Kelly Madigan, Baltimore County’s first inspector general who clashed at times with former county executive Johnny Olszewski, his top aides and members of the County Council, was told yesterday that her term has expired.

The six-sentence letter signed by County Executive Kathy Klausmeier describes Madigan as a “holdover” appointment, and says “the County Executive shall conduct an open search process for the [next] inspector general.”

The opening for the IG position will be posted tomorrow on the county’s career website, according to the letter obtained by The Brew.

“As the current Inspector General, I would encourage you to apply for the position if you are interested in remaining with Baltimore County Government,” the letter to Madigan concludes.

Reached today, Madigan said she “is a little shocked” by the abrupt notice by Klausmeier, who was appointed by the County Council in January to fill out the two-year term vacated by Olszewski, who was elected to Congress.

Madigan, who made it known in the final months of Olszewski’s tenure that she sought reappointment, said she has tried to meet with Klausmeier to “tell her about the mission of the office and about myself,” but there has been no contact until yesterday when Klausmeier and her staff met with the IG.

At the end of the meeting, the letter below was handed to Madigan.

Not Giving Up

The first IG serves a five-year term and can serve for another four years, or through the 2026 county elections until January 2029.

“So as the interim county executive, she [Klausmeier] could appoint me to another term. Or she can open the position up for a job search,” Madigan told The Brew.

She said she plans to apply for her current position, even though the county code says that an incumbent IG “shall be subject to an appointment for a second term” directly without the need for the “open search process” cited by the letter.

Erica Palmisano, the county director of communications, has not responded to questions by The Brew.

“I stand by the work of the office, and I look forward to the application process”  – Kelly Madigan.

“I love this job,” Madigan said. “It’s been one of my greatest honors to serve as the inspector general. I stand by the work of the office, and I look forward to the application process.”

Her office today released a report detailing how a Baltimore County corrections officer fraudulently obtained two federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans worth $41,633.

Angering Electeds

After being appointed by Olszewski in January 2020, charged with identifying waste, fraud and abuse and promoting accountability in county government, Madigan ran into ferocious blowback following two reports that detailed the mismanagement of the county’s Ag Center by William “Chris” McCollum, who later pleaded guilty to embezzlement of campaign funds.

Then-6th District Councilwoman Cathy Bevins and former Council Chairman Julian Jones berated Madigan at a May 2021 public hearing, with Jones asserting that Madigan was trying to scare county employees. Her investigation of a citizen’s complaint that Jones was using the county email network to solicit campaign donations further enraged the councilman.

Just two months later after Olszewski was forced to fire McCollum (but secretly kept him on the payroll), the county executive attempted to abolish the independence and strip the investigative powers of Madigan’s office.

Olszewski withdrew the legislation after a public outcry, but later made numerous attempts to restrict Madigan through the workings of an oversight committee.

Last November, county voters approved ballot “Question B,” which established the Office of the Inspector General within the county charter so that no future county executive or County Council could eliminate the office.

Meanwhile, Madigan’s investigative reports continued to anger not only Olszewski and Jones, but then-Public Works and Transportation Director D’Andrea Walker, who was promoted to county administrator last year and now serves as Klausmeier’s right hand.

The Brew learned that Klausmeier has notified Jones, County Council Chair Mike Ertel and other top electeds that she plans to appoint a replacement for Madigan.