OCEAN CITY – This resort’s City Council took the occasion of its regular meeting Jan. 26 to honor the service of several civic-minded individuals.
Council member Keith Hartzell presented awards of recognition to William Woods, Housing Authority; James Tweed, Environmental Commission; and Donald Hepner, Healthy Living Advisory Council, noting that each had made Ocean City a better place to live, work and vacation.
Mayor Jay Gillian announced that he has not yet made a final decision regarding how, if at all, to renovate the public safety building which houses the police department and municipal court. The building is over 100 years old.
This proposed project drew criticism and complaints from taxpayers because of its $17.5-million price tag.
Gillian stressed that only until there is a detailed analysis and the project is thoroughly vetted with residents for their input would he consider moving forward. The original proposal was to renovate and expand the original structure to update and modernize the headquarters for the police and court functions.
The project would be one of the keystones of Gillian’s proposed $112.2 million, a five-year city-wide capital plan that Gillian made public Jan. 24.
The mayor and council suggested the idea of holding a town hall meeting to fully air pros and cons of the proposed project before any possible next steps are voted on and then implemented.
Gillian has held some such meetings on topics ranging from the last beach fill, bay dredging, installation of pump stations and infrastructure improvements.
The issue of the municipal building has long been a topic locally especially given safety and efficiency considerations. Gillian remarked that his administration explored many options to resolve the fate of the building.
Hartzell noted that “we are at a critical crossroads” for any related work.
Council approved at its Jan. 26 session spending to solicit bids for construction improvements and landscaping at two former gas stations. These sites are located along the important Ninth Street corridor that intersects with the Route 52 Causeway.
The city bought one of the gas stations, the BP property, last year for $475,000. There are on-going talks to buy the other gas station, the Getty location.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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