New Councilman Pledges 'Open Door Policy'

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Ocean City residents Saturday urged newly elected Councilman Jody Levchuk to help ease flooding in their neighborhoods, repair deteriorated roads and to preserve a large tract of land in the midsection of town for open space. Levchuk, who was sworn in July 1 as the new Third Ward councilman, held a Zoom and teleconference meeting with residents to formally introduce himself and to listen to any concerns or suggestions from the public. In opening remarks, he told residents not to hesitate to call or email him or to stop by his house or his Boardwalk businesses to speak with him in person. His contact information is listed under the “City Council” tab on the city’s municipal website at ocnj.us. “I have an open door policy,” Levchuk said. Along with Ocean City’s three other ward councilmen, Levchuk plans to hold a series of meetings in coming months to speak with constituents in an open forum. His first meeting Saturday was held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. After some early technical glitches with the meeting’s audio feed, Levchuk spoke of his background growing up in Ocean City, his love for the beach town, his family’s ownership of the Jilly’s Boardwalk businesses and his plan to hit the ground running as a new councilman. “I have a lot of things on my mind and a lot of things I want to accomplish in the next four years,” he said. The Third Ward represented by Levchuk stretches from the south side of 12th Street to the north side of 26th Street, a diverse area that includes residential neighborhoods, commercial areas and a large section of the Boardwalk. In the heart of the Third Ward is a full block of vacant property that runs along Haven and Simpson avenues between 16th and 17th streets next to the Ocean City Community Center. Formerly the site of the Perry-Egan car dealership, the city has been trying to acquire the property from the private owners to preserve it as open space instead of seeing it developed for housing. Prompted by a question from a resident about the site, Levchuk made it clear that “the last thing” he wants to see is the property turned into a housing project. He said he supports the city’s efforts to preserve it for open space. The strategically located parcel would help to create a corridor of public land stretching from 15th to 20th streets. It would connect the city’s Emil Palmer Park, the Community Center and other public facilities within the five-block area. The proposed housing site at 16th Street and Simpson Avenue is being sought by the city for open space. The city has voted to condemn the site and plans to seize it through its power of eminent domain. It has offered the owners just over $6.5 million for the land, but the final price is expected to be decided by the courts. Expressing confidence that the city will acquire the site, Levchuk indicated that it is just a matter of time before the price is worked out. “It just seems that everything is moving in the right direction,” he said. Other topics raised by residents during the ward meeting included flooding, the condition of some of the city’s streets, overbuilding in residential areas and concerns whether sediment buildup in the lagoons may be caused by the construction of a protective rock wall near a neighboring small island. Most of the concerns focused on flooding throughout the city. One resident, Warren Reiner, of 100 W. 17th Street, said he has been appealing to the city for eight years to solve flooding in his neighborhood. “It makes it impossible to get to or from our home,” Reiner told Levchuk of the flooding. Levchuk noted that he has been speaking with an Ocean City flooding committee about ways to mitigate stormwater. “I’m definitely on top of it,” he said. Another resident, Kathi Dwyer, of 2004 West Ave., complained that some of the streets in her neighborhood were in such “deplorable condition” that a woman fell down while walking along the road. “There are a lot of crevices and what not in the street,” Dwyer said. Flooding in Ocean City, seen here during the tropical storm on July 10, is a major concern of residents. Dwyer said she believes that neighborhood flooding has eroded the streets. She urged Levchuk to have the city repave the roads and alleys in her neighborhood. Levchuk told residents that he was taking notes and repeatedly assured them he would respond to their questions. They thanked him in return. To close the nearly hour-long meeting, Levchuk said he has been in almost daily contact with City Council President Bob Barr to discuss an array of city issues. He also thanked the members of Council for the warm reception he has received as a new member of the governing body. “I think we’re going to be a great team,” he said.