Frederick City Government Operations Committee Workshop - January 23, 2025
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Frederick City Government Operations Committee Workshop
On January 23, 2025, the City of Frederick's Government Operations Committee held its first official meeting, chaired by Council Vice President Shackelford. The committee reviewed the Compensation Commission's salary recommendations, discussed the proposed legislative district maps, and received an update on the Maryland General Assembly session. No formal votes were taken; the committee scheduled further discussions for February 6 and February 13, 2025.
Committee Overview
- Chief of Staff Guy Sampson outlined the committee's purpose, membership (Council Vice President Shackelford, Councilmember Donna Kuzemchak, Councilmember Kelly Russell), and meeting schedule: first and third Thursdays, 2-4 p.m., with a quorum of two members.
Compensation Commission Recommendations
- Director of Budget Administration Katie Barkdahl presented the Commission's report, recommending a mayor's salary of $131,497 (a 16.8% increase from $112,640), a council member salary of $36,546 (same percentage increase), and a 20% differential for the Council President, resulting in a salary of $43,855 (computed).
- Commission members Christy Rogaski (vice chair) and Barbara Kirshner Daniel defended the differential, citing comparable municipalities and the Council President's additional duties (staff oversight, agenda setting).
- Councilmember Russell expressed uncertainty about the 20% differential due to lack of implementation data, but Council President Nash supported it, citing leadership responsibilities.
- The ordinance will be introduced on February 6 and must be passed by March 1.
Legislative Districts Discussion
- Andrew from Haystack presented two proposed maps (Map 1 and Map 2) for five city council districts. Public feedback (survey open since December 12, closing January 31) shows a slight preference for Map 1 (49% vs. 37% for Map 2), with 13% neutral.
- Community members emphasized alignment with Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) boundaries; NAC 7 is split across three districts in both maps, though the split areas have no population.
- The committee discussed potential realignment of NAC boundaries (drawn in 2001) with new districts, but no decision was made.
- The item was referred to the Committee of the Whole on February 13, 2025, at 4 p.m., with a target public hearing on February 20.
Maryland General Assembly Update
- Luke Penton of Funk Bolton reported a $2.7 billion state deficit, with the governor's budget released January 22. The city received $7.5 million for Route 15 improvements and $7.5 million for a downtown hotel/conference center.
- Other tracked legislation includes the Procurement Reform Act and the Housing for Jobs Act. The committee requested weekly legislative updates from the lobbying team.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken.
- The compensation ordinance will be introduced on February 6, with a committee discussion on that date.
- The legislative district maps will be discussed at the February 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.
- Staff will provide updated survey data and a memo by the February 6 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the government government operations committee. We will start today with the Pledge of Leaves. Mrs. Republic before we just stand. Underground. Liberty and Directions. Welcome everyone to our government operations committee hearing meeting today. We will start just with a few guidelines of protocols and procedures before we proceed since this is the first official meeting of the government operations committee. Public comment. Members of the public are encouraged to attend committee public meetings and provide public comment on items that appear on the meeting agenda. Speakers should begin their public comment by stating their name and general address for the record. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to share their comments with the committee. Committee members will not be answering questions or engaging in discussion during the public comment portion of the speakers. Speakers who signed up to provide public comment will speak first before is the the before the floor is open for general public comment. Please note that these committee hearings are broadcast on live TV. Please speak clearly into the microphone, and please sign electronic and refrain, electronic devices and refrain from personal loud discussions while the committee meeting is in process. Pursuant to the code of civility included in the city's council's rules of procedure, resolution 2427. Personal conduct that disrupts the meetings or interferes with other members of the public's ability to attend or observe meetings is not acceptable. Please adhere to the city's code of civility while attending and participating in committee meetings. Copies of the code of civility are available in the city hall boardroom to my left and to your right. Today on our agenda is an approval of an ordinance to establish the compensation of the mayor, the city council, president, and other members of the city council, and this item will present it by Chief of Staff Guy and Sampson. We are doing a legislative hearing update first. No, I think good afternoon, Guy and Samson, Chief of Staff to the Mayor. Thank you, Council Vice President Shackleford. Before we jump to um the part that the Director of Budget Administration is going to go over, is that we just wanted to first say uh congratulations on your first committee hearing. We you know you know and I know about organizations have to start something first, and I'm happy to see that you all's committee is starting this. One of the things in addition to the overview of a committee duties and procedures, we just want to make sure we highlighted a couple of things for the public so they can hear. Absolutely. Um of this just so it's put into the record. Uh the legislative standing committees are the core policy and review bodies bodies of the legislative branch, and the committee serve two primary functions. One, it is a venue for discussing policies, proposed legislation, and other items requiring city council input and feedback. The second is to review and provide initial feedback and recommendations regarding legislative items items, example, for example, ordinances that have been formally submitted to the city council or undergoing the legislative process. Um this committee, for example, uh the government operations committee. It meets the first and third Thursdays of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. Um the council membership is obviously you, council vice president Shackelford as the Chair, Councilmember Donna Kazemchak, and Council Member Kelly Russell. Um a quorum is established by two members of this committee. And the scope of this committee is to focus on policies, departments, and commissions related to administrative oversight and services, government affairs, operation efficiency, and administrative services. That's essentially the role of the government operations. We're thankful that the council president is here with us today. But we just want to make sure we put that into the record for um folks to understand what the makeup of your committee is and the work that we've done as staff to support you all in getting this done. Thank you. Appreciate that uh update and that information, and thank you, uh Chief of Staff Guy and Sampson for providing that information for us and also for our general public as we get started with this process. Thank you. I'm gonna turn over to the director of budget administration. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Approval orders to establish the compensation of the mayor, the city council, president, and other members of the city council decided and we're presented by director of budget administration, Katie Barkdahl. Good afternoon. We're excited to be here on your first meeting.
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