(5/1) Sheriff Takes Administrate Leave after Indicted To Acquire Machineguns
Following his arrangement in front of Federal Judge, Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins voluntarily placed himself of Administrate Leave until the charges are resolved. Jenkins pleased not guilty to all the charges.
"Out of respect for the men and women of this agency and not to interfere with the effective operations, I am going to take a leave of absence, effective end of business, Friday, April 14, through the end of this judicial process," said Jenkins. "I have full confidence in the system, and I know that my innocence will prevail at the end of all of this and that I will be found not guilty."
In a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release April 5, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the Sheriff and Robert Justin Krop, age 36, of Frederick, with conspiracy and false statements to acquire machineguns.
"I have been in constant communication with the DOJ and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for over a year and have been 100% cooperative throughout the course of this investigation," said Jenkins, following release of the indictment.
"At the advice of my attorney and out of respect for the justice process, I am not providing any comment at this time.
The indictment was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the ATF Baltimore Field Division, earlier today through a DOJ press release.
County, Firefighters Union Reach Agreement on Contract
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3666 President Stephen Jones signed a two-year contract for the approximately 550 firefighters who are within the bargaining unit of the Frederick County Division of Fire & Rescue Services. Among the terms of the agreement are salary improvements, increased leave for members of the Armed Services Reserves, and a leave bank dedicated to training for Peer Support team members.
"I want to thank the members of our bargaining team for their work throughout this process," Executive Fitzwater said. "I appreciate that the parties came to the negotiating table in good faith. The agreement signed today shows that the process established by the County Council in 2020 works."
"On behalf of the more than 550 professional fire fighters who serve Frederick County every day, we are thrilled to celebrate this shared accomplishment of the County Executive and our union," Jones said. "Collective bargaining is a process – and the process worked. This contract paves the way for a safer Frederick County and invests in our firefighters that put their lives on the line every day."
The Memorandum of Understanding, which takes effect July 1, includes pay scale increases of 8.5% in Fiscal Year 2024 and 6% in FY25. Additionally, employees who are certified in specialized positions such as paramedics, hazardous materials technicians, technical rescue technicians and water rescue technicians will receive additional compensation. The MOU also establishes a new procedure for grievances and terms for how an arbitration process is to be handled. These negotiations were the first to include firefighters’ working conditions. The change resulted after voters supported a ballot question in 2018 to expand items that could be negotiated. In 2020, the change became law through legislation introduced by then-County Council Member Fitzwater.
"We are proud and grateful for our first responders who work every day to keep our communities safe. They are an integral part of what makes Frederick County such a wonderful place," Executive Fitzwater said.
Frederick County Awarded $571,948 Grant from Maryland Energy Administration
In celebration of Earth Day, the Division of Energy and Environment is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $571,948 from the Maryland Energy Administration as part of its Low-to-Moderate Income Grant Program. These funds will support the Power Saver Retrofits Program, which works to improve home energy efficiency for Frederick County residents.
"Improving our energy efficiency makes good environmental sense, and it makes good economic sense," County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. " I am excited the Power Saver Retrofits funding will help our low- and moderate-income families to reduce their home energy use and, by extension, reduce their monthly utility costs."
The Division of Energy and Environment is responsible for administering the program and will work with local non-profit organizations to assist applicants in accessing the benefits. Via participation in Power Saver Retrofits, eligible households can receive no-cost home improvements such as: Attic insulation; crawl space, window and duct sealing; increased bathroom ventilation; energy efficient light bulbs, & upgrades of heating and cooling systems.
The Power Saver Retrofits Program helps reduce energy usage by providing eligible households with free energy-efficient upgrades that can significantly lower their monthly bills. These improvements also help reduce emissions from power plants by decreasing the amount of electricity used in our region. 698 households have participated since the program’s inception and the awarding of the Maryland Energy Administration’s new grant funding will ensure that even more families can benefit, and the Division of Energy and Environment can continue its mission of creating a more sustainable future for Frederick County.
"This grant ensures we can continue our work helping local households and will provide much-needed assistance for up to 78 local families," said Lindsey Humphrey, Program Administrator for the division. "We are committed to helping Frederick County residents reduce energy costs – but it's not just about saving money on utilities. This work also improves quality of life and supports environmental sustainability. That’s a win for everyone in our community!"
The division is currently seeking qualified applicants for the Power Saver Retrofits program and encourages anyone interested to apply soon, as funding is limited and applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. For more information about eligibility requirements or how to apply, please visit the program website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/PSR, or contact Lindsey Humphrey at LHumphrey@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
County Executive Appoints Longtime Public Servant As Chief Administrative Officer
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announces the appointment of longtime county government administrator John Peterson as Chief Administrator Officer, effective April 10. Mr. Peterson comes to Frederick County from Howard County Government, where he has served as Assistant CAO since 2019. He also has held management positions at Howard County Public Schools, Anne Arundel County Government, and the State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland.
"John has held senior roles in larger charter governments, which will benefit Frederick County as we build on the first eight years of our own charter government," Executive Fitzwater said. "His deep experience in other local governments will help us as we align all facets of County government with the Livable Frederick Master Plan and our transition priorities."
Mr. Peterson brings extensive experience in county government administration. He managed Howard County’s internal COVID 19 response, which included drafting remote work and telework policies, ensuring the work infrastructure and facilities were prepared and safe for employees to return onsite, establishing COVID protocols, preparing communications for employees, and monitoring COVID cases in the workplace. He has managed labor relations, negotiated collective bargaining agreements with eight unions, and advised departments on County policies and employee relations issues. He previously served as Deputy Administrator for the Office of Human Resources. Mr. Peterson also served as the Director of Human Capital Benefits, Leave and Retirement for Howard County Public School System; and as the Acting Personnel Officer, Deputy Personnel Officer and Assistant Personnel Officer for Anne Arundel County Government.
"John is a proven leader and consummate professional whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with over many years. His keen insights into human resources, budgeting, labor relations and the administration of policy and procedures often proved invaluable, especially in managing Howard County’s work force in response to the COVID pandemic," said Lonnie Robbins, a recently retired Howard County CAO. "Frederick County is gaining a dedicated and well-respected public servant capable of handling day to day challenges to ensure the efficient operation of government and effective use of County resources."
Selected through a national search to replace CAO Rick Harcum, who retired in January, Mr. Peterson earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Saint Olaf College. He is a Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional. Mr. Peterson will serve in an acting capacity until the County Council votes on his confirmation. He will work alongside Chief Financial Officer Lori Depies, who has been serving as Acting CAO. Ms. Depies plans to retire at the end of May after 20 years with Frederick County Government.
County Recognizes Public Health Staff for National Public Health Week
People often think of public health as just vaccinations, but public health workers do so much more! Our public health workers touch almost every aspect of our daily lives, from emergency preparedness to food safety, maternal and child health services to chronic disease prevention, mental and behavioral health to substance use prevention and harm reduction, insurance assistance to birth and death certificates, school health services to pediatric dental clinic care. National Public Health Week is the perfect time to say, "Thank you!" Please take a moment to officially thank a public health worker during April 3-7!
In Frederick County, the Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) is the lead agency for the essential public health services. Our community became more familiar with FCHD during the COVID-19 pandemic response as thousands of tests and vaccinations were distributed. Our public health workers are dedicated to serving our community and have continued to provide their essential services to this day.
Our public health workers are skilled, patient, engaged workers who provide critical service to all in Frederick County, some often working early mornings or evenings. As you attend your appointments this week, be sure to help us honor our public health workers with a "Thank you!"
Community Partnership Grant Awards Announced
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced more than $1.3 million in awards to 39 local nonprofit organizations through the county’s Community Partnership Grant program. Grants will provide food to children; emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence; respite service for caretakers; home repairs for seniors with low income; job skills and education for youth without stable housing; and 2-1-1 crisis services for residents facing addiction, among many other services. County Council President Brad Young and Vice President Kavonté Duckett joined Executive Fitzwater to unveil the list of grant recipients.
"Partnering with these organizations allows us to invest in our best asset – our people," County Executive Fitzwater said. "We see big community impacts from an investment of a relatively small amount of money, leveraging the incredible experience, expertise, and relationships our nonprofits have built in our community."
Local nonprofit organizations applied for a total of 51 grants requesting over $2.1 million. An independent panel narrowed down the field to 43 grants. Four nonprofits received both ongoing and one-time grants. A full list of the grantees is available online at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPGawardsFY24.
"We are blessed to live in a community with so many amazing organizations devote to helping people reach their full potential. They are making life better and making it possible for everyone in our community to thrive. I am proud to be able to expand this program in the proposed budget I submitted last week."
Grant funds are not final until passage of the budget. For more information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CommunityPartnershipGrants or contact the Frederick County Division of Citizens Services at 301-600-1454.
