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Pembroke Park approves repayment agreement securing prior payroll advances to Commissioner Hodkins
Summary
The commission approved an agreement to secure repayment of pre-tax payroll advances previously dispersed to Commissioner Hodkins; the document preserves the town's position that the advances were unauthorized, records $20,000 repaid to date, and delegates manager/finance authority to negotiate payment plans.
The Pembroke Park Town Commission on June 10 approved a repayment and recovery agreement to secure the repayment of pre-tax payroll advances previously paid to Commissioner Hodkins.
Town attorneys explained the measure is a repayment instrument, not a loan ratification. The agreement records that the advances occurred between December 2024 and March 2026, states the commission did not authorize the payments, preserves the commission’s right to dispute the underlying disbursements, and requires full repayment of the amounts advanced. The document also allows the town manager and finance director to negotiate a payment plan if appropriate.
Town staff said Commissioner Hodkins has repaid $20,000 to date and that repayment will continue until the obligation is satisfied; the agreement extends collection authority beyond the current term for the commission to ensure the town is made whole. Commissioners discussed the matter at length; Commissioner Hodkins abstained from the vote and will execute the written agreement as the party repaying the advances.
Why it matters: The agreement resolves, for municipal-operational purposes, the town’s immediate interest in recovering funds that auditors and staff identified as advance disbursements. The document preserves the commission’s reservation of rights and avoids formal ratification of the underlying payments while creating a clear collection pathway.
What’s next: The town manager and finance director will monitor repayments, negotiate payment terms if required, and report progress to the commission; staff indicated the agreement will be executed with Commissioner Hodkins as the recipient of the agreement.
