Mayor's Message: Nov. 22

Dear Friends,

City Council yesterday approved the first reading of an ordinance that would implement a small local occupancy tax that would be paid by guests who book hotel rooms or short-term rentals through services like Airbnb and Vrbo.

Many other shore towns and municipalities throughout the country have long enjoyed the benefits of similar programs. If it passes on second reading, this would be a way to help offset the burden on local taxpayers.

The city held pre-construction meetings today for three new projects.

• Final concrete and paving work on West Avenue from Ninth Street to 18th Street is expected to begin before the end of the year and be completed in the spring. Final paving of West Avenue from North Street to Ninth Street will be completed before Thanksgiving. When these projects are finished, West Avenue will be brand new from North Street to 34th Street.
• The city will construct a new section of bulkhead on Clubhouse Lagoon (at the end of Bayland Drive) to tie into new bulkheads completed by private slip owners. Work is expected to begin before the end of the year and be completed by spring.
• To address flooding issues on the beach block of Fifth Street, the city will expand and extend the stormwater outfall pipe at Fifth Street. Work expected to begin before the end of the year and be complete in the spring.

The new pumping stations installed as part of the Merion Park flood mitigation project are expected to be operational by the first week of December.

Work on a major paving project between 18th Street and 33rd Street continues on schedule. A portion of Central Avenue will be paved by the end of the year with the rest of the streets completed in the spring.

Our contractor has started work on the 2024-25 bayside maintenance dredging program.

The annual Community Thanksgiving Service is moving this year from the evening to the afternoon. All are invited to attend at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at St. Francis Cabrini Church, Second Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Thanksgiving is one of only three holidays each year when trash and recycling is not picked up on the regular schedule. The holiday schedule is available here.

Seasonal beach tags for summer 2025 go on sale starting Saturday. This year’s tag design honors the 135th anniversary of the Ocean City Fire Department. If you’re going to the “Earlier Than the Bird” downtown shopping event, you can stop by the City Hall Welcome Center to buy them. They’re also available for purchase online and at other locations. More information is available here.

I want to thank the Title Company of Jersey for making a donation today to the Humane Society of Ocean City. We’re lucky to have such a highly regarded animal shelter in town, and the facility owes a lot of its success to the dedication of volunteers and generosity of donors like the Title Company of Jersey.

I hope you all have a great weekend and get a chance to shop and dine locally at Earlier Than the Bird and throughout the holidays.

Finally, I want to thank Karen Mahar for her service to the Friends of the Ocean City Pops. Karen recently completed two terms as chair, and it’s through the dedication of volunteers like her and all of the Friends that we can enjoy such a great community resource as the Pops. I want to welcome the new chair, Steve Gring, and wish him great success in his new role. We’re all looking forward to another exceptional season at the Music Pier.

Warm regards,

Mayor Jay A. Gillian