OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
MARCH 9, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL About 100 films to be featured today through Sunday at three locations in the resort – Page 35
FREE
Special event zone bill goes to committee Ocean City officials testify on need for strict approach
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, backed up by City Council members, from left, Wayne Hartman, Tony DeLuca and Matt James, makes a point during a meeting of the General Assembly’s Eastern Shore delegation last Friday regarding legislation calling for the relocation of wind farms.
Local lawmakers discuss turbines Eastern Shore delegation meets with federal officials about wind farm legislation
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 9, 2018) With new legislation aimed at pushing offshore wind turbines farther out than the currently proposed 17 nautical miles, the Maryland General Assembly’s Eastern Shore delegation met with federal officials last
Friday in Annapolis to ascertain if changes are feasible. James Bennett, Bureau of Ocean Management renewable energy program manager, presented an overview of the wind energy area lease approval process, which got underway in 2010. “It doesn’t happen in a backroom,” he said. “It’s a long-term process and a lot of people are involved.” This week both SB1058 and HB1135, which would alter the distance requirement for turbines from between 10-30
nautical miles to not less than 26 nautical miles off the coast, have legislative hearings scheduled. A nautical mile is equal to 1.15 statute miles. Delegate Christopher Adams (R-37) who is sponsoring HB1135, along with delegates Mary Beth Carozza (R-38C) and Charles Otto (R-38A), serves on the House Economic Committee, which has jurisdiction over energy policy. Adams asked at what point during the lease approval process was the 10See LAWMAKERS Page 4
Faison sentenced for DUI death J.R. Ednie, 23, struck and killed during 2017 spring Cruisin’ week in Ocean City
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (March 9, 2018) Stanley Faison, 51, of Waldorf, Maryland was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but six years suspended by Circuit Court judge Brian Shockley late last week, after a jury convicted him of killing J.R. Ednie, 23, of Manassas, Virginia when he was driving drunk on Coastal Highway. The state sentencing guidelines for the crime are a maximum of three years for the offense, but Faison’s sta-
tus as a repeat offender — with the most recent conviction 27 days before this incident in Minnesota — led the state’s attorney’s office to seek enhanced penalties in Stanley Faison this case. This allowed Shockley to impose the net six-year prison sentence. After that, Faison is subject to three years of supervised probation. Faison also had a DUI in North Carolina in 2011 according to the state’s attorney’s office. “Nothing we do can ever bring J.R. back, but sentencing Mr. Faison above the guidelines, who appallingly was
found guilty of his second DUI only 27 days prior, might deter future drunk drivers from killing people in Worcester County,” Interim State’s Attorney Bill McDermott said. Faison was driving a 1972 Chevrolet Impala north on Coastal Highway around 2:24 a.m. on May 21 when he struck Ednie, who was crossing the highway east to west near 45th Street and was not using a crosswalk, Ocean City Police said in a press statement. A Cruisin’ Ocean City event was taking place that week, but event promoters, said Faison was not a registered participant. After the crash, people at the scene initiated lifesaving efforts, which were See DRIVER Page 3
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 9, 2018) Seeking ways to discourage reckless behavior during this season’s annual car and motorcycle rallies, Ocean City is lobbying the state to pass emergency legislation that would create special event zones to help police to maintain order in the streets and adjacent areas. After testifying in support of ‘We are finding SB872 last it increasingly Tuesday, Ocean City difficult to address officials rethese very brazen, turned on disrespectful and Friday to state the case unlawful behaviors for HB1406 taking place on our during a roadways.’ House EnviOC Police Chief ronment and Ross Buzzuro Transportation Committee hearing. Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38) and Delegate Mary Beth Carozza (R-38C) are sponsoring companion bills that would permit the State Highway Administration to designate roads under its purview as special event zones that have reduced speed limits and increased penalties for motor vehicle violations. Upon passage, the emergency bill would be sent to Gov. Larry Hogan to sign into law before the car and bike event season begins. “HB1406 would give our local law enforcement the additional tools they need to control the unlawful, reckless and dangerous behavior that Ocean City and the surrounding area has experienced with certain major motor events,” Carozza said. During Senate testimony, Mathias said the new designation would be similar to construction zones or school zones in that it would provide for substantially higher fines and potential jail sentences for drivers who threaten public safety. See TESTIMONY Page 5