College Park ousts its fourth city manager in two years amid turmoil
College Park’s city council voted on Monday night to remove Lindell Miller from her position as city manager. The decision, made with a 3-1 vote, marks the fourth time since 2022 that the council has ousted a city manager. Mayor Bianca Motley Broom later called for a change in how the city hires its top administrators.
Miller had held the role for just over two months, having been appointed in September. Her departure comes amid ongoing turmoil within the council, which has struggled with internal conflicts and procedural issues in recent years.
The vote to dismiss Miller was proposed by Councilman Joe Carn. He also put forward Michael Hicks, the city’s current chief information officer, as interim city manager. Hicks was immediately appointed to the role following Miller’s removal.
During the meeting, Carn did not explain his reasons for seeking Miller’s termination. The council’s official statement cited repeated violations of procedural rules and a failure to fulfil her duties. Miller herself left the meeting without comment and has not responded to requests for further explanation.
The decision was not unanimous. Councilman Roderick Gay voted against the dismissal, though no detailed reasoning was provided for his opposition. Mayor Motley Broom later suggested the city should conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement, signalling a shift in recruitment strategy.
College Park’s local government has faced persistent challenges. In recent years, incidents such as confidential documents being found in a dumpster and attempts to recall a councilwoman have highlighted deeper issues of dysfunction. Miller’s firing is the latest in a string of leadership changes that have raised concerns about stability within the administration.
With Miller’s exit, Michael Hicks now steps in as interim city manager while the council considers its next move. The repeated turnover in the position has left the city searching for a long-term solution. Officials have yet to outline a timeline for appointing a permanent replacement or further reforms to the hiring process.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
