Council Trims Ice Cream Vendors; OKs New Zoning Board Members

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City City Council President Keith Hartzell announced the city-wide day of volunteer service and clean-up day Jan. 18 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
He also mentioned an event Jan. 16 at the high school that would include performances and speeches commemorating King as well as a “soul food dinner” provided free by Shiloh Baptist Church. He also mentioned that there was a capital plan meeting Jan. 19 and a meeting to explain dredging plans Jan. 25.
During a public comment portion, Edward O’Donnell, who gave as his residence the Port O’Call Hotel, asked council to make Ocean City a smoke-free town as it has with alcohol and “to do more to help blue collar people.”
After these items, Hartzell adjourned the open portion of the meeting per a resolution that authorized a closed executive session to discuss personnel and conducting interviews (board and commission appointments and zoning board adjustment).
In answer to a question, Hartzell said there were about 15 people to interview with each lasting about five minutes. At 8:35 p.m. after more than one-hour adjournment, council returned having elevated Michael Buck and Richard Waddell who had been zoning board alternates to board members and Tomaso Rotondi and John Quinn were chosen as alternates.
Council then took up an ordinance on second reading and for public hearing to amend Chapter V (General Licensing) and Chapter XXX (Municipal Fees) pertaining to peddlers, hawkers and vendors.
The ordinance was first introduced to reduce the number of licenses from 20 to 10 for ice cream vendors pedaling carts and stationed at various street ends adjacent to beaches during the summer. Council passed the ordinance with no public comment.
Council then unanimously passed 26 resolutions on its consent agenda. The topics covered by those resolutions ranged from usual and customary budget and tax items to various maintenance, service and supply contracts.
There was no public comment or question regarding any of these items the full list of which can be reviewed at the City Clerk’s office.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.