Lynn Haven commission approves contract to make city attorney Chris Lightfoot the city manager, 4–1
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Summary
The Lynn Haven City Commission voted 4–1 to approve a three-year employment agreement to appoint city attorney Chris Lightfoot as city manager, setting a $155,000 salary, a $500 monthly vehicle allowance and tiered severance. Commissioner Tender cast the lone no vote.
The Lynn Haven City Commission voted to approve an employment agreement naming Chris Lightfoot as the city manager, passing Resolution 2026-04-542 by a 4–1 roll-call vote.
City Attorney (the resolution summary) said the contract provides a $155,000 annual salary, a three-year term, a $500 monthly car allowance and severance payments of 6, 16 and 20 weeks depending on termination circumstances. "The salary is a $155,000 a year. It's a 3 year term on the contract," the city attorney summarized. The contract also provides that Lightfoot will be paid out accrued leave and will receive a maximum of three weeks of leave per year.
During public comment and commission Q&A, residents and commissioners asked whether the vehicle allowance is consistent with comparable local manager contracts and how residency requirements are handled. The city attorney said the contract gives the new city manager one year to relocate to the city and noted the charter review committee is considering a referendum to allow the manager to live anywhere in Bay County. "The city manager has a year to relocate to the city," the city attorney said, adding that the charter review committee may bring a referendum forward.
Commissioner Tender explained her lone no vote was tied to matters discussed in a closed meeting and longstanding concerns about particular contractors on unrelated agenda items; the roll call recorded Tender as voting "no." The roll call recorded "yes" votes from Commissioners Purnell, Wark (Ward), Peebles and Mayor Lowry.
The contract passed and will now be executed as approved by the commission. The commission did not amend the contract terms at the meeting; the city attorney said staff would address any required administrative steps and that the manager would have time to meet the relocation timeline laid out in the agreement.
The meeting included public comments that sought clarification on car allowances and residency; the commission also discussed related charter considerations and the timeline for any voter referendum. The commission adjourned with the employment action recorded and the city manager transition process expected to follow the contract timeline.
