ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers on Friday called for hearings into why Gov. Larry Hogan’s new chief of staff received a six-figure severance package when he left his job at an independent state agency to work in the governor’s office.
Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones said in a statement Friday morning it was “truly shocking” that Roy McGrath received a $233,647 payout from the Maryland Environmental Service’s board of directors.
The Baltimore Sun reported that the board approved the payout for McGrath’s voluntary departure in a private online meeting May 28, though the minutes don’t offer a reason for the payment. Hogan’s office declined to comment to the newspaper and declined to make McGrath available for an interview.
McGrath’s salary as Hogan’s chief of staff is $233,000, according to Susan O’Brien, a spokeswoman for the comptroller’s office, which processes the state’s payroll. She said the figure was rounded down to the nearest thousand.
The governor appoints the Maryland Environmental Service executive director, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
The current MES executive director, Charles Glass, did not respond Wednesday and Thursday to requests for comment from The Sun. A spokesman for MES did not respond to messages Wednesday, nor did the board members.
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