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NOVEMBER 25, 2016
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
HAPPY THANKSGIVING Ocean City Today offices will be closed for the holidays and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 28.
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Whoops! About that tax check... State misfiles return money that should have gone to towns
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Winter Festival Hundreds of people walk around the second annual Light Up Downtown Winter Festival, presented by the Ocean City Downtown Association, last Saturday on the Boardwalk at the inlet. The event included a tree lighting, vendors, food, crafts and games for children, a visit from Santa and musical entertainment by One Night Stand.
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (Nov. 25, 2016) Peter Franchot, Maryland’s comptroller for the past decade, admitted last week that his office misdirected about $21.4 million worth of local income tax payments for years, and for most municipalities in Worcester, the outcome is favorable — except for Snow Hill, which ended up owing the state money. The error was initially believed to be confined to Montgomery County for $8.7 million, but another $12.7 million in misdirected funds was discovered later, according to published reports. Berlin will get the most back from the state, as Town Manager Laura Allen said she reSee BERLIN Page 5
Canyon sanctuary process will go forward Recreational fishing industry doesn’t like it one bit, while proponents say ‘don’t worry,’ restrictions won’t apply
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (Nov. 25, 2016) National Aquarium officials are proceeding with their campaign to make the Baltimore Canyon a marine sanctuary, even though roughly 20 charter boat captains, marine owners and tournament organizers argued that it could be a detriment to the local fishing industry during meeting last Friday. “We still got a fight on our hands, and we’re starting to figure out how to move forward,” said Jim Motsko, the founder and director of the White Marlin Open after the meeting at the Marlin Club in West Ocean City.
A month ago, the National Aquarium launched a petition to establish the 28-mile long underwater rift as its first Urban National Marine Sanctuary. The designation would help protect the rare deepsea coral and ecosystem in the Baltimore Canyon by restricting offshore exploration for minerals, oil and gas. Since the canyon is one of the cornerstones of Ocean City’s fishing industry and, hence, its tourism market, sports fishing advocates have been pushing back on the designation. That culminated in a two-hour forum last week. Charter boat captain Franky Pettolina, the Ocean City Marlin Club president, saw the summit as a symbol of goodwill, but thought that the marine community argued in vain. “I appreciate that they came down and had a honest conversation, but I honestly thought it was See MATHIAS Page 3