Roelkey Myers has been let go after 22 years as a city employee a few months after Donald Frost, the former General Manager of the Frederick, Md., golf course, resigned. Frost was ultimately charged with four counts of theft in a scheme dating back to 2006.
Roelkey Myers, the head of Frederick, Md.’s parks and recreation department, has been let go after 22 years as a city employee following an investigation into financial mismanagement at the public Clustered Spires Golf Club, the Frederick News-Post reported.
The aldermen approved Mayor Randy McClement’s recommendation to fire Myers in closed session on Wednesday, according to David Weaver, Myers’ attorney, of the Frederick law firm Weaver & Fitzpatrick. Myers was “extremely disappointed” by the decision, which was shared with him Thursday morning, the News-Post reported.
Myers has been on temporary paid leave since Monday, according to an email sent to the aldermen from McClement Monday. As deputy director of parks and recreation, Myers oversaw the city’s parks and recreation facilities, financial transactions and staff, including the Clustered Spires Golf Club and Donald Frost, its former General Manager and PGA golf professional, the News-Post reported.
Frost and the club have been the subject of dual city and Frederick Police Department investigations since February, when Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak presented the city with documents that she believed revealed possible financial mismanagement and contractual violations at the club, the News-Post reported.
Frost, who resigned from the club in mid-May, was since charged with four counts of a theft scheme dating back to 2006. Charging documents filed in Frederick County District Court Wednesday reveal police believe Frost pocketed more than $14,000 in grip sales from the club pro shop and entered payment into his own contract for reselling several thousand golf balls to an outside company, the News-Post reported.
Weaver denied his client’s involvement in these schemes, writing that Myers “had no knowledge of, did not participate in or benefit from any of the alleged improprieties by Mr. Frost. [The] city has simply alleged [Myers] was negligent in his management of Mr. Frost and the Clustered Spires Golf Course,” Weaver wrote.
Myers reviewed monthly expense and revenue reports from the course and created its annual budget, but did not oversee cash register transactions, receipts and procedures, or track inventory, Weaver wrote.
McClement wrote in an emailed response sent Thursday afternoon that he could not discuss Myers’ dismissal because it was a personnel issue. “Because we hold the confidentiality of these matters to the highest level, the public is not aware of all the facts,” he wrote. “I take these situations very seriously and make decisions only after thoroughly reviewing all the relevant facts.”
After news of Myers’ placement on paid leave broke Monday, the mayor and aldermen received close to 30 emails of testimony and support for Myers, urging officials against firing him. Myers could not be reached by the News-Post for comment.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.