OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council approved a number of items in one fell swoop this week with a lengthy consent agenda.
This week in the briefs a Half Marathon Series, a Kayak Concession at Northside Park, the transportation department’s Drug & Alcohol Policy and an OC TriRunning event were all approved as well as a Proclamation is presented declaring December Toys for Tots Month.
Kayak Concession
OK’d For Northside Park
The concept of having a kayak rental concession at Northside Park (NSP) was initially brought forward by an independent business a few months ago but the commission felt it would be most equitable to have the opportunity go through the Request For Proposal (RFP) process.
Following a closed session in October to discuss contractual matters regarding the concession, the Recreation and Parks Commission was in consensus to recommend to the Mayor and City Council the kayak rental concession RFP, and in turn the council voted unanimously to approve.
Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster submitted this week the town solicited bids for the operation of a Kayak Rental Concession at NSP for 2014 and 2015. Four bids were received on Nov. 12. The highest and best bid was submitted by Best Aquatic Management, LLC for $41,900 annually.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to award the bid to Best Aquatic Management, LLC. The concession can be operable as early as May 1.
Drug & Alcohol Policy
Passed By Council
According to Superintendent of Transportation George Thornes, the Transportation Department must follow the rules and regulations of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which require Ocean City to have a Drug & Alcohol Policy and Program in place to cover employees working in safety-sensitive positions. The Drug & Alcohol Policy and Program submitted fully meets or exceeds the DOT regulations and FTA regulations, according to Thornes.
The document outlines that Ocean City Transportation provides Public Transportation and Para-transit services for the residents and visitors of the Town of Ocean City. Part of the department’s mission is to ensure that transportation service is delivered safely, efficiently, and effectively by establishing a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and to ensure that the workplace remains free from the effects of drugs and alcohol in order to promote the health and safety of employees and the general public.
In some cases, Ocean City Transportation reserves the right to utilize stricter policies or procedures than the DOT or FTA mandate, when such are believed to be in the best interest of Ocean City residents, visitors and transportation employees.
Ocean City Transportation adheres to a “Zero Tolerance” policy, meaning a verified positive drug screen and/or alcohol screening results with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater will result in immediate removal from all duties, referral to a substance abuse professional, termination of employment and are not subject to arbitration.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve the document.
The full Ocean City transportation Drug & Alcohol Policy and Program is included in the Mayor and City Council’s legislative agenda packet dated Dec. 2, 2013 and can be found at www.oceancitymd.gov.
Running Events Approved
According to Private Events Coordinator Lisa Mitchell, Chris Klebe of OC TriRunning wants to change the course of his OC Half Marathon that has been held in Ocean City for the past 12 years. In previous years, the event has started in Ocean City and ended on Assateague. This year OC TriRunning would like to reverse the route and start on Assateague and finish in Ocean City.
Klebe has received approval to keep the Route 50 drawbridge closed for the duration of his race, or from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2014, which had been a factor in the past preventing the route of the race to be reversed.
The event brings 4,000 runners and their families to Ocean City. The idea in having the race end in Ocean City is to keep the visitors on the island. The Springfest tents will already be erected, and OC TriRunning wants to use the entertainment tent for possible registration and post-race festivities.
“The families want to see their family member finish,” Klebe said. “A lot of the time they are stuck at Assateague for three hours waiting with nothing to do, so they will have a lot to do on the Boardwalk.”
December Proclaimed
Toys for Tots Month
Mayor Rick Meehan began this week’s legislative session by presenting a proclamation recognizing the month of December to be Marine Corps Toys for Tots Month.
According to the Proclamation, the Marine Corps League, First State Detachment, works in Ocean City and Worcester County, with dedication and effectiveness to preserve the traditions and interests of the United States Marine Corps.
The First State Detachment has banded together those honorably discharged Marines in the Ocean City area for the purpose of voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance of all Marines and veteran Marines and their widows and orphans.
The First State Detachment perpetuates the history of the United States Marines through fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of interest to Marines and all Americans.
The First State Detachment has as a further Mission of providing good cheer and well-being to local needy children during the Holiday Season through the Detachment’s Toys for Tots program.
The Toys for Tots program has assured that more than 4,000 children in the area had a toy during this season of giving that they would not have had save the efforts of the First State Detachment, Marine Corps League, and the generosity of our fellow citizens.
USRA Half Marathon
Changes Supported
In September, Dean Reinke of USRA Half Marathon Series requested approval of a half marathon and 5K races to take place on March 9, 2014. Reinke was unable to attend that meeting, and due to concerns over the proposed race route and the associated costs to the Town of $4,500, mostly from the public works department in setting up the race routes, the Council tabled the request until Reinke was available to answer questions.
The Half Marathon was proposed to take place on the Boardwalk, Baltimore Avenue, Coastal Highway and the beach, while the 5K would take place completely on the Boardwalk and concrete pad.
In November, Reinke came before the Mayor and City Council, and Council approved a date hold due to route changes not being finalized.
Since that time, the route was changed so the event will take place entirely on the Boardwalk, and there are no foreseeable costs to the Town. This week the Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve.