Mayor & City Council
Regular MeetingCollege Park, MD · July 6, 2021
Minutes
MINUTES
Special Meeting of the College Park City Council
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
7:30 p.m. – 7:38 p.m.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this was a virtual meeting.
PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day,
Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell.
ABSENT: None.
ALSO PRESENT: Bill Gardiner, Interim City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Yvette
Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Teresa
Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources; Terry Schum, Director of
Planning; Ryna Quinones, Communications Coordinator; Megha Sevalia,
Student Liaison.
Mayor Wojahn opened the virtual Special Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was approved
without amendment on a motion by Councilmember Mitchell, second by Councilmember Rigg;
motion passed 8-0.
ACTION ITEMS
21-R-10 Confirm and Ratify the Termination Of Natasha Hampton As City Manager
For Cause.
A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell
to adopt Resolution 21-R-10, to confirm and ratify the Mayor and Council’s termination of
the employment of Natasha Hampton as City Manager, effective June 1, 2021.
Comments from the audience:
Justina Mann, non-resident: She asked if Council is going to talk about the “cause” for the
termination.
Ms. Ferguson responded that we do not have permission from Ms. Hampton to speak about this.
The City has issued a statement in response to Ms. Hampton’s statement.
Natasha Hampton, non-resident: She gives her permission to go into Ms. Mann’s question
about what the cause is for termination.
Ms. Ferguson said Ms. Hampton’s attorney was notified 10 days ago that for the City to be
prepared for that discussion we would need to have Ms. Hampton’s permission prior to the
meeting. We did not receive that permission until just now, so we are not prepared to go into
that tonight. Ms. Hampton has personally been notified what the reasons are.
College Park City Council Meeting Minutes
Special Meeting July 6, 2021
Page 2
Mayor Wojahn said that per the City Charter, the Mayor is allowed to vote on this matter, and
that the Resolution requires a 2/3 vote of the 9 members of the legislative body to pass.
Roll Call Vote:
Yes: Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day, Rigg, Mitchell, Mackie, Wojahn.
No: None
The motion passed 9-0.
ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember
Esters to adjourn the Special Meeting, and with a vote of 8-0, the meeting was adjourned at 7:38
p.m.
________________________________
Janeen S. Miller Date
City Clerk Approved
Agenda
City of College Park
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This will be a Zoom virtual meeting. The link is:
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TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021
CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
*VIRTUAL MEETING*
Meeting Link Will Be Posted On City Website Calendar
7:30 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
COLLEGE PARK MISSION
We provide excellent services, transparent and inclusive governance, and advocate for our
residents to enhance the quality of life for our diverse community.
1. MEDITATION
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Councilmember Esters
3. ROLL CALL
4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
5. ACTION ITEM
21-R-10 Confirm and Ratify the Termination Of Natasha Hampton As Motion By:
Second:
City Manager For Cause Aye:
Nay:
Other:
6. ADJOURN
➢ This agenda is subject to change. For the most current information, please contact the City Clerk at 240-487-3501.
➢ Public Comment is taken during Regular Business meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in one of
the following ways. All speakers are requested to complete a card with their name and address for the record.
o To comment about a topic not on the meeting agenda: Speakers are given three minutes to address the Council
during “Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items” at the beginning of each Regular Meeting.
o To comment on an agenda item during a Regular Business meeting: When an agenda item comes up for
consideration by the Council, the Mayor will invite public comment prior to Council deliberation. Speakers are
given three minutes to address the Council on that agenda item.
➢ In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact the City Clerk’s
Office at 240-487-3501 and describe the assistance that is necessary.
CITY OF COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA ITEM: 21-R-10_
Prepared By: Suellen Ferguson Meeting Date: 07/06/2021
City Attorney
Presented By: Patrick Wojahn Proposed Consent: No
Mayor
Originating Department: Mayor and City Council
Action Requested: Confirm the Termination of Natasha Hampton as City Manager, effective June 1,
2021
Strategic Plan Objective: OKR #10: Cultivate an empowered and collaborative organizational culture
that is high-performing, values employees, and is known for excellence.
Background/Justification:
In January 2021 the City engaged Baker Tilly to facilitate the selection of a new City Manager after the prior
City Manager had resigned. The City Council worked with Baker Tilly to review candidates and on May 4,
2021 announced the selection of Natasha Hampton to be the new City Manager. Subsequently, the City
received information that was different from information provided by Ms. Hampton. Over the next few
weeks, the Baker Tilly consultant, the City Attorney, and the Mayor discussed these discrepancies with Ms.
Hampton, her attorney, and officials with the City of Rocky Mount.
The Council determined on May 29, 2021 that the issues and discrepancies justified termination for cause,
but directed the City Attorney to offer a confidential settlement agreement in order to minimize disruption to
the City and impact on Ms. Hampton. Ms. Hampton was informed of Council’s decision on May 29th and
received a written settlement agreement on June 1, 2021. The offer from the City was not accepted, and the
City did not accept a counter-proposal. City Charter §9-3 requires that the City Manager may be removed
by a resolution approved by vote of six members of the Mayor and Council.
Fiscal Impact:
The City budget includes anticipated legal costs; a termination for cause does not provide any severance.
Council Options:
1. Confirm and ratify the termination of the employment of Natasha Hampton as City Manager, effective
June 1, 2021.
2. Request additional information.
Staff Recommendation:
This is a Council decision.
Recommended Motion:
I move to confirm and ratify the Mayor and Council’s termination of the employment of Natasha Hampton as
City Manager, effective June 1, 2021.
Attachments:
1. Council Resolution 21-R-10
21-R-10
RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE PARK TO CONFIRM AND RATIFY THE
TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OF NATASHA HAMPTON AS CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council announced the hiring of Natasha Hampton as the
City Manager for the City of College Park on May 4, 2021, with a start date of June1, 2021;
and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council, due to various discrepancies in the information
provided by Ms. Hampton that became apparent after the hiring decision and that remain
unresolved, have lost confidence in the ability of Ms. Hampton to work with the Mayor and
Council, City staff and City residents in a straightforward manner in a position that requires the
utmost trust and confidence; and
WHEREAS, as a result, Ms. Hampton cannot perform the duties of her position or the
requirements of her Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council determined that Ms. Hampton should be
terminated from her position for cause as of June 1, 2021, due to her inability to fulfill the
requirements of the Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council wish to confirm and ratify the termination for
cause as of June 1, 2021.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the City of
College Park confirm and ratify the termination of Natasha Hampton as City Manager for cause
as of June 1, 2021.
WITNESS: THE CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
____________________________ ______________________________
Janeen S. Miller, CMC, City Clerk Patrick L. Wojahn, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
______________________________
Suellen M. Ferguson, City Attorney
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