Ocean City Mayor and Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2025
Ocean City Mayor and Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2025
The Ocean City Mayor and City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 18, 2025, beginning at 6:05 PM after a closed session from 5:45 PM. The meeting included board appointments, approval of ordinances and resolutions, reports from the police commission on scooter enforcement, and public comments on safety and community issues. The council also received updates on an approaching tropical storm and a reduction in lifeguard staffing.
Consent Calendar
- Approved consent agenda (7-0) including: minutes from the August 12, 2025 work session; acknowledgement of Tourism Commission (August 11) and Transportation Committee (August 12) reports; acknowledgement of draft agendas for Pension Committee (August 20) and Motor Event Task Force (September 3); and a private event approval request for the Red Knights Parade of Brothers Boardwalk Ride on September 11, 2025.
Standing Committee Report with Recommendation
- Police Commission recommendation to close Wicomico Street on November 8, 2025, for a Special Olympics fundraiser was approved (7-0).
- Councilmember Savage reported that the police commission discussed widespread noncompliance by scooter and bicycle riders (running red lights, wrong-way riding, lack of lights). The chief indicated a grant will fund increased enforcement. A recommendation was made to direct staff and the city solicitor to explore potential law changes, to be discussed at the August 26 work session. The mayor noted that a state law taking effect October 1 will allow bicycles and scooters on sidewalks unless municipalities opt out.
Appointments
- Tony Buda was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission (7-0) to replace Mike Quaid. Buda, a Kane Woods resident and secretary of the Kane Woods Association, was sworn in immediately to attend training the following night.
City Solicitor Items – Ordinances and Resolutions
- Second Reading – Ordinance 2025-19 (Fire Prevention and Protection code cleanup; revise fire marshal salary language): Adopted (7-0).
- First Reading – Ordinance 2025-20 (FY25 Budget Amendment #2): Approved (7-0).
- First Reading – Ordinance 2025-21 (Fire Prevention and Protection to align with Maryland State Fire Code NFPA1 and 101): Approved (7-0).
- First Reading – Ordinance 2025-22 (Beach Photographers Franchise amendment): Approved (7-0).
- First Reading – Ordinance 2025-23 (Mutual aid agreement with Worcester County Commissioners and Sheriff’s Office): Approved (7-0).
- First Reading – Ordinance 2025-24 (Master mutual aid agreement with all Worcester County law enforcement agencies): Approved (7-0). The city solicitor explained that 2025-23 covers town-owned properties outside town limits, while 2025-24 is a broader cooperative agreement signed by all agencies.
- Resolution 2025-18 (Authorize disposition of surplus personal property): Adopted (7-0).
- Resolution 2025-19 (Establish times for bicycles, Class 1 e-bikes, pushcarts, and EPAMDs on the Boardwalk – midnight to noon from Memorial Day Saturday through Labor Day): Adopted as amended to include skateboards (7-0, with Mayor Meehan opposed). Mayor Meehan expressed concern about enforcement and pedestrian safety, noting the boardwalk remains crowded after midnight.
- Resolution 2025-20 (Declare intent to reimburse expenditures up to $2,130,000 for the 14th Street water treatment plant emergency generator and Service Center renovations with future debt proceeds): Adopted (7-0).
- Traffic Regulation 2025-01 (Grant White Marlin Open use of 30 feet of parking on Jacqueline Avenue between 14th and 15th streets, correcting dates and extending approval through 2030): Adopted (7-0).
Public Comments
- Scott Chismar (2 Ton Worcester Street) applauded the council’s focus on scooter safety and described a successful multi-agency rescue of a swimmer in distress on August 2, calling it a testament to Ocean City’s emergency services. He urged continued efforts to address homelessness, citing a person living behind a Coke machine on South Division Street, and raised concern about a restaurant (Oyster and Scales) closing public access to a bayfront area, warning of precedent for others. He also praised the Beach Heroes trash cleanup event.
- Gene Cagle (113th Street) criticized enforcement of bicycle and scooter laws, noting only 96 citations may have been issued since May (one per day). He urged police to issue more tickets, especially for running red lights and riding under the influence, stating education alone is not working.
- Martin Branigan (119 Old Landing Road) requested a large-print layout or email map of the 94th Street project to share at an upcoming owners’ meeting.
City Manager Comments
- Work Session Preview (August 26, 2025): Will include a closed session for legal matters, discussion of Maryland law allowing bicycles on sidewalks and potential scooter regulation, second quarter internal audit report, and FY 2026 annual audit plan.
- Weather Update: A fast-moving tropical system expected Wednesday morning through Thursday morning (August 20-21). Wave heights of 10–15 feet, severe rip currents, minor storm surge, potential flooding in low-lying downtown areas. Precautions: removal of trash cans, closure of seawall gates, cancellation of fireworks (due to wind) and likely rescheduling of movies on the beach. Jeepfest expected to proceed with boardwalk route modification. The beach will be closed to swimming if conditions warrant.
- Lifeguard Staffing: 30% of lifeguards have left due to college start dates; stands reduced to 60–65 this week (10 AM–5 PM). Quad patrols maintained 8 AM–8 PM. Public urged to follow lifeguard instructions and not swim in closed areas.
- Oyster & Scales Access: The city manager clarified that the area in question is private property; no public easement exists, so the town has limited ability to intervene.
Mayor & Council Comments
- Mayor Meehan echoed the storm safety message, noting the storm is fast-moving and unlikely to cause severe bay flooding, but warned against swimming. He also addressed a pro-wind website (saveoceancity.net) and a billboard claiming turbines are “affordable and reliable,” stating the council and county commissioners unanimously and publicly opposed the wind projects, and all expenditures were approved in open meetings with public support. He called the website misleading.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:53 PM.
Key Outcomes
- Board Appointment: Tony Buda appointed to Planning and Zoning Commission (7-0).
- Ordinances: 2025-19 adopted; 2025-20, 2025-21, 2025-22, 2025-23, 2025-24 approved on first reading (all 7-0).
- Resolutions: 2025-18, 2025-19 (as amended to include skateboards), 2025-20 adopted; Traffic Regulation 2025-01 adopted (all 7-0, except 2025-19 with one opposed).
- Police Commission Recommendation: Approved closure of Wicomico Street for Special Olympics fundraiser (7-0).
- Future Action: Staff and solicitor directed to develop recommendations on scooter/bike enforcement and potential sidewalk ordinances, to be discussed at the August 26 work session.
Meeting Transcript
That's what they say. Was that it's like grass? Aaron Grass growth. What are we supposed to do? Just reply to everybody. We just can't have people responding back and forth on that. And I said, All right, good evening, everyone. Welcome to this uh council meeting scheduled for Monday, August 18th, 2025. First on the agenda, we have a closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline to motion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction, or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals. This is for a board candidate interview. Secretary DeLuca. Motion to go to closed. Thank you. Councilmember Yates. I will second, sir. I've got a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. All right. We've got six in favor with Councilmember Garrett Gabson at the absent at the time of the vote. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to this regular council meeting scheduled for Monday, August 18th, 2025, just after 6 p.m. Turn the meeting over to Secretary DeLuca for the prayer and the pledge. Lord, we are meeting today to provide personal caring municipal services and to serve as a responsive host to our guests and residents. Please guide our hearts and our minds in the spirit of fairness, right thought, and speech. Impart your supreme wisdom upon our activities so that our decisions may reach a successful conclusion. Thank you for being our source of guidance today. Amen. Thank you, Secretary De Luca. Next we have our closed session notice and report. Part of the open session of the mayor and city council being held Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 6 p.m. There was a closed session today here at City Hall beginning at 5 45 p.m. Topics of discussion or personnel matters. Persons present were Mayor Rick Meehan, City Manager Terry McGean, Deputy City Manager J.R. Harmon, Council President Matt James, Council Secretary Tony DeLuca, Council Members Will Savage, Larry Yates, John Gehrig, Jake Metressic, and Carol Proctor, City Clerk Diana Chavis, City Solicitor Heather Stansbury, and we had a planning and zoning commission candidates. With seven in favor at 6 05 p.m. Next we have uh a board appointment. I'll turn the meeting over to the mayor for the planning and zoning commission. Buddha, if you'd like to come on off. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh we have had a uh individual resign from the planning and zoning commission, Mike Quaid, uh served there for a few years. Uh he's pursuing other interests and family interests, and asked that uh we would replace him on planning and zoning. And Mike was a tremendous asset to the planning and zoning commission. Uh and he will certainly be missed. But for fortunately, we do have individuals that are interested in that position. And uh I brought in Tony Buda to be interviewed by the mayor and council uh prior to this meeting. He previously sat down with uh JR, the deputy uh city manager and myself to talk about board appointments. Tony's also a resident of Kane Woods, so we're replacing one Kane Wood resident. Um he's active in the community, he's a uh the secretary of the Kane Woods Association.
openpublica.com