Pocomoke City Officials Clarify Proposed Ordinance on Open Porch Furniture
Some of you may have heard that WBOC is reporting that Pocomoke City officials are considering an ordinance that would prohibit certain indoor furnishings from being placed on open porches. While that statement is accurate, the remainder of their reporting has been very misleading.
Mayor Bruce Morrison has asked WBOC to issue a clarification via all media outlets where the misinformation has been shared. This misinformation includes videos taken of certain furnishings in Pocomoke that would not even be considered under the potential ordinance.
First, the ordinance is only being considered. Second, the ordinance would NOT prohibit what is commonly known as "patio furniture" or outdoor furniture, such as wicker, plastic, wood, or aluminum items. Rather, certain types of upholstered interior furniture that can be combustible and pose a safety hazard would be prohibited. The City of Salisbury adopted a similar ordinance in 1999.
A draft of the proposed ordinance has not been completed by the City’s attorney yet, but one may be considered at by the Mayor and City Council in the next few weeks.
There are many other positive and exciting changes occurring in Pocomoke and it is a shame that this misleading report is detracting from the positive. We are hopeful that WBOC will issue proper clarifications to this story so that Pocomoke City residents will not be unduly concerned about the proposed aesthetic and safety measure.
