Lease for City Police Relocation to be Signed

According to the Frostburg City Council meeting agenda for Thursday, Nov. 21, there will be public comment and a vote on the relocation of the Frostburg City Police Department (FPD) from their current location at 37 S. Broadway to University Drive on Frostburg State University’s campus. The relocation is due to construction and renovation as part of the Municipal Center Project which seeks to consolidate Frostburg City Hall and the Public Safety Building. The consolidation will cost the city $2.8 million.

As TBL previously reported, President Ronald H. Nowaczyk addressed the Faculty Senate on Wednesday, Nov. 6 about this potential move saying, “the City asked if they could move their police station to our old police station, otherwise known as the Lincoln School, for up to a year. They will pay the utilities and $1 a year in rent. We have asked them to get involved with our students and do more in the way of community policing.” This announcement, which was followed by only one question regarding parking availability at the location, was unanticipated by faculty members who had been previously unaware.

SGA had been made aware of the move much earlier, according to their Sept. 19, 2019 meeting minutes. SGA President Puffinburger confirmed that the body was informed by President Nowaczyk who asked them “to brainstorm with him on how to roll out the decision.” Even prior to SGA’s discussion of the move, Frostburg City Council meeting minutes from Sept. 12, 2019 indicate that “City police operations would temporarily relocate to the former public safety building on the campus of FSU during construction.”

President Nowaczyk did not inform the larger campus community of the relocation until Thursday, Nov. 21.

“I view the Faculty and Staff Senates and SGA as partners in shared governance and shared communications,” Nowaczyk said. “We are more effective as an institution when we work together and share information.”

Prior to this announcement by President Nowaczyk, SGA had not informed students of the FPD relocation. SGA meeting minutes are not currently available online for public viewing.

When TBL reached out to Chief Nicholas Costello of the FPD on Nov. 7 he reported that, “There is not yet an agreement in please with Frostburg State University with regard to the former university police building.” Chief Costello continued saying, “If such an agreement does come to fruition, I will send [TBL] an update.” Chief Costello never reached back out to TBL.

One week later on Nov. 14, the Mayor and City Council of Frostburg discussed the draft lease at the monthly work session.

TBL requested a copy of the draft lease between FSU and the City of Frostburg from Elizabeth Stahlman, Frostburg City Administrator. The lease indicates the term of the lease is a period of 18 months beginning December 1, 2019 and ending May 31, 2021. If the FPD continues to occupy the building after May 2021, they may do so on a month-to-month basis.

This contradicts President Nowaczyk’s previous announcements to the Faculty Senate that the FPD would use the Lincoln School building for “up to a year.” Moreover, University Advisory Committee meeting minutes from Friday, Oct. 11 indicate that President Nowaczyk said the “project should take approximately 15 months.”

It is unclear, given the variable statements, whether the FPD will occupy the Lincoln School Building for less than a year, for up to 18 months, or for longer.

The aforementioned draft lease is what the Mayor and City Council will be taking public comment and voting on this evening, Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at City Place located at 14 Water Street.