Contract Extended for Acting Rec/Arts Head

Last night, the Hyattsville City Council approved a measure extending the contract of Communications Manager and Acting Recreation and Arts Department Director Abby Sandel through July 2012 also giving her a $2,000 monthly bonus. The measure passed with little discussion by nine to one, with Councilor Paula Perry (Ward 4) casting the dissenting vote. Councilor Nicole Hinds Mofor (Ward 5) was absent citing illness, according to Mayor Marc Tartaro. 

in July 2011. Since then, her appointment as acting head has been extended twice, each time with the same $2,000 monthly bonus.

According to documents presented to the city council, the move would not impact the current budget because the bonus would be paid from vacancy savings. 

The city has high level vacancies in a number of departments. In addition to the Recreation and Arts Department director vacancy, the , the Code Enforcement Office supervisor, and the  and  positions are all being filled in stopgap capacity.

The department expects to be in transition over the next fiscal year. Part of the proposed 2013 budget calls for the consolidation of the Recreation and Arts Department, the city cable channel, the volunteer services coordinator and an events coordinator to be reorganized as the new Department of Community Services.

In that regard, according to Sandel, the city is expected to advertise a vacancy for a full-time Department of Community Services director after the start of the 2013 fiscal year in June.