FLINT, Michigan

— In his first orders as emergency manager, Michael Brown on Friday

— including the mayor’s second-in-command — and eliminated pay and benefits for the mayor and Flint City Council.

Brown also

until further notice.

Four high-ranking mayoral appointees were among those let go: City Administrator Gregory Eason, Human Resources Director Donna Poplar, Citizen Services Director Rhoda Woods and Green City Coordinator Steve Montle.

Also fired were Ombudswoman Brenda Purifoy; Edward Parker, director of the Flint Civil Service Commission; and Eason’s administrative assistant, Kathleen Sheetz.

“We’ve got such a deep hole in the budget and finances, I

, if you will,” Brown said. “There were some positions in management, and I think part of that is just sending the right message out there that everybody’s got to sacrifice here.”

Although the roles of the city ombudsman and Civil Service Commission are mandated by the Flint City Charter, Brown’s order removing Purifoy and Parker cited state law that says an emergency manager can remove any local government appointee.

Brown said the city “can’t have the same staffing level” that it has now and warned that more cuts are coming.

“None of this is easy, but there’s a start here,” he said. “There’s more to come. It has to come, and I’m going to go back and do that.”

Mayor Dayne Walling issued a statement Friday, saying

to work with each of his four appointees who were terminated.

He said Eason has a “strong record of government reforms and community accomplishments,” and Montle “was the driving force behind a number of innovative initiatives.”

Walling said Woods “made a difference in thousands of families’ lives,” and Poplar “brought a superior level of skill and understanding to one of the hardest jobs at City Hall.”

“It was an honor for them to choose to serve with me through very difficult times and, on behalf of the Flint community, I thank them for their service.”

Parker was appointed by the Civil Service Commission, and Purifoy was appointed by the City Council.

Brown said he wants to have more discussions with council members before he makes a final decision on future council meetings.

“We’ll kind of take a close look at all that and come up with an operational plan to do it,” he said. “They have a role in their wards to communicate with their constituents. I want

to support that.”

Council President Scott Kincaid said he’ll be talking more with Brown about the City Council.

“I think he’s trying to get his direction straight and get some stuff done right now,” Kincaid said.

Brown said all of his written orders will be put up on the city’s website so the public can view them.

The terminations and pay cuts — which came on Brown’s second day on the job — were put in place immediately.

Poplar, former human resources and labor relations director,

.

“I just feel that he’s doing what he thinks is best,” Poplar said. “He has a right to make the decisions he’s making. Certainly, I don’t take it personally.

“In fact, I would have been more surprised if he had not made the moves. ... You expect them to bring their own team in.”

Poplar said that while she doesn’t support the governor’s ability to take over the city, she has faith in Brown, a former acting Flint mayor.

“I certainly have known Mike Brown to be a very respectful man,” she said. “I just hope that he does a great job so that the city can get to where it needs to be.”

Attempts to reach the other terminated employees were unsuccessful.

A state-appointed review panel earlier this last month recommended a state takeover for Flint after finding a structural deficit, recurring cash flow shortages and other financial deficiencies. The city ended the 2010 budget year with an estimated $15 million deficit. A $7 million deficit is projected for budget year 2011.

Emergency managers also are in place in Benton Harbor, Pontiac, Ecorse and Detroit Public Schools.

Staff writer Khalil AlHajal contributed to this report.