Ocean City Council news in brief, edition of Jan. 16, 2013

Last Updated on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 05:04 pm Written by Claire Lowe Saturday, January 12, 2013 12:42 pm

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Council discussed the following items when it met Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Ocean City Free Public Library.

Office and bank zone elimination ordinance tabled

Council tabled a public hearing and final vote on an ordinance to eliminate the office and bank zone and expand permitted and conditional uses in the drive in business zone. As the city rezones certain areas of the downtown to drive-in business zone, ordinance 12-20 contains an expansion of permitted and conditional uses in the drive-in business zone to accommodate any of the absorbed lots.

City attorney Dottie McCrosson said that when the ordinance was sent to the planning board for a consistency review, changes to how properties were rezoned were suggested.

Due to the changes, the ordinance must be re-advertised and the final vote postponed.

Ordinance 12-20 was first introduced at the Nov. 29 council meeting.

The public hearing and final vote is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Eagle Scouts honored

Three Eagle Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 32 of Ocean City, Keith Kemenosh, Evan Sheridan and Joseph Tordella, were honored with a resolution by council. All three received this highest rank in 2012.

City goes out to bid for bulkhead replacement

Council authorized the city to go out to bid for a bulkhead replacement at Marcus Harbor, 16th Street and Battersea Road, and, as alternate bids, Tonga Harbor, Cove Walk and 45 Walton Place.

Dredging not complete, to resume in spring

City administrator Mike Dattilo said that the back bay dredge project has ended for the season, but is not complete.

“We, unfortunately, did not finish the project,” he said.

The dredging in the bay was to go from 16th Street to Waterway Road. Council awarded the $1.8 million dredge contract to Hydro-Marine Construction Company, Inc. of Hainesport at its May 3, 2012 meeting. 

Dattilo said the city tried very hard to obtain permit extensions, but they were not approved. He cited problems with readying the dredge spoils disposal site, Site 83, near the 34th Street bridge, as the biggest delay in the project.

“After they got going, there were some ups and downs and, particularly at the back end, some mechanical break downs,” Dattilo said.

He said the storm was not a major factor in any delays.

Hyrdo-Marine is required by contract to come back in the spring to finish the project at no cost to the city.

“Well get them back here and get it done as early as possible in the spring,” Dattilo said.

Emergency contracts approved

Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring an emergency and awarding a $1.1 million contract to Byrd Brothers Emergency Service, LLC of Wilson, N.C. for clearing debris from roads and public property after Hurricane Sandy. This was part of a $3.6 million emergency appropriation approved by council in December.

A second resolution was also approved declaring an emergency related to Hurricane Sandy. The resolution awarded a $321,000 contract to Broadley’s Mechanical Contracting, Inc. of Somers Point for plumbing and heating work related to the repair and restoration of Peck’s Beach Village.

Councilman Tony Wilson recused himself from the vote. Wilson owns a heating and plumbing business in the city and worked closely on the project, he said.

The following consent agenda items were approved

A resolution authorizing the award of city contract 12-64, underground storage tank upgrades and site remediation at various locations, to Luzon, Inc. of Sewell at $305,850.

A resolution deferring school tax in the amount of $12,136,292 for 2013.

A resolution consenting to the mayor’s appointment of Chuck Bangle and Frank Shoemaker as members to the tourism development commission.