City Council on Thursday (Sept. 11) will consider an ordinance that would authorize (in part) $1.25 million in spending ($1.19 million of it borrowed) to repair the track and install an artificial turf field at Carey Stadium, the home field for Ocean City High School and host of other events.
Council will consider the bond ordinance at its public meeting 5 p.m. Thursday at City Hall (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue). The meeting is scheduled two hours earlier than normal because the city’s 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Even though Carey Stadium serves as home field to Ocean City High School teams, the property is owned and maintained by the City of Ocean City.
The facility is used for many non-school events that range in scope from Ocean City Nor’easter amateur soccer games, to the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, to preseason exhibition games for Rowan University football.
In brief discussions earlier, council members have said the artificial turf could help attract a new events and new Ocean City visitors.
A drawing of the proposed facility indicates the field could be striped and used for football, soccer, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, and field hockey. See the council agenda packet for details.
The potential spending is part of a larger bond ordinance that calls for $1.44 million in appropriations and $1.36 million in borrowing. The proposed ordinance would include a $150,000 appropriation (in part) for purchase of a new Ocean City Fire Department truck and a $35,000 appropriation (in part) for installation of a generator at the fire department’s 46th Street station.
Council is considering the first reading of the ordinance, which would require a public hearing and second reading before it could be enacted.
The artificial turf question is just part of council’s full agenda for the meeting on Thursday.
The agenda also includes:
- Curb Strip Ordinance: Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance that would require property owners to provide a grass or sod strip between curbs and sidewalks (except in cases where the city engineer thinks concrete would be safer for pedestrians).
- Beach Easements: City Council will consider the second and potentially final reading of an ordinance granting easements at city street ends to the federal Army Corps of Engineers, so a fall beach replenishment project can proceed.
- New Community Services Director: Mayor Jay Gillian will ask City Council to approve Kristen Gallagher as the director of the city’s Community Services Department. City Council voted last month to re-establish the Community Services Department, which was merged into a new Community Operations Department a year ago. Community Operations will continue to deal with building, zoning, public works and engineering operations. Community Services will handle recreation and public relations services, among others. Gallagher holds an MBA from Penn State, recently moved to Ocean City and is a co-founder and organizer of the StandUp4SEALS Beach Challenge in Ocean City.
