01.18.13

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VISAS: Tightening of work travel student program will affect seasonal labor pool again in 2013 PAGE 4A

ST. LOUIS: New lighting in road renovation project will be reconsidered before any further steps are taken. Cost and design are factors PAGE 3A

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . 46A CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . 25A ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 5B LEGALS . . . . . . . . . . . . 28A

LIFESTYLE . . . . . . . . . . . 1B OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . 20A OUT&ABOUT . . . . . . . . 12B SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . 39A

OC DECLARES PURPLE FRIDAY FOR EMPLOYEES…PAGE 4A

Ocean City Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET

JANUARY 18, 2013

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HARRASSMENTINCITYRANKS? Fire department promotion sets off turmoil in City Hall,including possible smear attack ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (Jan. 18, 2013) The deposit of a dead cat on the doorstep of Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore’s home the night after he enacted a controversial promotional decision was one example, sources allege, of an ongoing pattern of harassment and intimidation that stretches from the Ocean City Fire Department

going, going...

up to the City Council level. Not only that, but the scandal took a further turn for the worse this week with the news that a complaint has been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the Town of Ocean City. The complaint relates to an incident in which, sources say, false accusations of sexual misconduct were used in an attempt to press Larmore to back

down and the council to withhold its support of the chief’s recommended promotion of an OCFD lieutenant to captain. Larmore’s proposal was to promote two people, a man and a woman, to captain, with the city’s chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and at least one member of the City Council steadfastly opposed to the latter candidate. The EEOC, by law, cannot discuss the complaint, but multiple independent sources have confirmed that the filing was made by the female candidate,

who is now a captain. These sources, contacted over the past several weeks about the behind-the-scenes turmoil, cannot speak openly because it involves a personnel matter and possible investigations from both internal and outside agencies. Nevertheless, they have verified independently a complex series of events that took place during the last two months. According to these sources, shortly after the municipal election, Larmore appeared before the council in closed session to explain that, while he had been

GONE!

allocated the promotion of one new captain, he was planning to promote two. This would solve two issues at once, Larmore is said to have told the city officials. Firstly, one of the department’s long-time captains would soon be retiring, meaning that a replacement would have to be promoted in short order. Secondly, two candidates for the captain’s slot had scored farand-above the rest in testing by the city’s human resources department. However, the highest-scoring candidate — despite See RUMORS on Page 10A

Berlin woman dupedinphone scheme; costs her $40,000 NANCY POWELL ■ Staff Writer

OCEAN CITY TODAY/ZACK HOOPES

Demolition of the property on the northwest corner of Dorchester Street and Baltimore Avenue – which had housed Fat Daddy’s Restaurant – was completed this week in anticipation of a new mixed-use structure being built on the site. (Inset) The property of an adjacent home, seen being razed last week, will also be used for the new construction that will house an enlarged Fat Daddy’s as well as retail space and rental housing.

(Jan. 18, 2013) The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation is warning people this week not to provide personal information over the telephone or computer to anyone they do not know. An elderly woman in the Berlin area gave out her personal information and was scammed out of $40,000. Her misfortune began in October 2012 when the woman, who wishes to See IF IT on Page 38A


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01.18.13 by OC Today-Dispatch - Issuu