9/18/2020 Ocean City Today

Page 1

OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY

HEALTH

NEW TOOLS TO COME

Maryland becomes first in interstate compact to purchase rapid covid-19 test kits – Page 5

FREE

OC cops ready with new laws to brake rally Special Event Zone rules will apply to all motorists By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Sept. 18, 2020) Starting next Tuesday, Ocean City will be under Special Event Zone restrictions, meaning speed limits will be reduced, punishments for offenses will be increased and traffic enforcement will be heavy handed, all in an attempt to quell participants of this year’s expected pop-up car rally. Top speeds throughout the resort next week from Tuesday to Sunday, will be 30 mph, with anything above that punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Earlier this year, the Maryland General Assembly approved an exhibition driving bill that greatly increased law enforcement’s power over motor vehicles in certain circumstances. Exhibition driving is defined as “the transportation of a passenger on (or in) an area of a motor vehicle that is not designed (or intended) for passenger transport such as the hood or roof.” Also included in the definition are excessive, abrupt acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle; skidding, squealing, burning or smoking of the tires; the swerving or swaying of the vehicle from side to side while skidding; excessive engine noises; grinding of the gears or the backfiring of the engine of the motor vehicle or any of the wheels of the vehicle losing contact with the ground. Violators could be fined up to $500, while the penalty for negligent driving, racing and racing participation as a timekeeper is up to $1,000. Violators of these acts can also be jailed for up to 60 days — a first for local police. The Ocean City Council voted last week to adopt an emergency ordinance that will require vehicles to be towed off of an impound lot if they are deemed unsafe or not street legal. See COPS Page 2

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

IN MEMORIAM

Never forget — despite challenges presented by the novel coronavirus pandemic, members of the Red Knights Maryland Chapter 3 remained firm in their desire to commemorate last Friday the lives lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Rick Ketterman, left, holds a wreathe and leads Mike Fiazzo and Nick Lepore to the Ocean City Firefighter’s Memorial on the Boardwalk.

County to seek financial aid for residents facing eviction By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Sept. 18, 2020) Worcester County will get a second chance at funding from the state to prevent evictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The Worcester County Commissioners approved applying for $336,000 with an in-kind match of $29,549 during their meeting on Tuesday. The pandemic has caused millions of unemployment claims nationwide, which in turn caused many to struggle with housing payments. In response, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is offering $16 million to counties in Maryland Eviction Preven-

tion Partnership grants to support local rental assistance programs. The state offered the same community block development grant in July, but Worcester did not apply, since county staff were not aware of the grant. Altogether, $2.2 million was distributed to eight Maryland counties, including Wicomico and Somerset counties, in that round. According to the partnership guidelines, recipients participants’ income may not exceed 80 percent of the area’s median figure. Recipients must also prove job loss or reduced work hours due to covid-19. According to county Senior Budget Accountant Kim Reynolds, Diakonia, See COUNTY Page 2

Boardwalk e-bike views will collide at council session By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Sept. 18, 2020) The Ocean City Council may have a tricky decision to make on Monday about electric bicycles on the Boardwalk, as the bike committee and police commission will offer opposing recommendations. An ordinance that would amend the city’s traffic and vehicle code to allow class one electric bicycles on the Boardwalk was introduced last week by bike committee liaison Councilman Tony DeLuca, but failed to garner enough support. Classes two and three electric bicycles would have been banned on the See POLICE Page 3


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.