Council President Scott Mandel, Vice President Fran Adelson and Councilman Len Torres had asked Fagen to step aside shortly after his indictment last year, saying that the allegations against him were a distraction. Fagen’s legal issues came up only occasionally at council meetings, however, when one resident or another would ask if he planned to step down. Fagen always maintained his innocence, but Mandel said that the matter cast a pall over the council.

“With this distraction now removed,” he said, “our focus must continue to be solely on the city’s recovery.”

“We are all relieved to have this distraction removed,” City Manager Jack Schnirman added.

Mandel said that it was too early to discuss whether the council was considering a potential candidate to fill Fagen’s seat.