Poplar Bluff council selects Massingham as city manager

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff City Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Mark Massingham as its city manager.

Massingham has worked for the city for almost 25 years, most recently as assistant city manager. He has served as interim city manager since Heath Kaplan was fired in May. Massingham also served as interim city manager for three months after the May 2014 firing of Doug Bagby.

Massingham will receive a salary of $120,000 annually, according to a one-year contract approved by the council. Massingham's salary is similar to Bagby's and almost $40,000 less than the salary for Kaplan.

"Mark has done a great job for the city, whatever position he's had," Mayor Betty Absheer said after the council meeting. "He's one of our hometown boys. He's from a good family that has contributed a lot to the city. He will have the best interests of the city at heart."

The council did not feel it was necessary to seek applications for the position, based on the work Massingham has done, Absheer said.

Mayor pro tem David Johnson agreed. The public wants a local person, Johnson said.

"I think he's got the personality to do the job," Johnson said. "He knows the city and finances."

Massingham said he wants to focus on helping the community heal and redirect the city's energy toward old and new projects.

Massingham will receive a city-paid cellphone and continue to be enrolled in the Missouri government employees retirement system under his new contract. He will not receive the $5,000 car allowance given to Kaplan, or the $8,000 provided toward a retirement plan. Massingham was promoted from finance and personnel director to assistant city manager in April, with a salary of $90,000 at that time.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.