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JUNE 16, 2017
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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OCEAN CITY AIR SHOW U.S. Navy Blue Angels to headline the event, slated for this Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. – Page 63
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Judge rules against would-be WMO winner Court holds fishing began before start time, $2.8M cash prize going elsewhere
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (June 16, 2017) In an opinion released Wednesday, Federal District Court Judge Richard Bennett declared that White Marlin Open Inc. was correct in denying last year’s presumed winner of more than $2.8 million in prize money. Bennett, who sits on the federal bench for the Maryland District,
found that the tournament complied with its obligations and that angler Philip Heasley began to fish before the tournament’s prescribed 8:30 a.m. starting time. Heasley is the owner of the vessel Kalianassa, and was the sole registered fisherman aboard. He caught the only qualifying white marlin last August at 76.5 pounds. According to tournament rules, all anglers winning more than $50,000 in prize money must submit to a polygraph test. Crew members may also be required to take a polygraph, under certain circumstances. The
polygraph provision of the rules has been in place since at least 2004, and is not unusual for large tournaments, according to the court order. Last year, four people were required to take the test, including Heasley. Three passed, but Heasley did not, according to court documents. The tournament provided a second round of testing for Healey and called in his crew, whose answers reportedly displayed signs of deception. Heasley was allowed another round of testing, under certain conditions and at his own expense. The
fact that the testing had been performed without the results being submitted into evidence was noticed by the court. “Ultimately, this Court concludes that Mr. Heasley’s arguments are without merit,” the judge’s opinion reads. "We are obviously disappointed by today's ruling," Chris Sullivan, Heasley's attorney, said in a statement. "We maintain that Mr. Heasley and his crew all abided by all of the tournament rules and regulations." Sullivan said he is reviewing the See BOAT Page 3
Council divided on when to set union’s referendum Quest for binding arbitration has to go to voters, but it’s a matter of now or next year
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
HOT WHEELS Free events often take place on Somerset Street in downtown Ocean City, including Ocean City Cruzers displaying cars. The next OC Cruzers show will be held this Sunday from 2:30-6 p.m.
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (June 16, 2017) The Ocean City Council deadlocked this week on when to schedule the referendum on whether the local firefighter’s union should have binding interest arbitration as part of its contract. Meanwhile, time is running short for much future discussion. The council Tuesday voted 3-3 on a motion to set a special election for Aug. 18 to give voters the opportunity to decide whether an independent arbitrator should be brought in to settle labor disputes between the council and the union. Council President Lloyd Martin was absent from the proceedings, thus the even number of council members and the tie vote. In April, the Ocean City Board of Elections certified the fire union’s petition as having passed the legal threshold to force the matter to a public vote. Per Ocean City’s election laws, a petition must bear the signatures of at least 20 percent of the resort’s reg-
istered voters to be valid. Once that validity was declared, the City Council was given a June 24 deadline to decide how to proceed. As it is, the council has three options: it could grant the union binding interest arbitration, it could hold a special election or wait until the next municipal election on Nov. 6, 2018. Councilman Dennis Dare thought the later date would help get the city’s message across rather than the Aug. 18 election. “That is too short a time frame to educate people on the issue, and I don’t think we’re doing the public a favor,” he said. “I definitely don’t support adopting the petition. Waiting for the election would allow the public to be more familiar with this.” Dare also implied that waiting a year would also give the city and firefighters time to adjust to a new shift schedule, which caused conflict during collective bargaining in 2016. The Chapter 4269 of the International Association of Fire Fighters refused to budge from its longstanding practice of 24 hours on-duty and 72 hours off-duty, and ultimately ended contract negotiations. In response, the council passed the “best and final” See SPLIT Page 5