Pocomoke City, Maryland

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

MEMORANDUM

TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

FROM: JOHN BARKLEY, CITY MANAGER JCB

SUBJECT: WEEKLY UPDATE

DATE: May 3, 2024

Please refer to the following update on City operations provided to the Mayor and Council for the week of April 26 – May 2 2024: 

ADMINISTRATION

• Continuing to handle all Manager and Clerk responsibilities for meetings, agendas, postings, communications and responses to requests for information. 
• The next budget work session is scheduled for May 13th at 6:30 PM.  We will review EMS, W&WW, and community organizations contribution requests.
• Hosted monthly management team meeting to discuss departmental updates, announcements, budget, Council agenda items, and issues that cross departments.
• Hosted a project update meeting regarding the $1,993,095 Market St. CIPP Water Main Lining Project, Phase 1.  The project contractor, Mainlining America, is expected to begin mobilizing equipment in late May.  The City will provide the contractor an area for staging/storage at the City Public Works yard located at 604 Young St. The project is anticipated to last for about 5 months.  We will begin posting notices about the project as early as next week.
• We have received the final building and site plans for the new Starbucks, to be reviewed by the Planning Commission for final approval.
• We are working with NASA in response to a request to place a Weather Station at the former golf course.  The request will be brought to the City Council for approval at a future meeting.
• Met with CDBG officials regarding the grant application process for funding of the Community Center project in coordination with the Boys & Girls Club of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
• Working with the Fire Company on a permit needed for the provision of alcohol at an event scheduled for May 18th.   After consulting with the City Attorney, it was decided to place the permit on the Council agenda for approval on May 6th. 
• We have received final building and site plans for the new Worcester County Library project.  A presentation to Council will be scheduled for a future meeting.

EVENTS/DOWNTOWN

• 4th Friday Street Festival April 26th 5-8pm
  • The event had a great turnout! Vendors were very pleased.
• May 24th 5-8pm
  • "May the 4th Friday Be With You" additional planning for Star Wars themed event.
  • Created a Facebook event & sent out invites.
  • Opened vendor registration & trying to solicit additional food vendors.
• June 28th 5-8pm
  • Submitted the fireworks application to the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office, as well as the PCVFC.
• Concerts in the Park
  • Received all contracts back from the bands playing this summer.
  • Designed a 2024 Concerts in the Park Summer Series flyer to promote the event & began passing them around town to businesses.
  • Continued social media promotion of all City events & news.
• Submitted the bounce house inspection request form to the State of Maryland on behalf of the Sturgis School for their Juneteenth Celebration.
• Working with the Worcester County Health Department, Mayor & City Council for a monthly Mayor's Walk & Talk event this summer.
• FY24 Project Restore 2.0 application in review with DHCD.
• Secured FY24 Downtown Building Improvement Grant $50,000.
• FY24 Operating Assistance Grant award of $10,000 in the works.
  • Awaiting the funds to pay the artist's deposit to begin working on 3 mural design specs. 
• FY25 Operating Assistance Grant application for another $10,000.
  • Plan to apply for digital signage on the highway, entering the downtown, to promote events & other news. Contacted SBT Signs & Graphics, as well as Optec Displays requesting quotes to see if this will even be feasible.

EMS

• Please join in us in congratulating Deyton Dean on his successful completion of Paramedic School as well as successfully passing his National Board Exams.  Deyton has successfully completed the course and certification exams. He has invested thousands of hours in studying, clinical (both in the hospital and the field) and schooling.  Deyton will become Maryland certified in a couple of weeks.
• Chief McReady has been in contact with MSPAC (Maryland State Police Aviation Command) regarding designated landing zones in the Pocomoke area. MSP has scheduled a training mission on Sunday, May 5th as part of the continued partnership between EMS and MSP Aviation.  We are looking at several locations that will mostly secure any time of day. The Newtown Ballpark area is constantly in use and creates a problem when we designate that area and to arrive and find the parking lot occupied. The primary locations (but not limited to) will be:
  • The grass area in Rose's Plaza where Roses once stood.
  • The City owned lot behind Ricca Chemical on Broad Street.
  • The Elks/YMCA grass field behind those complexes.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Employment Status
  • 64 Full Time
  • 22 Part-time
• In-Processed 1 new employee - Public Works Laborer.
• Audited the monthly invoice statements for Short Term Disability Insurance carrier.
• Worked with the Finance Director to process the April 18th - May 1st payroll requirements (77 checks generated).
• Represented The City of Pocomoke City at the Worcester County Job Fair, held at the fairgrounds Wednesday, May 1st.  There were 16 businesses/government reps and over 80 attendees.
• Started working with Avon-Dixon on providing a FY2025 copy of the Summary of Benefits and Coverages for our medical/vision insurance eligible employees.
• Attended the monthly Management Team Meeting.
• Worked with our workers compensation insurance carrier on the review of the FY 2023 audit.  Very successful audit results.
• Continue to perform all daily functions in support of our current and former employees.

PLANNING, ZONING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT

• Permits
  • Fence permit - 128 Eighth St.
  • Fence permit - 1923 N. Old Mill Drive.
  • Building Permit - 1296 Dorchester Ave. (new single-family home/electrical).
  • Building Permit issued - 1745 Market St. (Camden Petroleum) Lean-to addition.
  • Building Permit - handicapped ramp and replacement of front porch steps at 7 Church St.
  • Electric Permit - 716 Sixth St. (major renovations-sf home).
  • Building Permit - 905 Second St. (roof-shingle replacement).
  • Building permit - roof repairs to 809 Second Street.

• Fines/Citations
  • 17 vegetation, grass/weeds citations written.
  • 502 Bonneville Ave. - citation for not addressing rental housing condition issues.
  • 713 Second St. – citation for Building/Housing violation.
  • 723 Sixth St. - citation for Building /Housing violation.
  • 714 Fourth St. _ citation for Building Housing violation.
  • 109 Fourth St. - citation for Building/Housing violation.
  • 409 Dudley Ave. - citation for Building /Housing violation.
  • 701 Seventh St. - citation for Building/Housing violation.
  • 612 Second St. – citation for a Building/Housing violation.

• Signs posted and letters sent to adjacent property owners for BZA variance case to construct new SF home at 504 Seventh Street (corner lot).
• Final Warning letter sent to owners of 210 Walnut Street to clean lot from demolition debris.
• Corporate limit boundary correction letter drafted and sent to CM for review. 
• Responded to 3 calls regarding violation notices.
• Responded to 4 citizen complaints about the condition of properties.
• Contacted railroad company about railroad property being overgrown (situation was resolved).
• Met with the owner of 612 Second St. regarding potential demolition.  Owner is now looking to sell property as is.
• Held several phone conversations with the owner of 713 Second St after the property was issued an additional Building/Housing violation citation. The owners now have approximately $5,500.00 dollars in fines assessed to them.
• Investigated a report of illegal dumping (tree/yard waste) in a drainage ditch behind a City development.
• Conducted ongoing progress inspections of the Discovery Museum project and communicated with contractor to ensure timelines are met.

POLICE

• Patrol Report
  • 6 Adult Arrests (3 traffic/3 criminal)
  • 1 DUI/DWI Arrest
  • 17 Traffic Stops (29 total violations, 16 warnings, 10 citations)
  • 9 Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • 64 Foot Patrols
  • 71 Business Checks
  • 97 Patrol Checks
  • 8 Assists to other Law Enforcement Agencies

• Personnel
  • We have a new certified officer starting on 5/16/24. We are interviewing for entry level police officers and have 2 possible candidates for the July class. This will bring our department back to being fully staffed.

• Grants
  • Continuing to work on 4 different grants that are due 5/10/24.

PUBLIC WORKS

• Continuing with our spring/summer schedule for clearing storm drains, ditches and mowing operations.   
• Responded to a water leak at Lynnhaven Apts. and made necessary repairs.
• Provided new meter pits in coordination with new meter installation project. 
• Attended staff meeting and meeting on the CIPP lining project.
• Coordinated water quality testing for the water towers mixer project.
• Completed the Annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) report and delivered to MDE for approval.
• Maintained grass and weeds at the WW Plant.
• Completed painting/coating of the Williams St. well building.