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DECEMBER 10, 2021
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Ocean City Comic Con makes its return this Saturday to the convention center – Page 26
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Sports complex study put online by state Council critic Gisriel asks why release of report came months after its completion By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Dec. 10, 2021) City Council members were at a loss of words Monday
when a long-time council critic brought to their attention that the Maryland Stadium Authority posted the Ocean City sports complex study to its website nearly a week earlier, raising questions about how it could have been posted without their endorsement. Ocean City resident Vince Gisriel,
who often questions approved spending by city officials, told the council the feasibility study for a sports complex in the resort was released to the public on Nov. 30. The study, which was conducted by Crossroads Consulting Services LLC, was completed on Jan. 31, 2020, according to a letter at the be-
ginning of the packet. MGH Advertising, the city’s ad agency, conducted a separate study in 2017 for Ocean City to understand visitor habits, preferences, and perceptions – like a recent study paid for by the city and presented in November. See GISRIEL Page 8
Tourism dept. room tax plan gets 1st vote Opponents want to know how extra money would be spent
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
JOLLY JUMPER
Jon Cameron was spot on as “Buddy the Elf” as he hops along Coastal Highway next to the Telescope Pictures float during the 38th annual Ocean City Christmas Parade last Saturday. Parade winners on page 34.
County’s ICE detainee money nears end By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Dec. 10, 2021) Worcester County’s days of housing federal immigration detainees are officially numbered. In an anticipated move during a
special session of the General Assembly this week, members of the Democrat-heavy legislature voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of a bill that imposes a solid end date to the state’s participation in a federal program that provides funding to the
county to house people detained on immigration matters. House Bill 16 requires the two counties — Worcester and Frederick — that still hold contracts with the U.S. Immigration and Customs EnSee LEGISLATURE Page 6
By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Dec. 10, 2021) A draft ordinance that increases the Ocean City Tourism Department’s advertising by two-tenths of a percent over the next three years was presented to City Council members on Monday, and while the first reading was approved, it was not unanimous. Over the past few months, the department has seen several modifications, including the introduction of a new director, Tom Perlozzo, and the approval of several new positions under him as well as the realignment of a few departments, such as special events. Perlozzo’s plan includes an aggressive approach to changing people’s perception of the resort while targeting many different demographics – some who like Ocean City already and others, like Generation Xers and millennials who may not. But one other initiative by the director is to increase his department’s budget. On Nov. 30, three options for increasing the tourism department’s budget were presented to council See TAX Page 4
