Council Vice President Tony Wilson reads a city proclamation in honor of the state championship Ocean City High School field hockey team.
By Donald Wittkowski
After several meeting with light agendas, City Council had a full docket this week.
Having previously wrestled with the boardwalk performers issue two other times, Ocean City is making a third attempt to manage crowd safety and street performers on the Boardwalk. All while preserving the entertainment value that they bring and their right to express themselves.
City Council introduced an ordinance Thursday night that designates special areas of the Boardwalk where the performers would be allowed to entertain crowds. In the past, the city had considered confining them to a much smaller section of the Boardwalk, between Fifth and Sixth streets, that was dubbed “performers alley.”
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said regulations are needed to control a significant increase in the number of performers in recent years. In the past, Boardwalk business owners have complained that large crowds milling around the performers blocked access to their stores.
McCrosson noted that Mayor Jay Gillian’s administration has collaborated with the Boardwalk Merchants Association on a plan that would avoid conflicts between local businesses and the performers.
Wes Kazmarck, President of the Boardwalk Merchants Association, told Council that he believes the ordinance is a “very good compromise.”
“It’s kind of a win for both sides,” Kazmarck said.
Speaking to Council, the mayor stressed that the proposed ordinance is not an attempt to keep street performers off the Boardwalk. He said the city is simply trying to balance the rights of the business owners and the performers “to make it fair for everyone.”
“We’re not going to punish the kids. We’re going to work with the kids,” Gillian said of young performers. He later added, “This is not going to be a deterrent.”
Gillian indicated there could be revisions to the ordinance when it comes up for a public hearing and final Council vote on Dec. 29. He said the city would take its time in crafting a final plan.
In the meantime, he encouraged members of the public to contact the city’s community services director, Michael Allegretto, to discuss any concerns they might have with the plan.
“It will be a fair and honorable agreement by the time we vote on it again,” Gillian said.
Andrew Leonetti, left, and Ricky Hardin, who both play in the same band, object to the proposed ordinance that would regulate Boardwalk performers.
Earlier this year, Gillian yanked another ordinance that would have regulated Boardwalk performers. He expressed fear then that it might cause financial harm to some of the younger street performers who live in town. The city also considered passing an ordinance in 2013 to regulate Boardwalk performers, but that measure was tabled.
Two Boardwalk performers who play in the same band appeared before Council on Thursday night to oppose the new ordinance. Earlier in the year, they had complained about the first version of the ordinance, and were instrumental in getting the mayor to withdraw it.
Council Vice President Tony Wilson reads a city proclamation in honor of the state championship Ocean City High School field hockey team.
