Coffee reportedly told his staff he is leaving the city’s employ for other opportunities. By day’s end the Elgin Courier web site had posted the text of what it said was Coffee’s letter of resignation to the city council.

Tensions between the city manager, the council and mayor have been growing for more than a year. Some critics have pointed to the city’s allegedly weakened financial position during Coffee’s tenure. Others have questioned his handling of some personnel management issues and administrative changes involving the city’s economic development functions, parks and recreation programs and the controversial purchase of an 80-acre site on Elgin’s west side for future economic development near US 290 and the Capitol Metro rail line between Austin and Giddings.

Coffee came to Elgin under something of a cloud, since his license to practice law in Texas was suspended near the same time by the State Bar of Texas. A dispute over service to a client from whom he had accepted a fee was the source of the complaint, according to public records. Before being hired in Elgin, Coffee had never held a post in municipal government.

One veteran observer of Elgin politics, who asked not to be identified, said conflicts among city council members involving the city manager had become “a tired act” which needed resolution.