OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MAY 10, 2019
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
RELAY FOR LIFE
North Worcester County event to take place this Saturday at Frontier Town Campground – Page 27
FREE
Sprinklers: county still wants out
City stands by tax rate from FY19
Seeks support from others on opposition
Eschews slight drop with constant yield
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (May 10, 2019) After receiving conflicting information regarding a proposed opt-out clause from state regulations requiring fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed one- and twofamily homes, the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to solicit support for their position from Maryland counties, legislators statewide and Gov. Larry Hogan. Commissioner Ted Elder expressed strong sentiments to continue lobbying for the exception. “Certainly, if someone wants to put sprinklers in their home, they always have that right,” he said. Earlier this year, the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) adopted the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code, effective as of March 25, which now requires all newly constructed single- or two-family homes to have automatic fire sprinkler protection. During a discussion in late February, Director of Permitting Ed Tudor presented the commissioners with a draft version of a county building permit application and a single-family home residential fire sprinkler waiver form. Tudor was responding to a proposal from Commissioner Jim Bunting who in January See COUNTY Page 72
By Josh Davis Associate Editor (May 10, 2019) Ocean City Councilmembers voted along the same lines Monday night that they did three weeks ago to move off the constant yield tax rate and pass a first reading of the $130 million fiscal 2020 budget. The new tax rate is the same as the previous fiscal year’s levy, $0.4656 per $100 of valuation, but some on the council called that a tax increase, because it marked the first time in many years that the city stray from the constant yield rate. The slightly lower constant yield of $0.4585 would have generated the same amount of revenue as during fiscal 2019 because of a 1.55 percent increase in assessments. In dollars, the assessable base will increase from $8.8 million to $8.9 million, according to the meeting agenda packet. The projected fiscal impact of keeping the tax rate the same as the previous fiscal period is $638,464 in additional property tax revenue. Budget Director Jenny Knapp said the constant yield only requires one hearing, so that number is now set. As for the fiscal 2020 budget, another public hearing and a second vote is scheduled May 20. According to the meeting packet, the proposed $130.4 See CITY Page 74
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
WRECKTANGLE Ocean City’s newest physical challenge, the “Ninja Obstacle Challenge,” takes shape last week at the Downtown Recreation Complex on Third Street.
Bourbon Street delivers Saturday work menu gets complicated for owner and bartender By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (May 10, 2019) Barry Reichart’s Saturday afternoon work menu at his Bourbon Street restaurant had something neither he nor his bartender anticipated: he had to help deliver her Barry Reichart baby. Even though most mothers know they are pregnant before they give birth, that was not the case for the bartender at the 116th Street es-
tablishment last Saturday, as she unexpectedly went into labor during the lunch shift. The mother, who asked to remain anonymous because some of her family members have yet to be informed about the new addition, knew something was amiss when the pains began and she called for help. “It was 1 p.m. on Saturday before all the other workers got there so it was a small lunch crowd,” Reichart said. “She’s yelling in pain and I didn’t really know what to do because I didn’t know she was pregnant. She said, ‘You’ve got to help me.’ I’m on the line cooking lunch, and I come out and she’s holding her back and her legs, saying, ‘I have bad cramps.’ “I start moving a table to
PHOTO COURTESY BARRY REICHART
Baby boy Christopher was born 6 pounds, 7 ounces, at Bourbon Street on the Beach at 116th Street, Saturday, May 4.
get a booth cleared out so I can get her to the booth and I ask, ‘What can I do for you, See BOURBON Page 6