Five Things You Should Know From Thursday's City Council Meeting

In formal action at the City Council meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8, council members at Fourth Street and Atlantic Avenue. But here are five other news items from the meeting:

1. City Council unanimously authorized applying for a $95,403.36 grant to create a safe bicycle crossing of Ninth Street. The city seeks money from the state Department of Transportation's Safe Street to Transit Program to connect the north end of Ocean City with the existing Haven Avenue bicycle corridor that starts at Ninth Street. The city would install a "HAWK Signal," a user-activated traffic signal, to help bicyclists cross Ninth Street near the intersections of Haven Avenue and Aldrich Avenue.

2. City Council President Michael Allegretto read a proclamation from Mayor Jay Gillian honoring Ocean City Beach Patrol Lieutenant Joe Schmitt for his his 55 years of service. Schmitt joined the patrol in 1957 at age 16, served 45 years as a lieutenant and retired this summer at age 72. He won three gold medals in his age-group in August at the United States Lifesaving Association National Championships in Cape May.

3. Another proclamation honored former Ocean City Police Chief Benjamin Dungan, who died Sept. 1 at age 89. The proclamation also offered condolences to Dungan's family.

4. City Council learned from Business Administrator Mike Dattilo that early estimates indicate that while erosion from Hurricane Irene was not devastating, Ocean City did lose $1.6 million worth of sand.

5. City Council heard continued arguments from citizens and Fourth Ward Councilman Roy Wagner for buying three lots near 30th Street and Simpson Avenue to create a passive park. Proponents suggest applying for a state Green Acres grant or Cape May County open space funding to pay for the purchase. No formal action on the idea was part of the agenda.