Annapolis Mayor Fires City Manager Mallinoff

In the third major departure from Annapolis City Hall in a month, Mayor Mike Pantelides has asked City Manager Mike Mallinoff to step down.

The city manager is essentially the boss of all city employees, but it's a position that serves at the will of the mayor. On Wednesday, the mayor exercised this power, as first reported by The Capital.

“Mr. Mallinoff has served the city and its citizens well,” Pantelides said in a written statement.  “He leaves behind a legacy of bringing transparency to city government and its finances. I admire Mike and thank him for staying on to help the administration during the transition.” 

Until a permanent replacement is found, Assistant City Manager Virginia Burke will serve as acting city manager. 

“Mike brought stability and professionalism to city governance over the last three years,” Burke said in a written statement.

Under Mallinoff's term as manager, he helped guide the city over several financial hurdles and implemented several best practices, including: "citizen surveys, performance measurement, and monthly reporting on expenditures, revenues, overtime," according to a press release.

Mallinoff had been city manager since 2010, and was previously the city manager for Newport, RI, and also the director of the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs in Annapolis.

Last week, former city planning director Jon Arason was also asked to step down by the mayor after more than 25 years with the city. A national search has been initiated to find his replacement. 

Pantelides has also replaced the city attorney with one he has experience with, Timothy Murnane. However, Murnane's official appointment has yet to be made, and is expected next week.