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Aldermen were at odds over filling position before selecting city administrator

Some Smithville city leaders have questioned whether infighting would scare away potential city administrator candidates.

Alderman Charlie Waters said the situation makes the board look “inept.”

“Any competent city administrator will not see why we could not agree and hire a city clerk when the interim city administrator said to do it,” Waters said during a heated, lengthy Smithville Board of Aldermen discussion July 20 about filling the city clerk position.

Alderman Shannon Breckenridge added that city administrator candidates could look at the situation and say, “What’s wrong with these people? I don’t know if I want to work for them.”

The city has been seeking a new city administrator — the city’s top position — since Gerry Vernon resigned from the post in January.

The open city clerk position has been controversial since Judy Clough resigned earlier this year after 25 years in the position.

Former Assistant City Administrator Bret Bauer and Mayor Brian Fullmer announced this spring that Cindy Maasen, executive secretary, had been promoted to city clerk. However, after Alderman Adam Naber pointed out a state law stating the aldermen must elect the city clerk, Maasen announced her resignation from the clerk position and returned to the secretary role she previously held.

“We threw this person under the bus so bad. I don’t see why she’s sitting here right now,” Waters said, referring to Maasen, who takes minutes at the meetings because she currently performs the city clerk duties in addition to the secretary duties.

Naber and Alderman Bob Foreman had said during a July 6 meeting the city should hold off on filling the city clerk position until the new city administrator comes on board.

Police Chief Ken Wilson, the city’s interim city administrator, had said that hiring for the position couldn’t wait because the office was short staffed.

Naber and Foreman then supported finding a temporary employee for the position.

“Temporary help is not an answer. You can’t put someone in the chair and say, ‘Go to work.’ You have to train the person, and that takes time,” Wilson said during last week’s meeting. “This is a very serious position. It cannot wait. I think to hold off and not move forward is irresponsible.”

The clerk’s job duties include maintaining records and serving as the city’s accountant.

Board members ended the meeting by agreeing to begin discussions about moving forward with filling the position.

Smithville Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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