In July, Reid renewed the provisional employment of three of Cuffee-Glenn’s relatives, before the substance of the investigation could be made public. She said that she believed the hires complied with city protocols and that she did not discuss them with Cuffee-Glenn.

Prior to coming to Richmond, Reid and Cuffee-Glenn worked together for years in Suffolk. In 2015, when then-Mayor Dwight C. Jones hired Cuffee-Glenn as the city’s top administrator, Reid followed close behind.

Once in Richmond, Reid helped lead a turnaround of the city’s Finance Department, which had failed to meet financial reporting deadlines set by the state amid turnover and issues with the implementation of new accounting software.

Council members said Reid’s interim appointment would provide continuity as the administration conducts a search for the position.

“Right now, we need to make sure that the city continues to move forward and the [comprehensive annual financial report] is on time,” said Councilman Michael Jones, the 9th District representative, referring to the annual accounting report the city must send the state later this year.

There is no timeline for the search for Cuffee-Glenn’s permanent replacement, said Lincoln Saunders, the mayor’s chief of staff.