Via Montgomery Planning.
The Montgomery County Planning Board has fired the director of the Planning Department.
The board voted to remove Gwen Wright on Friday, per a release from the department. She was director since 2013 and was due to retire at the end of December.
The Planning Director is an at-will position appointed by the board. One day before the termination, Wright was quoted in a WJLA news story speaking up for Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, who is reportedly accused via confidential email of inappropriate workplace behavior and was docked pay for having a full bar in his Wheaton office and drinking with officials.
The county council has a closed session scheduled at 3 p.m. Monday to discuss “a personnel matter concerning one or more specific appointees, employees, or officials,” according to the agenda.
Deputy Planning Director Tanya Stern was named Acting Montgomery Planning Director.
In a statement, Stern said, “We thank and appreciate Gwen Wright’s many years of service to M-NCPPC and Montgomery Planning and the legacy of excellence in planning and urban design by Montgomery Planning during that time. During this time of transition, I will be working very closely with senior leadership to help ensure Montgomery Planning can continue to focus on its excellent work that is highly respected in this region and across the country.”
