It would replace the outdated scoreboard and be used for multiple events
OCEAN CITY — Mayor Jay Gillian’s administration wants to get a big jump on one specific capital project for next year, a project that may be the most visible — a roughly $2 million high-tech scoreboard at Carey Stadium with screens that face the stadium and another facing the boardwalk.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, Business Administrator George Savastano said the administration would present its five-year capital plan Nov. 17. One of the most urgent projects is a new public safety building, but he asked council for special consideration now for something else — the scoreboard at Carey Stadium.
Savastano said the planning and due diligence is being done so council can formally adopt a capital plan by the end of the calendar year. He said they have been looking at past iterations and proposals to replace the aging and outdated police station on Central Avenue and the administration will be providing an update on that project with a solution to be advanced next year.
One specific item they want to expedite, however, is the scoreboard at the stadium between Ocean City High School and the boardwalk. The scoreboard, he said, has reached the end of its useful life.
That is an understatement. There have been consistent problems with the scoreboard, with all or parts of it not working during sporting events in recent years. That included as recently as Friday evening’s football game between the OCHS Red Raiders and visiting Hammonton Blue Devils.
Savastano said they want government to work slightly quicker than normal to get a funding ordinance in place by the next council meeting so they can have a scoreboard in the works for next season to complement the bleacher project at the stadium.
The administration is proposing a digital LED scoreboard that can be used for a multitude of events, including high school, youth sports, the Nor’easters soccer team, outside sporting events and non-sporting events such as graduations, concerts or even movie nights or Philadelphia Phillies watch parties, Savastano said.
The new high-tech scoreboard would have screens facing the stadium for those spectators there and another facing the boardwalk.
“This is a substantial project and investment,” Savastano said, “on the order of $2 million. The good news is there is an excellent opportunity to benefit from advertising revenue to help pay this off in under 10 years.”
He said he wanted to bring it up to council now so they could have the chance to discuss it before advancing a funding ordinance.
Council members met the news with a mixture of support and a few concerns.
Councilman Terry Crowley Jr. said he is a big fan of this type of project and noted Ocean City has the nicest athletic field in New Jersey.
“Where else do you get to play on a turf field by the beach?”
He said the other amenities should match. Crowley added he was glad to see the city looking at projects like this.
Councilman John “Tony” Polcini said he didn’t see a downside and that the project would be good for the community’s children and a bonus for the city.
Council Vice President Karen Bergman agreed, seeing it as a way to attract people to Ocean City, especially in the off-season, and noted how they are having more tournaments at the stadium that bring people to the resort. “I don’t see a downside,” she said.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Council President Pete Madden added.
Councilman Tom Rotondi said he has questions about who would run the scoreboard, who would see ads and that things such as a Phillies watch party would require special licensing, but that he would wait to bring those up at a future meeting with the administration.
Councilman Jody Levchuk questioned if there was a problem with the city using a big electronic sign when ordinances prevent them at businesses.
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said the ordinance applies only to commercial projects and the city would be exempt.
Later in the meeting, Levchuk said it wasn’t fair the city could do something that businesses could not, especially when the scoreboard could affect residential areas.
Boardwalk businesses do not have residential neighbors, he said, suggesting it might be time for the resort to review outdated sign ordinances. Levchuk’s family owns a number of boardwalk businesses and he represents a sizable business district on the boardwalk in his ward.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
