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Pocomoke mayor proposes reconstituted beautification, economic development commissions; councilman presents economic development plan
Summary
Mayor Todd Knott submitted names to revive the Beautification Commission and nominate members to an Economic Development Commission; Councilman Marshall circulated an economic development plan and the council discussed residency requirements, alternates and training for boards.
Mayor Todd Knott asked the council to re-establish a Beautification Commission and submitted a slate of nominees for swearing-in at the next meeting, and he also proposed members for a revived Economic Development Commission.
Knott said the Beautification Commission (created in 2019) had lapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic and presented five primary nominees and two alternates. He named former Councilwoman Esther Trost to lead the commission from District 5 and listed potential members from each district; the mayor said he would swear them in at the next meeting if the council approved.
Council discussion focused on residency requirements and continuity. A council member reminded colleagues that committee membership must comply with the ordinance governing the Economic Development Commission (as written), which requires members to reside within city limits; the mayor said nonresident business owners may attend meetings and act as advisors but generally cannot be official voting members unless the code allows it.
On economic development, Councilman Marshall said he had drafted an economic development plan that identifies the city’s population, areas of potential growth, local strengths and improvement needs. Marshall said the plan is a starting point that should be reviewed first by the Economic Development Commission, then by Planning and Zoning, and finally returned to the mayor and council for adoption.
Council members discussed selecting commission members based on business acumen rather than strictly by district and agreed the commissions should hold initial meetings after members are sworn in. The mayor said committee members will need open-meetings training before serving and that Planning and Zoning meetings will be moved to Thursdays going forward. The council did not vote on the proposed nominees at the meeting; the mayor asked staff to verify residency and to schedule swearing-in at the next council meeting.
