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AUGUST 29, 2014
SPORTS
WORCESTER PREP SCHOOL Fall sports teams are preparing for the 2014 season, which begins next week– Page 89
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Smokers might be walking mile or more for a Camel Council votes to restrict beach and Bdwk. smoking
PHIL JACOBS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
BYE BYE BEACH Janet and Nicholas Pietrefesa of Glen Gardner, N.J. pack it up for the day on the beach Tuesday. The couple comes to Ocean City traditionally the week leading into Labor Day.
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Aug. 29, 2014) Smokers, prepare to be corralled…somewhere. City Council voted four-to-three this week to institute a restricted smoking policy on the beach and Boardwalk, which would prohibit lighting up anywhere outside of yetto-be-determined smoking areas. The policy would take effect May 2015. But council left a number of major logistical issues – namely, where the smoking areas would be located – up in the air this week with the anticipation of a detailed layout from city staff to arrive for the next council work session in two weeks. Interestingly, the three members of council who cast dissenting votes – Brent Ashley, Mary Knight, and Margaret Pillas – did so because they thought the measure did not go far enough. Both Knight and Pillas argued that smoking should simply be banned on the Boardwalk, since creating desigSee BOARDWALK Page 6
More tram advertising expected next year McDonald’s placed highest bid, aggressive response; many businesses solicited
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Aug. 29, 2014) If you’ve taken notice of the Boardwalk’s new “McTram,” there may be more, and hopefully different, tram advertising coming next season. Last week, the city began piloting the idea of advertising on the Boardwalk trams by installing backlit signs atop the rear car of the single vehicle.
Although Direct Media, the contractor who markets advertising on city-owned vehicles, apparently solicited a number of business contacts for opportunity, the most aggressive response and highest bid came in from McDonald’s. “This was meant to be an example, just to see who would be interested,” said Mayor Rick Meehan. “Hopefully next year, once everyone has seen the panels, some local Boardwalk businesses will pick up the spots.” Direct Media current holds a contract through the 2018 season for sales and service of all city transit advertising, most of which consists of
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the laminated wraps found on city buses. The agency receives a 15 percent commission on all sales, and keeps 35 percent of the profits. The other 65 percent of net proceeds from ad sales go to the town. Closed-door contract negotiations with Direct Media last year apparently resulted in the city expanding the contract to include backlit panels atop all eight Boardwalk trams, although only one was sold in time for the signs to be produced for the current season. The idea to begin selling ad space on trams came up in the spring of 2013, when the city received an un-
solicited proposal from MGH Advertising, which happens to be the city’s advertising agent as well as that of McCormick & Co., the owners of Old Bay. MGH had offered Direct Media $24,000 per season to put Old Bay advertising wraps, similar to those found on the buses, on the tram tow cars. Council, however, decided that the offered price was too low and negotiated with Direct Media to put any tram advertising contracts out to open bid. McDonald’s’ offering price was not known as of press time.
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