my work
I am currently employed part time by The City of Frederick as the Special Vehicle Coordinator (SVC). The SVC handles complaints of abandoned vehicles and other related issues, as well as the regulation of taxicabs in the city. I have held this position for over two years. As the SVC, I meet at least monthly with the Taxicab Commission, which is comprised of three of our city Alderman. Part of that work has involved the review and rewrite of the city’s comprehensive taxicab ordinance. Also as a part of my responsibilities, I screen all taxicab driver applicants and determine approval or denial of a city taxicab driver’s license. Authority to suspend and revoke that privilege also lies with the SVC. In addition, all taxicabs are permitted by the city, and I have oversight of that process, as well as inspection authority.
An area of concern that I have been working to resolve is the issue of large commercial trucks and trailers parking in residential neighborhoods. I participated in a meeting with several community members, city staff, and an Alderman, to identify the problems and work on a solution. From that meeting, and other research, I drafted a proposed ordinance to manage the issues that had been identified. That draft ordinance was taken to workshop By Alderman Kuzemchak in December 2008. After getting public input at the hearing, and hearing the concerns and requests of the Alderman, I teamed up once again with code enforcement and police, and we incorporated those pieces into a new draft. I anticipate another workshop discussion in the near future.
I also participated in the crafting of the recently passed ordinance regulating Non-Consensual Towing, or towing from private parking lots. Once again, this was a collaboration of citizens, business owners, the police department, and our city leaders. Together we were able to develop a mechanism to protect citizens from exorbitant fees for towing.
I serve on The City of Frederick’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and have for over two years. This appointment was made by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Alderman, and is a three year term. The ZBA hears appeals on zoning decisions made by staff, approves or denies conditional uses of properties, and determines whether or not to grant variations or exceptions from the zoning ordinances and regulations in the Land Management Code (LMC). The Board generally meets the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the City Annex located at 140 W. Patrick Street.
