OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MARCH 6, 2020
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL More than 100 films will be featured during the fourth annual event, held March 5-8 – Page 25
FREE
Council grilled on money held in reserve fund Gisriel, Gehrig say savings should be used for tax cut
ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
BIRD SPOTTING Birding enthusiasts scan the sky at the Ocean City inlet for a special Delmarva Birding trip, held in conjunction with the annual Shore Craft Beer Love on Tap festival on Saturday, Feb. 29.
Pursel to become tourism director After leading OC Chamber for almost 13 years, she takes over county post By Josh Kim Staff Writer (March 6, 2020) After nearly 13 years, Melanie Pursel will say farewell to her role as president and CEO of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, and say hello to her new job as the Worcester County Tourism Director. “I feel very fortunate to have served our community,” Pursel said. “I feel like I have forged many partnerships and collaborations, which is key. Relationships are so important to building our community, [and by] working with the town, the county [and] the business organizations …
that has really propelled us to the successes we have had.” Pursel’s connection to Ocean City began in her childhood, as her family Melanie Pursel frequently spent time in the resort. “I grew up coming here as a child,” Pursel said. “My parents always had a place down here, so we would come here all winter, the weekends [and] no matter the time of year I just always loved it. I never wanted to leave.” Growing up in Baltimore and Prince George’s counties, Pursel went on to attend Salisbury University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Business Administration and Marketing in 1997.
“[During college] I spent my summers working in Ocean City, [and] met my husband here right after high school,” she said. She then went to the University of Baltimore and earned a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, with a focus on Management, Statistical Analysis, Leadership and Organization and Community Development in 2000. Pursel and Bruce got married soon after, and, despite not being employed in the area, the pair decided that they wanted to spend their lives near Ocean City, and moved to Ocean Pines. Pursel spent her first year of her professional life largely away from home working for the State Highway Administration, where she had inSee PURSEL Page 4
By Josh Kim Staff Writer (March 6, 2020) Whether Ocean City government should invest its money or continue to stockpile it for a rainy day was the Lloyd Martin subject of debate by the Ocean City Council Monday night, following the passage of budget amendment number two. The budget amendment increases public safety funding by $2.1 million. “Going back to FY13 to FY19, the total amount of funds — overestimated budget revenues — was over $7.8 million in a seven-year fiscal year strand,” resident Vince Gisriel said. “The total amount of expenditures came under budget in excess of $15.4 million over that seven years, for a combined total in excess of $23 milSee COUNCIL Page 5
Subcommittee kills sales tax expansion bill By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (March 6, 2020) The massive reshaping of the Maryland sales tax program to help pay for a huge increase in school spending next year was killed by unanimous vote in a House of Delegates subcommittee session Tuesday. The measure, which would have lowered the sales tax to 5 See SALES Page 4