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MARCH 15, 2019
LIFESTYLE
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Ocean City’s 40th annual procession to celebrate everything green will take place Saturday – Page 25
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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OC parking: it’s revenue vs. control Task force advised it must define its goals
JOSH DAVIS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
BEST FOOT FORWARD NJROTC members offer a demonstration during an annual inspection last Thursday at Stephen Decatur High School. The unit was given a preliminary rating of outstanding. A formal report of the inspection is said to take several weeks. See story on page 37.
Firefighters, City Hall have a deal Stewart Dobson Editor (March 15, 2019) When the Ocean City firefighters union ratified its new three-year contract Thursday morning, its arrival 15 days past the March 1 negotiating deadline with city government was of little consequence. The two-week delay was a matter of
detail work and not the bitter recriminations and allegations of unfair labor practices that led the International Association of Firefighters Local 4269 and City Hall into a year-long impasse over the proposed 2016 agreement. The new contract is the product of tough, but civil negotiations that will award firefighters pay increases over its
three-year term and replace a shift schedule union members disliked intensely with a program of four 24-hour and six 12-hour shifts each week. The new schedule, which will become effective later in the spring, represents a compromise between the union-favored 24 hours on and 72 hours off the departSee UNION Page 6
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 15, 2019) After roughly two-dozen members of Ocean City’s newly formed Parking Task Force tossed around ideas for several hours during its initial meeting last week, the group reconvened on Wednesday to continue to find ways to address paid parking inequities, while also examining potential parking revenue increases. The Ocean City Council asked Mayor Rick Meehan to form the task force during a 2018 Strategic Plan meeting on parking issues. City Engineer Terry McGean contacted consultant Dan Kupferman of Walker Parking to facilitate the meetings. Noting the array of perspectives shared during the meeting last Wednesday, Kupferman said not all parties will get what they request. See PARKING Page 20
Senate rejects events law expansion Attempt to add infractions, increase fines shot down in unanimous vote by Judiciary Committee members By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 15, 2019) State legislators rejected Ocean City’s request for an expanded special event
zone law Monday, after all 11 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted last week to issue an unfavorable report on the proposed measure. Sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38), and cross-filed with a bill by Del. Wayne Hartman in the House of Delegates, the bill would have boosted fines and added several traffic offenses to the current law that aims to curb rowdiness and recklessness during certain
car-related events. Mayor Rick Meehan and Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro testified before the committee last week, but failed to sway the committee’s seven Democrats and four Republicans. In light of the Senate vote, Hartman (R-38C), withdrew his bill and canceled a House Environment and Transportation committee hearing See EVENT Page 10