SALISBURY – With two of five members not attending Monday’s meeting, the Salisbury City Council deferred final votes on five ordinances for a date to be determined later.

Council members April Jackson and Michele Gregory were absent from the meeting.

Of the five proposed ordinances that were set for a final vote, two would benefit the fire department.

Voting was deferred on the fire department’s request that $4,160 in reimbursement money be moved from the general fund to the fire department’s operating account. The money from OC Jams LLC reimburses the department for providing  bike medic teams to the 2023 Ocean City Bike Fest from Sept. 14 to 16.

The fire department is also awaiting a final vote on approval of a general fund budget amendment that would move more than $24,805 to its operating budget. The money is to replace equipment that was irreparably damaged when the department was fighting a blaze at Spartech, 601 Marvel Road. The fire department billed Spartech’s insurance company through the Wicomico County Hazmat billing process.

“In the process of extinguishing the fire, several sets of firefighting turnout gear and firehose were damaged beyond repair due to being saturated with an ‘oil’ type product from one of the machines used for fabrication,” according to a staff memo.

Also awaiting a final vote from the council is authorization for the mayor to accept a $1,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation for Anne Street Village. The money was presented to the city during the reopening of the newly remodeled Fruitland Walmart. The funds will be used to furnish the remaining houses at Anne Street Village with microwaves, mattresses and small refrigerators. In addition to the $1,000, another donation was received through the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore in the amount of $2,000.

The fourth item that did not receive a final vote involves the city accepting a $7,231 grant from the  Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The grant money would pay the salaries of two high school students during the eight-week program, which starts June 24. The program employs 12 high school students.

“The program exposes these students to various departments within the city and the jobs associated with the operation of a municipality,” according to a staff memo. “We are continuing our partnership with Junior Achievement who provides financial literacy classes to the students in the program. This program allows the students to gain work experience, build a resume, and earn job references for the future.”

A vote on amending sections of the city code regarding adult-use cannabis businesses and the regulation of cannabis businesses was also deferred. Included in the amended code is a prohibition of on-site cannabis consumption establishments.

In addition, the proposed amendments state that a cannabis dispensary:

• May not be located within 500 feet of a pre-existing primary or secondary school in the state, a licensed childcare center, registered family child-care home, a playground, recreation center, library, public park or 1,000 feet of another cannabis business.
• May have its 500-foot setback reduced by the council by no more than 50%.
• Shall have its parking standards established by the council.
• May not be located adjacent to a residential use.
• Will have its approved permit considered null and void if it remains idle and unused for a continuous period of more than one year.

At Monday’s meeting, a budget amendment accepting a $1,000 donation from Bless Our Children for the city’s annual Santa’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru was introduced for future council action.

The Housing and Community Development Department hosts an annual event that has evolved from Santa’s Workshop at the Truitt Street Community Center to Santa’s Winter Wonderland on the Downtown Plaza. Toys for Tots and Cloverland Dairy donated toys, milk and books, which were distributed through the drive-thru Santa event on the plaza, according to a staff memo.

“This year we had 176 cars and we distributed over 430 gifts to children and over 300 books as well,” according to a staff memo. “Once again, Draper Holdings Charitable Foundation through their Bless Our Children Program has made a financial contribution to this event. This year we applied for and received a check for $1,000 which will be placed into our Santa’s Workshop multi-year fund account. This account is used to purchase gifts, cookies, and other items needed to set up and enhance the experience and it also allows Santa and his Elves to continue working and preparing gifts for next year.”

The next council work session is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16, with the council meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 22.