Canton Terminates Contract With City Manager

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The city of Canton is once again in the market for a new manager.

The Canton City Council on Thursday voted to terminate its contract with Glen Cummins, the former City Council member who’d only served in the post for less than a year.

The council made the unanimous decision following an executive session held after its regular work session. The motion to terminate the contract was made by John Rust and seconded by Hooky Huffman.

Chief Financial Officer Nathan Ingram will serve as interim city manager.

Mayor Gene Hobgood said the termination was ”without cause,” and Cummins had planned to step down by the first of the year.

“Well, I think the council was ready to move in a slightly different direction,” Hobgood said when asked what he thought about the council’s decision.

Cummins was serving in his first term as the city’s Ward 3 council member before he tossed his hat into the ring for the post in 2014.

Cummins was named the city’s finalist for the position in June. He was the second finalist announced in the last three months for the position. In March 2014, Mayor Gene Hobgood announced former Main Street Woodstock Director Billy Peppers was the city’s sole finalist for the role.

However, Peppers’ nomination did not have the backing of the majority of the council, and he withdrew his name from consideration. After Peppers withdrew is name as finalist, Cummins then submitted his name to be considered for the post.

At the time of his hiring, Cummins’ base salary was $120,000 per year, which was doled out in bi-weekly installments. He also received a $600 monthly car allowance, 160 hours of paid vacation and 80 hours of six leave each year, dental insurance and a budget for “general business expenses” as well as membership fees or dues for local civic clubs or organizations.

He did not receive retirement benefits, and no mention of health insurance was referenced in the contract.

Hobgood said a search committee made up of himself and Council members Sandy McGrew and Farris Yawn will most likely meet on Monday to start the process of finding a replacement. The mayor noted the city would like to see someone brought on by the start of the city’s fiscal year, which commences in October.

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Photo credit: Patch file