In a deal that has tongues wagging, the city of College Park has decided to shell out nearly $140,000 in severance and damages to Stanley Hawthorne, their former city manager who was given the boot last month. The payout comes after a hasty vote by the city council that sent Hawthorne packing.
Hawthorne, who had been at the helm for just shy of a year, was abruptly dismissed on Jan. 16, instantly sparking curiosity and whispers about what could have prompted such an unexpected end to his tenure. "We came out of an executive session, and I was greatly surprised," Hawthorne told FOX 5 last week. Despite the drama, details surrounding the circumstances of his firing are still under wraps, as the city hasn't offered an explanation.
A separation agreement obtained by FOX 5 reveals that the College Park City Council backtracked on their decision to fire Hawthorne, allowing him to resign. They've agreed to fork over $109,846.24 in severance and an extra $30,000 touted as "additional compensation." Hawthorne will be laughing all the way to the bank with over 434 hours of unused sick, vacation, and holiday pay. Plus, the city will keep paying for his health insurance for the next half-year.
In an interesting twist, College Park officials have committed to providing Hawthorne with "a positive job reference upon request" for a stretch of 12 months from the date of agreement. This comes even though Hawthorne, in the agreement, has consented not to disparage the city, its elected officials, or employees, and vice versa—a mutual non-disparagement clause that could be the key to why both parties are keeping mum.
Prior to his gig in College Park, Hawthorne held the same position in Bloomfield, Connecticut, where he resigned after facing a "bitter divide in local politics," as he told CT Insider in 2023. "I took this job for the long term," Hawthorne recalled. His departure from College Park adds another chapter to his history of untimely exits.
What's next for College Park remains to be seen, with Dr. Emmanuel Adediran stepping in as interim city manager—a position veiled in the same enigma that led to his predecessor's controversial and costly departure. In any case, the serverance package Hawthorne leaves with raises eyebrows and ensures he remains a topic of discussion in College Park's local government saga.
