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Glenarden council approves interim city manager agreement amid questions over contracting and compensation
Summary
The Glenarden City Council on June 22 approved a resolution hiring William F. Gardner as interim city manager effective June 23, 2026. Council members questioned contract wording and whether cumulative payments exceeded the city charter’s $6,000 threshold; staff said the contract is professional services and within authority to appoint.
The Glenarden City Council adopted resolution R-34-2026 on June 22 to approve an agreement with William F. Gardner to serve as interim city manager, with the appointment to commence June 23, 2026 and the agreement in effect until a permanent city manager is appointed or the parties terminate the contract.
Mayor Derek D. Curtis introduced the measure; the clerk read the resolution into the record. Council members pressed staff for clarity on procurement and compensation. Councilwoman Cross said the document’s language and process raised concerns because the contract was not competitively procured and because the payment structure as read aloud in the meeting appeared to result in aggregate payments above the city charter $6,000 threshold. "This is a contract which wasn't actually bidded on," Cross said, and she urged clearer verbiage and public communication for a contract that effectively functions like an appointment.
City staff and proponents replied that the contract is for professional services and the council may appoint and authorize such agreements under the charter. William F. Gardner, the interim manager, and staff explained the appointment process and noted the city has authority to engage professional services without a formal RFP when allowed by charter provisions. The clerk and mayor confirmed the resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption.
The council moved the item to the floor, and a voice vote was recorded with the council yielding sufficient affirmative votes to adopt R-34-2026. Several council members asked staff to provide corrected, clear contract language and supporting documentation for the record and to ensure any procurement thresholds and charter sections cited in the resolution are accurate.
What happens next: Staff said they will finalize and execute the agreement and will provide corrected documentation to the council clarifying the compensation terms and any procurement citations. The council did not vote to reopen competition for the post; rather it approved the interim appointment while requesting clarifying paperwork and transparency for residents.
