OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MAY 24, 2019
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
Assortment of activities planned for holiday, including parade, patriotic ceremonies – Page 34
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County takes first steps to raise room tax Code amendment needed to move cap to higher rate
MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Thousands of people pour into the inlet parking lot to see hundreds of cars on display during the 29th annual OC Cruisin’ event held last weekend.
Cruisin’ police call stats improve Numbers may look big, but show solidly positive signs By Josh Davis Associate Editor (May 24, 2019) Police numbers are in for the Cruisin’ Ocean City event last weekend and as much as they might be taken as troubling by some, local officials see them as a major improvement. Resort officials on Monday said
the event has improved significantly since a low point two years ago, when there was vigorous debate on whether Cruisin’ should even be allowed to continue. Ocean City Communications Manager Jessica Waters said last week’s event produced 2,065 total calls for services, 1,028 traffic stops and 69 arrests during the four-day period, from last Thursday through Sunday. Traffic enforcement – by Ocean
City Police and allied agencies – totaled 2,438 citations and warnings, with 1,379 total citations handed out, according to Waters. By comparison, according to online police records, there were 206 total arrests and incidents filed in 2017 during the Cruisin’ event, compared to just 131 this year. Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said law enforcement was “very, very proacSee CRUISIN’ Page 78
For employers: minimum wage info Aspects of new law will go into effect this summer By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (May 24, 2019) Area employers who want to know more about the upcoming implementation of Maryland’s “Fight for Fifteen” minimum
wage bill are invited to attend two seminars intended to help navigate compliance issues. In addition to a meeting sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Maryland on May 29 in Columbia, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce will also partner for a comparable event on June 5 from 9-
11:30 a.m. Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melanie Pursel said Maryland is the sixth state to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage, which will be phased in over six years for employers with 15 or more employees, while smaller See MINIMUM Page 76
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (May 24, 2019) Ocean City government’s pitch to boost room tax rates to 5 percent took another move forward Tuesday, as the Worcester County Commissioners approved a bill authorizing the countywide increase. Kelly Shanahan, Worcester County’s assistant chief administrative officer, told the commissioners the next step to raise room tax rates ‘The goal of would involve amending local Ocean City was law. to be proactive Although fre- and increase our quently, if erroadvertising.’ neously, called a Ocean City hotel room tax, Mayor Rick the charge is applied to all room Meehan rentals, from hotel rooms to condominiums. Shanahan said although Maryland law allows counties to raise room tax rates to a maximum of 5 percent without state approval, Worcester would need to revise its own tax code that currently includes a 4.5 percent cap. Reviewing next steps in the approval process, Shanahan said pending that days’ approval, the bill to change the code and raise the cap would become effective July 5 or 45-days from passage. Shanahan said the bill to raise the rate could then be introduced as a resolution at the commissioners meeting on July 16 with a public hearing to follow on Aug. 20, before ultimately beSee FIRST Page 78