here if there is turmoil in our city.”

The city council moved to extend White’s time as city manager another 30 days.

White’s time at Social Circle hasn’t gone unnoticed by other cities either, as the Americus Times Recorder reported earlier this week that he is one of two finalists for the city manager position in Americus, along with former Kennesaw City Manager L. Steve Kennedy.