Varsity Baseball Team Honored; Resident Raises Flooding Concerns

OCEAN CITY – The first order of business for Ocean City Council at its regular meeting Aug. 11 was to honor the high school’s high-performing varsity baseball team.
Business Administrator James Mallon read a proclamation which noted that the team had won the South Jersey Group III title and was a runner-up in the state finals. 
The team, 21-6 for the season, explained Mallon, had been in a number of intense pressure games and represented the school and the resort in exemplary fashion.
Public Input
During public comment, Jay Pierson, a resident of the Four Seasons Condo Complex at 36th Street and Bay Avenue said, “I have not engaged in the flooding controversy but have read the Baker study and saw that it will only improve drainage up to 34th St.
“However, when you did such a good job in fixing the flooding at nearby Merion Park, that water now comes over to my area and sometimes the fire plug at 36th St. is underwater, it’s that high. I know I’m coming in at a late date on this, but I’m hoping something can be done to help.”
Mallon explained that there are still revisions to be made to the Baker study and that he would work with Pierson to get this problem solved.
Ordinances
Council approved an introduction and first reading of several ordinances that were clarifications of existing ordinances.
On new content in an ordinance, council approved the measure which will vacate a portion of 10th Street for the development of wharves, docks, and structures pursuant to the city’s already-approved Redevelopment Plan.
Another ordinance was approved on first reading to re-purpose $450,000 that had been earmarked in a 2013 resolution to put parking at Moorlyn Terrace and Eighth Street.
29^th Street Firehouse Upgrades
“However, the city backed away from this project because we determined that it would not increase parking and that the designs we were looking at did not make sense,” summarized Financial Management Director Frank Donato to the council. “We are proposing that these monies which have been sitting idle be used for the critical improvements of the 29th Street firehouse” which all on council viewed as a worthy plan.
Another ordinance pertained to zoning and land development in the resort, specifically four lots that were previously gas stations along the Ninth Street entry corridor.
“As of now, council, which controls the city’s purse strings, has not authorized any funding to purchase any or all of these sites but I thought it would be efficient if we included them all in one ordinance rather than four so council members can then determine how to proceed for example with condemnation or purchase.
“If any or all are condemned then the city does not have to deal with any future potential and unanticipated environmental problems,” said Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson.
Several council members noted that they had all just received a copy of this ordinance to review late the previous afternoon which did not permit sufficient time to fully peruse its measures.
Several members said they would “dig in” to the content before second reading and did not want a blanket approval to take property by condemnation.
However, all council members were unanimous in their approval to proceed with the ordinance’s introduction and another will be presented at the Aug. 25 meeting for second reading and public comment.
Council approved on second reading with no public comment an ordinance for a bond providing for various capital improvements for $18.9 million that, per Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato’s summary, will go for erosion repair, better drainage, pump stations at the “North End” at Eighth Street and one at 26th Street, beach improvements and repair to floating docks among a long list of projects and support materials.
“These expenditures are consistent with the capital plan you already have approved, and approval of this measure does not mean that work will commence right away since we still need to advertise and then put out the work contracts,” said Donato.
“Let’s get moving with these improvements since we’ve been talking about them for a while,” said Council member Tony Wilson.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.