Mayor Jay Gillian
Dear Friends,
City Council last night approved the first reading of a bond ordinance that would allow the purchase of another property behind City Hall.
It’s the frame shop next to the restaurant at the corner of Ninth and Central. We’ll be able to use it for our Social Services Division while the police station is under construction across the street. Then we’ll look to convert it for more downtown parking.
This will be in addition to the two new parking lots that just opened on the same block. Any time we have an opportunity to add parking in town, we’re going to take a look at it, and this one is a good deal.
A number of road projects continue throughout town as we work to take advantage of good fall weather.
The contractor for our flood mitigation project in Merion Park and nearby neighborhoods is finishing up concrete work, and the new pumping stations will be operational by the end of the month.
Weather permitting, paving prep work will take place during Thanksgiving Week, and final paving will be in the first week of December. Little Roosevelt Boulevard will be an exception with base paving in the coming weeks and final paving in the spring.
Drainage and concrete work for a paving project on West Avenue from North Street to Ninth Street is underway. We are currently seeking bids for final paving of West Avenue from Ninth Street to 18th Street, and that work is expected to be complete by May 1. At that time, West Avenue will be brand new from North Street to 34th Street.
Work also continues on an extensive project including several roads between 18th Street and 33rd Street.
I want to thank the “Golden Girls” from the Senior Center team (Maryann McElroy, Karen Bergman, Lisa McGuigan and Shelley Magan) for putting on such a fun Halloween event last week. I was able to stop by, and it’s heartwarming to see the joy and camaraderie on display among everybody at the center. It’s exactly what I had hoped for when the city came in earlier this year.
Michele and I would like to extend deepest condolences to Carol Heenan and the entire family of her husband, Eric Wakabayashi, who passed away on Oct. 24. Eric was well-known around town, he will be missed by many.
I'm also sad to report on the loss of Tara Leigh Vanderslice Saylor. My heart goes out to the Vanderslice family, which has always done so much for our community. Tara was an Ocean City High School graduate, a star athlete and a familiar face on our Boardwalk, beaches and throughout town. Please join me in paying respects to all of her family and friends.
I want to encourage everybody to attend our annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Ocean City Tabernacle (550 Wesley Avenue). It’s always great to see how much our community supports our veterans.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
