Dear Friends,
Some of you may have read about the Ocean City Housing Authority executive director pleading guilty to using federal funds for personal use. While the city has no oversight of Ocean City Housing Authority finances or personnel, the residents of Pecks Beach Village and Bay View Manor are an important part of our community. I’m disappointed to learn of this alleged crime, and I believe it’s important for the Housing Authority to move forward with a new executive director and new financial oversight of this federally funded housing program.
When the residents of Pecks Beach Village were displaced by Superstorm Sandy and the efforts to restore their homes stalled, the city had to step in to help them. Then as now, I believe these citizens deserve better. I’m confident the current Housing Authority has the leadership to get the job done.
I want to invite you all to a town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3 at the Ocean City Tabernacle. Representatives of ACT Engineers will be on hand to update everybody on our 2017 bay dredging program and on our various efforts to create a sustainable long-term plan to keep our waters navigable. I hope you’ll share information about this upcoming meeting with anybody who has an interest.
Preliminary work is complete and construction on the pumping station project between 26th Street and 34th Street will begin on Tuesday with the placing of new storm drain pipelines below Bay Avenue. Expect detours during the coming weeks as this work continues. The project will continue through the summer with the installation of pumping stations along the bay, but road construction will stop as of June 23. This will allow residents to enjoy full access to their streets during the busy summer months. Street work will continue and the final stages of the project will be completed after Labor Day. Sign up for weekly “project updates” here or visit ocnj.us/projectupdate/.
Growing up, I spent much of my time working at Wonderland Pier. But just on the other side of the boardwalk, there was a whole other world of men, women and kids who lived in the surf. I’m proud that Ocean City will be host to the annual New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame induction ceremony tonight at the Flanders, and I’d like to congratulate four inductees with close ties to Ocean City: Larry Friedel, Brian Heritage, Tom McClaren and Sandy Ordille.
Finally, I want to remind you all that our annual Martin Z. Mollusk Day celebration goes off rain or shine at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Ocean City Music Pier. Philadelphia Eagles star Jon Dorenbos will be special guest, and he’ll return to the Pier at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow evening for a sold-out magic show.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
