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APRIL 8, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
SNOW HILL
RIVERBOAT WOES
Huge repair bill once again imperils Black Eyed Susan as town scrambles for answers — Page 22
FREE
City officials debate plan for extra cash
Workers going elsewhere for housing, jobs
Councilman suggests need for separate disaster fund
J-1 students passing on OC because of lack of rentals
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 8, 2022) As more than $10 million sits in unassigned funds, Ocean City government officials are tossing around accounting ideas to ensure the money is spent — or saved — adequately. At a budget meeting on March 31, council members discussed a longrunning recommendation from finance staff members to increase the required amount of money in the city’s fund reserves from 15 to 20 percent of the overall general fund. The staff’s proposed change would cushion the reserves — which are set aside for unplanned expenses like emergencies, nonrecurring charges, and unexpected service cost increases — and find a home for a percentage of the funds in the unassigned balance. The city’s reserves are currently well above 15 percent of the general fund, and projections show that they will remain high into the upcoming budget year. For fiscal 2023, which begins July 1, the unassigned fund balance is See BUAS Page 6
By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (April 8, 2022) Up until the early 2000s, college students flocked to Ocean City for summer jobs. Back then, the students could get a list of available house or apartment rentals and find something that fit their needs before entering a summertime lease so they could make money before going back to school. But these days, things are much different. Summer workforce rentals are sparse, and even when they exist can far exceed a student’s, or seasonal worker’s budget to make living at the beach for 12-15 weeks possible, much less worthwhile. This past weekend’s job fair was a testimony to the absence of candidates looking to join the seasonal workforce, as some attendees reported a smaller turnout as compared to previous years. The lack of housing, as Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lachelle Scarlato put it this week, is the result of a perfect storm of events that has led to a See AS Page 8
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
PIPED UP
Work continues to be done on Ocean City streets as well as below them. Pictured are old pipes dug up and replaced with new ones on 125th Street.
Conv. center bookings grow, parking doesn’t Most events have plenty, but larger ones find spaces don’t quite match demand By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (April 8, 2022) With recent growth and an aggressive booking tactic, the Ocean City convention center could
need to reorganize, and possibly expand or monetize, its parking situation. The 40th Street facility has a large main lot and a smaller one to the south for visitors and vendors. The spaces are free and sufficient for most events. However complaints do come in, as officials observed during a budget meeting on March 30.
Convention Center Executive Director Larry Noccolino described the parking situation as “not good” when asked about it during the meeting. He said staff members received a handful of complaints after a recent cheerleading competition, and added that the number of events that typically result in negative feedback are growing.
“There’s about seven groups we may have an issue with parking,” he said during the meeting. “I anticipate more than seven groups because of the added space and because we keep getting busier.” The center recently opened a new, 45,000 square-foot hall, which bumped the available space for conSee SOME Page 4
