Media Contact:
John Singleton
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2021
Update: City of College Park Maryland’s choice for City Manager, Natasha Hampton continues to seek answers regarding City Council’s assertions about “discrepancies” and the basis for “termination with cause”.
South Florida – As stated previously - On May 4, 2021, City of College Park Mayor Mark Wojahn announced the unanimous selection of Natasha Hampton, the first woman and first person of color as the City’s new chief executive. Three days before Hampton’s scheduled start and after her relocation to College Park, Mayor Wojahn along with City Attorney Suellen Ferguson contacted Hampton via a conference call and stated that “the Council unanimously decided to terminate your agreement without cause and pay the 6-month severance according to the agreement”.
Ms. Hampton ultimately refused to accept the City’s offer due to certain requirements of the agreement and the resulting unjust and irreparable damage to her reputation and future career opportunities caused by City Council’s actions.
“I've dedicated my life's work to public service and this is not a game to me,” stated Ms. Hampton. “I continue to address this matter professionally but find myself forced to share the story that the City Council has failed to disclose. Six days before my scheduled start date, the mayor contacted me and verbally stated that he and the Council wanted to keep me as City Manager but amend our legally binding contract. The new terms as Mayor Wojahn stated, would make it possible for the Council to terminate me without cause and not pay any severance. Though confused, I countered the offer and asked for at least a 3-month severance which seemed reasonable given my relocation. The City Council refused and decided to terminate me without cause provided I resign from the position, and sign both a settlement and confidentiality agreement. Upon my refusal and demand for public transparency, I was terminated with cause. What is the cause? My refusal to go along with an unreasonable and potentially damaging employment agreement?” I have not wanted to state this previously but there appears to be little concern for me as an employee and how I can continue to provide for my family ."
As a result of public pressure and at Ms. Hampton’s request, the City Council held a special meeting on July 6, 2021, and publicly ratified Ms. Hampton’s termination with cause. The brief meeting created more questions than answers. Despite Ms. Hampton agreeing during the meeting to have the City Council discuss the reasons for her termination openly, they declined to do so. Per the City’s own charter, the City Council has failed to address this matter in accordance with. The requirements for terminating a City Manager for cause are as follows: “The City Council shall provide the City Manager with such notice of termination for cause as it deems appropriate dependent upon the reasons for termination. Cause shall include conviction of a felony or other crime or moral turpitude,
unauthorized conduct which in the sole judgment of the City is detrimental to the City, misuse of City funds, failure to comply with the terms of the City Charter, and ordinances or this agreement or insubordination.”
“There is no possible way that I have done anything that justifies termination for cause,” states Ms. Hampton. The City Council’s failure to share with the public the basis for their decision makes it clear that they know what they’ve done is wrong.”
As one ponders this situation and the challenges faced by professionals of color across the country similar stories begin to resonate. Recent stories include the discord between Dr. Cornel West and Harvard University regarding his well-deserved tenure which led to his resignation from Harvard and the disrespect shown to Nikole Hannah-Jones by the University of North Carolina. “Our circumstances may not be the same but there are uncanny similarities in the way we have been treated by our employers. While I won't speculate if racism, sexism, or fear from the EEOC charge I filed against my former employer is the cause for the turn, I'm deeply saddened by search firm Baker Tilly, the City Council and the City Attorney's handling of
this matter and its potentially adverse impacts to my career.”
Given the City Council’s lack of response, the focus now shifts to Ms. Hampton’s request for public records. Ms. Hampton was presented with a $785 bill – the city’s estimated cost to comply with her original request. “I’m not sure why it costs $785 to email existing records.” said Ms. Hampton. A modified request for fewer documents didn’t change the cost. “This is just one of many barriers the City is using to prevent me from accessing public records and a tactic to make me go away and stop asking questions. In spite of these barriers, I am not going away. If my career that I've worked so hard for has to end here, then I'll fight, so no other woman, man or person of color has to!"