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Discussion: Mayor Dougherty said
that this is a preliminary workshop matter that is not scheduled at this time for a public meeting. Ms. Heather Smith said that Ms.
Rachel Depo, Assistant City Attorney who works with the Historic District
Commission (HDC) would present the proposed amendments but another item
for consideration is the issue of membership regarding the HDC and whether
or not asnAldermanic membership should be added to that Commission.
Ms.
Rachel Depo said that the proposed amendments are for the purposes of
updating the Historic Preservation Ordinance by amending Chapter 5 Article
III of the Code of the City of Frederick, Maryland (1966, as amended) by
repealing and reenacting with amendments Sections 5-16 through 5-25 of the
Code of The City of Frederick
(1966, as amended) and by adding Sections 5-26 through 5-28. The amendments are based closely
on the State enabling legislation and a model Ordinance provided by the
Maryland Historical Trust.
They serve to update the City’s current Code provisions, ensuring
that the Code is in compliance with current State law. The proposed amendments also give
the City the ability to exercise some authority not possible under the
existing local law – in particular, the ability to designate historic
sites, structures or districts; and the ability to deal more directly with
the problem of demolition by neglect. Ms. Depo reviewed the major
subtantive changes.
The
Legal Department was directed to gather additional information on the
section concerning Demolition by Neglect and to leave that section in the
amended code if stronger enforcement language can be added. There was discussion of the
proposed name change to Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). It was determined to bring the
name change forward in the proposed amendments. The Board of Aldermen agreed that
only (2) members of the Commission must possess professional or academic
training. There was also much
discussion concerning the difference between an Aldermanic liaison and an
Aldermanic voting member and adding an Aldermanic-voting member to the
HDC. Ms. Smith was
directed to prepare an overview of what are recommending bodies and what
are independent entities to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and the role
of the Board of Aldermen in each of those and whether or not recusal is
mandated by an Alderman’s participation at a lower level. It was also agreed that
granting an Aldermanic membership should be included in the forwarded
proposed amendments. There
was also discussion of leaving in the section concerning site
designation.
Mr. Jack
Lynch, member of the NAC said that he had been working sometime with the
Coalition of State Interest to support Archeological Review in Frederick
City and County and he is glad to see the language strengthened and glad
to see the powers given to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to designate
the boundaries outside the Historic District we support and approve
that. It is the first step to
further steps that should be taken in Planning and Zoning for
archeological protections.
Mr. Lynch suggested that the City work with the County to do some
of these things. Ms. Fran
Baker, HDC member requested that the new ordinance come before the HDC,
the Historic District focus group and 2 NAC groups. Mayor Dougherty said that would
happen and would be discussed at 1 or 2 more workshops. | 
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