County Council confirms Long to Planning Commission

Nov. 8—The Frederick County Planning Commission is back at seven members after the County Council confirmed Mark Long on Tuesday.

In an email on Wednesday, Long wrote that he was one of 10 applicants for the Planning Commission position that became open when Masai Troutman resigned in July.

Long wrote that the selection process involved three rounds of interviews. The first was in front of a panel including the staff from the Division of Planning and Permitting, staff from the County Executive's office and two residents.

The second interview was with County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and two senior staffers. The third occurred during a closed-session meeting of the County Council on Oct. 24.

On Tuesday evening, the council voted 6-1 to confirm Fitzwater's appointment of Long.

Council President Brad Young and Councilmembers M.C. Keegan-Ayer, Renee Knapp, Steve McKay, Mason Carter and Jerry Donald voted in favor. Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett voted against.

In an interview on Wednesday, Duckett said he voted no because "there has been a lack of diversity in the candidates that have been recommended for hired positions and volunteer commissions such as the Planning Commission."

Long is the current chairman of the Emmitsburg Planning Commission and has served on the county's Affordable Housing Council, the scoping group for the South Frederick Corridors Plan and Fitzwater's transition team.

Long also ran for one of two at-large seats on the County Council in 2018. Long finished fourth and Duckett finished third, behind Kai Hagen and Susan Reeder Jessee.

Long attended his first meeting as a member of the Frederick County Planning Commission on Wednesday. His term will last through June 2028.

More appointments confirmedThe council also voted unanimously to confirm:

— Matthew Toms to fill an unexpired term on the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board

— Emma Jagoz and Brittany Sanders to fill two unexpired terms on the Agriculture Business Council

— Timothy Brady, Barry Salisbury, Allen Daytner, Alexander DuFour, Amanda Kirk, Shayne Boucher, Adnan Mamoon and Elisabeth Rood to new terms on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission

— Cassandra Day and Jenifer Zimmer to fill two unexpired terms on the Social Services Advisory Board

— Benjamin Sowers to a

new term on the Soil Conservation District Board