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Pocomoke City moves to formalize grants from budgeted donations, considers stronger code enforcement including fines on water bills
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Summary
Council signaled support for converting budgeted donations into a competitive grant program with deliverables and reporting, and agreed to pursue a work session to draft policy on trash receptacles, code enforcement steps and adding code fines to water billing; legal counsel noted municipal fine caps increased to $5,000.
Pocomoke City councilors signaled consensus to shift the city pproach to donations and to pursue stronger, clearer code enforcement tools.
The mayor (Speaker 1) proposed converting routine budgeted donations to nonprofits, businesses and churches into a grant program that requires measurable community benefit: "We should be utilizing this money ... as grants to enrich the lives of the city," the mayor said. Manager Matthews (Speaker 7) supported the idea, noting a grant template exists and that awards could be made on a rolling basis with reporting and compliance requirements to ensure recipients "pour back into Pocomoke." Council members discussed program thresholds, reporting and whether the program should launch in FY27 or FY28; staff said a template is available and can be refined by council.
On code enforcement and refuse policy, Matthews recommended requiring trash receptacles rather than bags to reduce leakage and speed pickup. Councilors raised concerns about affordability and how the city would enforce the rule; Matthews said staff can notify residents by mail and on water bills and that public works will replace receptacles damaged by city crews when reported. Council asked staff to draft a policy and bring it to a work session; the mayor requested a consistent monthly work session schedule to allow time for staff to prepare ordinances and resolutions.
Council also discussed adding code-violation fines to city water billing as a collection mechanism. Legal counsel (Speaker 9) updated the council on a recent legislative change that increased allowable municipal fines: "Municipal fines used to only be a maximum ... $1,000 and the legislature changed it to now up to $5,000," counsel said, noting the change makes bundling citations and pursuing cost-effective court action more feasible. The council directed staff to draft ordinance and resolution language and return to a work session for detailed consideration.
