Dear Friends,
The federal Army Corps of Engineers opened bids this week and expects to award a contract to the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company to rebuild beaches at the northern end of the island between Seaspray Road and 14th Street. The exact project schedule will be determined in the next few weeks, but the work will not begin before the end of summer or extend past March 2018.
I’m grateful for the commitment of the Army Corps and state Department of Environmental Protection to protect property in Ocean City through these vital renourishment projects. Our island now benefits from an uninterrupted dune system along the oceanfront from tip to tip. The south end also remains on schedule for replenishment sometime in late 2018 or early 2019.
Emergency repair of a sewer main has closed Bay Avenue between 25th Street and 26th Street. This work is not related to the nearby drainage project, which will resume on the Tuesday after Labor Day. The emergency was beyond anybody’s control, and the repair is essential to maintaining sewer service on the island. I’d like to thank everybody – particularly those property owners along the detour route – for their patience during this work. The sewer system is maintained by the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority. The southbound lane of traffic on Bay Avenue will reopen for the weekend only, starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
I’m sad to report the passing of Frederick L. Alford, who served on the Ocean City Police Department for 25 years. Fred was a 1980 graduate of Ocean City High School who rose to the rank of sergeant before retiring in 2012. I’d like to extend my condolences to all of his friends and family. Anybody who would like to pay their respects is welcome to attend his funeral Service at 11 a.m. Monday (Aug. 21) at the Godfrey Funeral Home of Egg Harbor Township, 4008 English Creek Avenue. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
Michele and I would also like to extend our sympathy to the Broadley family, who lost their matriarch, Betty Broadley, earlier this week at the age of 91. She’s headed to heaven to join her husband of 68 years, Gam Broadley, who died at age 90 in 2015. Together, the Broadleys have left a lasting legacy of community service in Ocean City and Upper Township.
I want to remind you all about the town hall meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, August 26, at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center. Representatives of Michael Baker International Company will share plans for road and drainage improvements in the area from First Street to Eighth Street between West Avenue and the bay. Everybody is encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and the anticipated schedule.
You also may want to know about the annual meeting sponsored by Bike OCNJ. The group advocates for making Ocean City a more bicycle-friendly town and invites everybody to share information and ideas. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 23, at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center.
I hope you all will take the time in the next couple weeks to enjoy all that Ocean City has to offer. As it always does, the summer has flown by all too quickly. The Beach Boys will be back in town for four shows on Monday and Tuesday. There are still some tickets available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office. The Music Pier is the perfect venue for the Beach Boys, and the shows over the last two years have been a lot of fun.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
