By MADDY VITALE
Roy Gillian has dedicated his life to Ocean City. He followed in his father’s footsteps in the amusement park business and created the iconic Gillian’s Wonderland Pier at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk. And throughout his lifetime he has served on many boards and organizations.
So, for his 90th birthday, which was on Nov. 25, his son, Mayor Jay Gillian, City Council and the administration thought they should do a little something for him.
Council passed a resolution at its meeting Tuesday night naming Nov. 25, 2019, as “Roy Gillian Day.”
“For his 90th birthday, what do you get him?” the mayor asked with a laugh.
Though Roy Gillian and his wife, Patricia, did not attend the meeting, he told his son he was very honored.
“He was very appreciative, humbled and happy,” the mayor said.
Among the ways Roy Gillian has served, he was a city commissioner, Ocean City mayor and Cape May County freeholder.
The proclamation outlined his service to the community, but the first sentences summed up the reason he was honored.
“Roy Gillian’s name is synonymous with the Boardwalk amusements that have entertained generations of residents and guests in “America’s Greatest Family Resort”‘ the proclamation says.
In other business, Council adopted an ordinance to create the Department of Operations and Engineering and named Vince Bekier as the director.
The department combines the operations of the Department of Community Development and the Department of Public Works.
Bekier had been the director of Community Development.
Councilman Bob Barr said, “I want to congratulate Vince. I know you do a good job and I wish you well.”
Bekier said after the meeting that he is looking forward to the new position.
In another matter, Charles and Jane Deal, of Central Avenue, addressed the Council members and asked them to review the parking issues throughout town due to dense housing.
“We have a parking problem in Ocean City and one of the problems is traffic,” said Charles Deal. “So, they park on the ends of the corners and when people can’t see we have accidents and it is becoming worse.”
Jane Deal added, “As my husband expressed, the parking is really dire. My husband and I own two cars.”
She noted that because of the parking issues, they worry when they take their six grandchildren down the street or alleyways because of fears a motorist may not see them.
In a letter they provided to the public and to Council, the Deals said, “The reason I’m contacting you is because I’ve been made aware of a new building code. It allows extra habitable stories of living space and does not account for the impact on parking.”
Also Tuesday, there was a discussion by local resident and environmental advocate Donna Moore about the dangers of pesticides getting into the waterways.
She noted that because of flooding in Ocean City, pesticides can get swept into the water system. She also said homeowners should consider eco-friendly pesticide treatments.
Councilwoman Karen Bergman said Moore raised some good points about the dangers of pesticides and that it is important that homeowners are educated.
Bergman said, “Thank you for bringing that to our attention.”
