Ocean City Mayor and Council Work Session - June 30, 2026

The Ocean City Mayor and City Council held a work session on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, beginning at 1:40 PM (following a closed session from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM). Mayor Rick Mann, City Manager Terry McGean, Council President Matt James, Council Secretary Will Savage, and Council Members John Garrick, Jake Metressic, Peter Buis, and Jeff Heiser were present. Councilmember Proctor was absent. The meeting covered public comments, bid openings, a beach code enforcement update, a real property acquisition discussion, an employee relationship policy, and tuition assistance increase.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Approved the work session minutes from June 9, 2026 (motion by Councilmember Bruce, second by Secretary Savage; 6-0).
• Standing Committee Reports: Acknowledged reports from Police Commission (June 8), Transportation Committee (June 9), Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (June 17), and Ethics Commission (June 8).
• Bid Opening – Eagles Landing Plant Mitigation: Five bids received, ranging from $114,241 (Ecological Restoration and Management) to $132,000 (Shortcut). Motion to acknowledge and remand to staff for review (motion by Councilmember Garrick, second by Councilmember Metressic; 6-0).
• Bid Opening – Taxiway A Relocation/Hold Pad: Two bids received: $10,337,347 (David A. Bramble) and $10,531,434 (Alan Myers). Motion to acknowledge and remand to staff (motion by Councilmember Garrick, second by an unnamed member; 6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• William Apostolou (2804 Galway, Ocean City): Expressed strong support for the proposed 100% tuition reimbursement of the first $2,000 and suggested adding a 50% match on the next $2,000 to create a $3,000 cap, stating it would make employee benefits unique and encourage upskilling.
• Mr. Medlin (60th Street): Addressed a closed-session discussion (agenda item 2A) regarding a sports complex, warning against holding companies entering youth sports (citing Perfect Game Inc.) and urged caution based on experiences in his hometown.
• George Stoll (500 South Philadelphia Avenue): Expressed strong opposition to the Chima construction project’s request to close the sidewalk for two years, arguing it was unnecessary for 24-hour closure when only needed 8 hours a day for work vehicles. He stated the closure would disrupt thousands of pedestrians and questioned the fairness of the process.

Discussion Items

• Chima Sidewalk Closure (Police Commission Report): City Manager McGean explained the construction staging policy normally prohibits sidewalk closures during summer without council and police commission approval. Contractor GGA (represented by Justin) stated the closure was needed for safety during crane and truck operations, but could potentially be limited to working hours. Council members expressed concerns about pedestrian safety, the impracticality of the detour (people would walk in the street), and potential damage to the stamped concrete sidewalk. They directed the contractor to return within a week with a revised plan that allows the sidewalk to remain open when inactive and minimizes pedestrian detours, possibly using jersey barriers to protect pedestrian lanes.
• Beach Code Enforcement Report: Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald reported that the five-week-old pilot program (started Memorial Day) has been successful. No citations have been issued; officers educate the public about tent stakes, dogs, alcohol, smoking, and other violations. Compliance has been high, and the program is well-received. He stated current staffing is sufficient for the pilot but may need evaluation for future years.
• Real Property Acquisition (205-211 Philadelphia Avenue): City Manager McGean and City Solicitor Stansbury updated that negotiations with the property owner had stalled after a verbal agreement. A letter from the mayor prompted a text from the owner’s attorney with a much higher price than the appraised value plus demolition costs. Council directed staff to continue negotiations while simultaneously preparing eminent domain proceedings (motion by Councilmember Metressic, second by Councilmember Garrick; passed 5-0, with Councilmember Buis absent). A report back is expected for the July 20 regular meeting.
• Employee Relationship Disclosure and Reporting Policy: Human Resource Director Katie Callan presented a policy requiring employees to disclose family or intimate relationships within the same department to avoid conflicts of interest. Council approved the policy as presented (motion by Secretary Savage, second by Councilmember Buis; voice vote, all in favor).
• Tuition Assistance Increase: Current program reimburses 50% of tuition up to $2,000 annually. A proposal to increase to 100% of the first $2,000 was amended to 100% of the first $3,000 per year (motion by Councilmember Metressic, second by Councilmember Heiser; passed unanimously 6-0). The change aims to encourage more employee participation (only 11 employees used the program in five years).

Key Outcomes

• Chima Sidewalk Closure: Contractor to submit a revised traffic plan within one week for council consideration.
• Real Property Acquisition: Staff authorized to negotiate and prepare for eminent domain; update expected by July 20.
• Employee Relationship Policy: Approved and will be communicated to all staff.
• Tuition Assistance: Increased to 100% reimbursement of first $3,000 per year per employee, effective immediately.
• Meeting Adjourned: 2:46 PM.