Pocomoke City officials talking transparency
POCOMOKE CITY, Md. – City officials in Pocomoke City are looking to prioritize transparency and proper documentation in the future.
Council member, Scott Holland, has made it clear that the city needs to be more transparent in how they present information to the governing body and the public. He tells WMDT, he has reached and has been looking for better logging on travels made by the Mayor and some council members.
Holland explained his displeasure to the City Manager, Brandy Matthews at the meeting. “Excuse me, I’m not excusing anybody of anything. I’ve asked for this privately several times, but I’m sorry this is the last resort.”
Commissioner Caryn Abbott spoke at the meeting and says Councilmen Holland is doing the right thing by asking the right questions.
“This is one of the reasons I wanted to become elected. I wanted accountability, honesty, and transparency. And I hold myself to that,” said Commissioner Abbott. “But I appreciate these questions are being asked. I appreciate the responses the council member gets, so we can trust everyone. That’s what it’s all about.”
City Manager Brandy Matthews, who handles city finances, tried explaining to Holland at the meeting. She tells us in an exclusive interview how the travel process works.
“Basically, from travel, each member receives an email from MML or NLC, saying these conventions are happening. They then let the city clerk know that they want to attend.”
She adds that credit card statements do show the full story. “A lot of those conferences with the credit card statements, all of the transactions are not always done at one time. Any bills that have already been paid are never put on the bill list.”
Mayor Todd Nock believes that the city has been transparent on many accounts. He calls out Commissioner Caryn Abbott on how she handles transparency.
Pointing to the request for closed session minutes being made public. That request was put up by council. and was voted against opening closed session 3-2. Holland voted in favor of opening up those minutes.
Nock also expressed dissatisfaction with how the Newberry project is proceeding. The money for that project is currently at a standstill, and he believes there is more to why it hasn’t been pushed forward.
“One can’t point fingers out and say we aren’t being transparent, when they aren’t doing it themselves. Where Caryn hasn’t been transparent herself, when you do things that are not transparent herself.”
Mayor Nock continues, stating to WMDT, that the meeting was for the betterment of Pocomoke.
“I just feel like our council meeting is an example of how a governing body does what it’s supposed to do. Disagreements do not mean dysfunction, in fact it shows different perspectives were heard.”
