Five Things to Know From City Council's Meeting on Thursday

At its public meeting on Thursday (Sept. 27), City Council discussed changes to the Master Plan and heard updates on dredging and beach replenishment projects, but here are five other things that might be of interest:

• City Council approved the first reading of an amended ordinance that requires irrigation system workers to be "properly licensed." The local ordinance mimics a state regulation but gives Ocean City the teeth to enforce it. Violations will be punishable by a $250 fine for a first offense and subsequent $500 fines. The second reading is scheduled for Oct. 11.
• City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that appropriates $165,000 to pay for demolition of the Bellevue Hotel, which began on Thursday (Sept. 27). The money comes from an existing fund for capital projects. The city will have the first lien on the property and hopes to reimburse its capital fund when the vacant property sells. It is part of the hospitality zone in Ocean City. The second reading is scheduled for Oct. 11.
• City Council approved a required floodplain management plan, but the city administration could not immediately answer a question from Merion Park resident Steve Cole: Why did the city score 0 of 1,600 points in the flood protection portion of the plan? Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said he would research the question. See attached PDF for detail.
• City Council voted to support the nomination of U.S. Life Saving Station 30 at Fourth Street and Atlantic Avenue to the National Register of Historic Places.
• City Council moved to executive session to discuss seven lawsuits against the city, including those with the following plaintiffs: Edwin Yust, Oliver Muzslay, "Petrozzi, et. als.," Myers Trustees, Jeffrey Moyer, Robert Petnick and Monica Raab.