Saturday, May 18, 2013
Ocean City awaits outcome of report due May 1.
Ocean City still does not know if the federal government will help fund an Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project for the southern end of the island. Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported to City Council and the public on Thursday that the Army Corps has not supplied to Congress a report that was due on May 1. The city hopes the report will indicate which projects will be funded and completed before summer 2014. An Army Corps project remains the best-case scenario for Ocean City to restore eroded beaches that are worst between 49th and 59th streets — the southernmost cross-streets of the island. Even before Superstorm Sandy flattened dunes, buried streets in sand and flooded homes in October 2012, the shrinking south-…
Friday, May 17, 2013
The measures make it easier for owners to rebuild properties in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
City Council on Thursday gave final approval to its second revised zoning ordinance of 2013 to make it easier for property owners to elevate, rebuild and repair in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The ordinance addresses 10 sections, including decks (existing, nonconforming decks can be elevated where they are within one foot of adjacent habitable space), pergolas (open rafters or trellis work will not be considered roofs) and crawlspaces (extended limitations on use of them as storage space). The attached PDF includes the full text of the revised ordinance and an explanation of the changes (minor changes were made to the text in the attached PDF before final passage). Before the vote on Thursday, Leyte Lane resident Jim O'Rourke asked …
An amended ordinance will apply only to summer 2013 to help property owners affected by Superstorm Sandy.
City Council gave final approval on Thursday to an ordinance that permits demolition during the summer weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Demolition work (normally prohibited in the summer) will be limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (except July 4). The amended ordinance applies only to summer 2013. The ordinance was proposed to provide relief to owners whose properties were damaged during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, and the wording of the ordinance allows demolition work only to properties damaged by the storm. In discussions over the course of two City Council meetings, council members and citizens debated whether the amended ordinance would open a window to allow developers to work through the summer and cause substantial…
This year's tax bills will affect Ocean City property owners unequally.
City Council on Thursday gave final approval to a $71 million municipal budget that taxes property owners by 1 percent more in 2013 than in 2012. While Ocean City taxpayers on average will pay just 1 percent more in taxes next year, who pays more and who pays less will depend on whose property assessments were changed. Through a regularly scheduled program of reassessments to areas where assessed values don't reflect market values, tax appeals and storm-damage reassessments, Ocean City's ratable base fell by about 7 percent this year. To collect roughly the same amount in taxes, the tax rate climbs by more than 8 percent. Owners whose properties were reassessed (on average) will pay less in taxes (as the decrease in their property value …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Ocean City resident Georgina Shanley argues against an ordinance under consideration on Thursday, May 16,
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Wednesday, May 15
To the Editor, I am deeply disappointed that Ocean City Council will consider having musicians buy a license in order to perform on the Boardwalk. According to the proposed ordinance, "Soliciting or accepting anything of value including, but not limited to, money for performing or playing a musical instrument on the boardwalk is prohibited unless a permit in writing is issued by the Mayor or Chief Executive Officer." Pleaaase! A person with talent and a little moxy has to have a license to perform in this "Family" community! Who, has initiated this ordinance — surely, not the Ocean City Pops! I doubt it. This is mean-spirited and wrong! On the same agenda is "A Resolution Authorizing the Administration to Obtain Easements to Permit City …
City Council on Thursday will vote to adopt a budget that increases the local tax levy by 1 percent.
City Council will hold a public hearing on its proposed $71 million 2013 muncipal budget before voting to adopt it. The hearing will be part of the public City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday (May 16) at the Ocean City Free Public Library. __________ See a copy of the complete 2013 introduced budget (also attached to this story as a PDF). Read more about City Council's budget discussions. __________ The proposed budget asks local taxpayers for just 1 percent more in 2013 than in 2012. Gillian's administration in February had proposed a budget of $70,888,450 represents a $2.2 million (or 3.17 percent) increase over last year's $68.7 million budget. But because projected local revenue (largely from parking, construction code and Aquatics…
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Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Ocean City resident Eric Sauder writes about an ordinance City Council will consider on May 16.
To the editor: As someone who lived next door to demolition last winter, I don’t know why people are aren’t more concerned about the city’s recent move to allow demolition, pile-driving, and construction during the summer. I had siding knocked off my house, a window frame busted, almost had a broken window, a clothes pole knocked down. But what’s really bad is the broken glass, wood splinters, nails etc. on my walkways. The noise, dirt, and vibrations (from pile-driving) are not conducive to a relaxing vacation, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if renters decide to vacate because of it. Are you sure you want to give our tourists an experience here in America’s Greatest Family Resort they’ll never want to repeat? It’s been six months …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Ocean City is working to bring a replenishment project to its southern beaches by summer 2014.
May will be a critical month in the quest for new sand to restore eroded beaches at the southern end of Ocean City. That is the update Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo gave City Council at a public meeting on Thursday (April 25) at the Ocean City Free Public Library. In order for the city to obtain permits and contracts to complete a beach replenishment project by summer 2014, the city will have to decide on a course of action within about a month. Superstorm Sandy wiped out dunes at the southern end of the island and left streets and properties buried under layers of sand, but even before the October 2012 storm, the eroded beach disappeared during many high tides. Dattilo said the city's best-case scenario remains the …
City Council makes a final vote to disband the volunteer group.
The work of the Ocean City Ethics Board came to an end Thursday night, six years after it was formed as a way for citizens to file complaints about ethics violations among city officials and employees. City Council voted 6-1 to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance that removes the "Ethics Committee" from the list of the city's agencies and boards. Fourth Ward Councilman Pete Guinosso cast the lone dissenting vote. The local board has considered 11 complaints in six years, and its only finding of an ethical violation resulted in a costly appeal in a case that ultimately was dropped for "procedural deficiencies." City Council members have argued that a state board provides the same ethical oversight, making the local board a…
Car wash invoices, new city department, summer demolition, boardwalk construction and ABFE maps.
At its public meeting on Thursday at the Ocean City Free Public Library, City Council voted to eliminate the Ocean City Ethics Board. But here are five other things that might be of interest:
Jenevive
11:16 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
I just read Southend Man's comment. I agree totally. The closer you look, the more pathetic it is. Sorry to say but Jay Gillian is way over his head. He should have at least hired a qualified business manager but he did not. He is surrounded by yes men and woman - well paid yes men and woman. Bad roads, severe drainage problems, beach erosion and what is this man/child concerned with? Astro turf… more ›