OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
OCTOBER 26, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
O.C. TOBERFEST: HOWL-O-WEEN PET PARADE
PHOTOS BY MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY
LIFESTYLE
HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES Assortment of events and parties planned over the next few days to celebrate the holiday – Page 26
FREE
Just a drill, but it won’t look like one Massive exercise will test state, local preparedness
Sgt. Louie and Ofc. Reggie of Maryland
Aspen of Ocean View, DE
Eddie the Poop Factory of Maryland
Fitz of Hampton, VA
Baseball League of Reina, PA
Arbitration question goes to voters Firefighters union follows police strategy of taking matter to referendum
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Oct. 26, 2018) Ocean City Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 4269, is presenting resort voters a ballot question referendum this November that would amend the city charter to permit binding interest arbitration if collective bargaining negotiations between the union and the city reach an impasse. IAFF President Ryan Whittington recalled that such a stalemate occurred during the most recent IAFF
4269 contact negotiations, which started in January 2016 but were not resolved until February 2017. Even then, the union was unhappy with the Ryan Whittington result. In February 2016, negations ended over the city’s plan to change shift schedules for fire/EMS personnel from the longstanding policy of working four 24hours shifts followed by 72 hours off. The city sought to implement two 10hour day shifts, followed by two 14hour night shifts, followed by four days off. After the disagreement dragged on
for more than a year, union members voted last February to ratify the collective bargaining agreement, but contended the city failed to negotiate a fair compromise. At the same time, Whittington said the fire union began collecting signatures for a petition to amend the city charter to permit binding interest arbitration if future contract negotiations reach an impasse. “Binding interest arbitration is simply a safeguard against bad decisions, that’s it,” he said. “Hopefully, the citizens vote in favor of the charter amendment.” Under this change, if the city and the union failed to reach agreement See ARBITRATION Page 66
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Oct. 26, 2018) The Maryland National Guard will join a host of state and federal allied agencies for “Operation Tourist Boom,” a two-day domestic disaster response exercise scheduled next Friday and Saturday in Ocean City. In early September, Emergency Management Planner Bob Rhode told the City Council the massive training exercise has been under development since February. “The Maryland National Guard approached us [and] said, ‘Hey OC, we would like to drill with you,’” he said. Over the last half year, Rhode said about two dozen agencies have signed on to participate in the live demonstrations and exercises planned for the inlet See DON’T Page 65
Body found in West OC creek
By Rachel Ravina Staff Writer (Oct. 26, 2018) A 49-yearold man was found floating in Herring Creek Wednesday morning, the Maryland State Police said. Police said boaters discovered the body of Ronald Jones Jr. under the Herring Creek Bridge off Route 50, then called 911 and brought the body to shore. The body was sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore for autopsy, according to police. Preliminary reports show no signs of foul play.