Dear Friends,
I’m happy to report that the city now owns the entire city block where the car dealership was located next to the Community Center.
The final cost is still to be determined by the court, and there are issues still to be resolved. But the property is ours. I look forward to developing short and long term plans for the public to use the area.
It has been a long process, and I want to thank City Council and all of the city team members who helped make this happen. Everybody will benefit from seeing this land preserved as open space.
Ocean City has been named one of the “
Six Best Places to Live in New Jersey.” A national magazine made the picks and chose five other towns. But we all know we’re No. 1.
The city team and community volunteers have now helped 357 Ocean City seniors get vaccine appointments. There is nothing more important we can do than make sure everybody in town is safe and healthy. If you know of any local senior who is still having trouble with the process, please have them call 609-399-6111.
At last night’s City Council meeting, Finance Director Frank Donato made a
presentation on the proposed 2021 municipal budget. I encourage anybody with an interest in this process to take a look at the information. This is one step in an ongoing process that will include formal introduction of the budget by Council on April 22 and a final public hearing and vote sometime in May. We expect to receive more information shortly on how an announced $7 million in federal COVID relief aid can be used to help Ocean City taxpayers.
Like anybody who travels Bay Avenue, I am extremely frustrated by the condition of the roadway, particularly in the area of 14th Street. This is a county project, and the Cape May County Municipal Utility Authority has assured the city that the contractor will complete temporary repairs to the rough road surface in the area from 14th Street to 20th Street by the end of next week. Final paving of the entire project area from 8
th Street to 31st Street will take place around May 1.
Saturday’s forecast looks sunny and warm, and I hope everybody gets a chance to enjoy everything Ocean City has to offer. The first of two
Great Egg Hunts will be up on the boardwalk. You also can look forward to Easter events – including the interdenominational
Sunrise Service (including a livestream at
facebook.com/OceanCityNJVacation) an outdoor
Dueling Pianos show and our annual
Fashion Stroll at the Music Pier.
Great
special events continue through April. Please eat and shop local to help all of our businesses get off to a strong start for 2021.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
