By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 15, 2018) The Pocomoke City Council discussed the following items during a meeting at Town Hall last Monday.

Discovery Center

The City Council agreed to waive 12 months in loan fees, about $7,000, for the Delmarva Discovery Center.

Discover Center Director Stacey Weisner said she recently had to replace a heat pump in the museum store and that had caused some financial difficulty for the nonprofit.

City Manager Bobby Cowger said the remaining loan balance is $26,000.

Weisner said the loan forgiveness was just for this year, adding, “we’ll pick it back up in January of next year.”

While in the City Council chambers, Weisner also asked for assistance with several grant applications, which the council approved.

Comp plan update

A second reading for Resolution 510, adopting growth-tier maps into the comprehensive plan, was approved unanimously.

“In order for the map to be effective, it has to be adopted into the comprehensive plan, so this is what the resolution does tonight,” Planning Director Dan Brandewie said. “If you don’t adopt it, it could prevent the city approving other residential developments.”

Police, school agreement

The council approved an agreement with Pocomoke High School that allows Pocomoke Police to be present during school events. The high school agreed to pay $65 per officer, per event for the service.

Officers would come in during off-duty hours and receive overtime pay during events, generally lasting no more than two hours.

Cowger said the fee would not cover the entire expense for an officer on overtime, about $90, but he and Police Chief William Harden believed it was a necessary service.

“The chief and I both feel like the city has a certain responsibility for protection of our schools,” Cowger said. “The chief and myself certainly recommend this.”

Troast called the service “an investment in our youth.”

“No question,” Cowger said.

Annexation request

The council considered an annexation request for five acres of land on 1240 Ocean Highway owned by Carlton Mason.

Brandewie said the site was occupied by auto body shop Caliber Collision.

He said the first step in the annexation process was to recognize a petition was received. Additional steps would include an annexation agreement and annexation plan, as well as allowing the state and county 30 days to comment.

Brandewie said the proposal would next go to the planning and zoning commission, during its next meeting.

Historic designation

Resident Jim Covington said an application to place the Winter Quarters golf course and log cabin on the National Register of Historic Places was turned over to the town. A team of researchers, led by UMES historian Eric Jodlbauer, prepared the application.

“We have to send an application to Maryland with that packet, and Maryland will submit that national one for us,” Covington said. “That should be done, hopefully, next week.

“The gentleman that wrote it and the lady that worked with him firmly believe that it will be approved, and we definitely want to make sure we preserve the log cabin,” he added.

It’s believed the designation would allow the town to receive grant money for upkeep of the property.

Pow Whoa

A request by the Assateague People of Delmarva tribe to use Cypress Park for a pow wow on May 17-21 was tabled.

City Manager Bobby Cowger said it’s unlikely the event would even be held this year, because of apparent infighting in the tribe.

The matter was on at least one prior council agenda, but was tabled because of concerns regarding town resources.

Cowger said last year only about 10 people from the tribe attended. He said the event requires assistance from public works for several days and this year the event would likely take resources away from efforts such as road and water improvements.

Councilman Brian Hirshman moved to table the issue “until at least next month to see if they get their act together.” The vote was unanimous.