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Ocean City Council agrees on new public comments system for meetings

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 8, 2013) In discussing last week how to organize and possibly streamline the public comments portion of their meetings, City Council members came to a consensus that were it not for the few, the many might be heard.

The problem with the seeming disorganization of public commentary, it was agreed, was limited in scope but great in magnitude. Of citizens who spoke, 95 percent were constructive; it was the other five percent who were a problem.

“A lot of people don’t come to the meetings and don’t contribute because they don’t’ want to be lumped in with those ‘five percenters’,” said Council Secretary Mary Knight at last Friday’s strategic planning discussion.

As required by law, council has customarily allowed any member of the public to speak freely at the close of regular Monday night sessions, with a five-minute time limit. On Tuesdays, when the council holds its work session for informational discussion and purchasing matters, the rules are less clear. Citizens often request to speak during meetings on specific work items – sometimes this is allowed, sometimes not.

It is also unclear if the five-minute limit carries over for those who speak numerous times, a common occurrence among frequent attendees. Many speakers also present questions that may be answered by city staff, often leaving great confusion as to who can talk to whom, and when, and for how long.

Mayor Rick Meehan estimated that, while 95 percent of the public has a targeted piece of commentary, the other five percent have a tendency to argue for argument’s sake, and have been trained to do so by the relative lack of direction in meetings.

“We’ve conditioned them to want information on every item,” Meehan said.

While encouraging the council to not stifle any public participation, planning consultant Lyle Sumek said he has seen many municipal bodies struggle to keep their meetings on point. The council should be discussing policy as a means, not the factual details of specific ends, he said.

“There comes a point where you’ve gotten below government, into management or even into service delivery … which is not what you’re here to do,” Sumek said. “It needs to be you deliberating, not them interjecting.”

To this end, it was suggested that all meetings – both regular and work sessions – have public comment time at the beginning. Those wishing to speak would sign up beforehand, and be called up in order by the council president. While Monday regular sessions would allow citizens to speak on any topic, Tuesday work sessions would be restricted to input on specific agenda item decisions.

“I think they’ll actually have more input this way,” said Councilman Joe Mitrecic. “Rather than already having a motion and a second and knowing what direction we [the council] want to go in before they even get to speak.”

This will ensure that public comments are intended to help council with its decision making, rather than the public seeking information for their own edification.

“It’s not a dialogue, it’s not an interrogation, and it’s not the public’s time to interview city staff,” said City Manager David Recor.

“It’s incumbent upon us to study the issue and respond to those people [who have such questions] before the meeting as well,” said Councilman Dennis Dare.

Council members Brent Ashley and Margaret Pillas were more reluctant to re-structure public commentary, for fear of restricting it.

“I’ve been on the wrong end of a lot of them, but I like the open public comments,” Ashley said. However, he noted that he was definitely in favor of guaranteeing citizens right to speak at work sessions, which seemed to be the consensus within council.

Sumek and Recor also suggested that council implement “consent items” on its agendas, in which purchases, bid openings, and other actions which are not matters of policy can be approved en masse. Council could still always move to strike a specific item from the list if there was a pertinent issue regarding it.

CITY TO INVESTIGATE PAY STRUCTURE, PENSION REVERSAL

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 8, 2013) With union contract negotiations under way, it appears likely that Ocean City will again be doing a comparative study and revision of its salary structure, as well as potentially making another major overhaul to its pension system.

At last week’s strategic planning session, it was noted to the City Council that the town has two pay studies on its horizon. A comparative, interdepartmental study of employee compensation was an action item for the near future, while another study, which looks specifically at the town’s public safety employees compared to those of similar jurisdictions, is currently being done in preparation for union contract talks.

Ocean City is home to two public employees’ unions: the International Association of Fire Fighters, whose collective bargaining rights were granted by the city in 2007, and the Fraternal Order of Police, whose bargaining rights were approved by the voters via referendum in 2002.

In negotiating with the FOP over officers’ salaries, the city has typically assessed itself by compiling salary data from other Maryland agencies that it believes to be comparable to the Ocean City Police Department. Agreement over what the FOP, the OCPD, and the city as a whole believe to be comparable agencies has set the tone for collective bargaining hence.

“I’ve been in on every negotiation from day one, back to our first contract in 2004-2005 … and at that time we came up with 10 comparables to use,” said Sgt. Art Grady, FOP treasurer and negotiations chair. “We got to the point where it was these 10 and it wasn’t really an issue after that.”

Mayor Rick Meehan recalled that the list includes the city’s regional competitors, such as Salisbury, as well as some larger agencies that reflect the work volume the OCPD sees in the summer, such as Maryland State Police and the Baltimore County Police Department.

“Some of the agencies are really top-notch agencies in the state,” Grady said. “I think they [the city] see the benefit of having some of those in mind.”

However, the comparative salary basis has had some questionable effects on the rest of the city, which Councilman and former City Manager Dennis Dare recalled at the planning session.

Following the first contract the city forged with the FOP, a citywide salary study was done, encompassing all employees in all departments, by consultants from the Charles Hendricks Group. That study revealed that because of the overtime policies established in the FOP’s contract, the average sergeant in the OCPD would be making 22 percent of his or her annual net pay in overtime hours.

To compensate for this, the city then bumped the pay of lieutenants by 22 percent, and captains another 7 percent over that, so that sergeants would not be making more than their superiors simply by merit of union membership.

“Then we had lieutenants working special events, making more than the department heads in charge of the sewage treatment plant, which was probably a more important utility to the town than the event,” Dare said.

The result of the Hendricks study was a pay raise for most all city employees. Those at the management level saw big increases of between 15 and 20 percent, corresponding to the police salary structure.

“It all [the citywide salary structure] went back to how much police officers in Rockville made and it was just an upside-down pyramid,” Dare said.

For this reason, Dare cautioned his colleagues against moving forward too far without doing an across-the-board salary study to establish a hard baseline.

“I’m not going to make the same mistake twice and I feel we’re going down that road,” Dare said.

Such a study is an upcoming administrative goal, said City Manager David Recor, “but we didn’t see that getting completed prior to a decision having to be made on the union contracts.”

“We have done some preliminary studies to validate some of our positions in the negotiations,” city Human Resources Director Wayne Evans assured the council.

But even after the establishment of a standard circa 2005, Grady said that the comparative data was again challenged in 2010, when a new majority was voted into City Council and subsequently tried to buck the FOP by changing the comparative data structure.

“They had requested one of our captains – who isn’t even part of the bargaining unit – to do a pay comparison study,” Grady said. “The just gave him 15 agencies to look at. Not one of those agencies was what we agreed upon at the table.”

The then-majority inferred that the union was inflating its standards, but the FOP maintains that such a reconfiguration of the comparative data would cause its ranks to stagnate.

“If you just do a comparison with a bunch of other resort communities … you’re just going to water things down to the lowest common denominator,” Grady said.

What will almost certainly be the crux of the union negotiation this year, however, is the desire expressed by both the FOP and the IAFF to move back to a defined-benefit pension system. In early 2011, the then-majority of council moved to close the city’s public safety pension trust fund to new hires, and implemented a 401(a), individual contribution retirement plan.

Since then, the OCPD has hired 22 officers under the new plan. But the FOP has maintained that the lack of a proper pension makes officers less committed to staying with the department long-term, presenting a poor return on training investment for the agency. The then-minority of the City Council, as well as Meehan, agreed, and were staunchly opposed to the change.

Because retirement benefits are part of their contract, Grady said the FOP could’ve fought the change as a violation of the agreement, but chose not to.

“We could’ve fought it, but we also looked to the future, and it sounded like, if things in November got changed, we knew we were looking forward to negotiations happening right after the elections,” Grady said. “We knew it was a matter of time [before a political change], and what the minority at the time down there thought of it [the pension change] was pretty clear.”

The FOP, as well as the IAFF, backed a slate of candidates in last years’ election that returned the post-2010 minority back to majority power.

“They had given us their word that they were at least going to go back and revisit this with open eyes, and potentially get rid of the new [defined contribution] system,” Grady said.

He praised that faction of council for its open communication, even when requesting concessions, such as the pay freeze that has been in place since 2009.

“We have a really good dialogue with them,” Grady said. “That’s how the conversation kind of got started, they came to us and said, ‘The city is in a tough spot here, and we need some help.’”

Grady said the union would not be looking for extra compensation for the last four years of hardship.

“We’re not asking for blood in this,” Grady said. “We’re not asking for a huge windfall or a back pay raise. I think they [the city] see that and appreciate it.”

Phil Hudson Photos from the past swell

Brian Stoehr
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A few images from photographer Phil Hudson from this past swell:

Newest addition to Maryland’s surf scene – Ron Jon’s

Brian Stoehr
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As many may have heard, Ocean City has a new addition to its family of surf shops.  Ocean City is quickly becoming one of the best known surf destinations on the east coast and with Ron Jon Surf Shop eying Ocean City it turns that opinion into a fact!

RON JON SURF SHOP TO OPEN NEW

LOCATION IN OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

 

            COCOA BEACH, Fla. —  (January 15, 2013) — Ron Jon Surf Shop will open its 11th location in Ocean City, Maryland in May 2013.  The 6,500 square-foot location will be situated in a new shopping and dining area two blocks from the beach in Ocean City at the 67th Street Town Center.

Ron Jon Surf Shop currently operates stores throughout Florida and in other locations along the eastern seaboard including two in Myrtle Beach and its original location in Ship Bottom, N.J.

According to Debbie Harvey, president and COO of Ron Jon Surf Shop, the company selected Ocean City for its new location because the area is a popular summer destination with great surf and visitors who are familiar with the Ron Jon Surf Shop brand.

“We are thrilled to expand our brand to the Ocean City area,” Harvey said.  “The area has long been a popular destination for East Coast residents seeking a beach getaway and we feel that a Ron Jon store will be well received by visitors.”

About Ron Jon Surf Shop

Ron Jon Surf Shop was founded in 1959 by surfing enthusiast Ron DiMenna.  Two years later, he opened a tiny oceanside shop in Long Beach Island, N.J.  The lifestyle-apparel and board-sports-equipment retailer has since opened stores in Cocoa Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Ft. Myers, Key West, Panama City Beach, Clearwater Beach, Fla., as well as in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  The flagship store in Cocoa Beach is the world’s largest surf shop.  It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

School safety audits complete, recommendations expected soon

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) Safety and security in the county’s schools continues to be a high priority, as Worcester’s school district reports that independent reviews of each school, by both internal committees and local law enforcement agencies, have been completed and will likely see a recommendation for improvements this month.

“It was a concerted effort by our schools and law enforcement,” said Worcester County Schools Director of Public Relations and Special Programs Barb Witherow. “A composite list of recommendations, at some point, is going to be submitted to the Board of Education.”

After a review and compilation of the studies by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry Wilson, an analysis and suggested action will likely be given during the Feb. 19 board meeting, Witherow said.

“Our goal was to develop safety priorities that could be classified under three categories: personnel, capital improvements, and best practices,” Witherow said.

Immediately following the mass shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 26 staff and students dead, Worcester began re-enforcing its own safety protocols. Those include requiring that all doors except the front entrance be locked following students’ morning arrival and that all visitors to the school must check in and wear an identification badge.

“Those procedures have definitely been tightened,” Witherow said.

An increased police presence at schools, particularly during the morning hours when students arrive at school and in the afternoon when they leave, has also been observed since the Sandy Hook killings. Witherow said that this is likely to continue indefinitely.

“[Local law enforcement] have always patrolled our schools. They have had a heightened presence recently and they are definitely going to continue to do that,” she said.

In a recent essay discussing safety in the county’s schools, Wilson also noted that Worcester would be considering further measures, such as the use of School Resource Officers – whether these be police or private security – as well as physical capital improvements, such as the installation of buzz-in security doors on schools’ front entrances.

These will likely be addressed, Witherow said, in conjunction with the studies done by local law enforcement as well as the schools’ own safety committees.

Students have also continued to practice “lockdown drills” in schools. Although the exact details of these exercises will not be revealed in order to maintain their effectiveness in a violent confrontation, Witherow said that they “do refer to the highest level of security, such as an intruder.”

“We are continuing to forge forward,” Witherow said. “I think our parents and our community can have confidence that the measures in our future recommendations have the backing of law enforcement.”

Convention center ballroom officially opens

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) Ironically, the “big reveal” of last week’s ribbon cutting at the Ocean City convention center was not, in fact, the new $9 million ballroom itself, but an attraction that has been available for free in the resort for centuries: a big, wide view of the bay.

As the blackout curtains were raised on the facility’s west-facing bank of windows around 4:30 p.m., several audible gasps could be heard from those in attendance as a panoramic view of the sunset over the Assawoman Bay, perfectly framed by the ballroom’s glass façade, came into view.

“I felt like we should play the 1812 Overture, but Fager’s seems to have that locked up,” said Con-

vention Center Director Larry Noccolino. Playing Tchaikovsky’s epic orchestration at sunset has been a tradition at Fager’s Island restaurant ever since it became the first major attraction to stake itself on the bay-front in 1975.

Given the gravitas involved, composer Richard Strauss’s “Also sprach Zarathustra” (its fanfare was the theme of “2001: A Space Odyssey”) may have been more apropos.

“Forty years ago, everyone told John Fager he was crazy,” said Mayor Rick Meehan, “but here we are. We’ve already had people in the facility, and the response has been tremendous. They’re actually seeing what they’re here to see, which is Ocean City.”

For decades, common wisdom was that major attractions had to be located on the ocean side of the resort in order to garner consistent business, which was the assumption when the city’s convention center was overhauled, expanded and renamed the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in 1996. But as the scope of the facility has grown, the move has been made to take advantage of its location, an asset previously considered to be negligible.

“I believe Dennis [Dare, former City Manager] said that the only way you could see through to the water was if both doors for the freight elevator were open at the same time,” Meehan said.

But whereas the western part of the center’s ground floor was the previously said freight area, it has now been converted into a windowed walkway for displays and exhibitions, dubbed the Trimper Dockside Exhibit Hall. The loading dock has now been relocated to the building’s south side.

The ballroom, located directly above the exhibit area, was created by enclosing the outdoor deck behind the second-story convention hall, creating one enlarged space.

But this arrangement will see further construction again in the fall, as the second part of the convention center’s renovation begins. Of even larger scope than the ballroom project is the upcoming construction of a theater space, a one-two punch of capital improvements that the city only recently got full support for from the state.

In July, it was announced that the Maryland Stadium Authority had re-committed to its partnership with the city in the convention center, where it leases half of the facility’s operations. When the current lease expires in 2014, the state will sign another that obligates it to continue its 50 percent share of the facility’s running expenses through 2034. Additionally, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation allowing the city to borrow against its own 0.5 percent food tax to fund capital improvements in advance.

Further, the state will also be contributing $5.7 million of the estimated $14 million cost of the theater project, which will consist of a two-level performing arts atrium with roughly 1,200 seats. The theater will be oriented north-south, with the stage itself on the southern border of what is now the convention center’s central hall ‘C.’ The theater’s balcony seating, vaulted ceiling and fly gallery – the space above the stage itself used for lifting props – will use what is now the rear portion of the second-story convention hall, to whose front portion the ballroom was recently added.

“So now we build another wall [at the back of the ballroom], knock out the floor and put in a 1,200-seat auditorium,” Meehan said.

The ballroom project took more than a year, having begun in August 2011. Noccolino said the theater project is expected to take 14-16 months, beginning next fall and ending in the early winter of 2014. Architectural work on both parts has been done by Becker Morgan, and construction by Whiting & Turner.

Minimum wage hike could hit resort restaurants hardest

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) For resort-area businesses – and the tourism industry throughout the state – the upcoming legislative session in Annapolis may be less about getting what you want, and more about not getting what you don’t want.

A proposal currently circulating through the Maryland General Assembly seeks to raise the state’s minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour to $10 per hour by 2015. According to the bill’s backers, the increase will be gradually phased in, but the end result will be to raise the standard of living for the roughly 320,000 people in the state who live off an hourly minimum wage.

Such an infusion of disposable income would presume to be healthy for tourism and the recreation industry as a whole. But another element of the proposal could as well be extremely onerous, in particular, to the resort restaurant industry.

The bill would also seek to raise the percentage of pay for tipped workers from 50 to 70 percent. Under Maryland law, which is similar to that in most other U.S. states, workers who receive tips do not have to be paid a full share of the minimum wage. Currently, they must receive at least half, or $3.63 per hour.

For many seasonal employees in the Ocean City area, however, this is an almost negligible income given the volume of tips received at bars and eateries during the summer months.

But if the minimum wage is raised to $10, and the minimum portion for tipped workers to 70 percent, this almost doubles the rate to $7 per hour.

“It could certainly have a devastating effect on small businesses,” said Ocean City Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones. “There have been so many extra regulations and fees in past years.”

According to many business owners, the wage hike could actually have the opposite of its intended effect, at least for seasonal restaurants. Additional pay would be given to those who do not rely on it, such as seasonal wait staff, most of whom are students who do not live off their summer earnings per se. Conversely, this burden would force employers to either cut staff or cut pay to non-tipped employees, such as kitchen or management staff, more of whom are long-term employees who may rely on that income for their families.

“It could cause restaurants to limit staff or to cut jobs,” Jones said. “A lot of our places already do pay more than minimum wage [to non-tipped staff].”

Next week, the Maryland Tourism Council and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations will hold their annual “Tourism Day” of lobbying Annapolis. With a significant contingent from Ocean City in attendance, Jones said the minimum wage issue is likely to come up.

“Traditionally, our focus for Tourism Day has been state funding for tourism initiatives,” said MTC President David Reel. “I don’t know yet if that issue [the wage increase] will be on our agenda specifically when we go down … but it’s certainly on our radar screen.”

Similar legislation was filed in 2011, Reel noted, but the bill did not make it out of committee hearings, due to its divisiveness and relatively low political priority.

“We try to focus on legislation that is moving or about to move,” Reel said. “If a bill has been introduced and considered in committee, then we probably need to jump in.”

Progress on other hot-topic legislation, such as gun control and the elimination of the death penalty, is likely to take precedence over lower-profile issues.

“I think the sponsors of the bill will have to evaluate, based on the reaction from various constituencies, whether or not to actually press forward in committee,” Reel said.

 

City to tighten enforcement of accrued leave

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) The town of Ocean City is tightening the reins on its leave accrual policies, though how widespread or financially damaging any previous laxities may have been is still unclear.

A memo dated Jan. 17 from city Human Resources Director Wayne Evans to the city government’s managers and department heads instructs them to take note of existing city policies “to ensure proper payment of accrued leave upon separation of employment.”

Passages from the city’s employee handbook, cited by Evans, note that any time off that an employee may build up over his or her career is to be “paid out” immediately upon leaving the city’s ranks. This includes unused paid vacation, unused paid personal leave, paid holidays that were worked, and compensatory time accrued for additional work done.

When employees leave their jobs, the equivalent of this time in hourly earnings is to be paid to the departing employee. But, according to a number of people in the city’s employ, accrued leave has been being used to take what amounted to an extended vacation at the end of one’s employment, thereby staying on the city’s payroll despite having no intention of physically returning to work.

“The objective of the policy is to avoid having people who have separated from employment with the Town to remain ‘on the books,’” city Communications Manager Jessica Waters wrote in an e-mail. “In other words, employees are still entitled to their leave time, however; they will no longer be permitted to take it after their separation date per the policy.”

Such procedure, Waters said, has always existed but was not always strictly enforced.

Former Ocean City Police Department Chief Bernadette DiPino, for instance, is now serving as police chief in Sarasota, Fla. But despite leaving Maryland in December, DiPino will remain on Ocean City’s payroll until April, due to a 24-year law enforcement career with the city in which she rarely took time off.

“I do know there have been employees that this policy has not applied to,” Waters further said. “This memo was to remind people that this is the policy … and the direction that this is going to be handled from here on out.”

One of the potential ramifications of allowing employees to stay on the books by using leave time is that they would continue to receive benefits despite not actually working. These benefits could involve insurance coverage as well as financial perks, such as the retirement incentives the city offered in 2009 or the $1,000 bonus is granted employees last year.

“These policies do not contemplate the use of accrued leave to extend employment and/or benefits coverage beyond the last day worked, or to take leave in lieu of working a notice,” the memo stated.

 

Franchise auction results approved despite previous controversy

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) The Ocean City Council this week approved the December auction of beach equipment franchise rights, which saw an additional $1,200 of revenue for the city over the previous sale, despite previous controversy over the dominance of one vendor.

Ocean City has a revolving system by which it takes bids for the rights of private operators to rent umbrellas, chairs and other equipment on public beaches. The city’s coastline is divided into parcels, consisting of one block’s worth of beach in the mid and south areas and several blocks on the less busy north end.

Each zone is auctioned every third year, with contracts lasting for three years with the option to renew at a 10 percent increase. The December 2012 auction saw four of 18 north-end parcels renewed, and the other 14 auctioned.

The concession system has been highly rewarding for the city’s coffers over past decades, but bids for any given stretch of beach have declined since 2008, as the slow economy has reduced concessionaires’ profit margins. Subsequently, the city increased the maximum number of parcels one franchisee could hold at a given time

The previous cap had been 33 percent, to prevent a certain level of beach monopolization by one vendor. But that share was upped to 50 percent in order to encourage an economy of scale and keep the franchises attractive to larger investors. This has resulted in a slow recovery of bid revenues, with the 2012 income $1,200 higher in total than the year before.

However, several concessionaires had come before the City Council in November to complain that the person who has taken advantage of the cap increase – Patrick McLaughlin – was only able to do so through extra-legal means.

In October of this year, McLaughlin was sentenced to 10 months in prison for failing to file tax returns and employment tax withholdings. McLaughlin operates 85 N Sunny, the resort’s largest beach equipment rental, which had won rights to nearly 50 percent of the beach. In this last auction, he gained four additional parcels.

McLaughlin apparently dodged $20,000 in Social Security and Medicare withholding for 85 N Sunny. His total IRS tab for all of his businesses, though, was $296,701.46.

The city, however, has been accommodating, despite McLaughlin’s franchise competitors lobbying against him.

“All returns have been filed and all tax has been paid,” McLaughlin wrote in an email last month. “I am in current compliance with my federal and state tax obligations and I have worked and continue to work with qualified professionals to ensure that I remain in compliance going forward.”

“I have kept the city advised of my situation and I am very grateful that the city has supported my efforts to remain a viable and contributing member and employer of the Ocean City business community.”

City Clerk Kelly Allmond noted that beach franchisees and the Beach Mediation Board, which rules on any disputes regarding the concession system, had met with the Ocean City Beach Patrol prior to the auction.

OCBP Captain Butch Arbin had asked, Allmond said, that rules governing the hours when franchisees can bring trucks onto the beach for their rental wares be more closely observed.

“Bill [Bandorick, mediation board chairman] recommends that we put stricter or tougher wording in there about driving on the beach. We’ve had a little bit of a problem with that this past year,” Allmond said.

She also noted that some vendors have requested an extension of their hours to 6 p.m., although the OCBP goes off-duty at 5 p.m. Mayor Rick Meehan said he didn’t see any reason that vendors couldn’t stay open as long as they wish, as long as they’re still open for all the hours that the city requires.

“I think it just set the hours they’re supposed to operate; it doesn’t mean they can’t stay open long than that,” Meehan said. “A lot of people stay on the beach after five. It’s like a retail operation in a shopping center – there are hours you have to stay open per the lease, but you can open early or stay later if you want.”

 

OC commissions to return amidst efficiency, transparency fears

Zach Hoopes
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(Feb. 1, 2013) The Ocean City Council’s current majority definitively ended the legislative interregnum of its predecessors Tuesday, by voting to reinstate the sub-committee system that had been eliminated by the then-insurgent council in 2010.

Unlike a previous restoration, however, no one was disinterred and beheaded. But things did get rather heated.

“The innuendo that [the commission system] was cronyism or secrecy … I take exception to that,” said Councilman Joe Mitrecic, who supported the return to the commission structure along with Dennis Dare, Lloyd Martin, Mary Knight, and Doug Cymek.

But despite the evident dominance of the present majority, the extant members of the 2010 coup continued to voice their objection.

“I think, every chance you got, you kept undermining the whole opportunity [to operate without commissions],” said Councilwoman Margaret Pillas.

The dissolution of the council’s standing committees was the first action taken by the four-member majority that came to be in 2010 after Mitrecic lost his re-election bid to Councilman Brent Ashley. Mitrecic’s ouster allowed Ashley – along with Joe Hall, Pillas, and Jim Hall – to create a four-member voting bloc that openly bucked the previous administrative norms. The oft-called “new majority” developed a relationship of mutual antagonism with Dennis Dare, then the city manager, and Mayor Rick Meehan.

In November 2010, the victors’ first act was to dissolve the council’s commission system, whereby separate sub-committees of three council members heard reports from city staff or interested parties and presented the information back to the full council for any decision necessary. All reports were subsequently presented in open session, before the entire body.

Despite the removal of the dominant faction in the 2012 polls – in which Hall and Hall lost to Dare, now running as an elected official and not a paid executive, and a returning Mitrecic – the remaining members still contend that the commission system reduces transparency by developing policy in ad-hoc legislative groups rather than before the empowered body.

But proponents of the system’s return argue that it makes for smoother legislative action, when groups of citizens and employees, who also sit on the sub-committees, are allowed free input into any suggestions that will be brought before the full council.

“I’ve worked under both [a commission and non-commission system], and what I can tell you is that I think the council is much more productive under the committee and commission system,” said Mayor Rick Meehan.

“They allow us to break into smaller groups and work on each other’s behalf … it’s about trust [amongst council members],” Meehan said. “If something was a good idea, the discussion would then turn to say, ‘How can you make it amenable to everybody.’”

Non-council city commissions, such as those dealing with building and zoning, have continued to exist. The council also provides liaisons to governing boards of organizations outside the city, as well as some internal city boards such as those for noise violations and beach franchises.

Whether the council had maintained its contact with such boards – under the control of any majority – seemed to be an inconclusive quagmire, as Ashley and Martin argued for some time over whether Martin had actually showed up to the Noise Board hearings when he was the council liaison and Ashley was the board’s chairman, before he was elected to council.

But what were at the core of the debate were the standing, three-member sub-commissions for tourism, parks and recreation, and police. Of these, only the police commission’s existence is defined by the city’s charter, since it has independent policy-making powers.

“The commissions were never dissolved, abolished, or done away with,” Pillas said. “It was a change made to bring the full council to the meeting, and bring the public to the meeting. The business of the town has always been done.”

However, council’s current majority contested that the previous dominant body had failed to raise the same issues before council that would be raised in committee, and instead used the committee-less system to domineer policy without other input.

“If it was your intent to invite the public to the meeting, it was also your responsibility to schedule meetings and set agendas and bring those things before the council and the public — but you didn’t,” Cymek countered.

Accusations of undue interference were frequently turned back at their accusers, however, as Pillas maintained that the committees and commissions had a history of unilateral decision-making.

“In an ideal world, it’s best to have them. But we’re not in an ideal world. We have a lot of micro-managing going on,” she said.

“In the eight years that I was here before, I do not remember a time where all the information did not come back to council for its entire vote,” Mitrecic maintained.

One of the major issues was the question of how transparent the commissions would be, if and when they were reinstated. State and federal open meetings laws would only apply to committees in which the municipal government held dominant, legislative power over budgetary matters.

For instance, said City Solicitor Guy Ayres, although no quorum of the Salisbury City Council sat on the board of the Salisbury Zoo, “the court held that because the city exercised so much control over their budget … that all meetings involving the zoo are subject to the open meetings acts.”

“The public is always welcome to these meetings,” Martin said. “The only time we closed commission meetings was when we discussed [police] deployment or personnel matters.”

Although the council moved to go ahead with the return of the sub-committee system, the details of the procedures involved will be further ironed out in upcoming strategic planning sessions.

“We can make standing committees of the council an effective way of doing business, but there has to be some structure to that,” said City Manager David Recor. “You need to establish rules of procedure … how the information flows back up to the committee of the whole.”

“We can make this work, there’s no need to disagree,” Recor said. “We can come back with a structure that will work and address everyone’s concerns. I can guarantee that.”

SUP Welcome

Brian Stoehr
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0

The hottest new water sport trend – SUP! Also know as stand up paddle boarding. You see the new, larger than life boards everywhere. In the ocean, the bay, the creek, the river or really any body of water. You see people racing, taking Eco tours, exercising, having fun or even some YOGA on the boards. Oceancity.com is your latest and greatest spot for all of your paddle needs from where to get your gear to whats happening on the water. Keep checking back for updates on the SUP scene.

 

 

Wave Riding School

Brian Stoehr
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0

Ocean City’s premier surfing school, the Brian Stoehr Wave Riding School – waveridingschool.com

 

Learn to surf / bodyboard / stand up boogie / skim / paddleboard from a group of the best waterman to ever come from the east coast of the United States

 

All lessons at 1.5 hrs (8:30am-10am or 5:30pm-7pm) – In the event wave conditions are too big or rough we will postpone lessons.

 

Brian Stoehr is one of the best known wave riders in the country and have traveled all over the globe competing on a world level. They are now focusing their expertise on helping the next generation of wave riders! YOU! Whether you are young or old… Whether you have never touched the ocean, you are trying to figure out those tricks of the trade or you are an advanced rider looking to further your career, our team is here to help.

 

The lessons offer a complete “how to” in your choice or surfing, bodyboarding, skim, stand up boogie and paddle boarding. Everything you want to know and in the RIGHT order. Many people learn to surf the wrong way and that greatly affects their ability in the water long term. The experience our instructors have can make the sport easy for everyone.

 

We can make the experience easier than you ever imaged and more memorable than you can believe.

 

“There is a lot to be said about learning to surf the right way… Whether it is something you are really interested in getting involved in or something that you just want to cross off your Bucket List, we can make sure you really enjoy the experience and learn the right way to make you the best waterman possible.”

 

“It is such a joy to watch people enjoy our sport. The ocean has given both of us so much in our lives and careers and seeing the look on someone’s face the first time they stand up is the most rewarding thing I can think of”

to book lessons visit waveridingschool.com or call 443-203-WAVE

 

Rip Current Saftey – Swim parallel to the beach

Brian Stoehr
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0

The first thing to remember with a rip current is SWIM PARALLEL TO THE BEACH.  If you remember that tip while in the water, you can escape any rip current.  Instead of fighting the current, simply out smart it.  Once out of the current, you can swim easily to the beach.

 

The ocean is very safe if you understand it.  Here is some info on what a rip current is from our friends at NOAA.

 

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of moving water that are prevalent along the coastal ocean waters.

 

Panicked swimmers often try to counter a rip current by swimming straight back to shore—putting themselves at risk of drowning because of fatigue.  This can be solved my remembering the above.

 

Lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents in the U.S. every year. Swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle.

Ocean City Overview

Ann McGinnis Hillyer
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2

Ocean City, Maryland is a 10-mile barrier island stretching from the Sinepuxent Bay to the Delaware line along the Atlantic Ocean and is comprised of several key areas, including downtown, midtown, uptown, and West Ocean City. For many families, Ocean City vacations have been a summer tradition since early childhood.  Throughout the town, tourists and locals can be seen soaking up the sun on the beach, wandering the boardwalk, enjoying the many amusement parks and attractions, shopping, and exploring other adventures Ocean City has to offer. Ocean City’s beach is complimented by a wide range of amusements, restaurants, outdoor activities, and events to provide memorable experiences for all ages, all year round.

Ocean City Beach

Did you know that Ocean City’s beautiful beach is one of the largest and cleanest beaches in the entire nation?  Not to mention 100% FREE.  Access points at every corner make it effortless to get to the beach, whether staying for a week or just coming for a day-trip.  Ocean City’s 10 mile stretch of beach is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, relaxing, walking, or building sand castles either by yourself, with a few friends, or the entire family.  Be sure to stop by one of the numerous rental stands to pick up umbrellas, chairs, body boards, and other accessories that will make your day on the beach even more enjoyable, and keep an eye out for guys and girls of Scopes, who will help the memory of your vacation live long after you leave the sand through stunning professional photos.

 

Downtown Ocean City & Boardwalk

Downtown Ocean City runs from the Inlet to 28th street and includes the world famous boardwalk, historic hotels that have been around since Ocean City was founded, City Hall, the Lifesaving Museum, numerous marinas, and endless attractions and shops.  The boardwalk is an epicenter for activity in Ocean City and has been a staple of Ocean City vacations since it was built in 1902 as a walkway between a few oceanfront hotels.  These famous boards are home to numerous hotels, restaurants, rides, amusements, and shops.  After an afternoon of attractions and shopping, enjoy fresh cut fries from Thrasher’s, soft and hand-dipped ice creams from Dumser’s or Kohr Bros, fresh caramel popcorn from Fisher’s, or delicious saltwater taffy from Dolle’s for a memorable seaside snack.

Midtown Ocean City

Midtown Ocean City ranges from 29th street to 61th street.  Along this stretch of beach and Coastal Highway you will find numerous surf shops, restaurants and miniature golfing locations.  The many condos and hotels in the midtown region of Ocean City are ideal for vacationers who want to be centrally located with easy access to restaurants, amusements, and the boardwalk, while staying a away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Uptown Ocean City

The Northern region of Ocean City is 61st street to the Delaware line and is home to many of the high-rise condos and hotels that can be seen when crossing the Rt. 90 Bridge.  Here, you will find many full-time residences as well as shopping malls, movie theaters, and many of the most popular bars and restaurants.  The Original Greene Turtle, Liquid Assets, Blue Fish, Bayside Skillet, and many other award winning restaurants offer breakfast, sushi, seafood, hamburgers, steaks, and everything in between.  If your’re looking for a great ambiance while you dine, Horizon’s in the Clarion has an award winning wine list and a spectacular view of the ocean.

West Ocean City

West Ocean City, or ‘West O’ as the locals call it, is home to many of the full-time residents,  the Tanger factory outlets, two go-kart tracks, world class golf courses, OC Paintball, and waterfront restaurants like Harborside Bar and Grill, Sunset Grille, and the Shark on the Harbor.  Located at the center of West Ocean City is the commercial fishing harbor, providing deep water docks and access to the inlet for deep sea fishing boats, scallopers, lobster boats and many other commercial and personal vessels.  Harbor Day, held in October, is a time to celebrate the rich maritime heritage of our region.  Be sure to stop by the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in West Ocean City as it greets you on your way into town on Rt. 50.

Ocean City Restaurants

Whether you consider yourself a food connoisseur or are just famished from a day on the sand and surf, there is a wide variety of Ocean City restaurants offering fine dining, casual fare, street food, snacks, ice cream, pastries, and everything in between.  Ocean City restaurants provide visitors with an eclectic assortment of dishes that are sure to please any palette.  Maryland blue crabs reign supreme as the king of seafood, but many Ocean City restaurants offer lobster, scallops, oysters, and a cornucopia of fresh fish directly off the docks.

Not only do Ocean City restaurants offer tasty eats, but many strive to achieve an atmosphere that accentuates their food offerings.  Some restaurants have beautiful views of the Ocean or Assateague, while others boast the amazing sunsets over the bay. Waterfront restaurants and inland eateries dot the boardwalk, bay, and Coastal Highway, making Ocean City a culinary destination as much as a family vacation resort.

Ocean City Nightlife

Nothing beats a relaxing day on the beach, but Ocean City doesn’t really heat up until the sun starts to fade over the bay.  There are many bayside bars and restaurants that provide spectacular views of an Ocean City sunset.  Macky’s Bayside, Fager’s Island and many other establishments hold daily sunset rituals that signify the transition from dinnertime to party time.  Most Ocean City bars have live entertainment, nightly specials, and special events all week long, giving tourists and locals plenty of nightlife entertainment options to chose from.  If the bar scene isn’t for you, or you’re looking for a more family friendly environment after the sun goes down, take advantage of the free concerts and movies on the beach that take place weekly, or stroll the neon light studded boardwalk and take in all the attractions it has to offer.  Walking on the beach by moonlight is serene experience for those wishing for a more relaxing evening.   The beach is never closed to the public, so you can enjoy it anytime you get the urge for some sand between your toes.

Ocean City Nature

Do you enjoy taking in the natural wonders while on vacation?  If so, Ocean City offers numerous tour boats, nature cruises, and natural habitats for you to take advantage of.  Aboard these cruises you can get a glimpse of dolphins, as well as whales, and even see the roaming ponies on Assateague Island.  Birding is another common hobby in Ocean City as there are many herons, pelicans, osprey, seagulls, and other birds constantly soaring over the shore.  Skimmer Island, visible from the Route 50 bridge and just off of Hooper’s Crab House, is known for its nesting colony of the endangered and beautiful bird of the same name.  Jet skis and kayaks can be rented from SuperFun Eco Tours, Ayers Creek Adventures, and many other rental places, so you can experience wildlife in its natural element without disturbing it. With so many waterways and natural habitats in Ocean City, Assateague, and the surrounding areas, nature lovers are exposed to endless possibilities to enjoy the environment.

Ocean City Fishing

Ocean City is hailed as the White Marlin Capital of the World, so it only makes sense that it is home to the White Marlin Open, one of the largest billfish tournaments in the entire world. Each August, international fishermen from all corners of the globe come to Ocean City to participate in this famous annual event that puts millions of dollars of prize money on the line. You don’t have to be a professional angler, however, in order to enjoy the fishing in Ocean City. You can easily fish on bay boats and deep sea charters that include rods, reels, bait and knowledge of the prime locations for fishing.  The Assawoman and Sinepuxent bays are abundant in different species of fish and tuna, mako, and other big game fish are located just miles off the Ocean City coast.  You can also cast your line off of the public piers in town as well as along the Rt. 50 drawbridge, or take advantage of the prime surf fishing from the beach between 9:00am and 6:00pm.

Ocean City Watersports

Are you interested in kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, kite boarding, or parasailing?  Ocean City is home to many marinas and family run rentals that can set you up with the equipment and knowledge you need to enjoy the water sport of your choice. Whether you wish to cruise around the bay, ride wake on the ocean, explore Assateague, or sail high above the beach with the seagulls, there is no shortage for enjoyable watersports when on an Ocean City vacation.

Ocean City Golf

If golf is your game, Ocean City is sure to please with it’s 17 championship golf courses that provide amazing views of the bay and rolling landscapes.  They are but a short drive away from the beach and will challenge golfers of any skill level.  For more information on all of Ocean City’s world class golf courses and to book reservations, please see our Golf page.  Also, be sure to download the Golf Now app for discounted tee times that will stretch your vacation budget.

Ocean City Shopping

While on vacation in Ocean City, there are endless opportunities to shop. From national department stores to unique local boutiques, Ocean City literally has something for the inner shopper in everyone.  Not only is the boardwalk abundant in souvenir stores and quaint shops, but there are a myriad of surf shops, like Quiet Storm and K-Coast, along coastal highway where you can find a hot new bikini or even an awesome new surf board. If you need Ocean City apparel, toys for the kids, or beach supplies, be sure to check out any of the dozens of Sunsations shops along Coastal Highway.

If you are willing to step off the island of Ocean City for some shopping experiences, the Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City features stores like Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, PacSun, as well as many more trendy stores. The Rehoboth Tanger Outlets, just about 20 minutes North from the northernmost point of Ocean City, are home to 3 large shopping centers with stores ranging from Coach, and Under Armor, to Old Navy and American Eagle.

If antique stores and a quaint atmosphere is more your thing, be sure to stop by Berlin about 10 miles west of Ocean City.  This historic town is just off Route 50 and Route 113 and is filled with antique shops and quiet dining places.

Ocean City Events

Ocean City is the home of many festivals and events throughout the summer and off-season months.  You can experience live entertainment, arts and crafts, and local food at Springfest, Sunfest , and Harborfest and from Thanksgiving to New Years, you can bring the family to Ocean City to enjoy the Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park on 127th St. Throughout the summer, visitors can enjoy car shows, bike week, arts and crafts shows, antique fairs, fishing tournaments, and numerous concerts and other events at the Roland E Powell Convention Center.

Your Ocean City Vacation Awaits

Whether you are looking for a day trip, weekend getaway, or a complete summer vacation you will have an abundance of places to stay and things to do in Ocean City.  Our Vacation Planner is a great place to start if you want to book a hotel, read up on restaurants, check out upcoming events, or find tons of useful information when planning your Ocean City vacation.

 

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