Michael Hinchman called City Council’s March 2014 decision to spend $467,000 for new roofs on low-income housing that may now be torn down and replaced “the most asinine, back-of-the-napkin thing the city has done in a long time.”
Hinchman — an Ocean City resident, president of the Fairness in Taxes group and former mayoral candidate — spoke during the public comment portion of a City Council meeting on Thursday (Jan. 8).
He was reacting to news that the Ocean City Housing Authority is in the early stages of a plan that could possibly result in tearing down Peck’s Beach Village (off Fourth Street) and replacing it with new elevated townhouses. His comments sparked a reaction that was the highlight of an otherwise uneventful meeting.
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In the interest of efficiency, Council procedures prohibit any sort of back-and-forth exchanges between the public and council members during meetings. But in recent meetings, council has allowed unscheduled segments for councilmen to refute public critics.
Hinchman said he at least understood the city’s argument for spending $1.2 million to make repairs that allowed Peck’s Beach Village residents to return to homes flooded and damaged by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. But to spend another half-million a year-and-a-half later on buildings destined for the wrecking ball was wrong, he suggested.
Hinchman’s comments provoked a response from several council and city administration members refuting Hinchman’s central premise.
Councilman Keith Hartzell started the exchange, and new Business Administrator Jim Mallon pointed out that Council’s March 2014 action designated a federal Community Development Block Grant for the roof replacement, that the decision to replace roofs at Peck’s Beach Village was made before Superstorm Sandy, and that while he “certainly appreciates the Housing Authority’s optimism,” there’s no guarantee that the low-income houses will be demolished soon.
Council approved the replacement of roofs for the 40 family units on the south side of Fourth Street before Sandy. The March 27, 2014 vote was to continue the project by replacing the roofs on the 20 senior citizen units on the north side of Fourth Street.
Councilman Mike DeVlieger said the intent of the original vote was “to put a high priority on keeping families in town.”
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson noted that neither the plan to overhaul Peck’s Beach Village nor the vision of OCHA Executive Director Alesia Watson was in place at the time of the original vote.
“Is there anybody who wouldn’t think we could get by for a couple years with a temporary repair?” said Councilman Pete Guinosso, who voted in favor of the roof replacement in March 2014.
