Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Mayor and Council considered several issues large and small on their agenda last week. The following is a quick snapshot of some of the issues discussed and approvals granted.

Resident Agent
Amendment Approved

The Mayor and Council last week approved on second reading an amendment to the town’s code that would allow a resident agent for an Ocean City rental property to live within 30 miles of the resort.

The town’s original ordinance required resident agents listed for rental properties to live within city limits in order to quickly respond to noise complaints and violations so common for rental properties, particularly during the summer season. However, after hearing concerns from real estate rental companies and resident agents, who often live close by in West Ocean City or Berlin, for example, the Council took under consideration a proposal to allow resident agents to reside within 30 miles of Ocean City.

Last month, after hearing concerns from City Solicitor Guy Ayres about potential problems with the proximity of the Maryland-Delaware line and a potential conflict with out-of-state resident agents, the ordinance was amended again to include language stating “in the state of Maryland and within 30 miles of Ocean City.”

The council unanimously approved the amended ordinance with the new language last Tuesday.

Taxi Medallion
Transfer Approved

In another routine agenda item, the Mayor and Council approved a transfer of 15 taxi medallions from one resort taxi company to another.

The Mayor and Council approved the bulk transfer of 15 taxi cab medallions from City Cab of Ocean City and owner Wayne White to Taxi Taxi LLC and owner George Basle. In January, White sold the 15 Ocean City taxi medallions to Basle for the bulk sum of $37,500. The fiscal impact for the town came to $9,375, or 25 percent of the transfer fee.

The Mayor and Council did not exercise its right of first refusal and unanimously approved the sale of 15 taxi medallions from one cab company to another.

Councilman Named To
Md. Climate Committee

The Mayor and Council learned last week that Councilman Dennis Dare had been appointed to serve on a Maryland Municipal League (MML) committee to study climate change and future construction in the flood plain.

Responding to state and federal mandates to study climate control and limit future development in designated flood-prone areas, the MML recently formed a committee to look into the possible impacts on its member municipalities. Dare told the council last Tuesday he had been invited to join the committee and had already participated in some of its early meetings.

“I got the phone call last week and agreed to join them,” Dare said. “They wanted someone with engineering experience and city management experience and I guess I fit the bill. I went to a meeting last Friday and it was a very impressive group. We’re going to meet once a month and I’ll report back to the Council with updates.”

Council President Lloyd Martin said he was pleased the town of Ocean City was represented.

“It’s great to know we have somebody from Ocean City on that committee that will look after our interests,” he said.

Dare said the committee’s findings are important to the resort because of the potential impact on future development.

“The report won’t only affect state construction in flood zones, but also projects that the state helps fund,” he said. “That includes the convention center, for example.”

Sunset Room Repairs
To Cost Nearly $70K

The Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved a low bid for repairs to the town-owned Sunset Room adjacent to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on 42nd Street, which suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy last fall.

The Sunset Room, a multi-use facility owned by the town, is used for a variety of purposes including weddings, proms and other catering events, for example. It sits on a site just north of the Convention Center along the bay used by private sector restaurants and bars in the past. The Sunset Room suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy late last October and the city put out bids to repair the damaged facility.

The Mayor and Council approved the low bid from Gillis-Gilkerson to repair and restore the damaged facility in the amount of $69,214. The repairs will include vinyl floor replacement, carpentry, railing repairs, window replacements and plumbing, electrical and fire protection system repairs. The project will be funded initially from the Convention Center Capital Reserve Account and an insurance claim has been filed to recover the loss.