Mayor Jay Gillian: City Hires New Public Information Officer

Dear Friends, I am pleased to announce that on Monday, Doug Bergen will be joining the city team as the new public information officer. Doug has been very active in local news for many years, and has experience promoting and sharing city updates and events through multiple media platforms. I am confident Doug will help the city communicate all of the great things we are doing to our residents, guests and businesses in a professional and timely manner. I look forward to having Doug join the team and hit the ground running. I would like to offer a sincere thank you to everyone who made last week’s Christmas Parade and Downtown Holiday Dash successful events. Without the hard work of the Chamber of Commerce, the city team members, Ocean City High School Track Boosters and the Downtown Merchants Association, events like these would never happen. I would also like to thank everyone who participated in the dash and parade. Dune grass is now planted on the rebuilt dunes at the south end of Ocean City. The north end beach replenishment project is progressing nicely and weather permitting, will be finished before Christmas. The contractor has rebuilt the dunes in the Fifth Street area and is pumping sand in the area of the Music Pier now. The City received additional quantities of sand to enhance other dune areas in the northern project. The city team is in the process of restoring sand fence and dune grass planting will occur next week. The dune grass is planted and taking root in the south end of the island, so by early 2016 the entire island will be protected by new beach, enhanced dunes and dune grass plantings. Beginning Monday, Dec. 14, there will be a road closure at 12th Street and West Avenue for a utility road opening. Weather permitting, this road closure will be in place until Wednesday afternoon. Please use alternate routes to avoid this intersection if possible. Seasonal beach tags for 2016 are available for $20 at the welcome centers at City Hall, the Knight Building, Aquatic and Fitness Center, 9th Street Bridge and at ocnj.us/beachtags. First Night buttons are also on sale at a discounted price of $15 per person through Dec. 15, after which the price will be $20 per person. Buy your buttons now at the welcome centers on the 9th Street Bridge and City Hall, online at firstnightocnj.com, or by phone at 1-800-BEACH-NJ. I ask everyone to continue to shop locally this holiday season and I hope you have a great weekend. Warm regards, Jay A. Gillian Mayor