Dear Friends,

We all share a love for our hometown of Ocean City. It is a truly special place to live, work and play. I’m proud of our city team and their tireless work to maintain our vast array of facilities, services and programs and to always improve our quality of life. This week, I’m launching a new feature called “Inside City Hall.” This weekly podcast will give everyone a glimpse of what’s new in Ocean City and of some of the work behind the scenes that makes it happen.

You can view the first “Inside City Hall” here, and look for future episodes at ocnj.us.

Ocean City’s innovative flood-mitigation program will be the subject of one of our next “Inside City Hall” segments, and Business Administrator George Savastano and I traveled to Atlantic City yesterday to receive the state’s annual Outstanding Floodplain Management Award. The city’s comprehensive program of ordinances, infrastructure improvements and pumping station projects was held up as a model for the rest of the state. I want to congratulate the entire city team for all of their work in achieving this honor.

City Council last evening gave final approval to a bond ordinance to fund renovations at the Sandcastle Park Recreation Complex at 34th Street. We have a $3.5 million grant from the county to help cover the costs. The plans are exceptional and include a state-of-the-art playground, a small outdoor stage for special events, a basketball court for kids with disabilities, resurfaced tennis courts, new restroom facilities, new pickleball courts and more.

Because of supply-chain issues, the playground equipment won’t arrive for five to seven months. Instead of starting the improvements in the spring and risking a closure of the playground during the summer months, we will begin this project next fall. 

Council also approved going out to bid for improved downtown street lights on Asbury Avenue. The lights will have a state-of-the-art system to time and control lighting levels. The posts will be able to accommodate our holiday decorations, and a separate low-height bollard system will be used for speakers, preventing noise from disturbing second-story residences. We plan to convert one block each year, and we’ll start at Sixth Street. We will meet with the Downtown Merchants to go over the construction plans and timeline.

The city declared a local emergency related to our eroded downtown beaches. This could be a tool to help our legislators who are fighting to fund a scheduled Army Corps beach replenishment project. We had a discussion yesterday with Congressman Van Drew’s staff and we are continuing to explore every available option. We also awarded a professional services contract to help us get the permits necessary to do some emergency work before the summer season.

The reconstruction project at the north end of the Boardwalk is well underway with demolition starting near Fourth Street. The Boardwalk remains closed from Second Street to Fifth Street. Please use caution in this area and do not go around barricades.

New Jersey American Water’s contractor for its sewer main repairs will begin work on Monday to temporarily pave Little Roosevelt Boulevard, Bartram Lane and Pembroke Lane. Final paving, weather permitting, will be before the new year.

The Ocean City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, October 25). Residents can drop off unneeded medications — those that are old, unwanted, or expired — in the lobby of the Ocean City Public Library (1735 Simpson Avenue) or the Ocean City Police Department (835 Central Avenue).

The weekend weather forecast looks good, and the Boardwalk will welcome leashed pets for our annual Dog Days and Howl-O-Ween Parade. It’s a great chance to take advantage of our beautiful fall weather. I will be outside City Hall tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for the Downtown Trick-or-Treating celebration, and I invite you to stop by and say hello and collect some treats.

Ocean City lost a number of its finest citizens in the past week, and I want to take a moment to pay tribute to each.

• Robert Goudie was a lifelong educator and beloved coach who was the founder and chair of the Ocean City Walk to Defeat ALS. He was also a leader at St. Peter’s Church.
• Michael Costello was a dedicated city team member in our Traffic Maintenance Department and the brother of city auditor Leon Costello.
• Richard Ralston was a Navy veteran, former member of our Zoning Board, and community volunteer. His late wife, Regina, was a leader of our Ecumenical Council Food Cupboard.
• William Crockford died at age 99 just eight days after his wife, Alice, passed away. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, an educator and a community volunteer.
• Robert Beakley was a local attorney, a regular at Ocean City Music Pier concerts, and an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. His son Tim is part of the city team.
• Melinda Mayne had a lifelong love for Ocean City and the Ocean City Pops. Her joy for life was infectious, and she’ll be missed by many.

Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the families and friends of these outstanding neighbors.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor