OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
MARCH 3, 2017
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
HELP THOSE IN NEED Maryland Food Bank presents second “Save a Seat at Your Table” campaign – Page 31
FREE
Firefighters take city contract deal Shift schedule will change marginally from first proposal
KATIE TABELING/OCEAN CITY TODAY
GETTING THE AXE Past Assistant Chief A. Michael Hastings receives a golden axe to commemorate 50 years of active service with the Ocean City Fire Department during an awards and recognition ceremony on Feb. 25. Several dignitaries like Councilmen John Gehrig, left, and Matt James, center, and Sen. Jim Mathias, right, were in attendance. See story on page 13.
Blue stripe of solidarity After delay to check traffic regs, thin blue line leads to OCPD
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (March 3, 2017) Ocean City has won the argument on traffic markings on municipal roads, and a thin blue line has been painted on 65th Street to support for law enforcement officers. Public Works employees painted the blue line on bayside 65th Street outside the Public Safety building on Tuesday. The line, which starts on the roadway right in front of the traffic signal and ends at the Public Works complex guardhouse, is a simple and cost-effective sign of solidarity with the Ocean City Police Department. See OCPD Page 3 The thin blue line of solidarity with police at 65th Street.
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (March 3, 2017) The yearlong impasse between the Town of Ocean City and the resort’s firefighter and emergency services union over a new labor agreement ended Tuesday night, with the union ratifying a contract that includes a shift change similar to the one that members had rejected throughout the process. The contract with the Chapter 4269 of the International Association of Fire Fighters includes a new shift schedule of two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour night shifts followed by three days off. Moving the firefighters and paramedics from the longstanding 24-hours on
duty, 72-hour off-duty schedule was a point of contention with both parties when negotiations broke down last February. The council initially proposed a 12-hour shift to improve response times, arguing that five delayed responses had been posted since 2012. One of those cases involved paramedics who had turned off their radios while they slept during a portion of their shift. The “best and final” offer that was agreed to by the council as a three-year contract called for 12-hour shifts beginning next October. The switch to the 10- and 14-hour program in the new contract is something of compromise, not that it’s being warmly received by the union. “The reason we voted on this shift schedule was that we knew we were getting it regardless,” local fire union See UNION Page 3
Dennis suit jury finds all parties negligent Fatal 2013 accident involves state trooper and two Berlin teens
By Brian Gilliland and Josh Davis Associate Editors (March 3, 2017) A Worcester County Circuit Court jury took less than 45 minutes last Thursday to find all parties negligent in the fatal Nov. 8, 2013 accident on Route 113, where State Police Trooper Nicholas Hager ran into
teenagers Tymeir Dennis and Tyheim Bowen with his unmarked patrol car. No damages were awarded to the plaintiffs, who filed suit against the State of Maryland in September 2015. Dennis, 16, did not survive the crash. According to the investigation report, he suffered massive injuries to his head, back and other areas of his body. Bowen, 17 at the time of the incident, had a leg ampuSee NO Page 4