OCEAN CITY – Town officials are preparing for another round of what is expected to be a passionate and spirited discussion about Ocean City’s street performer regulations at a public hearing on Oct. 26.
The city’s Boardwalk Task Force will host the public hearing, set for 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
“I can only imagine that the intent is to have a ‘lessons learned’ kind of conversation about how the law worked this summer,” said Bob Rothermel, who is a member of the Boardwalk Task Force. “We need to listen to all parties and find out if the law needs to be tweaked in any way to best serve the public.”
But that “best way” to serve the public is largely contingent on whom you ask as the issue of buskers on the Boardwalk has reached a fever pitch in recent years. Resolution 2015-1 tried to find the perfect balance in adhering to people’s first amendment rights to perform on the city’s most famous wooden walkway, while at the same time, maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere, ensuring equal access and public safety, and being cognizant of other Boardwalk stakeholders concerns about the presence of buskers.
“I haven’t heard much from performers or the public at large about whether or not the law worked well other than what I’ve read in the newspaper,” said Rothermel. “We as a task force have several different ‘publics’ that we have to listen to and it is always a possibility that we didn’t get it completely right the first time around and might have to make a few changes.”
Despite the new law, and a public protest in front of City Hall earlier in the summer in which buskers protested merits and motivations behind the law, there was only one $200 citation written this summer, and that was to one-time busker Tony Christ, who purposely set up on the Boardwalk and performed without signing up for a designated spot on the Boardwalk first.
Rothermel says the busking law was supposed to be educational the first year, much like the city’s new smoking law, which only garnered three citations totaling $150 over the course of the summer.
“It’s always about balance,” said Rothermel. “There will always be people who want to see no buskers up there at all, and others who want to see a performer on every square inch of that Boardwalk. We have to make sure the law upholds people’s Constitutional rights, while at the same time being fair and keeps everyone safe.”
Testimony in lieu of appearing will also be accepted via mail in care of the City Clerk and the Boardwalk Task Force (PO BOX 158, Ocean City, Md. 21843-0158) or by phone at 410-289-8842.