Stookey Appointed New Acting Administrator

Hyattsville has a new acting city administrator in City Treasurer Elaine Stookey, who was promoted to the position by a unanimous City Council vote following a closed session on Monday night. Police Chief Doug Holland, stepped down from the post to focus on his core duties with the , according to Abby Sandel, communications director for Hyattsville. 

"Stookey has performed very well at her job as the treasurer for the city, a lot of that has involved working with the various departments in the city to get various bits and pieces of information out of them," said City Council Vice President David Hiles in an interview. "I think she has a pretty good working relationship with other parts of the staff and I think she has a pretty good working relationship with the mayor and City Council."

Stookey, who recently received a pay raise for her job as city treasurer, will not be receiving a raise for her new role as acting city administrator. 

The city administrator position has been either filled in an acting capacity since Oct. 7, 2011, when

City Councilor Eric Winguard (Ward 1), praised the work of Chief Holland during his stint as the leader of Hyattsville's government agencies. 

"The chief has done a great job," said Winguard. "I understand his needing a little reprieve. It's a stressful job, and he's been doing it for quite some time."

Winguard also said the switch underscored the need to hire a full time city administrator. 

According to Sandel, the city will be publishing advertisements this week in Virginia and Maryland's municipal league newsletters announcing that Hyattsville will soon be publishing an official vacancy announcement (you read that correctly) seeking a city administrator. 

Before the city can publish an official job announcement, it must first get the approval of the City Council. 

During a conference call with Sandel, when Stookey was asked if she was looking forward to serving as the acting city administrator, she took a long pause and simply replied "it will be a challenge."

She takes on the position, in addition to her core duties as treasurer, in the middle of a protracted budget process,