OCEAN CITY BRIEFS
(Sept. 9, 2011) The Ocean City council approved the following motions during its Tuesday meeting.
Ntl preparedness month
With a bit of irony, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan proclaimed September to be National Preparedness Month to remind people of the dangers of “hurricanes and other natural and manmade threats,” that people and towns can prepare for.
“Next time, I think we should do this in August,” Meehan said, since September is the height of hurricane season but Ocean City recently evacuated for Hurricane Irene.
Financial reporting award
Ocean City Finance Administrator Martha Lucey received an award for financial reporting on behalf of the town. The award comes from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada and recognized Ocean City’s comprehensive annual financial report.
Building permit exemption
The council approved a motion for nonstructural work costing less than $5,000 to be exempt from city requirements for a building permit.
“Non-structural work can mean a lot of things,” said City Engineer Terry McGean. “If you are replacing a post on your deck, that is structural. If you are taking down a load-bearing wall [in your house] that is structural and you need a permit for that. I always advise people when in doubt, get a permit.”
Ocean City Rally
The council approved the Ocean City Rally for people with an Ocean City license plate to drive their cars from 15th Street to the Inlet down the Boardwalk on Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. until noon. Councilwoman Margaret Pillas objected to this motion presented by Private Events Coordinator Lisa Mitchell, because she did not want any additional parades on the Boardwalk.
Breast cancer walk
The council approved a special event permit for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Ocean City a 5K walk on Oct. 15. The event, which was presented by Beverly Furst, will begin at Hooters on the Boardwalk and Fifth Street. Registration will go from 8-9 a.m., the race will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the clean up is planned for 11:30 a.m.
Pigs on the beach
James Zervakos of the Blue Knights of Maryland police motorcycle club received a special event permit from the council for the club’s Pigs On the Beach motorcycle ride on Oct.1, from 10-10:20 a.m., during which 40 motorcycles will ride on the Boardwalk from 27th Street to North Division St., or any exit on the south end out to the Route 50 bridge.
Treasure hunt
Todd Ferrante, owner of Park Place Jewelers on Third Street and the Boardwalk, received permission from the council for a treasure hunt on the beach near his shop.
The free events will begin on Sept. 24, at 4 p.m., and on Sept. 25, at 1 p.m.
Ferrante said since the event is popular in its third year, the next year he might charge admission and donate money to a charity.
Three-year approval
Special event permits for the Mid-Atlantic Surf Fishing Tournament, the Sunfest Kite Fest, and the Mid-Atlantic Wine Fest are already on the books because the council gave the events three years of approval during a previous meeting.
The Mid-Atlantic Surf Fishing Tournament will take place Oct. 6-8.
The Sunfest Kite Fest will take place on Sept. 22-25.
The Mid-Atlantic Wine Fest will take place on Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
The council extended approval for each event into 2013 during Tuesdays meeting.
