The New Carrollton City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday night to remove Mayor Phelecia E. Nembhard from office, finding she violated a citywide hiring freeze by reinstating two former employees without council approval.
What’s Happening: The council invoked Charter Section C-20, which allows forfeiture of office for violating an express prohibition of the charter or for misconduct in office. The motion cited both grounds.
What’s Important: Last October, the council voted unanimously to impose a hiring freeze across city departments except the Police Department under Resolution 26-03. The freeze applied to positions vacant as of Oct. 22, 2025, with exceptions requiring council approval on a case-by-case basis. On Aug. 24, two former employees — William Barclay and Darryl Green — showed up to City Hall to begin work as director of public works and code enforcement manager, respectively.
The Background: The council had been granting exceptions to the freeze on request. As recently as Aug. 19, it approved 11 of 12 requested positions. The director of public works was specifically denied an exception at that meeting. The code enforcement manager position was never presented for one. Five days later, both men reported to work.
What the Mayor Said: Nembhard argued that reinstatement is legally distinct from hiring and that the council’s forfeiture process bypassed the city charter’s voter recall procedure, which requires a petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters followed by a public election. She also said the motion failed to identify the specific charter subsection that applied. She told the council she ultimately did not move forward with the reinstatement.
The Vote: Council members Lincoln Lashley, Briana Urbina, Agnelli Sybel Malavé and Chair Duane Rosenberg voted in favor. Vice Chair Cynthia Mills voted against, urging the council to “listen to the people.”
What Happens Next: Urbina, who said she authored the forfeiture provisions during charter reviews in 2024 and 2025, noted the city now has no mayor, no city manager and no city clerk. The charter requires a special election within 65 days when a mayoral vacancy occurs more than 180 days before the next general election. If the vacancy took effect Sept. 9, the election must be held no later than Nov. 13. Lashley, who serves as mayor pro tem, will assume mayoral duties in the interim.
A council member said Nembhard cannot run in the special election because she forfeited the term, which runs through May 2027. Nembhard disputes that interpretation and says she intends to run.
By the Numbers: The two positions carried combined salaries of about $260,000. Rosenberg estimated that, once benefits were included, the total cost to taxpayers would be about $375,000.
Residents Respond: Dozens of residents attended and spoke in support of Nembhard, citing her community presence and personal accessibility. Resident Carly Tewel presented a petition with 143 signatures backing the mayor. Resident Patricia Clover submitted 40 more. One resident spoke in support of the council’s action, saying city employees received three raises last year and that the council was right to scrutinize spending.