Mayor

March 28, 2025 

Dear Friends, 

At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Finance Director Frank Donato made a presentation outlining details of anticipated revenues and expenses in the 2025 municipal budget. For anybody interested in learning more about the proposed budget, the presentation slides are available here, and video of the presentation is here.  

City Council is expected to “introduce” the budget on April 10 and make potential revisions before a final public hearing and vote on adoption on May 8. 

The intersection of 9th Street and West Avenue will be closed starting at 7 a.m. Monday, March 31. The intersection will remain closed overnight and reopen by 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. Detours will be in place during this time period, but access to all businesses in the area will be preserved. 

The closure will allow the contractor to raise manholes and begin base paving. The work is part of a project to elevate, improve drainage and repave West Avenue from 9th Street to 18th Street. When the entire job is complete before Memorial Day, West Avenue will be completely rebuilt and repaved from North Street to 34th Street.  

Final paving is underway for the second phase of our flood mitigation work in Merion Park. Crews are currently working on the streets near the Little League field at 35th Street.  

Two of the project's four pumping stations are now operational. The other two will be online by April 10. Once all pumping stations activated, residents will see the full benefits of the project. 

Two separate projects in Merion Park are ongoing. The water company continues its water and sewer line upgrades and are currently working on Oxford Lane. This project will be complete by Memorial Day. Cape May County is tentatively expected to begin work to elevate and repave Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street after the summer. 

Final paving of several roadways between 18th Street and 33rd Street began on Monday. This work is expected to be complete by the end of April.  

Work is underway on two projects that will cover more than 40 blocks of roads and alleys. The contractor is finishing about 1 alley a day. The list of locations is available at ocnj.us/projects. Whatever work isn't finished by Memorial Day will be completed after Labor Day. 

We are planning a neighborhood meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at the American Legion Post 524 at 46th Street and West Avenue to discuss modified plans for the Crook Horn Creek Nature Trail off 52nd Street. We have an opportunity to use grant funding for small-scale improvements to the existing trail at the same grade and within the same footprint. 

Our Police Department announced a new program yesterday to help police identify the characteristics and behaviors of persons with autism. Police will help distribute blue envelopes that can be kept in the vehicles of persons with autism. If stopped by police, drivers could present an envelope to officers to better inform them of autism characteristics and help them communicate effectively during the stop.  

Steffen Klenk, a 2011 Ocean City High School graduate and local news writer/photographer, had approached Community Policing Sgt. Chris Vivarelli with the idea, which is modeled after similar programs in other communities. It was developed in partnership with the Ocean City Free Public Library.  

“I want to thank our police department and library for putting this program together, and most of all, I want to thank Steffen,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Anything we can do to become more aware of the special needs of our residents and guests will make Ocean City even more welcoming.” 

Anybody interested in picking up a free blue envelope can stop by the front desk of the Ocean City Police Department at 835 Central Avenue. 

I’m sad to report on the passing of my uncle, Robert Tribit. Bob was raised in Ocean City and served 21 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He received many honors during his career, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal, among others. Like all his fellow veterans, he was proud to serve our country. Please join me and Michele in paying tribute to him and in extending condolences to his family and friends.  

Warm regards, 

Jay A. Gillian 
Mayor