City Council Public Meeting – May 15, 2025

The Frederick City Council held its regular public meeting on May 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The council approved appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Preservation Commission, and Public Art Commission; passed consent items including a $500,000 state grant for community crisis support; approved a $388,459.50 contract for West Patrick Street design and a $272,000 agreement for HHS renovations; tabled the purchase of $91,058 in office furniture for the Trinity building; adopted the FY2026 fee schedule; set the property tax rate at $0.7055 per $100 (a 2.5‑cent reduction); and tabled both the employee pay scale ordinance and the FY2026 budget to allow further review of the mayor’s proposed amendments. The meeting featured extensive public comment from residents urging the council to pass a ceasefire resolution regarding Gaza.

Consent Calendar

• Release of Surety: Approved release of a $63,522.98 letter of credit posted by Putnam Homes, LLC for the Meadowbrooke project.
• Special Ordinance S‑25‑10: Approved a $500,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Health for Community Crisis Support (salary expenditures of $154,000 and $100,000 to Centro Hispano). Vote: 5‑0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tina Meadows (Chuckstown Road) described attending the Jewish Voice for Peace membership meeting and urged attention to Palestinian suffering.
• Eric Musa (7th Street) noted the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, cited ongoing deaths and starvation in Gaza, and called for a ceasefire resolution.
• Grady Ariar (resident) argued that U.S. military spending ($2 trillion projected for 2025) drains resources from local needs and urged the council to endorse a ceasefire resolution.
• Zachariah (child) read a poem about children in Gaza and pleaded for a ceasefire.
• Yusuf (identified as from Palestine) stated that the Nakba continues and called on the council to resist genocide and pass a ceasefire resolution.
• Tess stated the Nakba never ended, urged the council not to turn its back on the oppressed, and called for an immediate ceasefire.
• David Walinsky (Frederick) supported the previous speakers and gave a short talk on Shakespeare’s Hamlet to argue that conscience should lead to action.
• Peter Brem (Frederick resident) supported Councilmember McShane’s proposal to limit for‑profit use of Carroll Creek Linear Park, arguing that nonprofit use aligns with the park’s purpose.

Discussion Items

Appointments (Approved 4‑0 each)

• Lee Hand to the Zoning Board of Appeals (term expiring September 21, 2026).
• Bob Sisson reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (three‑year term June 9, 2025 – June 8, 2028).
• Ed McMahon to the Historic Preservation Commission (three‑year term May 15, 2025 – May 15, 2028).
• Catie Serio to the Public Art Commission (three‑year term May 16, 2025 – May 15, 2028).

Council Business & Comments

• Council President recognized Bike to Work Day and read a poem for National Peace Officer Memorial Day.
• Councilmember Kazemczak thanked families and supporters of council members and staff.

Public Hearing – Purchases

• West Patrick Street Design (RFP 25‑V): Approval of a $388,459.50 purchase order with Fox & Associates for full‑depth reconstruction from Bentz Street to Jefferson Street. Discussion focused on the selection process, MWBE participation, and the challenge of expanding the bidder pool. Councilmember McShane raised concerns about implicit bias in scoring. Approved 5‑0.
• Bates Architects – HHS Renovations: Approval of a $272,000 agreement for renovations at 100 S. Market Street (FQHC expansion, permanent supportive housing, and food/nutrition space). Approved 5‑0.
• Office Furniture for Trinity Building: A $91,058.44 purchase request for office furniture to support relocation of HHS services (home energy, weatherization, housing counseling, admin, and a community computer lab). Councilmembers McShane and Kazemczak objected to the cost and the continued use of the Trinity building. The item was tabled after staff agreed to withdraw the request for now.

Public Hearing – Ordinances

• G‑25‑10 (Master Fee Schedule for FY2026): Councilmember McShane proposed adding a tiered fee structure for Carroll Creek Linear Park, with lower rates for nonprofits and higher rates for for‑profit users, and higher rates for the most active section (Market to Carroll Streets). Discussion acknowledged the policy question of park purpose. Council agreed to pass the fee schedule as presented and begin a future conversation on park use policies. Approved 5‑0.
• G‑25‑13 (Employee Positions, Grades, and Pay Scale): Motion to table (4‑1) because the council had received the mayor’s amended budget only 24 hours earlier and needed time to review its impact on personnel costs. Tabled.
• S‑25‑08 (Tax Rate for FY2026): The mayor’s proposal kept the rate at $0.73 per $100 residential and $1.55 per $100 business personal property. Councilmember Shackelford moved to reduce the rate by 5 cents (to $0.68). Vote failed 2‑3. Councilmember Kazemczak then moved to reduce by 2.5 cents (to $0.7055). Approved 3‑2. The reduction amounts to $3,172,370 in recurring revenue. The mayor and Director Barkdoll warned that any cut could affect bond ratings and long‑term financial stability, but supporters argued the city has been overtaxing and under‑spending.
• S‑25‑09 (FY2026 Budget Adoption): Mayor O’Connor presented an amended budget that included: a 5% cap on pay adjustments (down from 15% originally), $2.5 million added to the West Side Regional Park Community Center, $1 million for sidewalk retrofits, $2 million for the Golden Mile redesign (replacing lost federal grants), $700,000 for a nonprofit emergency grant program, and removal of $2 million in federal grant revenue from HHS programs. Council debated the appropriateness of funding these initiatives amid economic uncertainty and whether the pay adjustment policy should be made via collective bargaining. Motion to table passed 5‑0 to allow further review.
• Introduction of G‑25‑14 (Parking): Introduced an ordinance to eliminate references to traditional parking meters, establish a digital parking program, and update parking manager authority.

Final Council Comments

• Council Vice President Kazemczak congratulated his son on graduating from Mount St. Mary’s.
• Councilmember McShane reported that the ADU committee is working with a constituent and expects to bring a draft ordinance to committee soon.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments approved (4‑0 each).
• Consent items approved (5‑0).
• West Patrick Street design contract approved (5‑0).
• Bates Architects agreement approved (5‑0).
• Trinity office furniture request withdrawn/tabled after council opposition.
• FY2026 fee schedule adopted (5‑0), with commitment to discuss Carroll Creek park use policy separately.
• Employee pay scale ordinance tabled (4‑1).
• Property tax rate set at $0.7055 per $100 residential and $1.55 per $100 business personal property (vote 3‑2).
• FY2026 budget ordinance tabled (5‑0) for further amendment and consideration.
• Parking ordinance (G‑25‑14) introduced (first reading).
• Next steps: Council will hold additional meetings (potential May 29) to finalize the budget and associated ordinances before the June 19 deadline.