City Council Public Meeting - May 1, 2025
City Council Public Meeting - May 1, 2025
The Frederick City Council met on May 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes, council member announcements, two rounds of public comment, and action on four public hearing items including a budget amendment, two professional services contracts, a resolution on tax-exempt municipal bonds, and a second reading of an ordinance amending the residential rental licensing program. All votes were 4-0 except the ordinance, which passed 3-1.
Public Comments & Testimony (First Round)
- Eric Musa (resident of 7th Street) urged the Council to address affronts to freedoms, protect LGBTQ+ community members, and support schools. He referenced academic Jason Stanley and called for extending values from Kiev to Gaza.
- Tina Meadows O'Rear (Shookstown Road) urged the Council to adopt a ceasefire resolution regarding Palestine, criticizing U.S. arguments at the International Court of Justice.
- Grady O'Rear (Shookstown Road) urged adoption of a ceasefire resolution with deep urgency, citing tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, blocked humanitarian aid, and the need for courage. Quoted Aristotle.
- Tess (Frederick community member, from Palestine) asked Council to reflect on historical injustices, condemned the killing of children, and called for a ceasefire, stating silence is complicity.
- Zachariah (from Palestine) recited a poem about a child in Gaza, concluding with "Free Gaza, free Palestine."
- Yusuf (from Palestine) stated that over 16,000 children have been killed, 4,000 lost limbs, and 39,000 lost one or both parents since the genocide began. He urged the Council to act.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Special Ordinance S-25- (Budget Amendment): The Council approved a special ordinance to amend the budget to include revenue from CIP #360036 (Route 40 and Lester Dingle Booster Pump Stations Rehabilitation). Motion passed 4-0.
- Contract with Conewago Enterprises, Inc.: The Council approved a contract for disinfection by-product improvements at the Mountain Water Supply (Fishing Creek and L. R. Dingle) facilities for a total of $7,266,155.60. Motion passed 4-0.
- Contract with Noelker and Hull Architects: The Council approved a $116,000 contract (RFP 25-T) for a space needs assessment of city-owned buildings. Director of Public Works Zach Kirshner presented the scope: evaluating space efficiency, quantifying workspace allocation, and developing 5- and 10-year utilization strategies for 10 administrative and 3 operational buildings. Councilmember noted Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation. Motion passed 4-0.
- Resolution 25-13 (Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds): The Council approved a resolution urging the Maryland Congressional delegation to support the federal tax exemption for municipal bonds, which are used to fund public infrastructure. Council President presented the item. Motion passed 4-0.
- Second Reading of Ordinance G-25-09 (Residential Rental Licensing): City Attorney Rachel Nesson described the amendments: expanding the rental assistance fund to serve any eligible low-income renter (not just those displaced by failed inspections), updating references from "Board of Aldermen" to "City Council," and requiring council approval of regulations. After discussion:
- Councilmember expressed opposition, stating the original intent was to assist only tenants forced to vacate due to inspection failures, not to subsidize rents generally.
- Council President disagreed, maintaining the broader intent was always part of the program.
- Public Comment: Jim Smersal (landlord of a disabled family member) opposed using licensing fees for general rental assistance and suggested a four-year licensing cycle instead of two to reduce tenant costs.
- The Council voted 3-1 to approve the ordinance as presented.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of the April 3, 2025 regular public meeting and March 27, 2025 closed session (4-0).
- Approved budget amendment for CIP #360036 (4-0).
- Approved contract with Conewago Enterprises, Inc. ($7,266,155.60) for water disinfection improvements (4-0).
- Approved contract with Noelker and Hull Architects ($116,000) for space needs assessment (4-0).
- Approved Resolution 25-13 supporting federal tax exemption for municipal bonds (4-0).
- Passed Ordinance G-25-09 amending residential rental licensing (3-1).
Public Comments & Testimony (Second Round)
- Jim Smersal (Frederick resident) noted the passing of former Alderman Alan Merchant, highlighting his role in bringing the Frederick Keys baseball stadium to the city.
- Desiree Mortenson (Frederick County resident) expressed concern over U.S. funding of weapons despite reported civilian deaths in Gaza, urged the Council to pass a ceasefire resolution, and referenced the Leahy Law and QME law. She criticized double standards.
- Saul Bay Mortenson (Shookstown Road) thanked the Council for remaining open to a ceasefire resolution and emphasized free speech rights.
Adjournment
The Council adjourned in memory of Alan Merchant, former alderman and assistant to Mayor Ron Young.
Meeting Transcript
City Council regular public meeting. We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. We have approval of minutes from the April 3rd regular public meeting. So moved. Second. We have a first and second. All in favor? It's 4 0. Thank you very much. March 27th special uh closed session. So moved. Second. All in favor? It's 4 0. Thank you very much. Uh we'll begin up here with council business comments. Uh Councilvice President, do you have anything to see? No comments, thank you. Councilmember Kazamczyk. No, thank you. Councilmember Russell. Of course, I'd like to remind everybody that May 15th is Bike to Work Day. You can register at Bike2Work, MetroDC.org. You get a free t-shirt. And if you want to join us for a ceremonial ride, we'll leave Hood College about 6 a.m. and end at the transit center where there'll be goodies and food, coffee, donuts, all that good stuff. So it's an opportunity to try something different. Um you don't actually have to bike to work, you can just, you know, bike a little bit or sign up. Metro Bike to Work, Metro DC.org. Hope to see you there. Thank you, Councilmember. I just wanted to raise awareness real quick about um discussions around the FCC Childcare Center. Uh, we've been partnering with the county. The county had an in-depth conversation, an inquiry with President Cheek uh last week during their budget session. I just wanted to point everyone in that direction. I was present for the meeting with the county, excuse me, the county budget meeting on Tuesday. I offered just some general comments about the importance of child care, especially for working parents. Um just wanted to direct everybody to that attend to uh to watch that meeting and to be aware of those conversations as they move forward. Um, just a couple of things as we get started. If you'd like to offer public comment, please be aware of the following guidelines. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to share your comments when it's your turn to speak. Please begin by stating your name and if applicable, your general address to ensure you have an uninterrupted opportunity to speak. This will be your time, so that means that members of council will not be engaging in questions back and forth or back and forth discussion. Um however, we do encourage you to email all of us at citycouncil at city of FrederickMD.gov, city council at cityoffrederickmd.gov, especially if you are offering written or if you have written materials to accompany your remarks. Thank you, my dear. Thank you. Those who have signed up to speak will speak first. Um the city council uses rules of procedure, which were most recently passed by resolution 24-27, and we have also posted our code of civility in this boardroom. Please take note of your the exits for your safety and silence all electronic devices. And we will begin this evening with Eric Musa, and from there we'll go to Tina Meadows Arier, Grady Ariar Tess, then Zacharia, then Yusuf.
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