By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 29, 2018) A large contingency from the Pocomoke American Legion attended a City Council meeting Monday night to oppose restrictions on the organization’s liquor license, according to Pocomoke City Councilman George Tasker.

During a council meeting earlier this month, city officials and a representative from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office said a February shooting at the American Legion was not an isolated incident.

The city and Worcester County Bureau of Investigations filed a complaint with the county liquor license board, according to City Manager Bobby Cowger. Reportedly, groups from Accomack County caused much of the commotion at the legion.

Thelma Ayers, who helps run the Pocomoke American Legion, addressed the council and several others made public comments on Monday.

“There was a lot of them there,” Tasker said. “I think Thelma did a good job presenting. She wasn’t pointing her finger at any one person or anything like that. She made a good presentation of what they do. In the last few years, they gave over $200,000 to the community and put people up in homes and gave them furniture.

“We knew they were doing all that, but they don’t advertise what they do,” he added. “But it’s in the liquor licensing’s [board] control now. It’ll be up to them whether they keep their license or not.”

A hearing with the Board Of License Commissioners is scheduled for April 18.

Tasker previously said he did not support taking away the legion’s liquor license entirely.

“I’m still there,” he said. “I know through the years that they’ve struggled out there, but even when they could take that money and keep it for themselves, they have put a tremendous amount of money [into the community]. They even put $1,000 [to help replace] that one police dog that got killed.

“I think they do good for the community. I just think, somehow, she’s got to get a handle on who she rents to,” he continued. “I’m not for taking their license away completely. If they’re going to punish them, punish them and they’ll have to accept what the punishment is.”

Without a liquor license, Tasker said, the organization would likely fold.

“I don’t think she can survive,” he said. “They won’t be able to have weddings there, because people like to drink beer and wine at weddings. Those kinds of things will leave and that’s some of her biggest deals. She’s got three weddings lined up, she said last night.”

There was no formal vote on the matter on Monday, Tasker said.

Also during the meeting, the council held a first reading for Resolution 514, to borrow $1.123 million from Hebron Savings Bank for waterline replacement in the Pocomoke Heights neighborhood. According to a letter from Cowger, the money would “be paid back by accounts receivables/water bill receivables” for 10 consecutive years.

A proposed $1-per-1,000 gallons water rate increase to pay for the loan would be discussed during budget deliberations, Tasker said. The current rate is $6 per 1,000 gallons.

Tasker said the council also reversed its decision to deny a request by the Assateague People of Delmarva tribe to use Cypress Park for a powwow on May 17-21 and tabled the matter instead.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to let them come. We’ve changed our mind,” he said. “We heard from their chief. He came and gave us the scenario.”

The meeting ended with a budget work session, Tasker said.