Frederick County Council President MC Keegan-Ayer will convene a Frederick County Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held virtually in order to be compliant with both the County Executive and Governor’s orders concerning the COVID-19 emergency. The agenda will be light and will only be addressing budget adjustments. The council members will be meeting using technology that permits them to meet off-site from Winchester Hall. The meeting will be televised live on FCG TV, the County website and livestreamed to Facebook.
Council staff has been working with the County’s Interagency Information Technologies Division, the County Attorney’s Office and the Director of Communications in developing the ability for on-line meetings to conduct essential council business during the global coronavirus pandemic and State of Emergency.
Council President Keegan-Ayer wanted to hold the first virtual meeting specifically with non-essential items to allow the members, staff and the public to become acquainted with the new and temporary process. Council President Keegan-Ayer stated, “It is my intention to only schedule virtual council meetings for essential and emergency actions during this State of Emergency. I believe it is important to permit direct public involvement with the council, to allow for direct public input as much as possible and to allow for the public to be present for public meetings in Winchester Hall. Unfortunately, during this time, this is just not possible. Yet the Council must continue to carry out our responsibilities to allow for the orderly continuation of county government activities and functions, providing the necessary services to the public.”
“It is my intention to schedule public meetings again as soon as Winchester Hall is deemed safe and re-opens for business,” stated Keegan-Ayer.
Council President Keegan-Ayer reiterated, “The safety of the residents of Frederick County is of the utmost importance at this time. We will re-schedule any items for public involvement when this virus is better contained, the danger to the general public is significantly reduced and gathering in large crowds is once again permitted. Until then, I urge every resident to follow the lead and direction of our public health officials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Further, I encourage all our residents to follow updates posted in the Frederick County Health Department’s website (https://health.frederickcountymd.gov/).”
For additional information, contact the County Council Chief of Staff, Ragen Cherney, at 301-600-1049 or via e-mail at RCherney@FrederickCountyMD.gov.