Budget Work Session Meeting Minutes The meeting of the Pocomoke City Mayor and Council was held in Council Chambers on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Present: Mayor: Todd Nock Council Members: R. Scott Holland, Diane Downing, Brooke Cottman, C.L. Marshall, Sharnell Tull City Manager: John Barkley Finance Director: Brandy Matthews City Clerk: Melinda Stafford Non-Profit Organizations Joshua Nordstrom, representing Della's Closet, presented on the organization's food distribution program. Mr. Nordstrom thanked Council for last year's contribution and is requesting the renewal of $10,000 grant from the previous year. After operating with the Lower Shore Vulnerable Populations Task Force during the pandemic in 2020, he is pleased to say that Della's Closet is now operating as a Maryland Food Bank Network partner. He spoke with Pocomoke Middle School and the community garden. We formed a partnership called the Pocomoke Food Pantry Cooperative and we started to do some food distribution events. Once they received some funding from the city, they moved into a monthly cycle to do these events. The Maryland Food Bank requires organizations to be Pantry on the Go certified. Mr. Nordstrom applied for this status and the Food Bank granted it. Currently, the Pantry on the Go is serving over 100 families and 400 people monthly and are able to provide more food with same funding due to Food Bank partnership. The next distribution event on April 12th at First Baptist Church. With the request of $10,000, now he can do 12 months' worth of events. Mayor Nock asked Council for questions. A question was asked what the difference between Della's Closet and the Della's Pantry. The response was the closet has to do with the clothes and the baby things that we have there that are donated. It has to do with the stuffed animals and toys that we have. It was also asked what other avenues could be explored in their partnership with the Maryland Food Bank. The response from Mr. Nordstrom was, "We can keep our pantry stocked, which we, you know, typically a lot of many occasions when people come in looking for clothes, they could also use some nutritional help. So, we keep that pantry stocked. But we were able to do pantry on the go, which the middle school was not. They are set up as a Maryland Food bank pantry just for the inside of the school. The Maryland Food bank allowed us to keep to do that because they know the need here, but they ask that we become a pantry on the go and a network partner. So, I'm open to exploring whatever it is that gets people food, whatever we can do to provide nutritional assistance. Because I don't want a kid to go to school hungry. I don't want a kid to go to bed hungry. And I know it happens here and it happens everywhere, but I can tell you on Saturdays that we do these events, it doesn't happen that day. Hopefully it doesn't happen for as much time as they can make that food last.' Shelly Wise, representing Samaritan Shelter, presented on the organization's services. Ms. Wise is requesting $10,000 in funding. Mayor Nock stated that he doesn't think we say thank you enough. So, from the bottom of his heart, thank you for everything that she does, everything that she doesn't say, council doesn't hear any complaints. So, thank you for everything that she does. He shared with his colleagues that when he sent the email asking for financials and things like that, she didn't hesitate to send them and that goes a long way. So, thank you for everything. Ms. Wise opens stating that the Samaritan Shelter, when it was formed 38 years ago, is a community. It's not just us. It's our community that keeps it going and keeps it running and that's why she came to the city to ask for support. She has included in the statistical report in our financials from the previous year and our request was for $10,000. t is not only is it going to help the shelter to help people, but it also helps the shelter to apply for funding through the state and federal grants because it shows that their city supports them. The Samaritan Shelter served 48 homeless individuals last year, 46% of those are from Worcester County, 27% of city residents found a job. The food pantry provided 7,836 bags of food and served 2,374 meals in soup kitchen and 10,881 meals in shelter. She stresses that the city's support is critical for them. It enables the shelter to apply for the grants. It helps to keep their doors open. We're there 365 days a year, 24 7. We're always staffed. Council asked what the goals are for the upcoming fiscal year. Ms. Wise responds, "So our goals this year are to see more people housed, of course, feed more people. We do a pantry on the go. We're only able to do it four times a year. United Way gives us funding just enough to do four times a year. So, we don't get to do a lot. But when we do those pantries on the go, we have social services come out, the hospitals come out, the health departments come out, people with the free phones and the free computers. We have many agencies; nutritional program comes out. So, it's kind of like a resource day, but not huge because the area at the shelter is not a huge area for us to do stuff. But our goal is to try and house more people and help more people. " Mayor Nock references an idea of a collaboration of the Samaritan Shelter and Della's Closet to work on the Community Garden to provide the residents of Pocomoke City with fruits and vegetables and different things to work on in the coming year. He also highlights Councilman Holland, who is a farmer, that could teach about farming. Now may be a great opportunity to partner with their community garden. Kimberly Jones, representing the Sturgis Museum, presented on the organization's needs. She thanks Council for their continued support of the museum and their contributions last year and years prior. Ms. Jones informs that this year the museum is requesting $3,500 is to continue to maintain our operational expenses due to inflation. She was able to send in the initial email communication, but apologizes for not getting the financial statements. The Sturgis Museum is looking into getting Internet service and phone service. It is her understanding the two buildings have two different addresses. So, she has been trying to work on that to get the Internet and phone service up SO I no longer have to use my personal phone for the museum. They are also looking into getting security cameras. The museum is also looking into revamping the website. For the last probably five or six years, there had been one individual that was donating the cost of doing the website as well as the annual cost for it. She was informed not too long ago that they will need to find a website designer and foot the cost of the website. Prior donations from the city were utilized to maintain our operational expenses and to save for while we're in search of grants. In the past, they did a matching grant for maintenance and repairs of the museum and are looking to do that again. The hours of operation have increased and that increases the utilities. Ms. Jones is also looking for an intern to be able to open the museum up more between the months of March and October. Mayor Nock asked if the Juneteenth celebration will continue this year. Her response is yes and she put in a request to the city's Economic Development Team. She also states she is unable to do a lot of things that she wants to do in the community. We want to do a scholarship. We want to continue to Juneteenth. The Mayor also inquired about another event coming in February and noted that she is appreciated because members of the Council remember when the One Room Schoolhouse was closed, period. It is also appreciated all the work that has been done in revitalizing the Sturgis Memorial Schoolhouse, the partnerships that have been built with the community, foundations and others. Todd Espeland, new Executive Director, The Delmarva Discovery Museum, presented on the museum's plans. In his request letter, he stated his request at $30,000 as it is critical for their success and enable the staff to continue the mission of the museum not just here in Pocomoke City, but actually bringing the Tri County area and beyond to Pocomoke City. Attendance steady at nearly 13,000 visitors annually with over 3,100 school children visiting in the last year. Mr. Espeland is now partnering with Worcester County schools to bring all first graders to the museum. There are also discussions with Somerset County schools and Wicomico County Schools to duplicate that program in those two counties as well sO that we can get all of the first graders coming here to Pocomoke City and experiencing a museum for the first time. The Delmarva Discovery Museum is the place where kids get to learn, a curiosity for learning and that is one of the things in his proposal that he wants to keep continuing with. His goal for the museum over the next three years to reorganize the entire museum, to refurbish the entire museum, to have exhibits and temporary exhibits that we can continue to bring in and rotate through the museum SO that people can discover new things here, and then visitors can also rediscover what has already been. He wants to reorganize all the exhibits in the museum, specifically working on all the signage and rethink all of the history that has gone in to tell these stories including an idea to create new educational programming including "Discovery Museum on the Go". Mr. Espeland is meeting with cultural leaders in the Worcester County schools and I'm meeting with science leaders at the Worcester County schools to find out what their learning outcome are SO that we're not just creating programming on our own. "We are working hand in hand with them SO that we can create that programming that's going to actively fill the gaps and actively fill the needs that they have". Council members asked about exhibit changes and encouraged partnering on resource fairs. Chip Choquette, speaking on behalf of Dee for the Community Gardens do not have operational needs that they request to the city. It was stated that they try to get all their needs met on their own. They get support from Lowe's, the Technical High School, UMES, and other organizations. So, if you look at the gardens, there's two pavilions out there. One was built by Worcester Technical High School; one was built by Lowe's. Two sheds, I believe were both donated by University of Maryland. He stated that when you're looking at operational needs, there's one need that they can't meet on their own and that's building walkways. Chip believes that they last came before the council two years ago and it was about $16,000 spent. It's a one-time expense. He is asking that as Council goes through and see what money the city has available and give what you can and maybe they can do a phased approach to walkways, it was $16,000 two years ago. He thinks she estimated about $20,000 probably if it was done today. But even if you could give $3,000, they could have a section done right this year, maybe $3,000 next year they have another section done or if there's grant assistance the city can provide because it is city owned land. They have to have your assistance to do a grant. He is here to advocate for that. Mayor Nock explained that in previous grant application, the stipulation of the grant was the inability to sell the property for 20 years. They have over 100 students come through a year. They bring them from the middle school to high school, and they teach them how to grow vegetables, how to plant. He believes they have six certified master gardeners on their team. Lauren Cooper, Executive Director of the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center, presented on the organization's work, formerly known as the Cricket Center. Since they opened the Pocomoke office last year to better serve local families, about 30% of caseload from Pocomoke area. Previous years' support helped to provide medical exams, forensic interviews, victim advocacy. The requested funding, $2000, will support critical services for abused children and that every family has the access to the care and the resources that they need to begin their healing. Mayor Nock informs Ms. Cooper that he would like to have the CAC on Pocomoke's Back to the Future Tour for the Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference to talk about how the city has revitalized buildings that were at one point intended for one thing and how they've been revitalized to serve us in another capacity. Ms. Cooper replies that she would love that, "Actually, on that same note, the Maryland Municipal League actually reached out to me about a month ago. There's the conference or the convention in Ocean City, I guess, at the end of June. They had asked that I come and speak to everyone, and they're going to be collecting a summer drive for us. Backpacks, essentials, beach towels, things like that.' Council members thanked Ms. Cooper for the organization's important work. Bill Turner, Finance Director, Worcester County Developmental Center thanked council for previous $600 grant leveraged into $8,000 through fundraising. Last year, the center was able to provide notebooks sO our staff could take that for medical visits to doctors and to the hospital. This year they are requesting $1,000 this year for technology needs and hope to leverage into $15,000 through fundraising. With the clients, they provide community integration services, employment services, and residential services to adults with developmental disabilities serving about 100 clients. There will be a silent auction again this year like last year that helped them leverage the $8000 SO this year, Mr. Turner is hoping to take the thousand dollars and turn that into $15,000. It means when he's able to tell people that Pocomoke City supported them in that fundraising effort, it goes for a very specific purpose for us. Mayor Nock stated that the Marva Theater, and the Pocomoke Little League could not attend and the Boat Docking Association was not heard back from. Talkie Communications A representative from Thinkbig Networks presented on a proposal to install an antenna on the city water tower. An antenna installed on the city water tower would allow this company to provide local TV channels to customers. The equipment would be housed in the hut below the tower sO the company can provide the local, local TV services to our customers throughout the Pocomoke area, Lower Worcester County area. There is a possibility of offering high-speed wireless internet service. There may be a price point that would be their lowest price point which would be $69 a month for Internet, for high-speed Internet. There is a question from Council about the possible interference between the antenna and the signal for residential water meters. The response is that the antenna would not interfere with water meters or other equipment. The range of the signal from the antenna is for residents who have signed up for service with the company and will be part of their package deal. The contract that was presented to council from Queen Anne's County started which started with the lease agreement, suggested $100/month based on other locations. Council members asked about coverage area, pricing, and timeline. Mayor Nock indicated it would be on the agenda for vote at the next meeting, with 1-2 months needed to finalize any agreement. Mayor Nock thanked all presenters and attendees, adjourned at 8:45 pm. Approyed: Min City Clerk Agenda items may or may not be considered in sequence. This agenda is subject to change to include the addition or deletion of items, including executive/closed session.