College Park’s interim city manager will remain in a permanent role despite objections of the mayor and some residents.
During a special-called meeting on Monday morning, City Council approved hiring interim city manager Emmanuel Adediran in the role permanently.
Before voting, Councilwoman Jamelle McKenzie praised Adediran as a leader who has received unfair criticism and been a casualty of a “false narrative” by the public and media that the city government lacks transparency.
“College Park is in need of consistency and strong leadership that cannot be bought, sold, bullied or fold under harassment and ethnic discrimination,” McKenzie said. “…He has led this city successfully. He has proven himself to be a leader that can stand and can do the work through all the fray.”
The selection of Adediran was not the choice of Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, who did not vote Monday. She has taken issue with Adediran over the absence of information on city business and agenda items during meetings. Members of the public have also complained that he frequently does not provide city manager reports during regular council meetings.
The process of deciding on the next city manager has been confusing for residents and even Motley Broom. Residents requested open records to learn about the candidates for the position. Motley Broom repeated complaints Monday that there was poor planning and abrupt changes made to dates when officials met the candidates. She added that there were no preliminary interviews.
“Unfortunately, this process was hastily expedited,” Motley Broom said.
The city hired a search firm that selected Adediran, Thomas Thomas, former city manager of Compton, Calif., and James Woods, former city administrator for Fort Valley, Ga., as finalists.
McKenzie noted that College Park has had a revolving door of six city managers in less than four years. Three served as interim city manager, she said.
The previous city manager, Stanley Hawthorne resigned in January. He was first fired in error by City Council which knew his resignation was forthcoming. The city later rescinded his firing and agreed to pay him nearly $140,000.
Adediran was hired as the College Park director of Public Works last year. According to the city website, Adediran previously led the public works department in North Miami Beach, Fla., and served as city manager in Richmond, Va., from 2014 to 2017.
Councilman Joe Carn said that there’s a belief that the city manager is required to follow council orders.
“Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Emmanuel is not beholden to anyone up here, and I think that is a good thing,” Carn said. “…I think we’re going to be looking forward to making progress as a team with someone at the helm…”
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