From The Banner · Jack Hogan · · 1m 50s
Hyattsville treasurer stays paid after quitting
Ronald Brooks remains on payroll during transition after resigning amid a major audit revealing the city's fund dropped 71 percent.
In brief
Ronald Brooks remains on payroll during transition after resigning amid a major audit revealing the city's fund dropped 71 percent. A city treasurer can stay employed during transition even after resigning, but transparency about the arrangement matters to residents and council members. Originally reported by The…
Treasurer quits amid audit crisis
Ronald Brooks resigned as Hyattsville's treasurer after an audit showed the city's general fund plummeted 71 percent, from $24.5 million to under $7 million between fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
He stays on payroll for transition
Brooks remained employed after his resignation to help transfer his responsibilities, including payroll oversight, bank information, and audits. City Administrator Tracey Douglas said he would stay through the end of that week.
“We left him on for the transition purposes because his name was still on a lot of things.”
Remote work arrangement explained
Brooks had commuted from Ohio to work Monday through Thursday in city offices and worked remotely on Fridays. Douglas said this arrangement worked for 13 years and didn't affect his job performance.
“During the last 13 years he has regularly been in the City offices during the work week and I have been able to reach him when needed.”
Council demands public accountability
During a City Council meeting, residents questioned why Brooks remained employed without appearing on the agenda to answer questions. Ward 5 resident Monica Gorman asked why he wasn't listed to respond publicly.
“If he's still employed, why isn't he listed on the agenda to answer questions from residents and council publicly?”
Audit backlog masked real problems
Douglas said Brooks inherited a backlog of financial audits that didn't reflect accurate account balances. He planned to reconcile them, but the city never caught up in 13 years, leaving leaders without current financial information.
“It's now evident that [Brooks' approach] did not provide the mayor and council with the most accurate and current information.”
No bank access after resignation
Although Brooks remained on payroll in a transition capacity, he lost access to bank accounts and no longer had responsibility for financial transactions. The city is searching for a permanent treasurer.
Administrator also leaving in 2027
City Administrator Tracey Douglas announced she plans to retire around the time of the next mayoral election in May 2027. The city will hire search firms to find both a new administrator and treasurer, estimated to cost $50,000.
“I feel strongly that the incoming mayor and council should select their next chief administrator.”
Here's the gist
A city treasurer can stay employed during transition even after resigning, but transparency about the arrangement matters to residents and council members.
