Hopewell is paying its interim city manager almost $21,000 a month until City Council hires a permanent replacement for the recently terminated Dr. Concetta Manker.
A contract between council and the Robert Bobb Group, the advisory firm that had just completed a year-long makeover of Hopewell’s fiscal-management system, puts the monthly payment to RBG employee Michael Rogers at $20,833 effective May 1. The monthly payments – named as “fees” in the contract with RBG – will continue until a hire is made.
Rogers is a former interim city manager in Charlottesville and former chief operating officer in Petersburg.
The Progress-Index obtained a copy of Rogers’ contract through a Virginia Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] request on May 5 that was answered May 7.
Manker and former City Clerk Brittani Williams were fired May 1 during a special City Council meeting that turned extremely volatile, with citizens shouting insults and expletives at the dais after a motion to allow public comment on the terminations was defeated. That vote and the ones to terminate Manker and Williams followed council’s racial makeup of four white councilors supporting the motions and three Black councilors opposing them.
After the votes, the Black councilors walked out of the meeting and joined the public in an impromptu rally outside the Municipal Building supporting not just for the fired officials but also to encourage citizens to push for changes among the council.
What does the contract say?
The contract, signed May 2 by Bobb and Mayor Johnny Partin Jr., states that the total fee for the interim city manager services will not exceed $250,000 annually. Rogers’ stated monthly amount includes travel and expenses.
Rogers will be responsible for all duties normally performed by a city manager, such as day-to-day operations oversight. Since Manker was let go amid discussions on the fiscal year 2026 budget, council directed Rogers to work with Hopewell Chief Financial Officer Stacey Jordan on guiding the proposal through to final adoption.
Council wants him to assist with drafting a job description for the next city manager and prioritizing a work plan for that person “tied to a written plan of goals and priorities approved by City Council,” the contract reads.
Rogers’ other duties include making weekly written reports to City Council “upon the affairs of the locality” under his supervision and keeping council “fully advised” on Hopewell’s fiscal management and oversee the city’s implementation of the system put in place by the Bobb Group.
First meeting could be loud
Rogers’ first meeting in the interim role is May 13. That is also the first meeting since the chaotic May 1 meeting when Manker and Williams were let go.
Citizens who vehemently opposed the firings are urging others to attend and share their feelings during the public-comment portion of the meeting. Those who attended the May 1 became angry after councilors voted 4-3 to not allow them to speak.
That decision, along with the two subsequent votes to let Manker and Williams go, drew uproar from the gallery. One citizen was escorted out for hollering at the four who voted for removal, while some teetered on the edge of removal, and others walked out in disgust.
No interim has been named for Williams. Deputy City Clerk Sade’ Allen was told by council to run the office in Williams’ place until a permanent replacement is hired, which needs to happen by June 30.
Allen’s is one of two key leadership positions that are unfunded in the fiscal year 2026 budget effective July 1. The other is that of Deputy City Manager James Gaston III, who was hired 11 months ago by Manker.
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
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