A delegation of five council members met with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) Monday evening as planned to discuss the mayor's controversial re-appointment of Ximena Hartsock as interim director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) requested the meeting after a tense period of arguments between the legislative body and the mayor's administration. Several council members were upset after Fenty signed an executive order to hold Hartsock over in the job for another 180 days despite a 7 to 5 council vote to deny her confirmation as permanent director.
Gray and council members Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), David A. Catania (I-At Large), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) comprised the delegation. They traveled to the mayor's bullpen for the meeting, sitting in one of the glass conference rooms.
Gray went as chairman while Bowser and Catania represented council members who supported Hartsock's confirmation and Cheh and Thomas represented those who rejected her. Hartsock has been a polarizing figure in parks and recreation, particularly in a plan to privatize child care centers that left employees without work.
Her confirmation hearing, however, drew criticism for some statements made about her Chilean roots.
No word yet from the mayor and council on what's next.
-- Nikita Stewart
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