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Musselwhite
It may have taken four months, but the city of Demorest now has a permanent city manager.
Mark Musselwhite, Demorest interim city manager since Dec. 9, 2022, received the position permanently Monday night at a called meeting of Demorest city council.
Musselwhite has held the interim city manager position since the Dec. 8 resignation of former city manager Kim Simonds. He has been receiving a $2,000 weekly salary.
The hiring of a permanent city manager has taken place in fits and starts, including two closed meetings held in February, without finalists for the position being named. Council met March 30, announcing Joseph Hayes and Daniel Magee, along with Musselwhite, as the three finalists for the position.
Musselwhite, a former Gainesville mayor, served on Gainesville City Council from 2000 to 2006.
After the vote to approve the appointment, Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness said an employment contract had not yet been worked out between the city and Musselwhite. He expected a contract would be readied by council’s May regular monthly meeting.
Musselwhite’s appointment was not without contention. The council vote was 3-1, with Councilman John Hendrix opposed. He spoke fervently against hiring Musselwhite based on results of an investigation, which he said was conducted without the results being presented at a council meeting held several weeks ago.
“I absolutely cannot go along with that,” Hendrix said of hiring Musselwhite. Hendrix noted the results of the investigation would not become public for another 10 days.
Following the Monday night council meeting, Hendrix provided The Northeast Georgian with a paper titled “Documentation of Events between Bryan Popham [Demorest Water Department Superintendent] and Mark Musselwhite.” The paper described several interactions between Popham and Musselwhite, which Hendrix described as “unlawful harassment,” including actions, words and jokes which “will not be tolerated.” Hendrix noted there were witnesses to some of Popham’s complaints.
Being “…city manager is a powerful position,” Hendrix noted. Harassment “…will not be tolerated,” he continued.
“As councilmen, we owe it to our citizens to speak the truth,” Hendrix said.
Musselwhite said Tuesday he was “very excited” about his city manager appointment and “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to make Demorest the city we want it to be.”
“I have not been privy to the investigation paperwork and findings,” Musselwhite said, when asked about Hendrix’s concerns expressed at the council meeting. The report will be available Saturday [April 22], Musselwhite said, and he would then receive a copy.
An “…employee had issues,” Musselwhite said, “and it saddens me.”
“I apologize to that person for not understanding … there were issues. I meant no harm,” Musselwhite said. “I’m sorry it ever got to this point.”
Musselwhite noted the mayor and council had seen the report prior to the vote to approve his appointment. He also said he “wants to be sensitive” to any concerns city employees may have.