Boards and Commissions
Ocean City is a community that encourages the involvement of the public in a variety of commissions and boards. Over 200 volunteers give of their time to assist the City to make informed decisions. There are a number of ad-hoc committees that are formed from time to time to address specific issues or program. Listed below are those commissions and boards that are incorporated into the municipal code.
The following sections describe the purpose of each Board / Commission, membership, current members, contact information and links to agendas / minutes.
Please vist our master list of meeting dates, which include published agenda and approved minutes
Boards and Commissions
Membership: Seven (7) total members. City Council appoints five (5) members plus the mayor and one council member. Three of five members are to be recommended by the Airport Association. All three-year terms.
Members:
Michael DeVlieger, Councilman
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To protect, develop or promote use of natural resources, including water resources, located within territorial limits of the City of Ocean City.
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Conduct research into the use and possible use of open land areas of the City and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare, print, and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purpose;
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Keep an index of all open space areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshland, swamps and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such area and may from time to time recommend to the City’s Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas;
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Under certain circumstances, review applications before the Planning Board and Zoning Board and provide input and recommendations to those Boards.
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To apply for applicable state grants.
Jessica Fenton (City Liaison)
Crystal Phillips (Alternate I)
Meetings:
All meetings are held in the Cape May County Howard S. Stainton Senior Center at the Ocean City Community Center, 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey 08226 at 6:30 PM.
City Meeting Calendar
Purpose : This council develops, endorses, sponsors and provides information on community health and fitness activities to encourage wider participation in good health practices.
Membership: Up to twenty (20) members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of City Council. Appointments are for three-year terms.
Members:
Randall Clark (Co-Chairperson, 12/31/19)
Lauren Cowden (Co-Chairperson, 12/31/19)
Annmarie Chelius (12/31/20)
Beth Ann Schumacher (12/31/19)
Ian Wright (12/31/21)
Renee Hadam (12/31/21)
Donna Corcoran (12/31/21)
Kathy Ridge (12/31/21)
Kathy Quinn (12/31/21)
Lisa Montgomery (12/31/21)

a. Identify, record and maintain a system to survey and inventory all building sites, places, landmarks and structures of historical or architectural significance, based on the "Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation" and Guidelines for Identification) and to aid the public in understanding their worth, methods of preservation, techniques of gathering documentation and related matters;
b. Make recommendations to the Planning Board and City Council in the preparation and periodic updating of the Historic Preservation Element of the Master Plan;
c. Make recommendations to the Planning Board and City Council on the historic preservation implications of any plan element of the Master Plan which has been or may be adopted;
d. Recommend to the City Council sites and districts to be designated as part of the local historic district;
e. Advise the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment on development and zoning applications for properties in the local historic district;
f. Review all permit applications affecting the designated historic district and sites, and provide written reports to the Administrative Officer;
g. Provide advisory, educational, and informational services to promote historic preservation in the City;
h. Draft and recommend to City Council and the Planning Board ordinances or amendments to existing ordinances that would resolve any conflicts which may exist between the design standards of the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the building or zoning regulations of the City;
i. Advise City Council and the Planning Board on the relative merits of proposals involving public funds to restore, preserve and protect historic buildings, places and structures including the preparation of long range plans therefore, securing State, Federal and other grants and aid to assist therein and to monitor such projects once underway;
j. Advise and assist City officers, employees, Boards and other bodies including those at the County, State and Federal levels on all matters which have potential impact on the historic buildings, places,
structures and districts in the City or on the physical character and ambience of a district;
k. To cooperate with local, County, State or National historical societies, governmental bodies and organizations to maximize the contributions to the intent and purposes of historic preservation;
l. To recommend to applicable County, State and Federal agencies, where appropriate, and with City Council approval recognition of historic districts;
m. To recommend to applicable County, State and Federal agencies, where appropriate, recognition of historic buildings, landmarks, places and structures and to review National Register nominations;
n. To request the City Council to seek on its motion or otherwise injunctive relief for violations of the historic preservation provisions of the local zoning ordinate.
Membership: The commission consists of seven (7) regular members and two (2) alternates appointed by the Mayor.
Terms: Two (2), three (3) or four (4) years.
Members:
Ken Cooper - Vice Chairperson (12/31/19)
Michael Calafati, Professional, 609-884-4922
Jessica Fenton, jfenton@ocnj.us
609.399.6111, ext. 9759
Ocean City NJ 08226
Patricia Miles-Jackson (12/31/23)
Phone: 609-399-1062
Fax: 609-399-7590
Purpose: Governs and oversees the operations of the Ocean City Free Public Library in accordance with N.J.S.A 40:54-9.
Membership: Nine (9) members consisting of seven (7) local citizens plus the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools or their designees. Citizen members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of City Council.
President — Jennifer Shirk (12/31/19)
Dustin Peters (12/31/23)
Lauren Cowden (12/31/21)
School Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor
Karen Mahar
609.399-2434
Ocean City NJ 08226
609.399-2434
Ocean City NJ 08226
Membership: Four (4) members consisting of one (1) senior officer of the beach patrol, one (1) lifeguard, and two (2) Ocean City citizens. Members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council.
Terms: Four (4) years.
Members:
Frank Donato, Chairman (12/31/19)
Edward Keenan Jr. (12/31/22)
Erin Curry (12/31/21)
Membership: Three (3) members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of City Council.
Terms: One (1) or two (2) year terms.
Members:
Joyce Bakley-Trofa (12/31/19)
Susan Clark, Secretary (12/31/19)
John D. Dower, Chairman (12/31/20)
Teresa Hooks thooks@ocnj.us
609.525.9288
861 Asbury Avenue
Ocean City NJ 08226
Background: Ocean City’s Municipal Alliance Committee was established in 1990 following state legislation that created the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse along with an Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Municipal committees that formed were encouraged to involve community leaders, municipal employees, educators, clergy and other citizens. The merging of Ocean City’s and Upper Township’s committees occurred in 2004 and created the opportunity to more effectively administer the programs, especially considering that children from both communities attend Ocean City High School, and high school years are a time of elevated risk.
Terms: Appointments are for one (1) year terms.
Members:
Michael Dattilo
Mark Bruesehoff
1. The adoption of the Master Plan.
2. Subdivision control and site plan review
4. Conditional use applications.
5. Recommendations as to the zoning ordinance and amendments thereto.
6. The capital improvement program.
In addition, the planning board participates in preparation and review of programs or plans required by state or federal law or regulations. Their work often includes assembling data on a continuing basis as part of a continuing planning process. The board may perform such other advisory duties as assigned to aid and assist the governing body or other agencies or officers of the City.
Membership: Members consist of the Mayor, a municipal official appointed by the Mayor, a member of City Council appointed by the Council, and six citizen members plus two alternates appointed by the Mayor. Appointments are for four year terms for Regular Members and two (2) year terms for Alternate Members.
Terry Crowley (12/31/20)
Gary Griffith, Solicitor, Griffith and Carlucci, 609-399-6900
Jaime Felker, Secretary 609-399-6111, ext. 9733 (fax 609-525-2496)
David Scheidegg, Planning Board Engineer, Schaffer Nassar, Scheidegg, 609-625-7400
Randall E. Scheule, Scheule Planning Solutions, Planner, 609-365-2642
All meetings are held at 6:00 PM. Please check agenda for meeting location. This schedule is subject to change when and if changes are necessary.
Jaime Felker
Ocean City NJ 08226
Membership: The committee consists of seven (7) members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. All appointments are for four (4) year terms.
Joseph S. Clark, Chairman (12/31/20)
Joshua Linthicum, Vice Chairman (12/31/20)
Steve Longo, City Representative
Steve Longo slongo@ocnj.us
609.525.9261
115 E 12th Street
Ocean City NJ 08226
Shade Treet Web SIte - www.ocnj.us/shadetree
Ocean City NJ 08226
Membership: Nine (9) members appointed by the City Council.
Terms: Four (4) years.
Administrative Representative: Joe Clark, Purchasing Manager
Council Liaison: Michael DeVlieger
Members:
1. Hearing appeals from decisions of an administrative official related to development applications.
2. Hearing applications for relief from provisions of the local zoning ordinance.
Membership: City Council appoints seven (7) Regular Members and two (2) Alternate Members. Regular Member appointments are four year terms and Alternate Member appointments are two year terms.
Members:
115 E 12th Street
Ocean City NJ 08226