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The money man in Baltimore City Circuit Court
Danny Jacobs//Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer//June 27, 2014
The money man in Baltimore City Circuit Court
An item on the city’s Board of Estimates agenda a couple weeks ago caught my attention. The Board approved a one-year, $107,100 consultant agreement with Andre Cherry to work as the “fiscal administration/grant accountant” in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
The Board of Estimates agenda says the position “manages the circuit court’s general fund appropriation and grants… to ensure fiscal accuracy and proper reporting.” The position, which reports to the administrative judge, is “the first point of contact on all fiscal matters related to the circuit court’s general fund appropriations and grants received from external organizations.”
Frank Broccolina, the court’s administrator, said Cherry began working in the circuit court part-time in 2005 managing money and grants provided to court programs, including the drug and family courts. A few years ago, Cherry took on the role of budget officer and now works full-time on “ongoing” one-year contracts, Broccolina said. Cherry also is the court’s chief accountant.
“If I have any question about money, I go to him,” Broccolina said.
Angelita Plemmer Williams, a spokeswoman for the Judiciary, said it’s not unusual for city or county employees to work alongside state Judiciary employees. In Prince George’s County, for example, a county employee tracks courthouse grants just like Cherry, Williams said.
Cherry’s new contract goes into effect Tuesday.
