Politics & Government

Ocean City OKs $100,000 to Clear Damaged Docks From Bay

The work would be completed near 10th Street and potentially at other locations.

Ciity Council voted unanimously on Thursday to authorize the spending of $100,000 to clear damaged docks and other debris from the bay near 10th Street.

The city administration told Council it is worried that a big storm could turn the debris into torpedoes floating through bayside neighborhoods and potentially damaging homes.

The damaged structures are part of the former Dan's Dockside Marina property on the 900 block of Palen Avenue. The long-abandoned marina and restaurant are now bank-owned, but a corporation operated by Tom and Patrick Gill is the contract purchaser. The Gills own the Tackle Direct business in town, and they have promised to rebuild a working marina with a fuel dock and a restaurant at the site.

"This has nothing to do with the Gill's potential redevelopment plan," Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said on Thursday. "The city would put a lien on the property and money would be returned to the taxpayer."

Dattilo said the ordinance and a related resolution would not authorize actual work to be done, but would create a pool of money for emergency removal of the debris if conditions warranted it. The pool of money could be used at other locations as well.

A public hearing and second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the Aug. 22 City Council meeting.



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