OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
OCTOBER 17, 2014
REVIEW
DALE CATHELL Judge explores and discusses his past in his book, “Wading Through the Swamp: The Memoirs of a Bad Boy” – Page 37
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Hall Ok’d to run as case fails
City water shows no legionella
Ayres straightens out council on state law regarding ‘domicile’
Tests at six locations show waterlines now clear of bacterium
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Oct. 17, 2014) Two separate hearings over the past week on the eligibility of Ocean City Council candidates had wildly different outcomes, leaving a number of unanswered questions as to what the council can and can’t do as a quasi-judicial body. While potential contender Philip Ufholz was denied his candidacy at a hearing on Oct. 9, former Councilman and political firebrand Joe Hall was ultimately confirmed in his right to run at a hearing on Oct. 14. While similar arguments against the both candidates were presented by attorney Jay Phillips, City Solicitor Guy Ayres was only available to advise the council during Hall’s hearing. Subsequently, Ayres held the council to a much stricter set of ground rules during Hall’s session than was adhered to during Ufholz’s, frequently asking Phillips to refrain from portraying things to the council that were not, in fact, supported by actual juridical definitions or case law. “I don’t, respectfully, believe that there’s a judge anywhere who would say that a person who is domiciled in the State of Maryland…can’t leave this town at any time to take care of family business in North Carolina, lest he lose See PHILLIPS Page 4
Are You Prepared for Old Man Winter?
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
HANKERING FOR FRIES After a rainy Friday and Saturday, the Ocean City Boardwalk was bustling with activity Sunday afternoon as visitors enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather. A number of people also had a craving for Thrashers fries.
Salary study nears Jurisdictions chosen against which city pay will be compared By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Oct. 17, 2014) How much of a pay cut – or increase – would a municipal executive in Raleigh, N.C. take in order to come to Ocean City? We’re about to find out. The City Council this week approved a list of comparable jurisdictions and agencies to be used in the city’s upcoming employee compensation
study, which is being done in preparation for negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police that will likely determine the direction of city salaries and benefits for the next several budgets. The study is being done under a contract with Management Advisory Group International Inc. “Your organization presents a little more of a challenge than some, because you swing from a relatively small town during part of the year to a rather large, populated urban area for the other part of the
year,” said David Lookingbill, a consultant with MAGI. “There’s a balance that you all must find as to how you structure your organization and staff your departments in order to reasonably meet needs that are wildly different form one time of the year to the other.” MAGI’s process is two-part, Lookingbill said. “The process we go through is a combination, were we first get information from the employees and their superiors about what jobs are going on See DATA Page 3
By Kara Hallissey Staff Writer (Oct. 17, 2014) Results came back negative for all six areas of the city’s water supply tested for Legionella, the bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s Disease. Each site was in the vicinity of 145th Street, the area that tested positive for the disease a few weeks ago. Officials launched the initial investigation after two visitors who had stayed at the Econo Lodge on the same street contracted Legionnaire’s Disease. It revealed the bacterium, which causes a form of pneumonia when a person inhales water vapor, steam or mist carrying it, in the motel’s water system and in a 145th Street fire hydrant. “Luckily, all six test samples came back negative,” said Jessica Walters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City. The Worcester County Department of Health is taking “safeguard measures” to increase the levels of chlorine, which will flush out the water system, Waters said. “It is important to maintain and follow all guidelines for the highest quality of water.” There is no definitive answer as to how Legionella entered Ocean City’s water supply. It is present in many water supplies, but becomes harmless after chlorination. The disease multiplies in stagnant water and infrequently See CONTAMINATION Page 3
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