OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
JUNE 3, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
PBR
BUCKING BRONCOS
Inaugural Professional Bull Riding events set Fri., Sat. Sun. in inlet arena – Page 18
FREE
Weather gives OC businesses needed break Visitor numbers good, but weekend broke no records
PHOTO COURTESY DONA JUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
EQUINE SKYLINE
The wild horses of Assateague National Seashore unknowingly demonstrate the line between nature and human nature as they stand at the edge of Sinepuxent Bay not that far from the noise and bustle of the Boardwalk in downtown Ocean City.
Home incentive plan worked, maybe Of 28 who took advantage of City Hall’s inducements to build, 13 met standard By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (June 3, 2022) A pilot program designed to entice more year-round homeowners to the resort will continue for the next two fiscal years as officials ensure those who already received benefits have not cheated the system. Council members established the primary residence incentive program, or PRIP, two years ago to give financial incentives to homeowners who met specified criteria. The program offered two perks: a building permit
fee waiver of up to $7,500 for new or substantially improved homes, and a real property tax rebate of up to $2,500 over a period of five years for new primary owners. Council members established the program in fiscal 2021 to extend into fiscal 2022 but included a look-back period that also allowed applicants from the previous fiscal year, July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, to take advantage of the benefits. Over the three-year period, Planning and Development Director Bill Neville said 28 applications were approved for a total $145,851 in incentives. To date, a little more than $25,200 remained in unpaid rebates. On Tuesday, with the June 30 program deadline looming, council
members voted to extend it for another two fiscal years, not only to ensure that benefits already promised were paid, but also to allow new residents to take advantage. But during discussions, Councilman John Gehrig and Mayor Rick Meehan urged staff members to seek accountability for the benefits issued to date. “We need to make sure that they’re following the rules that are in place to receive this benefit and we need to do that today,” Meehan said in response to Gehrig pointing out that some of the homeowners who received benefits from the program have not yet shown primary residence proof through homestead property tax credits. See HOME-BUILDING Page 8
By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (June 3, 2022) Because weather plays a critical part of a business’s success in Ocean City, the Memorial Day weekend was the break the resort needed in a year that saw two big washouts of otherwise major events. Back in March, St. Patrick’s Day was cancelled for the second year in a row, although this time it was because of bad weather instead of 2020’s covid-19 scourge, and Springfest’s biggest day fell prey to a nor’easter that just wouldn’t leave the area. This past weekend, on the other hand, was ... postcard beautiful, as was evidenced by the people walking up and down Coastal Highway on See BUSINESS Page 4
Chamber director resigns, but gives six-month notice Scarlato will finish contract, then pursue opportunity By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (June 3, 2022) Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lachelle Scarlato turned in her resignation from the post this week, effective Nov. 2022, to pursue a “tremendous” opportunity and spend time doing what she loves. Members of the chamber were notified of Scarlato’s departure in an newsletter from Chairman Bob Thompson this week, providing them See SCARLATO Page 8
