OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
APRIL 15, 2016
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE Fifth annual run and walk to take place on the Ocean City Boardwalk this Saturday – Page 45
FREE
Sick day bill on disabled list ‘til 2017 It fails in committee, but will most likely be back next year in modified form
JOSH DAVIS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
First run
Brewmaster Jason Weissberg checks on the first bottled batch of beers at Assawoman Bay Brewing Company headquarters, on 45th Street, Tuesday. Story on page 42.
OC Public safety budget at $34M Close to $5 million would be covered by grants and revenue outside gen. fund
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (April 15, 2016) In the span of a two-hour meeting, the Ocean City mayor and City Council heard budget presentations from seven departments and divisions, each accounting for its contribution to the $34 million in estimated expenses for public safety. Approximately $4.9 of that total would be covered by grants, cost reductions and revenue generated from fines and fees. The police department, fire serv-
ices, communications and the Beach Patrol requests account for $28.2 million in spending and make no allocations for new staff, but do include possible promotions for part-time staff and scheduled pay increases. “In fiscal year 2017, we’re requesting $20.34 million, and salaries and wages makes up roughly 82 percent of that,” Chief Ross Buzzuro told the council. OCPD’s request for $16.8 million in salaries and benefits reflects the terms of the current Fraternal Order of Police contract. “That includes a step increase on Jan. 1, 2017 for full-time employees and a cost-of-living increase of 2 percent the first day of 2017. The [general staff] will also receive a step increase,” he said.
Buzzuro added that two public safety aides are being reclassified as custody officer positions at a cost of $5,952 for full-time salaries. Within the patrol division, salaries are predicted to decrease at $82,564 by reducing the number of seasonal officers. The number of summer officers will decline from 100 to 80, but the number of public safety aides will increase from 14 to 36. Because of personnel shifts, patrol overtime hours are expected to increase by $71,000 in the next year. Not included in the budget is a department request for $45,000 for other agency assistance for the car events H2O International and Spring See SALARIES Page 6
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (April 15, 2016) Following an outpouring of opposition from businesses, legislation entitled the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, which would have mandated the number of sick days employees are provided, died in committee as the 2016 state legislative session closed on Monday. Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) said the bill, which passed the house 84-54 earlier in the session, shifted to the Senate and got stifled as debate ensued on other legislation. Mary Beth Carozza: “For a variety of “It is a job killer.” reasons it died,” he said. “Grave concerns came from our area due to seasonal employees.” Delegate Mary Beth Carozza had earlier expressed reservations about the legislation and its potential impact on Ocean City’s hospitality community. During a floor speech on the subject, she characterized the bill as a “job killer,” and argued it would economically damage virtually all Maryland businesses engaged in seasonal hiring. “A plain reading of this bill reveals that it is a job killer for Maryland,” she said. “And a job killer for less and unskilled workers, part-time workers, students, and the segment of our work force that needs the work, the money, the training, and the experience.” Also voicing strong opposition to the legislation was Susan Jones, executive director for the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association. “In this instance, while the bill may See OFFICIALS Page 7