May 15, 2026

Dear Friends,

I want to thank my family, campaign volunteers and everyone who came out to vote on Tuesday in the municipal election.

Congratulations to Sean Barnes, Jim Kelly and Tony Polcini on their election to City Council, and congratulations Pete Madden, Keith Hartzell and Jocelyn Palaganas on their well-run campaigns.

Now it’s time to bring unity back to the community and to continue working on behalf of our residents and taxpayers.

The Army Corps of Engineers is currently seeking bids for a contractor to replenish our north end beaches. The specs call for adding almost a million cubic yards of sand to beaches from Seaview Road to 14th Street. Bids are due May 26, and we will provide further information on the project timeline as it becomes available. Federal and state funding will cover more than 91 percent of the cost of this work.

Reconstruction of the Boardwalk from St. Charles Place to Fifth Street and from 12th Street to 14th Street is now complete in time for the season. A $4.9 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund grant helped pay for this work. The section from 14th Street to 16th Street will be rebuilt in the fall.

Cape May County completed its elevation and repaving of Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street this week. I want to thank the county for making this important evacuation route safer and also helping to mitigate flooding in Merion Park.

New Jersey American Water replaced aging water and sewer lines in the Gardens and restored the roadways in time for the season. Battersea Road and Wesley Road received final paving. Neighborhood streets were temporarily paved, and the contractor will return in the fall for final paving.

I want to remind everyone that the new ordinance is in effect that prohibits trailers and construction vehicles from parking around playgrounds and recreation space in Ocean City.

The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority this week will complete its emergency repair to the sewer line below West Avenue at 31st Street.

The parking lot at the Ocean City Dog Park on 45th Street was paved this week. This marks the end of a major renovation at the park, and it is now open on a regular schedule. I hope our community’s pets and their owners enjoy the upgrades.

I had the pleasure of stopping by Ocean City’s new bocce courts during the weekly league play on Tuesday. This is a great addition to our recreational facilities at Fifth Street, along with our resurfaced shuffleboard courts, new outdoor fitness park, Carey Stadium, and the Civic Center. We have Special Olympics bocce on Monday evenings. That program is already going great. Call the Civic Center at 609-525-9304 for more information.  

It’s not too late to take advantage of the preseason discount on beach tags. The $5 savings on seasonal tags remains in effect through May 31, and more information on how to purchase tags is available at ocnj.us/beachtags.

Registration for summer recreation programs in Ocean City remains open and more information is available at ocnj.us/summer-recreation-programs.

Tickets are on sale now for a 2026 Ocean City Pops season that includes a wide variety of shows for every musical taste. The full schedule and ticket information is at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.

More information and ticket sales for the 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Music Pier are available at ocnj.us/SummerConcertSeries. The a cappella group Straight No Chaser will open the series on June 29, and shows ranging from Bruce Hornsby to 10,000 Maniacs continue on Monday or Tuesday nights through July and August.

A printable version of the full calendar of summer events is available here.

Michele and I want to extend deepest condolences to the Halliday family on the passing of family patriarch Albert Halliday. Arriving in Ocean City in 1966 to join his father in the local insurance business at Chattin-Halliday Insurance Co., Al became a vibrant community fixture alongside his beloved wife, Ruth. We will fondly remember him as a devoted man of faith who cherished 50 years at the First Presbyterian Church and loved nothing more than supporting his children and grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Halliday family during this difficult time.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian