He asks citizens to wear masks, for businesses to clean up outdoor trash
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Summer officially began Saturday, June 20, and Mayor Jay Gillian is asking individuals and businesses to take personal responsibility to keep themselves safe and to keep the resort clean.
“As our seasonal population increases, I want to remind everybody of the importance of self-responsibility,” Gillian wrote on Ocean City’s website Friday. “The city is doing its best to promote awareness, to provide equipment and to enforce what we can. But ultimately it comes down to you. I want to ask everybody to do their part to protect the health and safety of the entire community. I know it can be uncomfortable and an inconvenience, but I would like to see a lot more face coverings – in crowded spaces outside and in all public spaces inside.”
The mayor said complimentary face coverings are available at Ocean City’s welcome centers, one on the Route 52 causeway, the other at 34th Street and Simpson Avenue, and at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace.
He added masks will be available at city events during the summer.
“Please make it a habit to always have one on hand and to use it,” Gillian wrote.
Although a number of communities across the state are easing restrictions on alcohol use – allowing it in public places including Boardwalks, he said that is not the case in Ocean City, which is a dry town.
“I also want to make it clear that drinking alcohol and smoking on the beach and boardwalk will not be tolerated,” Gillian wrote. “Please help us enforce these laws by reporting violations as they occur – use the non-emergency police number at 609-399-9111.”
Noting the city is working with local retailers and restaurants to do business under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the mayor made it clear some of them are not taking responsibility for the trash that has accompanied outdoor dining. (Indoor dining is still not allowed under state orders.)
“I want to remind businesses that it is their responsibility to clear all trash from the many new outdoor dining spaces,” the mayor wrote.
Dredge may begin this coming Saturday
North end beach replenishment was supposed to get under way at the beginning of this week, but it has been delayed at least until June 27.
The mayor said the dredge is being prepped and repaired in Norfolk, Va., and was being tested over the weekend.
“If all goes well, the dredge will be towed to Ocean City … and work will begin on June 27. Once the dredge arrives, we will be able to post a projected timeline and daily updates to ocnj.us/projectupdate. Anybody can follow the same link to sign up to receive updates by email,” Gillian said.
According to the mayor, the work will bring more than 1.4 million cubic yards of sand to some of the narrowest beaches on the island.
The work will start near Morningside Road, where the pipeline is coming from the “borrow area” offshore. Work will head south to 13th Street over the course of six weeks. The mayor said when that is complete, work will go north from Morningside to Seaview Road during another two weeks of road.
About two blocks of beach will be closed at a time as the replenishment project progresses.
Some of the resort’s busiest beaches from north of the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace south to near the 14th Street fishing pier will be affected.
City Council to meet in public
Ocean City Council has been conducting its meetings remotely during the pandemic, but this week, there is a budget hearing on Thursday, June 25, and interested citizens can continue to listen remotely via teleconferencing or attend the meeting in person.
The council meeting and budget hearing will be at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center within the Ocean City Community Center, 18th Street and Simpson Avenue. The larger space, the mayor said, compared to City Council chambers in City Hall, will allow for social distancing, and face coverings will be required.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.