OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
APRIL 19, 2019
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
EASTER ACTIVITIES
An assortment of events are planned around the area to celebrate the holiday – Page 25
FREE
Same tax rate will generate small increase Council moves off constant yield first time since 2010
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
BRAVING THE RAIN
Approximately 1,200 walkers registered for the annual Susan G. Komen Foundation’s “More Than Pink” Walk, held last Saturday on the Ocean City Boardwalk. As of earlier this week, about $161,555 has been raised from donations, registration fees and sponsorships. See more photos on page 40.
County takes steps to add to room tax By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (April 19, 2019) After voting unanimously last month to consider increasing room tax rates to 5 percent, the Worcester County Commissioners introduced legislation this week to set the wheels in motion, with a subsequent public hearing scheduled in late May. Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan pitched the idea of increasing the room tax, which is imposed at the county level, from 4.5 percent to 5 percent during the commissioners meeting on
March 19. Although frequently, if erroneously, called a hotel room tax, the charge is applied to all room rentals, from hotel rooms to condominiums. Kelly Shanahan, Worcester County’s assistant chief administrative officer, told the commissioners Tuesday that raising room tax rates involves two stages. “There are several steps involved, the first of which is an amendment to the local law,” he said. See ROOM Page 75
By Josh Davis News Editor (April 19, 2019) Whether it counts as a tax increase is a mater of debate, but property owners will get to decide for themselves when their tax bills for fiscal 2020 come in slightly higher than the City Council originally planned. The council on Tuesday voted 5-2 to keep the local tax rate established last year and not to adopt the slightly lower constant yield rate reported by the state. The current rate is $0.4656 per $100 of valuation, compared to the $0.4585 constant yield rate, which several council members said See CITY Page 74
City (barely) OKs union deal Spending, schedule divides council 4-3 By Josh Davis News Editor (April 19, 2019) A sharply divided Ocean City Council approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the resort’s career fighters’ union Monday night, following days of discussions that nevertheless ended with a 4-3 vote. Also known as the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4269, the union’s agreement with the city is effective July 1 of this year through June 30, 2022. Negotiations occurred over five days and apparently included Mayor Rick Meehan, councilmembers Mark Pad-
JOSH DAVIS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Lt. Bobby Magee and other representatives from the Town of Ocean City and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4269 sign a new collective bargaining agreement during a City Council meeting, Monday night.
dack, Matt James and Tony DeLuca, and City Solicitor Guy Ayers. According to Budget Man-
ager Jennie Knapp, the pay increases in the agreement total $728,687, with $137,485 See UNION Page 70