OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
APRIL 23, 2021
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
WIND
THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
Jeff Grybowski talks about plans to build wind farm 13 miles from coast of Ocean City – Page 12
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Perlozzo hired as OC’s tourism director Former rec dept. director brought back to put more life into marketing efforts By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (April 23, 2021) After sifting through nearly 100 applications and whittling those down to two finalists, a familiar face has been hired to take on a new role that will focus on tourism.
Tom Perlozzo – the former Recreation and Parks Department chief in Ocean City who left in 1998 to pursue business opportunities – will serve as the town’s Tom Perlozzo first director of tourism and business development, with an annual salary of $131,000. He will assume those duties on June 1.
City Manager Doug Miller presented the City Council with his selection of Perlozzo as the department head during the public meeting on Monday night. Almost immediately after making the announcement, Councilman Tony DeLuca moved to approve the hiring of Perlozzo at a 129-pay grade. But that threw a wrench into the matter, as Miller was ready to bring the new director on at a pay grade of 128. A 128-pay grade in Ocean City has
a range of $90,322 to $141,393 versus a 129, which ranges from $94,838 to $148,463. While switching Perlozzo would not change the $131,000 salary he negotiated with Miller — Perlozzo’s county salary was $125,460 — it would allow him to earn up to $7,070 more a year at the maximum level. Councilman John Gehrig agreed with DeLuca that the pay grade needed to be bumped up to 129, See PERLOZZO Page 4
Fisher’s home after he went missing in July By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (April 23, 2021) Nearly 300 days after the Battista family’s beloved canine, Fisher, wandered away while visiting Ocean City last summer, the pack was reunited on Tuesday after the wayward Boston Terrier was found running loose in Baltimore. Elissa DeMaria Battista said See LOST Page 7 LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
It’s only April, and yet the crowds have already begun to pack the Boardwalk. Vacation rental companies say this summer will be jam-packed.
Rental reservations click into high gear Busy summer season seen, as long as businesses can fill their employment needs By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 23, 2021) On the heels of a modest 2020 summer season, it appears covid’s got nothing on 2021 vacation rentals in Ocean City. Despite some uncertainties with the virus and staffing, Realtors and rental companies are preparing for a robust tourist season that should
bring lodgings up to record high levels. “We’re anticipating the best season we’ve ever had,” said Dawn Cook, owner and broker at Coastal Resort Homes and Rentals on 80th Street. “We have a lot more properties this year. We’ve taken on quite a few more through referrals from owners we’ve already had and increased marketing of rentals by 20 percent.” The small operation has a total of 172 vacation rentals this year, up from 145 last year, Cook said, which she pointed out was still pretty high
given the challenges of covid. “Everyone placed their reservations and then actually canceled them when covid became an issue in March and April and we rebooked everything,” Cook explained. Larger companies are seeing the same trends. Chris Mitchell, the regional vice president of Coldwell Banker Vacations, said via email that the demand for short-term vacation rentals is higher now than it was even before the pandemic hit. See ADVANCED Page 6
Lost and found ... almost 300 days later.
