Ocean City Mayor and Council Work Session – March 24, 2026
Ocean City Mayor and Council Work Session – March 24, 2026
The Ocean City Mayor and City Council held a work session on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM. The meeting included a retirement recognition, public comment, and several new business items including a bid opening, candidate confirmation for a special election, updates from the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), a financial health report, revisions to outdoor display ordinances, a zoning map update, and discussion of cannabis advertising policies. The meeting adjourned at 2:36 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the Regular Meeting #5 on March 16, 2026 were approved unanimously (5-0).
- Bids for the 65th Street Service Center Renovations were opened. Five bids were received: Harvey Construction ($1,886,879), Apex ($1,285,650), Harkins Contracting ($1,718,500), Infinity ($1,579,954), and a fifth unnamed contractor ($1,537,129). The Council unanimously voted to remand the bids to staff for further review (5-0).
- Council candidates for the April 21, 2026 special election were confirmed: Peter Buis and Jeff Heiser were each approved on separate motions (5-0 each). The election will be held at the Dockside Hall at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, polls open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke.
Discussion Items
Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) Biannual Update – District Engineer Mark Crampton presented updates on several projects. Key items included: repairs to median fence at 56th Street (completed), stormwater catch basin repairs along northbound Coastal Highway (scheduled before Memorial Day), LED bridge light replacements on Routes 50 and 90, Route 90 bridge pavement repairs (delayed until after joint repairs), tree replacement at 120th Street (pursuing a quick replacement), Route 90 planning (next phase starting July 1, 2026 with NEPA expected to take two years), Route 50 bridge bolt replacement completed with painting scheduled for next winter, MOU signed for Baltimore Ave to 9th Street cost-sharing, and a tabletop intersection study underway. A controversial vulnerable road user pilot project between 17th and 26th Streets was discussed. The pilot would have buses stop in the right travel lane, requiring pedestrians to cross a bike/scooter lane to board. Multiple council members expressed strong safety concerns. Councilmember Yates (50 years law enforcement) called it "an accident waiting to happen." Council Secretary Savage noted it creates a new class of vulnerable users. Councilmember Proctor and others agreed. A motion to send a letter of opposition to SHA passed 5-0. Additionally, a proposed unmarked crosswalk at the north side of 5th Street (Baltimore Ave) was discussed, stemming from a fatal pedestrian crash. Council opposed adding a crosswalk only at that location without doing it citywide. A second motion to send a letter of opposition passed 5-0.
Report on the Financial Health of the Town – Pam Kelly of First Tryon Advisors presented. The town maintains credit ratings of AA1 (Moody's), AA+ (S&P), and AA (Fitch). Strengths include strong financial performance and reserves; challenges include tourism-dependent economy and small permanent population. As of FY24, the town's available general fund balance was $29.8 million (28% of expenditures), well above the 17% target. Outstanding bonded debt is $155 million. Debt as a percentage of assessed value is 0.4% (target 3%), and debt service as a percentage of expenditures is 6.5% (target 8%). The town is well-positioned for future capital projects. The report also included a market update indicating interest rates are expected to hold steady.
Discussion of Outdoor Displays – Planning Director George Bendler reviewed enforcement results from the previous year: 103 violations and 43 citations. Proposed ordinance changes aim to streamline permits (removing OCDC from the approval process), prohibit feather flags (definition to be tightened), restrict displays from encroaching on adjacent businesses, require all displays to be brought inside at night, and allow menu boards for restaurants (up to 9 sq ft). In exchange for removing feather flags, fence signs of up to 50 sq ft would be permitted for restaurants. The council discussed the definition of feather flags, noting a potential loophole for teardrop-shaped flags. A motion to approve the first reading of the ordinance, with an amendment to refine the feather flag definition, passed 5-0.
Planning Commission Recommendation for Zoning Map Update – Two zoning map changes were presented. The first was a previously approved rezoning of the Phillips Plaza property at 21st Street from R3 to LC1. The second was a unique conditional rezoning at 9105 Coastal Highway (former Calvin B. Taylor Bank) that reverted to R1 single-family residential after the bank was demolished. The Planning Commission's annual report was also summarized. A motion to acknowledge the report and forward the zoning map amendments to a regular session for a resolution passed 5-0.
Discussion of Advertising and Sponsorship Policies for Cannabis Products – City Manager Terry McGean explained that the town has historically prohibited cannabis advertising on city property. A promoter for the Rock & Ride event (formerly Bike Fest) requested permission to advertise a West Ocean City dispensary named Positive Energy. The council discussed following the same guidelines as alcohol advertising: allowed only at over‑21 events, no promotion of consumption, and compliance with state law. A motion to allow cannabis advertising and sponsorship for over‑21 special events under those conditions passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of minutes from March 16, 2026 (5-0).
- Bids for 65th Street Service Center Renovations remanded to staff (5-0).
- Peter Buis and Jeff Heiser confirmed as candidates for the April 21 special election (5-0 each).
- Letters of opposition to SHA regarding the vulnerable road user pilot project (17th–26th St) and the proposed 5th Street crosswalk were approved (5-0 each).
- First reading of the outdoor display ordinance approved, with direction to tighten the feather flag definition (5-0).
- Zoning map update and annual planning report forwarded to regular session (5-0).
- Cannabis advertising policy approved for over‑21 special events, modeled on alcohol rules (5-0).
- Retirement recognition of Finance Director Chuck Bireley for 10 years of service was celebrated.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to this work session. Today is Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, just after 1 p.m. First on the agenda, we have our notice and report of our closed session. Prior to the mayor and city council's open session being held at 1 p.m. on March 24th, 2026, a closed session was held beginning at 12 noon here at City Hall. Topics of discussion were legal matters. Persons present, City Manager Terry McGeon, Deputy City Manager J.R. Harmon, Council President Matt James, Council Secretary Will Savage, Councilmembers Larry Yates, Jake Metressic, and Carol Proctor, City Clerk Diana Chavez, City Solicitor Heather Stansbury. There was no action taken. We had a motion from Councilmember Proctor, seconded by Secretary Savage to close the closed session. That passed with five in favor at 1252 p.m. Next on the agenda we have a retirement recognition for our finance director, Chuck Byrley for 10 years of service. Terry. Matt, can I, Council President, can I ask you to read the proclamation? Well, Chuck, congratulations. We have a proclamation here in appreciation of Chuck Byerley's 10 years of service. And I'll go ahead and read this into the record. Whereas Chuck Byerley has dedicated 10 years of service to the town of Ocean City, and whereas Chuck joined the town in 2015 as assistant finance director, bringing with him a wealth of financial expertise and a strong commitment to public service. Whereas, through his professionalism, leadership, and dedication to fiscal responsibility, Chuck was promoted to finance director in 2018, where he played a vital role in guiding the town's financial operations. And whereas, during his 10 years of service, Chuck played an important role in maintaining balanced budgets and strong bond ratings for the town of Ocean City, reflecting his commitment to sound fiscal management and the responsible stewardship of public funds. Whereas, under Chuck's financial leadership, the town consistently received certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the government finance officers association. A prestigious recognition that highlights the town's commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in financial reporting. And whereas, upon his retirement, the town of Ocean City wishes to express its sincere gratitude for Chuck's many years of exemplary service and to extend best wishes for a well-earned retirement filled with health, happiness, and continued success. Now, therefore, I Matthew James, the City Council President of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, along with the Ocean City Council, do hereby recognize and congratulate Chuck upon his retirement and extend sincere gratitude for his 10 years of dedicated service. I've got a few words to say. Since Chuck hasn't been here for 50 years, it won't be quite as long as Hal's. Every single annual audit that the town's been through has come back clean. I know that's not the right term, but I can't remember what the close enough. Um as mentioned, every single comprehensive annual financial report uh has received the certificate certificate of excellence during that same period. Moody's has increased our bond rating, our fund balance has increased, and our tax rate has decreased. In a few minutes, we're gonna uh see a report on the financial health of the city, and the results of that report are a true testament to the excellent job that Chuck has done as our finance director. On a more selfish note, um Chuck's department also oversees billing and collections, so everybody who pays their water bill, their pays their business license, uh their rental license uh that goes through Chuck's department. Um as you can imagine, sometimes people are aren't exactly happy to pay their water bill or their license fees and can be very vocal about it. But I will tell you in the five years that I've been city manager, I have never received not one, not a single complaint from anyone about how they were treated uh during that process, and I think that also says a lot about how Chuck manages uh the department. Um most importantly, Chuck's department also makes sure everyone gets paid. And during Chuck's tenure as finance director, we have never missed a paycheck. And Chuck, if anything deserves a key to the city, it is that so seriously, on behalf of all the staff and me personally, thank you for everything. Um enjoy a very well earned retirement. Sean's here, you've got big shoes to fill. Um, but I know he's he's capable and ready to step up. So Chuck. Okay. Council. Finance? Chuck speed mayor take the picture. Believe me, this will be very brief. So no issue there. Um let me thank the mayor and council for the proclamation and also for your support over the years. Harry, since you became the city manager, you could not have been any more supportive to me.
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