OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
DECEMBER 16, 2016
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
OC LIGHTS DAZZLING Winterfest of Lights holiday display open daily through Jan. 1 at Northside Park – Page 41
FREE
Fire union contract issue still unresolved Mediation talks Wednesday between city, IAFF produce no acceptable alternatives
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (Dec. 16, 2016) Despite efforts of Ocean City’s legal counsel and representatives of the local firefighter/EMS union to reach an agreement on Wednesday, the impasse over the union’s contract remains unresolved. Both parties met at the convention center in Ocean City for mediation this Wednesday in attempt to reach a compromise on the City Council’s decision to end the shift schedule of 24 hours on, 72 hours off for paid firefighters. No solution was reached after a day’s worth of discussions, and meetings could carry
into the winter. “According to the town charter, the bargaining period is from December until the end of February, so there is time,” said City Solicitor Guy Ayres. “A date has not been set.” Originally, the Wednesday meeting was supposed to be the start of a threeday hearing process on the unfair labor practice complaint filed by the Chapter 4269 of the International Association of Fire Fighters back in March. Both parties agreed to use the day to potentially resolve “outstanding issues the IAFF and the mayor and City Council,” Ayres said. For the past nine months, the fire union and the council have been at an impasse over the three-year contract that included 12-hour shifts. Currently, See CONTRACT Page 5
Economic summit crowd hears marketing report MGH boss outlines spring ad campaign plans as ‘16 sales show slight increase
STEWART DOBSON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Season’s Greetings Coming in on Division Street, residents and visitors receive a holiday welcome at the arch on the Boardwalk.
By Kara Hallissey Staff Writer (Dec. 16, 2016) Despite a spring that was nearly drowned out by seemingly endless weekends of rain, business was slightly up in 2016, according to addresses delivered Wednesday at the Worcester County Economic Development Department’s “Economic Summit” at the convention center in Ocean City. Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott and Andy Malis, president of MGH, Ocean City’s marketing firm reported that the resort experienced a slight uptick in the lodging industry, based on findings of Smith Travel Research. The data research firm compiles room and visitor information for that business segment, and Ocean City uses those statistics to compare tourism
KARA HALLISSEY/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Policy advisor Anirban Basu delivers main address. See story on page 3.
trends with resorts on the Jersey Shore, in Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia. “These numbers say there is a demand and people are willing to pay See EARLY Page 5