BY JANET BERNOSKY, Eastern Shore Post —
Pocomoke Mayor Todd J. Nock used a city-owned vehicle to travel on Jan. 3 to the Washington, D.C. installation ceremony of Maryland’s newest U.S. senator before driving north of Baltimore to visit family and spend the night.
Nock returned the city vehicle to Pocomoke the next day after attending a Baltimore Ravens NFL football game, but Nock said he did not use the vehicle to get to the game.
The family Nock visited lives in Owings Mills, which is where he left the city vehicle while attending the game.
Owings Mills is roughly 50 miles north of the U.S. Capitol, where the ceremony for U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks was held, and not on the route back to Pocomoke City.
Nock justified using the taxpayer-owned vehicle to attend the Alsobrooks ceremony almost 150 miles away from Pocomoke, saying he was a representative of the town and that the new senator will be a civic friend.
“Sen. Alsobrooks is expected to become a significant ally to our city, and building a strong working relationship is crucial for the benefit of our community,” Nock said in an email afterward.
However, after being questioned by a reporter, Nock said he would foot the bill for the vehicle’s fuel and said he was “more than willing” to reimburse the city for tolls incurred on the trip.
He said in an email he “didn’t deem it necessary in this instance” to submit a reimbursement request for fuel.
The Eastern Shore Post filed a public records request for the town’s policy on use of city-owned vehicles, for the make and model of the vehicle Nock used on the trip, and the mileage incurred.
City Manager John Barkley noted in a Jan. 10 report the purchase of three new vehicles for the city — “one assigned to the mayor and council.”
Nock said he personally paid all expenses for the trip, including food and the football game ticket.
Although he said the city would cover fuel costs if he submitted receipts, “covering gas or tolls is not something I view as a burden or give a second thought to.”
Nock added that he loves Pocomoke City and doesn’t undertake his duties with reimbursement in mind.
“It’s a privilege to serve, even if that means using my personal resources.”
The Post also made a records request for the town’s policy on the usage of cellular phones while driving city-owned vehicles.
Nock missed attending in person a Jan. 3 city meeting he coordinated so he could go to Alsobrooks’ installation ceremony. However, he attended the meeting remotely while driving.
Nock said the city vehicle “is equipped with a hands-free system that allows me to safely operate while participating in meetings or calls.”