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Laurel, MD 20725
Where’s Audrey?
Abrupt Replacement of City’s Longtime Communications Director Raises Questions
Anyone who attended the City of Laurel’s Sixth Meeting of the Mayor and City Council on March 25th may have been asking themselves what happened to Audrey Barnes, the Director of Communications? I know I did. I also know a few things were of concern for me with the agenda item seeking confirmation on the appointment of a new director.
Firstly, why wasn’t Audrey Barnes reappointed to her position? Ms. Barnes, a native Laurel resident, had served the city for more than a decade. At the time of her appointment, she was recognized for her years of experience and professionalism in the field of communication. What could Ms. Barnes possibly have done to warrant the way in which the city terminated her services? I made inquiries with both of my ward council members and the council member at-large, for which no definitive response was given. Even after sharing with them the despicable manner and handling of her separation with the city I had been informed of, crickets could be heard.
Secondly, there seemed to have been a rush to appoint a new director. Upon reviewing meeting minutes and notes on the city’s page, the first mention for the need to appoint a director was on the agenda for the meeting. When speaking to that item during the meeting, it was only mentioned that the council had received a copy of Ms. Natalie Williams’ résumé. No additional information regarding Ms. Williams and her experience or accomplishments were given prior to a confirmation vote. It was during the vote that one of the councilmen had asked the question if Ms. Williams was present—she was sitting in the front row while the council unanimously confirmed her appointment. Witnessing all of this gave me pause. What level of due diligence did the council perform prior to confirmation? Had any of the council members posed questions of the candidate or vetted the candidacy in any way? Was their decision solely based on a résumé? If so, have we learned nothing from George Santos? Better yet, have we learned nothing from the confirmation of David Crawford, our former, disgraced police chief sentenced to eight life sentences? Had the council done its own vetting with respect to Mr. Crawford, they would have learned that the Prince George’s County Police Department questioned his integrity when seeking reference prior to appointment. That could have been a dodged bullet. Instead, Laurel continues to be forever tethered to his demise.
Lastly, Laurel residents should have confidence that our council are not just rubber stamps. We need assurance that they are indeed acting on behalf of their constituents and not at the will of our City Mayor.
— Georgena Ifill
City Seems Poised to Bust Union
Hiring of High-Priced Law Firm to Negotiate With DPW Union is Concerning
Mayor Sydnor, Councilpersons Kole, Johnson, Clark, Dewalt and Mills:
Recently I signed a petition requesting that the City of Laurel negotiate “in good faith” with the City of Laurel’s Department of Public Works (DPW) workforce.
I am aware that in 2023, the DPW employees won the right to unionize to negotiate for wages. It is my understanding that the DPW employees began negotiations in January, but after just five meetings, the city declared an impasse, and negotiations ended.
I also know that the city has hired a high-profile law firm, Jackson Lewis, to negotiate on behalf of the city. This concerns me for two reasons:
Why would the city hire a high-profile law firm for these negotiations when bargaining efforts such as this can be obtained from both the State and Federal governments FOR FREE? I seriously doubt that Jackson Lewis is providing their services pro bono. Their consultation rate runs between $350 and $500 per hour. As a taxpayer, I am concerned about the cost of this endeavor—perhaps there is a large sum of funds set aside for this? (I doubt it.) You, the Mayor, and the City Council members are supposed to be good stewards of our tax dollars. This effort seems extremely frivolous to me.
The City agreed to grant the DPW employees the right to unionize and to negotiate their wages. WHY did the city hire a law firm such as Jackson Lewis to negotiate on its behalf? It is well known that Jackson Lewis is a large corporation specializing in, among other things, “Union-busting.” They are hired to either dismantle or prevent labor unions. Their clients have been Google, Amazon, colleges, and universities. Even though the City Council and the former Mayor unanimously approved the unionization of the DPW employees, it appears to me that the Council now does not agree with this decision. This seems to be a HUGE credibility issue for the City.
I am just expressing my opinion, but I am sure that many are in agreement with me.
— Katharine Peterson | 30-year city resident