OCEAN CITY — Ocean City’s newest City Manager Doug Miller was sworn in on Tuesday, although he officially hit the ground running first thing on Monday morning.
Miller was named city manager in early January, ending a roughly five-month search to replace his predecessor. One month to the day from that announcement, Miller started his new position and attended a handful of sub-committee meetings throughout the day on Monday and early Tuesday before officially being sworn in during a special ceremony at the outset of the Mayor and Council work session on Tuesday afternoon.
When he was introduced as the new city manager in early January, Miller said he was the happiest person in the room. On Tuesday, Mayor Rick Meehan, who served as acting city manager since David Recor reached a “mutual decision” with the Mayor and Council to step down last July after a three-year stint in the position, borrowed Miller’s phrase.
“When Doug was announced as the new city manager last month, he said he was the happiest guy in the room,” said Meehan. “Well, today, I am the happiest man in the room.”
Meehan said the resort continued to thrive during the roughly six months he spent as acting city manager, but he was ready to go back to his full time, part-time job as mayor and gladly turn the reins over to Miller.
“We worked together and we stayed on track,” he said. “We had a great summer, we stayed on budget and we survived two storms. Now, we’re ready to start a new era in Ocean City.”
Meehan thanked his colleagues on the council and the town department heads and staff that helped him shepherd the resort through the transition period.
“I want to thank the council, the staff and all of the employees because I know there were times when you picked me up,” he said. “I also want to thank the citizens for their support and their patience through this process. We found exactly the right person for this job. He has been a city manager at three different spots in the state and we’re very lucky to have someone of his caliber who is vested in Maryland.”
When the time came for his official swearing-in on Tuesday afternoon, Miller had already had a good glimpse of the workings of the town. He said his wife asked him on Monday how his first day went and he said he had a good first impression.
“I feel like a kid on Christmas morning,” he said. “When I sought this position, I was impressed by the elected officials and the caliber of people we have working for Ocean City. I just can’t wait to get started. I thank you for the confidence you have in me and only hope I will live up to it.”
Miller grew up in central Maryland, spending his childhood in Howard County and his high school years in Anne Arundel County. He is a graduate of Roanoke College, as well as the University of Baltimore, where he received a Masters’ degree in public administration. Miller is also a credentialed member of the International City and County Management Association and has served as the president, vice president and secretary treasurer for the Maryland City and County Management Association, as well as several committees of the Maryland Municipal League (MML).
Miller cut his teeth early in his career working in Ocean City municipal government, which ultimately led to his appointment as town manager of Snow Hill. He also served as town manager in La Plata before becoming city manager in Aberdeen, a position he held since 2006 before accepting the Ocean City position earlier this year.