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THE GAZETTE
Thursday, September 19, 2013 lr
BRENTWOOD
Continued from Page A-1 police department is being overhauled. The council hired interim chief Samuel Prue on Aug. 20 to rebuild the force. They also hired officer John O’Connor, who previously worked with Prue in the Seat Pleasant Police Department, on Aug. 26. However, in a Sept. 5 meeting, which Bailey-Schmiedigen did not attend, the council voted to fire O’Connor over alleged violations of the town charter and police department policies, said Councilwoman Jennifer Murphy. O’Connor told The Gazette on Sept. 12 that he was unaware of the vote and was still a member of the police department. “All I can comment on is that it’s not true,” he said, regarding claims he was fired. Murphy declined to comment regarding O’Connor beyond confirming his termination, but said the police department violated the charter by purchasing and disposing of weapons and other items without council approval. According to the charter, no public money may be expended without having been approved by the council. “The information that we found out brought us to the conclusion to terminate his employment,” Murphy said. Prue declined to comment on O’Connor, but said the department did receive the necessary approvals. “The purchases were made with the approval of the mayor,” he said. Murphy said she could not confirm or deny whether the mayor gave approval, and Bailey-Schmiedigen could not be reached for further comment. Brentwood resident Nina Young, who served on the council from 2010 to 2013, said the police department was acting without the council’s consent. “We definitely need to rebuild, but we need to rebuild in a way that’s collaborative with the council and the residents,” Young said. Staff Writer Vanessa Harrington contributed to this report. egoldwein@gazette.net
MALL
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erty’s future remains a priority and the county is prepared to provide pending an official site proposal from the property’s owners, Rockville-based Lerner Enterprises. During the same conversations in which the county told Lerner the site would not be chosen for the new regional hospital, the two parties discussed county financial support for Lerner’s plan to build a multiple-story town center including retail, residential and office buildings, said David Iannuci, the county executive’s chief economic advisor. During hospital negotiations, the county offered Lerner $25 million to help cover development costs, which were higher than Largo Town Center’s since the Landover property’s infrastructure needs more improvement, one of the reasons the site was not chosen for the hospital, Iannuci said. “We’re basically prepared to make the same type of commitment for the town center,” he said. “The redevelopment will require partnership, support and active leadership from the county and from our side. We’re prepared to make that.” Lerner did not respond to repeated calls for comment. Community members, however, aren’t hopeful anything will be done soon to fix what they call an “eyesore” and “embarrassment” despite the site’s proximity to FedEx Field, the home stadium of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. “It looks like a worn-out battle zone and has survived various administrations. Each one fails to correct the situation,” Turner said. “We are approaching the end of another year and nothing has been done ...[the community is] resigned to the fact that 2013 is another wasted year.” Salathiel Wright, 51, of Lanham said if the mall was restored, the area would become a year-round destination for everyone instead of a single stop during football season. “People wouldn’t pass through it so fast,” Wright said. “There’s nothing around the [FedEx] stadium. You’re like putting a Monopoly piece alone on the board.”