Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced three top appointments to his administration last week, naming a city manager, a special assistant for development and a deputy fire chief.
Michael D. Mallinoff, a veteran municipal government employee, was named acting city manager, a position previously known as city administrator. Mallinoff, director of Annapolis' Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs, served as city administrator in Annapolis for six years ending in 1995. Mallinoff's appointment requires city council approval. His salary will be $138,310.
"I love this city," said Mallinoff, speaking to a crowd of city employees during an afternoon news conference at City Hall. "I love the job. It's really a pleasure to return."
Mallinoff said he planned to institute a system of monthly reports from department heads to track progress, streamline the budget process and presentation and work on "team building" throughout city government.
Mallinoff, who lives in Baltimore County, said he admires Marin Alsop, the conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and hoped to model his tenure as city manager after her style.
Maria Brown, current assistant to the director at DNEP, will serve as acting director.
Cohen said he expected Mallinoff to have a "seamless transition" in carrying out the mayor's vision of "efficient and transparent" governing.
"[Mallinoff] brings a tremendous amount of experience," said Cohen, a Democrat. "He not only knows this city … he understands the landscape."
Cohen also named Douglas E. Smith — the current city administrator whose contract expires at the end of the month — to serve as a special assistant for development. Smith expects to concentrate on a long-term solution for the long-embattled Market House, improvements to the public transportation system and plans for the city's renewable energy park.
After a bruising budget season during which Cohen laid off 33 employees to deal with a record budget deficit, the council passed legislation changing the No. 2 spot in city government from an administrator to a city manager, requiring the position holder to have eight years of municipal government experience and giving the council the authority to fire the city manager without the consent of the mayor.
Smith, an Annapolis resident and former president of the Ward One Residents' Association, agreed to vacate the position when his contract expired at the end of this month. Smith's new position is also on a contractual basis and expires at the end of the year. The annual salary for the new job is $128,950, a decrease from Smith's $145,000 salary as city administrator.
Kevin J. Simmons, a 28-year-veteran of the Howard County Fire Department who retired last year as assistant chief, was named a deputy fire chief for administration and technical services. Simmons, a Baltimore County resident, will also serve as director of emergency management, which recently merged with the Fire Department because of budget cuts. Simmons' salary is $102,575.