OCEAN CITY – This resort’s City Council held its regular meeting April 28. A much-awaited item of business was the second reading and public hearing on a resolution to approve the 2016 municipal budget.
This budget has been the subject of numerous workshops, town hall meetings and other opportunities for the public and council to ask questions and weigh in on their priorities and concerns.
“This operational budget of a little north of $75 million is well under both state caps of spending and tax levy. Mayor Gillian has really focused us on listening to the concerns of residents and taxpayers such as the public outcry about the silted-up back bay and lagoons, and I think we have achieved that with this budget,” said Finance Director Frank Donato.
Council passed the budget unanimously and there were no comments from any member of the public which caused Council president Keith Hartzell to remark, “In the past we would have had 100 people screaming at us regarding what we were approving in a budget. I want to echo the thanks and appreciation that has been expressed by other members of council for the really hard work city administration has put into this year’s budget.
The new tax levy will increase to $0.4198, up from $0.41 in 2015, per $100 of assessed value. The local purpose tax will bring in slightly over $48 million compared with $46.3 million the previous year. The city expects $1.2 million less in state and federal grants, according to the municipal website. The complete budget is accessible on the municipal website.
“I have been involved with Ocean City budgets for over 20 years and this is the most responsible budget we have ever had. In the past, for whatever reasons, the bulk of the budget would go to personnel costs but now we’ve addressed that issue, we’re down to a reasonable level of 258 employees and you’ve made our job easier because we can explain to our ward residents how the city is going to fix the problems they’re most concerned with. For example, $20 million towards dredging the lagoons and making them usable again with all the related costs like removal and disposal of silt is a huge investment towards a critical problem. So once again thank you to the City Administration for this year’s budget.”
Nix Mechanical Lifts
Council unanimously passed an ordinance on first reading which provides for elimination of mechanical parking lifts from hospitality zone businesses including hotels and motels.
“We’ve been allowing owners to use these mechanical lifts to alleviate parking and create more spots to comply with parking requirements per their site plans approved by the planning board. But we learned that owners are reluctant to turn over operations to tenants or guests. So it’s not really been a solution and we’ve also begun to view the mechanical lifts as unsafe,” explained Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson.
Second reading for public comment and final adoption will take place May 26.
Gateway Green Space
Council unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance which approves a bond for acquisition of property by the city known as the former BP gas station on Ninth Street, the resort’s main artery leading into and out of town.
“The total bond in the amount of $500,000 will allow us to purchase this site as an open space acquisition, create a green and landscaped area for users of the amenities of the causeway and also provide for some supplemental parking for those users. We will look into getting Green Acres funding as well once the acquisition process is under way,” said Business Administrator James Mallon.
Active Duty, Vets Free Tags
Council unanimously passed on second reading an ordinance which provides for free beach access for duly documented military service members and veterans. They will not have to visit City Hall for a beach tag.
While on or accessing the beach, the service member or vet must show appropriate documentation at which time she/he will receive a beach tag on the spot valid for the entire summer.
The number of individuals that will be supported is not larger, merely the process is being facilitated for them, as McCrosson replied to a public comment question.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
Wildwood – So Liberals here on spout off, here's a REAL question for you.
Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
