OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
JULY 15, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
50 YEARS
FITTING TRIBUTE
OCBP Capt. Butch Arbin will be recognized Sunday for five decades with the department – Page 64
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STICKER SHOCK: rec site bids waaay over budget Downtown complex delayed after super-high prices stun Ocean City Council members By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (July 15, 2022) A serious case of sticker shock has pushed the renovation of the resort’s Downtown Recreation Complex back a year as officials head back to the drawing board for
site work bids. “I think this is indicative of the market we’re dealing with right now,” City Manager Terry McGean said during a work sessions Tuesday of the two bids that came in well over budget. One breached the line at $1.6 million and the other was $2.75 million over . The city budgeted $2.2 million for the site work phase of the project and See HIGH Page 4
New deputy city manager comes from OCPD admin. Capt. Elton Harmon swaps badge for office in City Hall as second in command PHOTO COURTESY CONNIE ALDERFER
CANAL SUNSET The adage“Red at night, sailors’ delight” has some truth to it in these latitudes, as it often foretells of fair weather because of a building high pressure system, according to multiple scientific sources. It proved true early this week based on this bayside photo.
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (July 15, 2022) At the end of this month, Ocean City Police Capt. Elton “JR” Harmon will tuck away his badge and hang up his law enforcement gear after more than two
decades with the department to become City Manager Terry McGean’s number two. The deputy city manager position is a new one that McGean added to the town’s payroll shortly after he was hired in January as part of a newly developed hierarchy plan to help spread out administrative duties and responsibilities. The effort to hire the new staff See POLICE Page 3
PRIMARY ELECTION
Most county races will be decided Tuesday WHO’S RUNNING — PAGE 14 By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (July 15, 2022) Worcester County residents will head to the polls on Tuesday to vote for who they want to be represent them in many divisions of government, whether at the county commissioner level, the Orphan’s Court, or as sheriff. The Board
of Education election will be in November. The polls will open on July 19, while many early voting stations such as Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, already have had their properties lined with signs from candidates reaching for that last chance to appeal to voters. Tuesday’s election will include primaries for five seats on the County Commissioners, with Districts 2-6 up for grabs.
In District 2, incumbent Diana Purnell will be challenged by Catherine Freeman; District 3 has Eric Fiori, Tom Gulyas, Shawn Kotwica, and Tim VanVonno vying to take over after Bud Church’s 20 years in the seat; and in District 4 there is another four-way race with incumbent Ted Elder seeking another term and Nancy Bradford, Jeff McMahon, and Virgil Shockley trying to snatch it away from See PRIMARIES Page 14
