Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting - February 2, 2023
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Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting - February 2, 2023
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen held a public meeting on February 2, 2023, at 7:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting included approval of minutes, consent agenda items, and three public hearings on fee waivers and a zoning text amendment. All items were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Alcohol in City Parks: Approved a request by the Frederick Arts Council, Inc. to sell and serve beer and wine on June 9 (setup), June 10, and June 11, 2023, for the Frederick Festival of the Arts at Carroll Creek Park Amphitheater and adjacent areas, pursuant to Section 6.19 of the City Code. Motion passed 5-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during either of the two public comment periods.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the January 5, 2023 Regular Public Meeting were approved with a vote of 3-0 (one abstention, one absent). Minutes from the January 5, 2023 Closed Session were approved with a vote of 2-0 (two abstentions).
- Mayor’s Comments: Mayor O’Connor reminded the public of altered traffic patterns and shuttle options for the downtown Frederick Partnership’s annual Fire in Ice celebration, noting the addition of Friday evening festivities.
- Aldermanic Comments: Alderman Shackelford recognized three African American pioneers: Claude DeLauder (first African American alderman), William O’Lee, and William G. Hall, and also acknowledged Cavante Deckett, first African American on the county council. Alderman McShane read a passage written by his daughter about Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing the need to honor his legacy truthfully. Alderman Russell urged continued work toward equality.
Public Hearing: Fee Waiver for Frederick Festival of the Arts
- Bob Smith, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, presented a request from the Frederick Arts Council to waive park rental fees for setup on June 9 and event dates June 10–11, 2023, under Section 6.13 of the City Code. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended waiving fees for two of the three days. The board voted to waive all three days, finding that the event provides public benefits including free live music, public art, social networking, and support for local businesses and tourism. Motion by Alderman Russell, second by Alderman Shackelford. Passed 5-0.
Public Hearing: Fee Waiver for 33rd Annual Children’s Festival
- Bob Smith presented a request from Child Care Choices/Frederick County Mental Health Association to co-sponsor and waive gymnasium and park rental fees at Baker Park for the 33rd Annual Children’s Festival on April 29, 2023. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval. The board approved the resolution and co-sponsorship, finding that the event provides social, educational, and networking opportunities for children and adults and supports local businesses and tourism. Motion by Alderman Russell, second by Alderman Kazemchek. Passed 5-0.
Public Hearing: Zoning Text Amendment to Allow Schools in PB District
- Gabrielle Collard, city staff, presented an ordinance to amend Section 404, Table 404-1 of the Land Management Code to allow public and private schools in the Professional Business (PB) zoning district. The Planning Commission recommended approval, finding compatibility with existing uses and consistency with the comprehensive plan. Lisa Lawler, representing the applicant Minocasy Montessori Communities Inc., spoke in support, noting that approval would allow the state’s oldest charter school to expand and open the county’s first charter high school through redevelopment of a nearly vacant medical office building. The board approved the ordinance without additional discussion, finding it consistent with the municipal growth chapter of the 2020 comprehensive plan and strategic goal SG3 (safe and vibrant community). Motion by Alderman Kazemchek, second by Alderman O’Connor (as transcribed; seconder noted as “Ottawa Nash”). Passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- All three consent agenda and public hearing items were approved unanimously (5-0).
- The board waived all three days of park rental fees for the Frederick Festival of the Arts, overriding the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation to waive only two days.
- The ordinance amending the Land Management Code to permit schools in the PB zoning district was adopted, enabling the expansion of a charter high school in the city.
- No other business was conducted; the meeting adjourned without further public comment.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the mayor and board of alderman public meeting for the second of February. We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Liberty and Justice. We have minutes to approve from the January 5th, 2023 regular public meeting. So moved. Second. Motion by Alderman Shackleth, second by Alderman Russell. All those in favor. That is three with one abstention. And one absent. Alderman McShane. January 5th, 2023, closed session. So move. We want to second. Motion by Alderman Shackleburg, second by Alderman Russell. All those in favor. That is two. With two abstentions. Two zero with two abstentions. That works. Mayor's comments. Uh this will be a busy weekend in downtown Frederick. Please uh spay pay special attention to altered traffic patterns and uh opportunities to uh take a shuttle into downtown Frederick, where it might very well be crowded with vehicles and pedestrians for the downtown Frederick Partnership's annual fire in ice celebration. They've added some Friday evening festivities to the weekend, so it's just one of those exciting weekends in downtown Frederick, and I think the weather will cooperate for um ice not melting. Um it might cooperate for everything not melting. Um it's uh it's supposed to be cold, but uh it'll it's always a good time. So beware. Alderman a comments. Alderman Shackelford. Yes, February is Black History Month, and tonight I would like to highlight uh particularly for the City of Frederick uh three persons. Uh Mr. Claude De Lauder, who was the first African American to serve on the Board of Alderman, Mr. William O'Lee, and Mr. William G. Hall. I highlight their accomplishments and uh I've got to know them opportunity to know them before I served in the public office as a youngster, as a younger person than I am now, and those their tremendous contributions that they have made to our communities and the imprint that they have made on my life personally. I am extremely grateful for what they have imparted to me. And I acknowledge that I would not be sitting in this seat if we're not if I were not standing on their shoulders. So tonight I would like to highlight those three persons and also um a colleague and a friend of mine and a mentee of my Mr. Cavante Deckett, who was the first African American to serve on the county council. Thank you. Thank you very much. Aldermange. Yes, Mayor, if you indulge me, I'd like to just read something. I've got to read it from my phone. Um Martin Luther King Jr. once said, a riot is the language of the unheard, which again was in his many letters he wrote during his time in an Atlanta prison. He once led a march that went from Selma to Montgomery, nicknamed Bloody Sunday because of the horrible police brutality witnessed that day. But again, no one knows about these marches because you can't wash over the message of these marches. During his time to minimize his power, Martin Luther King was made out to be a leader of violence and a hater of America, and some people even called him a terrorist, and said that I am not anti-America, I am anti-injustice.
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