The Mayor and Board of Aldermen held a workshop on September 25, 2024, at 3:00 PM. The primary agenda item was an annual update presentation from East Frederick Rising (EFR), a community development organization. The consent calendar was approved unanimously (4-0) with Alderman McSheen absent. No public comments were given.
Good afternoon. Welcome to our September twenty-fifth workshop. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. So move. Second. We have first and second. All in favor. That's four zero. Automan McSheen was here earlier, but he had a dad duty to attend to. I think we can just move forward, and if I have anything else, I'll just email. So all items included under the business meeting are considered to be routinely by the mayor and board of aldermen and are being heard at the workshop pursuant to the rules of procedure of the Board of Alderman. They will be approved in one motion without separate discussion of each item unless each any person present requests an item or items be removed from the agenda. Any item removed from the agenda will be considered separately. The remove item may be considered at the end of the business meeting or at a regular public meeting. And if you would like any of the items below to be considered separately, please see so when I announce each category, release assurities. Second. First and second, all in favor. That is 4-0. Grants. Move for approval. Second. First and second, all in favor. Special ordinances. Move for approval. Second. Second. First and second. All in favor. Four zero. Special. Request to serve out call and public property. Move for approval. Second. We have a first and a second. All in favor. That's four zero. Okay. Our item for our workshop today is a presentation of East Street Rising and an annual update provided. I think kicking us off is economic development director Richard Griffin. Good afternoon, members of the board. Thank you very much for having me today. She's seated behind me. They have been working hard, and I do want to point out that there are a number of liaisons from the city who attend their meetings, including myself, Brandon Mark, and David Edmondson with the city. Update their bylaws and onboarding materials, updating their paperwork and their processes, building a social media presence, which I think you'll see has been pretty robust and uh very exciting, I think. Um and not the least of which is to raise money to support their activities. They are seeking eventually to enter into a multi-year more memorandum of understanding with the city, and I'm sure they'll bring that up. Um, but they're not asking for financial assistance at this time. And finally, just to make sure that the public knows those that are listening out there that neighborhood uh advisory councils seven and twelve are in the area that is covered by East Frederick Rising. Uh they do very much want to be an inclusive community, and so they certainly are trying very hard to meet the equity impact um you know goals of the city. With that, I think I'll turn it over to the president, Heather Um Goddard, and many of you know her because she wears another hat.