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Easter festivities on Page 34
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APRIL 7, 2023
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A juvenile harp seal, nicknamed Prince, that was found underweight and dehydrated on Rehoboth Beach in late February has made a full recovery after rehabilitation at the National Aquarium and returned to his ocean home near 40th Street in Ocean City on Tuesday. See story on Page 63.
Advertising: what it is, isn’t Marketing money dispute could end with policy to define eligible expenses By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 7, 2023) An ongoing debate in City Hall over what expenses qualify as resort advertising, and how much money should be allocated from room taxes to cover them, could be on the verge of a solution. After countless hours of involved, and at times tense and heated, discussions on room tax revenues and
allocations among City Council members and staff for years, City Manager Terry McGean presented a potential fix during a budget wrap-up meeting on March 30. He suggested staff members develop a policy that explains how the city’s room tax ordinance should be applied and specify how the money can and cannot be used. The draft would be presented at a work session for discussion, debate and tweaking before council members would ultimately approve it. “I believe this would go a very long way in finally putting this issue to rest
and providing better assurance that these funds are being spent as the council intended,” McGean said. The suggestion came on the heels of a long discussion of the city’s tourism budget a day earlier. Councilwoman Carol Proctor asked why department officials have spent so much money — $11.6 million — on advertising in fiscal 2023 after allocating an average $6.7 million the four years prior. She handed out a spreadsheet breaking down the numbers, and basically questioned what the money is See QUESTIONS Page 4
Mayor’s car use reimbursement prompts dispute By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 7, 2023) The amount of money Ocean City’s mayor receives for driving his own vehicle on the job is set to get a new name following a tense discussion at a work session last week. As the council was finalizing the fiscal 2024 proposed budget on March 30, Councilman John Gehrig brought up what has historically been called a See COUNCIL Page 6
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Ocean City Today
APRIL 7, 2023
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Lifeguard stands are seen lined up on the beach near the Ocean City Boardwalk downtown. City Council members recently approved more incentives and bonuses for guards, or surf rescue technicians, for the coming season to help recruit more applicants.
More bonuses, incentives approved for OC lifeguards By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 7, 2023) In the face of a low number of Beach Patrol applicants, Ocean City officials have added some incentives to entice guards to the stands for the coming season. Responding to a staff recommendation, City Council members voted last week to add opportunities for overtime, and extra bonuses for guards — or surf rescue technicians as they are officially named — who work past Labor Day. The perks are included among a series of bonuses and pay bumps that officials have implemented over the
last couple of years to attract employees and stay competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. Department officials painted a grim picture during a budget work session on March 27 that showed a significant lack of qualified applicants for this summer. They attributed the slump to several factors, such as housing availability, inability to meet fitness requirements, more stress and responsibility to guard Ocean City beaches compared to others, and pay. Department staff members reported at the meeting that Delaware beaches were paying $1 to $1.50 See OVERTIME Page 8
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