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OC Today-Dispatch MARCH 20, 2026
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 65
PRICELESS
County unveils $299M budget Projected spending exceeds revenue by $3M, but cuts will occur along the way before commissioner approval this spring. — PAGE 14 PHOTO COURTESY TOWN OF OCEAN CITY
PARADE WINNER The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation gets its message out as it travels down Coastal Highway Saturday during the St. Patrick’s parade. Believe in Tomorrow’s entry was the winner in the Non-Commercial Float category.
Homeless tents zoned out City advises St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church it’s looking at expensive fines if it doesn’t stop violating zoning code — PAGE 3
Taking it to the streets Public Works hits the roads with repairs every off-season — PAGE 67
Annual Ocean City Police report shows decline in crime — Page 22
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OC Today-Dispatch
MARCH 20, 2026
MARCH 20, 2026
OC Today-Dispatch
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BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
A homeless encampment on church grounds, shown above, is being challenged by the Town of Ocean City.
OC to begin fining St. Paul’s over homeless encampment City says church has until March 23 to remove shelter near Baltimore Ave. corridor By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (March 20, 2026) The Town of Ocean City has given a local church until March 23 to remove a tent encampment from its property. On March 13, city staff notified St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, which is across the street from City Hall on Baltimore Avenue, that daily fines will be levied next week if the church does not remove the tents, located in an alcove just south of the church building. While the church says the tents are being used by members of the homeless population until a more permanent housing solution can be found, the city maintains it is a violation of the zoning code. “This action is not something that we undertake lightly but the current situation is simply untenable,” City Manager Terry McGean told the OC Today-Dispatch this week. In November, St. Paul’s began welcoming members of the homeless population to stay on church property, purchasing tents and setting up an encampment near the corner of Baltimore Avenue and 3rd Street. The goal, according to Pastor Jill Williams, is simple – to provide some relief from the elements until the church can establish an indoor shelter at its outreach center. However, the church’s efforts are being chal-
lenged by the city’s zoning code, which only allows the use of temporary tents by special exception. The congregation has until March 23 at 5 p.m. to remove the tents, or face a fine of up to $5,000 per day for any violations. “We are shocked and saddened,” Williams said in an interview Monday. Williams said the issue is not the people sleeping on church property, but the tents themselves. However, without that shelter, she said the community’s most vulnerable residents are left exposed to cold weather and rain. “I feel like they need cover,” she said. “I don’t know how to do it, and it just can’t happen fast enough.” Williams said the temporary outdoor setup is just the first step in finding a permanent, code-compliant solution. While the church plans to move homeless individuals inside, she said it would take time, and money, to make improvements and hire staff. “If the city would like to fund a staff member, we have a space,” she said. For his part, McGean said he has been in contact with the church since January, when he first met with the pastor to discuss the zoning code violation. When Williams mentioned the church’s plan to create an indoor shelter, he said he encouraged her to begin quickly, to hire a design professional, and to contact the city’s fire See PASTOR Page 6
W E H OP E TO B E OP E N N EXT W E E K !
FI NG E RS C ROSSED! C H EC K OU T OU R FFA AC E BOOK PPA AG E FOR TH E DA AT TE . WE CANNOT SA AY Y THAN K YOU ENOUG H FOR F THE OVE RWHE LM ING SU P PORT TH I S C OMMUN ITY HA H S SH OWN US !
NOT I C E OF T E M POR A RY C LOSU R E DUE TO A RECENT INCIDENT, T, OUR ES EST ST TA ABLISHMENT A IS CLOSED UNTIL FUR RT THER NOTICE. WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTL LY Y TO REOPEN AN ND REGRET ANY DISRUPTION TO YOUR PLA ANS. TH HA ANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERS UNDERST RS ST TA TA ANDING. WE WILL PROVIDE UPDA DA AT TE ES S AS SOON AS POSSIBLE REG GA ARDING OUR REO OPENING. The Mushrush family would like to thank you for all the calls , messages & kind d wor rd ds.