By Josh Bergeron and David Purtell

news@salisburypost.com

Former Salisbury City manager Doug Paris is back on the job.

Paris has been named interim town administrator in Midland, which is located in Cabarrus County. He was Salisbury’s city manager from early 2012 to June 2014. His contract with the city was mutually terminated after a five-hour closed session, and his severance package totaled more than $200,000.

Midland Mayor Kathy Kitts said Paris officially started working this week. The town’s board decided to make Paris its interim administrator in May.

Kitts said the town received Paris’ resume through the Centralina Council of Governments. Paris was among several candidates considered. Kitts said, and all council members picked Paris as the top choice.

“We’re very pleased to have him,” Kitts said. “He’s a very honest and forthcoming person.”

She said his experience and education were reasons for his selection.

Kitts wasn’t immediately able to provide Paris’ salary. She said the previous town manager, who left to take a position in another municipality, made about $45,000 per year. As the interim manager, Paris is earning more per year than the previous manager, she said.

She said Midland’s town administrator is essentially the same as a town manager position. Paris, however, won’t have hiring or firing authority, Kitts said.

Paris did not return multiple requests for comment.

Salisbury Mayor Paul Woodson, Paris’ former boss, said he thinks Paris has a bright future ahead of him.

“I wish him the best,” Woodson said. “He is a very smart young man.”

Woodson said he has been contacted by towns that were interested in Paris and that he always gave them positive feedback. He declined to say whether the town of Midland contacted him about Paris.

Paris did some good things in Salisbury, Woodson said. He said Paris worked to get the city’s One Stop Shop for development started and helped to strengthen the city’s fund balance.

Paris also helped to get Fibrant moving in the right direction, Woodson said.

Salisbury City Council members have refused to discuss details about or the reasons behind the departure of Paris, which was followed a day later by the resignation of Elaney Hasselmann. The city’s pubic information officer, Hasselmann was paid a severance package worth nearly $33,000, even though the city was not required to pay her any severance.