October 23, 2026

Dear Friends,

City Council last night approved the appointment of Matt von der Hayden to be our next business administrator. We’re extremely fortunate to have such a highly qualified leader heading up the city team.

I want to thank Council Vice President Dave Winslow for helping me with an extensive candidate search and hiring process that saved money for our taxpayers.

Matt was our capital planning manager from 2014 to 2017, and everyone on the city team who worked with Matt can attest that he was extremely hard-working and successful in so many areas. From there, he went on to gain more experience as deputy administrator in Egg Harbor Township, then as administrator in Stafford Township.

You can read more about Matt’s experience here.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating George Savastano on his upcoming retirement and in thanking him for his undying commitment to making Ocean City an even better place to live.

Matt will begin serving in his new role on November 23.

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At last night’s meeting, City Council also approved a contract for construction of the Leon and Elizabeth Grisbaum Airport Terminal.

The new building will include an airport operations center and golf pro shop, as well as locker rooms, lobby, pilots flight-planning room, bathrooms, and offices. The top floor will include a full-service restaurant where the public can enjoy views of the runway, wetlands and bay.

The terminal building dates back to the 1960s and has reached the end of its useful life. We have a $3 million donation from Mr. Grisbaum that will help offset the costs of the $7.4 million construction contract.

We will go out to bid for a restaurant vendor once construction is further along, and this will be a source of annual revenue.

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I was honored this afternoon to accept the donation of a painting of the Ocean City Music Pier dedicated to the memory of Rosemarie and David Blyler. The Blyers did a lot to serve the community they loved, and one of Rosemarie’s wishes was to have the painting hang in one of the public spaces in Ocean City, where she once worked as a crossing guard, emergency dispatcher, and later at the Music Pier Welcome Center. The Blylers raised six children in Ocean City, and I was joined by Nina (Blyler) Perone this afternoon as she presented the artwork to the city. I want to thank the entire Blyler family for the generous donation and once again pay tribute to their mom and dad.

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Council approved the appointment of Assemblyman Antwan McClellan to the Ocean City Housing Authority. It’s great to have an advocate in the State House, and he’s always willing to give back to his hometown community.

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Demolition of the Boardwalk from 14th Street to 16th Street is expected to be complete today. All the material is in place for construction to start next week. This is the third section of the Boardwalk we’ve been able to rebuild using a $4.9 million dollar grant.

Demolition of the police station headquarters is now expected to begin on Tuesday and take about five weeks.

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I’m sad to report on the passing of two patriarchs of Ocean City after long and successful lives.

Ralph Clayton was a 1952 graduate of Ocean City High School, Korean War veteran and founder of All Season’s Marina and Clayton Construction, among other local ventures. Anthony Spadafora was another Korean War veteran who was a successful business owner before retiring to Ocean City. His legacy includes six children, 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren who remain an important part of our community.

Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the friends and family of Ralph and Anthony.

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I hope you all will join me in sending thoughts and prayers to Paul and Heather Baldini and their entire family after the sudden passing of their daughter, Mary.

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We have a full schedule of events coming up this week.

• The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk is Saturday morning on the Boardwalk.

• Volunteers for the semi-annual Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps are asked to meet at the Music Pier Saturday morning at 9.

• This weekend brings Dog Days to the Boardwalk. Leashed dogs will be allowed on the Boardwalk on Saturday and Sunday. The Howl-O-Ween Parade will start at 3 p.m. Saturday.

• The Skate Park will have its Halloween celebration at 4 p.m. Saturday.

• The Ocean City Free Public Library’s Halloween celebration is at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

• The Chamber Welcome Night is Wednesday evening.

• The annual Halloween Parade is Thursday evening.

• And trick-or-treating is 5 to 8 on Halloween night.

I also want to remind everyone that our police team will host a “Coffee With Cops” event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Ocean City Free Public Library.

Police also will sponsor “Drug Take Back Day” 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the library and at the police substation. All residents are encouraged to drop off unused prescription drugs.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor

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