City Council on Thursday (April 9) heard an update on the beach replenishment project scheduled for the south end of Ocean City and voted to seek bids on construction of a skateboard park, but here are a few other items that might be of interest.
- Veterans Beach Tags: This season’s free beach tags for military veterans should be available by the end of the month (read more on the program). Veterans who showed documentation last year to receive the tags need only to show a driver’s license this year. Ocean City may design different tags for veterans of different branches of the military, Finance Director Frank Donato told City Council.
- Historic District Changes: Mayor Jay Gillian asked City Council to hold a public workshop or to notify property owners in Ocean City’s Historic District by certified mail of proposed changes in the ordinance that governs the district. Councilman Antwan McClellan had asked council members to review the proposed changes in advance of scheduling a public consideration of them. Councilman Keith Hartzell asked the administration to have the Historic Preservation Commission prepare talking points on the changes that council members could use in a door-to-door communication effort. Historic District resident Mark Crego praised the idea of notification by certified mail and urged council to consider the feedback of district residents and not of people outside the district.
- Not a Realtor: In public comment, Ocean City resident Dale Braun noted that he was appointed to the Ocean City Planning Board six weeks ago and that he does not work in real estate, construction or landscaping, owns no investment properties in Ocean City, and derives no income from Ocean City. “Meeting after meeting, you hear that only people who have a self-interest get appointed these days,” Braun said. “If I have one, I can’t figure out what that is.”
- Flood Prevention Requirement Appeals: Council gave final approval to an ordinance designating the Ocean City Planning Board as the body that will hear variance appeals related to flood damage prevention measures.
- Lifeguard Pension Commission Appointment: City Council approved the mayor’s appointment of Brian Booth as a member to the Ocean City Lifeguard Pension Commission. Booth is a senior lieutenant on the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
- Ice-Cream Vendor License: City Council voted 5-1 (with Councilman Mike DeVlieger dissenting) to award four bicycle cart licenses (to sell ice cream and beverages) to Cool Out LLC for $1,800 apiece (total $7,200). Cool Out’s owner is Romane McKenzie. DeVlieger had opposed the recent tabling of an ordinance dealing with the way vendor licenses are handled.
