Community members in Princess Anne call for change

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – In Princess Anne, community members came together to talk about the state of their local government and the changes they want to see come to the town.

“A sense of direction for our community,” Dale Parker, Co-Owner of CROPA Station said.

That was the goal of Tuesday’s community meeting in Princess Anne which saw residents and town officials come together to voice the change they’d like to see in their own backyard. “The town manager may stay, but some people are not so interested, and rather than us coming out and making a statement either way we wanted to get the feedback from the community. What do people want?” Parker added.

The meeting was held by Concerned Residents of Princess Anne, also known as CROPA. Co-owner Dale Parker says more needs to be in place for the community as a whole. “We want a community center, this is the thing that goes through our town commission, our town government to get the funding for and to have those types of programs we want a real community center,” Parker said.

That’s just one example of resources for the community that other residents agree with. Leslie Cocker just moved to the area. She would like to see more of a focus on the community’s youth. “They need youth programs, they also need to add to the town charter, there’s definitely – as a homeowner, theres not protections for my property – people can park open my grass,” Resident Leslie Cocker said.

And other concerns on the table were the town government itself. This after District 2 Commissioner Lionel Frederick was censured for the third time in the first week of May. “He needs not to think he is the only town commissioner and that it’s his way or nobody else’s – he doesn’t need to do that, he needs to work with the commissioners for the good of the town,” Resident Zelma Hayward said.

Frederick was censured earlier this month for what his fellow commissioners have described as disruptive behavior and misconduct. This leaves Zelma Hayward, who was born and raised in Princess Anne asking what does a censure even mean?

“Sanctioning a commissioner, you’re not — his pay is not being sanctioned it’s just him and he doesn’t hardly come to the meetings anyway so what are you doing to him what does a sanction entail?” Hayward asks.

Hayward says this is impacting the community negatively, but much more needs to be done or this will happen again. “They’re allowing one commissioner to upset everything my concern is also that something needs to be done about the Princess Anne town charter so that things like this don’t happen ever again,” Hayward emphasized.

47 ABC did reach out to Commissioner Lionel Frederick and did not hear back before air time.

However, Frederick told 47 ABC on May 8th that he will continue to serve the town with dignity, pride, integrity, and commitment.

“On May 1, 2023 at the regular town meeting, the Town Council took action to censure me for disruptive behavior. I categorically deny any and all allegations against me and strongly disagree with the Town Council’s actions.

It has been my honor to be a 3 term elected official in the Town of Princess Anne. The confidence that the voters have and continues to place in me is a testament of my good character and my commitment to serve. Recently, I served as president of the council for over two years. During that time, the town experienced tremendous progress and economic growth.

To that end, I will continue to serve our town with dignity, pride, integrity and commitment. I love Princess Anne and I believe the people love me. Therefore, I remain firm and will continue to serve the tax payers of this community by focusing on issues that create jobs, lower taxes and give hope to our seniors and children.”

Following this meeting, there was a petition put out for a vote of no confidence and a push for the town commission to remove Lionel Frederick from office.

Town Commissioner Marshall Corbin was at the meeting and told attendees that the matter is being handled and is now in the hands of the town’s attorney.