November 6, 2026

Dear Friends,

The N.J. Department of Transportation has provided a tentative schedule for repairs to the bridge lights. The work is expected to begin Monday and include single-lane closures in both directions.

There will be no lane closures during Thanksgiving Week, and all work is expected to be done before Christmas. I want people to be aware of this, because Roosevelt Boulevard is also down to one inbound lane.

Atlantic City Electric is continuing its work to upgrade underground cables at the intersection of 34th Street and Bay Avenue. This work is part of a $4 million investment in ensuring reliability and preventing power outages in Merion Park and many other neighborhoods in the area.

Here are updates to other improvement projects in town:

• We had a preconstruction meeting for the Leon and Elizabeth Grisbaum Airport Terminal project, and we expect the contractor to begin driving pilings by the end of the month.

• Reconstruction of Sandcastle Park continues to make great progress. All of the playground equipment foundations and the posts for shade sails are in place. The playground equipment is on site ready to be installed.  The base course for all tennis, pickleball and basketball courts is complete. The office and restroom building foundation is complete.

• The water company is continuing its sewer system improvements in the Gardens. They started this week to install a new sewer main in the alley for West Inlet Road and West Seaspray Road.  Next week, they will continue work in the alley for West Seabright and West Seaspray. This work will be complete by Christmas with final paving in the spring after the trenches settle.

• The contractor for our neighborhood flood mitigation project from 19th Street to 26th Street expects to begin early next week with the drilling of test pits.

• All pilings and girders for our 14th Street to 16th Street boardwalk reconstruction project are in place, and the contractor will begin installing joists on Monday. Lumber for the decking is on site, and the project remains on track to be done before the end of the year.

• The contractor for demolition of the police building on Central Avenue anticipates starting mid-morning on Monday (Nov 9).

I want to remind everyone that the city provides a service that allows residents to drop off trash and recycling at the Shelter Road Recycling Center off Tennessee Avenue on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Trail of Two Cities 5K race is Saturday morning, and the inbound lanes of the Route 52 causeway will be closed from about 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. If you’re driving into town at that time, please use one of the other bridges.

I want to remind all council members and residents to come out for our Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 11. It will be held inside the Ocean City Tabernacle like it has for the past several years.

The Chamber is getting ready for its sixth annual Winterfest. The event takes place at the Civic Center on Saturday, November 14.

You can get more information on all city events on the city website.

I’d like to take a moment to pay tribute to three of Ocean City’s finest citizens, whom we lost this week.

I knew Patricia Crowley from her work with Shore Medical Center, where she volunteered with the Auxiliary, the Gift Shop and Thrift Shop. She was a faithful member of St. Damien Parish in Ocean City, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan, and Catechist. She was also a member of the Ocean City Ecumenical Council and a volunteer at the Food Cupboard and Clothes Closet.

Dexter Faunce passed at age 90. He was a graduate of Ocean City High School and Dartmouth College, an Army veteran, and the founder of the former Sandpiper Realty and Faunce Enterprises in town. He was a faithful member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church and was also loyal to his golf game, including at Ocean City Municipal Golf Course’s Brambley League. I graduated with his daughter-in-law Sharon.

Suzanne Barr spent most of her life in Ocean City, and she had friends throughout the community. Her son Bobby is our former council president and current county commissioner.

Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the family and friends of Pat, Mr. Faunce and Suzanne.

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After talking about the Wonderland carousel at a recent Council meeting, I walked back into my office, where I have a replica of one of the horses. The memories started coming back … of all the time I’ve spent running and working on that ride, and, of course, of being the ring boy.

Because it could cost taxpayers so much, it had seemed selfish to consider having the city be involved in preserving it. But I began to think that it’s always best to gather the facts first.

I reached out to Mr. Mita to ask him if that was OK. I want to remind everybody that he owns the ride. I think we can all agree that the most important thing is to save the carousel, no matter where it lands.

The administration has started looking at options on how to keep the carousel in Ocean City. 

There are opportunities we are looking into for potential grants, through the New Jersey Historic Trust and Green Acres. 

To do this, we need to be responsible, so we are getting estimates to see what may be possible. 

We’ve also started reaching out to other municipalities that have done this to see the best way to approach it. 

I’ve reached out to the president of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, who has put me in touch with an expert in this field. He will be coming to evaluate the ride and give us a report. I also talked to the National Carousel Association and received the letter they sent to Helen from Save Wonderland.

I will give an update as soon as we have more information.

I want to remind everyone that the city went through this process with the Life Saving Station when I first became mayor.

Lots of people had good intentions about saving this important piece of history on their own.

But the city had to step in, gather the facts, secure and match the grants, and get the job done right. Thank God we did. Because this historical treasure will be with us forever.

I want to thank this Council, past Councils, John Loeper and his team of volunteers for helping us save that historic building, along with outfitting the facility with all the historic artifacts that truly bring the past to life.

We have been through this process before, and we will start by doing the research. As always, our objective is to do the right thing for our community – by respecting our history, listening to our citizens, and being fiscally responsible. I ask everyone to be patient as we move forward.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor

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Welcome to The City of Ocean City, New Jersey!

Ocean City is a town rich in history and a deep sense of community. Families have been vacationing in Ocean City for generations and many have made Ocean City their year-round home.

Our residents enjoy award-winning schools, world-class recreation facilities and outstanding municipal services from all city departments, including Police, Fire and Rescue, and Beach Patrol. Residents participate in activities for every age and interest including the cultural arts, music and theater as well as sports and recreation programs available at our many parks, playgrounds and city facilities. One of our local treasures is the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, where families and individuals can enjoy the Ocean City Free Public Library, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City Historical Museum, Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center, and the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center under one roof.

The city also maintains and operates a municipal airport, 12-hole golf course, Aquatic and Fitness Center as well as the famed Ocean City Pops Orchestra.

Ocean City is also host to more than 200 family-friendly special events held year-round. Many of our events are popular family traditions, including the Night in Venice Boat Parade in July, the Baby Parade in August, our mile-long block parties in May and October, and our family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve Celebration.

If you are vacationing in Ocean City, I know you’ll enjoy our seven miles of beautiful beaches and exciting Boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants and amusements. And be sure to visit our unique and charming downtown shops and restaurants located in the heart of town on Asbury Avenue.

I am truly proud to serve as mayor for this great community and hope you and your family enjoy your time in America’s Greatest Family Resort.

Jay Gillian, Mayor

Phone: 609-525-9333
Email: mayor@ocnj.us