Members are expected to have their first report within 100 days.
A 16-member committee has been appointed to examine the issue of blighted and vacant properties in the city of Frederick. Mayor Randy McClement says the panel will study the problem, and present a draft report to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen within 100-days.
The members of the Blighted and Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee are Tamar Osterman and Kathryn McKenzie, who represent a residential property brokerage firm; Steve Cranford and David Kaye, who represent commercial property brokerages; Joe Fitzgibbons and Mike Bowersox, who represent commercial property owners; Robert Murray and Matthew Donahue, who are at large community representatives; and Kara Norman, a representative from a non-profit organization, in this case, the Downtown Frederick Partnership.
The four ex-officio members are Truby LaGarde, an alternate non-voting member; Alderman Michael O'Connor, the Aldermanic liaison; Richard Griffin, Director of the Department of Economic Development; and Josh Russin, Executive Assistant to the Mayor.
After delivering its first report, the committee will then spend another 140 days reviewing concerns about blighted and vacant properties, and present a second report to the Mayor and the Aldermen.
"I am looking forward toward the community for recommendations regarding City practices, studying and recommending best practices from other communities and any other new approaches that may be deemed appropriate to tackle these issues," says Mayor McClement, in a statement.
