Note: Ms. Anderson worked on the team at the O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A. law firm that negotiated the severance contract with Kevin Maxwell on behalf of the PGCPS Board of Education. I was told by senior PGCPS staff that the lawyer who negotiated the contract, Ms. Anderson’s boss, would know whether PGCPS would be making pension payments to the Maryland State Retirement System as part of his “post-employment” compensation. I was looking for a simple yes and no answer to this question.
Prior to contacting Ms. Anderson, PGCPS staff sent me on a wild goose chase to get an answer to this simple question. This included the central office assistants of two Board of Education members, the PGCPS General Counsel, an assistant to the PGCPS General Counsel, the PGCPS Public Information Officer, and Ms. Anderson’s boss.
During our brief telephone call, Ms. Anderson refused to answer my simple question, telling me that I’d have to put my question in writing to her. After I repeated my question in a written form, she had the decency not to pass me on to anyone else by refusing to answer my question, effectively responding that the information I was seeking was confidential information (see below).
Ultimately, I was able to get a verbal answer via the central office assistant of another school board member that the acting superintendent was asked my question and answered “yes.”
From: Stephanie P. Anderson <sanderson@omng.com>
Sent: Friday, September 7, 2018 5:43 PM
To: ‘J.H. Snider’
Subject: RESPONSE: Additional Questions on MPIA Response; Re: Dr. Maxell Amendment to Employment Contract –
Good evening Mr. Snider:
I do not have any information on how contributions are being made to the Maryland Retirement and Pension System under the Amendment to Employment Contract. I have been informed by the General Counsel’s office that contact information for the custodian of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System was given to you by letter dated August 22, 2018. I am providing that same information again by stating that pension information on Dr. Maxwell needs to be acquired and confirmed by the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS) and that to request a public record from that Agency, contact the Agency’s designated representative, Michael D. Golden at mgolden@sra.state.md.us or by letter addressed to Michael D. Golden, Director of External Affairs, Maryland State Retirement Agency, 120 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Mr. Golden can also be reached at 410-625-5603.
Regards,
Stephanie P. Anderson
Attorney at Law
O’Malley, Miles, Nylen &Gilmore, P.A.
11785 Beltsville Drive
Tenth Floor
Calverton, MD 20705
(301) 572-3247 phone
(301) 572-6655- fax
sanderson@omng.com
The information contained in this message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the designated recipients named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication, and, as such, is privileged and confidential. If you are not the named recipient, you should not read, distribute, copy, or alter this email. Please notify the sender immediately via e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake; then, delete this e-mail from your system. Warning: although precautions have been taken to make sure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage that arises from the use of this email or attachments. Thank you.
From: ‘J.H. Snider’
Sent: Friday, September 7, 2018 3:51 PM
To: Stephanie P. Anderson <sanderson@omng.com>
Subject: RE: Additional Questions on MPIA Response; Re: Dr. Maxell Amendment to Employment Contract –
Dear Ms. Anderson:
Thank you for returning my call.
The Amendment to Kevin Maxwell’s Employment Contract specifies that Maxwell is being paid $300,200 compensation for each of FY2019 and FY2020. My question is: Is PGCPS contributing to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System so that those sums will be factored into his final pension benefit from the State of Maryland? I am looking for a simple yes or no answer, and I look forward to your answer by the close of business today.
Thank you for your prompt response.
Sincerely,
–J.H. Snider