OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
JANUARY 19, 2024
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
HEARING
OFFSHORE WIND U.S. Rep. Andy Harris hosting forum at 2 p.m., Saturday, in Ocean City on planned project – Page 6
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Diakonia expansion blocked by county Plan to take OC’s offer of additional sewer capacity called unfair to others
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SNOW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT Steady snowflakes fall from a murky gray sky Monday afternoon at the south end of the Boardwalk, creating a shallow, slippery blanket of powder on the boards. The snowfall continued throughout the afternoon and into the night but was gone by morning.
Public comment on county’s agenda After some debate, vote goes 5-2 in favor of giving residents place at podium By Hunter Hine Staff Writer (Jan. 16, 2024) Public comment periods may become a regular part of Worcester County Commissioner meetings following a debate commissioners had over the value and efficacy of the practice. At the end of the commissioners meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Joe Mitrecic moved to have the county staff work out a protocol to hear pub-
lic comments at meetings. Mitrecic saw an editorial in a local newspaper that criticized commissioners for being one of the only public bodies in the county that doesn’t have regular public comments, he said. He cited the that observation as inspiration for pitching the idea. “I found that disheartening to say the least. We like to have our constituents involved in local government. The more we have the better,” Mitrecic said. Five commissioners voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting voted against it.
Mitrecic said it’s important that constituents feel heard and that more public comments could help commissioners pass items that help fix issues residents are facing. Commissioners Diana Purnell and Ted Elder offered full support to the idea. Elder said even when commissioners hold public comments for specific issues, it seems like some commissioners have already made up their minds and disregard new input, even when all the commenters align on the same side of an issue. He called it a “disservice to the public.” See COUNTY Page 4
By Hunter Hine Staff Writer (Jan. 19, 2023) Diakonia, the nonprofit organization that serves homeless people in Worcester County, won’t be able to move forward with a supportive housing project on Route 611 for now, following the county commis- “The mayor and sioners’ rejec- City Council felt tion Tuesday of this was an agreement something that that would have granted the probenefited the posed facility acentire cess to West community.” Ocean City’s Terry McGean sewer system. City Manager The office of resort City Manager Terry McGean asked the commissioners in an early November letter to permit Diakonia’s new project to be connected to West Ocean City’s sewer system so it could then use the Ocean City’s sewer collection capacity. A four-member majority of the commissioners, however, opposed the request, with commissioners Eric Fiori, Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting and Caryn Abbott voting against it. “The mayor and City Council felt this was something that benefited the entire community, a nonprofit providing housing to those in need,” See OC OFFICIALS Page 3
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JANUARY 19, 2024
Ocean City Today
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Ocean City Today
OC officials surprised by county’s decision Continued from Page 1 McGean said after the meeting. City officials were surprised and disappointed by the county’s decision, he said. Although Diakonia’s project falls within the Mystic Harbor wastewater service area, which is county jurisdiction, there is no more capacity to support new developments. Several construction projects are on a waitlist as owners and developers hold out for available Equivalent Dwelling Units, which are a measure of water and wastewater use. Diakonia’s proposed facility would sit on 4.4 acres at 9601 Stephen Decatur Highway and include space for a thrift store, food pantry, offices and case management services. It also includes plans for three buildings holding a total of 42 dwellings varying from studio apartments to three bedroom units, said Ken Argot, executive director for Diakonia. At least one of the housing buildings would be for veterans. The resort mayor and council agreed to offer the new complex a maximum of 10,000 gallons of flow per day in exchange for a deed restriction on the property that says the organization can only use the sewer allocation as long as it continues functioning as a nonprofit and provides supportive housing, according to the November letter from Ocean City. The Town of Ocean City allocates one million gallons of sewer flow per day to West Ocean City, a county jurisdiction. A 1994 treatment facilities transfer agreement between the city and county allowed this section of the county to lean on Ocean City’s wastewater capacity. Ocean City would not have
charged Diakonia equity fees for the wastewater flow nor counted the 10,000 gallons against the total one million gallons. The project would have required a modification to the West Ocean City service area since the Diakonia project would have to physically bypass the Mystic Harbor Collection system to connect into the West Ocean City system, Weston Young, chief administrative officer for the county, said. Use of staff time would be the only cost incurred on the county, Young said. Diakonia had several grants and funding sources for the reconnection and were waiting on the county to move forward, said Commissioner Joe Mitrecic. “Diakonia does a tremendous service to all of Worcester County and the Town of Ocean City recognized that and wanted to be a partner in helping the citizenry of Worcester County that need the services from Diakonia. That’s why they offered up this sewer flow for nothing, basically, and I think it’s the right thing to do,” Mitrecic said. Fiori took issue with the request, saying allowing Diakonia to connect to sewer in this area while other projects continue waiting would be playing favorites. “We can’t give one project an advantage [over] another because we just decide that. We have to keep this a level playing field, and sitting on the waiting list there may be a project that brings 500 jobs to Worcester County residents. Is that more important than Diakonia’s work? I don’t think we can decide that as county commissioners,” Fiori said. Mitrecic countered Fiori, saying any stalled project on the waitlist for
Mystic Harbor sewer service could have approached Ocean City, but didn’t. He added that the agreement would have no effect on the county. Ocean City won’t give up sewer flow for county businesses that would compete with Ocean City businesses who have been paying for the city’s sewer system over the years, Mitrecic said. Bertino said that he and Bunting previously talked with Ocean City leaders about the municipality sharing more sewer capacity with the county in 2022, but city officials wanted to restrict the uses of any project built that used the city’s flow, and the conversations stopped there. “Any other business could go to Ocean City, and county government would lose their rights, their responsibilities and their authority over development in a jurisdiction that falls within the county,” Bertino said. No residents or businesses inside the county should be forced to go to another municipality for capacity, and the question is much larger than just Diakonia, Bertino said. Just before the agreement was denied, the commissioners voted unanimously to open talks with Ocean City regarding the predicament of Mystic Harbor reaching maximum sewer capacity. A memo from Young says that the county hopes to work out an
agreement with the city on “accessing additional capacity in a mutually beneficial way.” Young said he could reach out to the city manager’s office to open discussions. Bertino said he hopes that Ocean City sees that they and the county have overlapping interests during these discussions. Abbott said that they should try to negotiate with Ocean City to accommodate all developments on the waitlist and that way they could create a level playing field for everyone. Commissioner Ted Elder suggested that the county should work on connecting all the water and sewer systems in the north end of the county into one entity, and that they should consolidate all associated funds. This would simplify access and make things more fair, he said. Young said county staff are working on just that, but there are issues with USDA debts, grants and loans tied to different wastewater district accounts. He described it as an accounting nightmare, but said that ultimately it would benefit everyone. Frederick County, Maryland, made a similar move about 20 years ago and connected many distant service stations that now function on one rate, Young said.
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JANUARY 19, 2024
County moves to hear from public at meetings Continued from Page 1 Purnell said that if commissioners heard more public comments they might change their mind on certain issues. She said that a decision the commissioners made earlier in the meeting to strike down a sewer capacity agreement between Diakonia and Ocean City might have been different if people from Diakonia had a chance to speak. “We need the public down here to govern what we’re doing. We are making life changing decisions in this county,” Purnell said. Commissioner Caryn Abbot said she makes her personal phone number available, frequently works with constituents behind the scenes and hosts town halls outside of commissioner meetings. These methods have proved successful, she said. Abbott said she has been attending the board of education’s comment sessions for three years and finds the system “very cold.” It sometimes feels like people aren’t listening, and little gets accomplished from that form of public speaking, she said. Mitrecic pointed out that Ocean City council sessions sometimes have public speaking time allotted at the beginnings of meetings. Speakers usually have to conform to a twominute time limit, and the model could work for commissioners, he said.
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A sparse audience looks on as the county commissioners go through an agenda that does not include a public comment period. That could change following a vote directing the staff to come up with a plan to allow residents to address the commissioners at each meeting.
Commissioner President Chip Bertino said he found it offensive that people had suggested the commissioners were close-minded during public hearings, and asserted this wasn’t fair or accurate. Bertino suggested that public comments work best when there can be a back-and-forth dialogue between constituents and elected officials rather than a one-way interaction where speakers address the commissioners and then leave without having questions answered.
“In my experience as a reporter covering meetings, public comments don’t necessarily provide more effective government. A lot of times, sometimes, it can be a stage … for theatrics. It doesn’t necessarily improve a discussion,” Bertino said. Bertino said the public already has the ability to raise issues to commissioners outside of meetings through emails and other correspondence, and commissioners often add these suggestions to the agenda. However, responses to questions
from constituents are important for effective governing, he said, and two to three minutes of a one-way address don’t capture that. “The issues before government are complex, and they’re much more important and detailed than a slogan or a contrite statement,” Bertino said. Commissioner Jim Bunting concurred with Bertino, saying that there are already avenues for public comment, and opening public speaking sessions could prolong commissioner meetings.
Ocean City LAX sand tournament approved Lacrosse event slated for Aug. 24 and 25 on beach at Talbot St. or more north By Mallory Panuska Ames Managing Editor (Jan. 19, 2024) A new sports tournament will be joining the Jeeps and planes set to be zooming around the land and air the second to last weekend in August. The Sand LAX — 4 on 4 on the
Shore, a lacrosse event that was previously produced in 1998 in Ocean City and Baltimore Inner Harbor, will commence for the first time in more than 25 years on Aug. 24 and 25 on the beach at Talbot Street. “It’s not about traditional, physical lacrosse,” event co-organizer Drew Westervelt said during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Westervelt and fellow organizer Scott Westcoat, representing EnviroEvents, asked council members for
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approval of a special event request to host the event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The management company also produces the Sand Dual Beach Soccer event, which has been hosted in Ocean City since 1994. The LAX event will feature 10 to 20 small side fields with four-on-four games on each one using 3-by-3-foot goals. Wesrtervelt said the sand provides a soft surface for play, with tennis balls used instead of traditional lacrosse balls.
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The organizers asked for vehicular access to the beach, trash cans, dumpsters and access to town electric. They also said that they could move the tournament north to accommodate Jeep Fest activities, which are set for the same weekend along with the air show. Council members unanimously approved the event, which will require the organizer to pay the city a total $1,260 in private event, and asset and support fees
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733 BRADLEY ROAD • OCEAN CITY $3,200,000 Luxury 5BR/6BA/2HBA Bayfront home with pool hits the market! This luxury home has 145 feet of water frontage with direct bay views and offers southern exposure. As you walk in the front door of this lovely home you will immediately fall in love with the attention to details and upgrades throughout. An elegant foyer with marble flooring greets you as you enter with your eyes drawn to the beautiful Bayfront views and the swimming pool in the courtyard. On the first level you will find a kitchen designed for access in and out to the pool area with plenty of seating and room for entertaining family and friends. Also on the first floor, you will find a Bay front office or playroom for the kids. This home is complete with a home elevator so either take the spiraling stairs to the second level or take the elevator up to the second level. You will be mesmerized by the amazing Bayfront views and endless sunsets this home offers. There are 6 decks off the home for privacy. On the second level you will find a professional chef’s kitchen complete with large center island, high end appliances and plenty of cabinet space adjoining a beautiful, spacious dining room overlooking the bay. The family room is also complete with a gas fireplace for chilly winter nights, making this the perfect home for year-round living or a vacation home. Also, on this floor, you will find a second office, home theater room, or game room. On the third level you will enjoy waking up to the endless water views from your primary bedroom. The primary bath has custom finishes throughout with extensive tile work. The primary bedroom also has a fireplace for romantic evenings and relaxing. Also on this floor are three additional bedrooms, which are spacious and separated nicely from the primary bedroom. This home is over 6000 ft.² and is one of the few Bayfront homes available on the market. So, if you’re looking for a home at the beach, also offering all the thrill of the day with attention to detail look no further. Come take a look at 733 Bradley Rd. today before it’s sold! MDWO2014714 COMING SOON NORTH OC CONDO with DEEDED BOAT SLIP
WATERFRONT HOME AT REFUGE DERRICKSON CREEK OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN 12:30-2:30PM
204 N HERON DR #2048C OCEAN CITY • $425,000 This beautiful 2BR/2BA condo with deeded boat slip #23 is in Seascape in the fabulous community of Heron Harbour. This larger corner model is rarely available for sale. It has two primary bedrooms each with its own full bath. This condo comes furnished ready for your immediate enjoyment. When you walk in you will fall in love with the floor plan with a townhouse feel. There is an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash, and white kitchen cabinets. The dining room is directly off the kitchen that flows into a spacious living area. The family room has vaulted ceilings and is a great place for family time and entertaining with friends. This condo has an oversized primary bedroom. The second bedroom is on the next level and has a full bath and oversized closet. There is a full deck off the family room, perfect to enjoy an outdoor meal. There is also an outdoor storage closet off the deck. You will love the deeded boat slip that conveys with the property. Offered with a one-year AHS warranty. Heron Harbour is amenity rich with two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a kiddie pool, fitness center, social room, sauna, locker room, two Har-Tru tennis courts, sidewalks, and piers. Enjoy your boat, fishing, crabbing, kayaking, and paddle boarding all directly out your back door. You are very close to shopping, restaurants, and the beach. Come take a look before it's SOLD! MDWO2018196
36939 CREEKHAVEN DRIVE SELBYVILLE, DE 19975 • $835,000 Stunning 4BR/4.5 bath home in the Refuge at Derickson Creek hits the market! This meticulously maintained home backs up to the pond, has peek of the Bay and is located approximately three miles from Fenwick Island beach. As you walk through the front door you will immediately see the attention to detail. There is an upgraded kitchen with breakfast bar, Quartz countertops, beautiful tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and plenty of cabinet space. The kitchen opens into the dining area. Friends and family will enjoy meals there together and will make memories that last a lifetime. The spacious family room, with a beautiful gas fireplace, is off the dining area and is a perfect gathering place for entertaining family and friends. There’s a wonderful, enclosed sunroom with a glass slider to the paver patio deck and beautiful back yard. There’s also a flex room on the first floor that could be used as an office. The primary bedroom suite is located on the first floor and is oversized and has a beautiful full en suite bath. You will enjoy the water views from your primary bedroom. The laundry room is also on the first floor. You will love the first-floor hardwood floors, tile, woodworking, upgraded lighting and upgraded carpet throughout. The hardwood floors continue to the second level. There is a spacious second family room on this level and there are three additional bedrooms all with en suite baths. This is the perfect home for everyone to enjoy. There is a two-car garage, covered front porch, and outside shower. Every room in this house has a view of the pond and a peek of the Bay. The Refuge is an amenity rich community with a large inviting outdoor pool w/separate wading pool for kids, a clubhouse with an exercise/workout room, tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball court and playground. In the Refuge you get to enjoy the scenic views and native wildfowl of Derickson Creek and the Delaware Inland bays. Come take a look today before it's SOLD! DESU2052970
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WATERSIDE DRIVE BERLIN • $475,000 Are you looking to build your dream home? Look no further than this beautiful residential lot in the community of South Point Farms. This beautiful building lot is in a prime location on the corner with beautiful bay views. The lot is approximately 2.76 acres and it’s located off 611 in Berlin Maryland. At the entrance of South Point Farms is a public boat ramp and public pier with water access for boating fishing, crabbing, paddle boarding, and kayaking. If you are looking for a peaceful, tranquil location with unbelievable Bay views this is the prime spot. There are multiple world-class golf courses close by and Assateague National and State Park as well for days on the beach. No builder tie in required. Come take a look today and enjoy the good life on South Point Farms! MDWO2014122
34862 WEST LINE RD SELBYVILLE, DE • $3,900,000 Commercial Site in Prime Location hits the Market! 2.36 acres on the corner of RT 54 and W. Line Rd in Selbyville DE. This location is directly across from Yellowfins Restaurant and shopping center on heavily traveled Rt 54. The location is approximately 3-4 miles to the beaches of Ocean City & Fenwick Island. It has water and 8' sewer main that will supply a hotel, shopping center, office complex, medical center, professional center, etc. Lot is cleared. Buy it Now Before It's SOLD!!! Owner Financing is available. MLS DESU184528
OCEAN 2 BR/2BA CONDO OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 10AM-NOON
1 66TH ST UNIT 101 • OCEAN CITY • $499,900 Stunning 2BR/2BA condo one back from the beach hits the market! This condo is located on 66th street in an ocean block building. The sellers have made many recent upgrades, installing luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout, new microwave, new refrigerator, new stove, new dishwasher, new exterior HVAC unit, toilets and kitchen faucet within the last three years. The decks also were tiled in 2019 and the glass sliders leading to the deck were also replaced within the last five years. This would make a great second home or investment property and is being sold fully furnished and ready for your immediate enjoyment. This is one of the best values at the beach - fully furnished and only one back from the ocean. As you walk through the front door, you will see an inviting living room for entertaining family and friends. There is a dining area off the kitchen with glass sliders leading to a huge covered deck with recently tiled floor. You can hear the waves break from the deck. This is a first floor unit but it's an elevated building so the height off the street is equivalent to a second floor unit. This condo has two large bedrooms and two full baths so there's plenty of room for family and friends. The condo is in walking distance to many restaurants, stores, shops and a supermarket, so once you're here you don’t have to move your car, but the condo is conveniently located to the route 90 bridge, making coming and going a joy. Come take a look today before this amazing property is sold. This condo association is well managed by Mann Properties. MLS MDWO2016172
32474 LIGHTHOUSE RD SELBYVILLE, DE • $7,900,000 Prime commercial location in Selbyville of 10.09 acres. This is a rare commercial development opportunity on the busy intersection of Lighthouse Sound Rd. (Route 54) and Hudson Rd. There are already many existing new homes surrounding this property and more than 3,200 additional homes are coming soon. This is the perfect location for a shopping center, multiple smaller retail businesses, and/or medical or other professional offices to serve these homes and the entire Selbyville, Bayside, Fenwick, Ocean City area. The Seller will finance up to 70% of the purchase price at 1 percent below the current prime lending rate for up to 5 years. The property is located 8 miles from the beach! DESU2044978
MID-TOWN 3BR/3.5 BA RIVENDELL CONDOMINIUM with WATER VIEWS! OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 10AM-NOON
121 81ST ST UNIT 706 • OCEAN CITY • $815,000 Stunning three-bedroom 3.5 bath condo at the Rivendell hits the market! This beautiful condo is being sold furnished and it's ready for your immediate enjoyment. You’ll be mesmerized by the waterfront views. You can actually watch both the sunrise and the sunset without ever leaving this condo. The kitchen is sure to delight the chef in your family with its granite countertops, custom cabinets and plenty of workspace. Off the kitchen is the family room and dining area where you will enjoy family meals and make memories that last a lifetime. The family room is great for entertaining and has a gas fireplace for chilly times in fall and winter. There’s also a wet bar for relaxing and having cocktails with friends. You can see the Ocean and Bay from the primary bedroom suite and the primary bath is luxurious with a tile Jacuzzi tub, shower and double vanities. The other two bedrooms are spacious as well and each have their own en suite bathroom. There is also a half bath off the family room. There’s a separate laundry room with washer and dryer and plenty of storage. Privacy is ensured with good separation between the primary bedroom and the other two bedrooms. There are large balconies where you can enjoy your morning coffee and a cold drink in the evening. The Rivendell has an indoor pool, outdoor pool and a fitness center, and the Hobbit restaurant is located in the building as well. This condo is located in Midtown on 81st St. and there is a traffic light at the intersection so crossing the street is very easy. There are plenty of stores, restaurants and shops in the area. There is a parking garage and secure access to the building. Come take a look today and make this beautiful property yours. This is a non-rental building so you will make friends and know your neighbors. MLS MDWO2017698
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