Dear Friends,

Road construction projects continue throughout town as we work to complete everything before Memorial Day. Here are some updates:

 

West Avenue: Base paving from 10th Street to 13th Street is completed, along with final paving of 13th Street from West Avenue to Bay Avenue.

Fifth Street: By next week, work at the end of Fifth Street to connect the storm drains to the outfall pipe will be done.

Moorlyn Terrace boardwalk ramp: The north-side pedestrian ramp to the boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace reopened today as a complete ramp replacement continues.

18th Street to 33rd Street: A major paving project covering many streets is now complete, and striping was completed today.

Intersection of 9th and Ocean: Paving was completed this week.

Intersection of 6th and Wesley: Paving was completed this week.

Third Street from Corinthian to the boardwalk: Paving is complete.

9th and West striping: Our road contractor incorrectly striped a right-turn-only marking at the intersection of 9th Street and West Avenue. That is tentatively scheduled to be corrected next week.

Bay side from Sixth Street to Eighth Street: The gas company continues its gas line improvements.

Merion Park: The water company continues its sewer line improvements. I want to let everyone know that the reason the water company is doing so much right now is due to a couple significant issues they encountered over the past year. During surveys required for DEP records, they discovered their manholes had settled to a degree that was unacceptable. Due to this, the project that they had planned was considerably expanded. The city is never happy when the utility companies cut into new streets, but we believe it was only proper to allow them to proceed, for the overall long-term good. The water company has committed to completing all pipe work, and complete repaving of the streets they’ve disturbed, before Memorial Day weekend, with the exception of Little Roosevelt which will be final paved between Memorial Day and the first week of June.

Police substation: The exterior walls on the second floor are up, and we should have a roof within two weeks. This project remains on track to be complete in August.

Music Pier substructure: Work to reinforce the columns supporting the Music Pier has begun.

We have a grant to install a new floor at the Senior Center, and that work will take place from April 28 to May 9. All Senior Center programs will move to the Civic Center during that time. Meal service, transportation and all daily programs will continue on their regular schedule.

 

I had the pleasure of attending an Eagle Scout Court of Honor this week, and I want to congratulate our newest Eagle Scouts: Alexander Costello and Nicholas Bimbo. Achieving Eagle Scout is scouting's highest honor, and I'm proud that these two young men represent our community so well.

The Ocean City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Residents can drop off  tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs at the Ocean City Free Public Library (1735 Simpson Avenue) or the Ocean City Police Station (835 Central Avenue).

 

The public is invited to a Community Wellness Day from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at the Ocean City Free Public Library and Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Avenue). The event will include free yoga, live music, Reiki demonstrations, blood pressure screenings, smoothie and healthy snack demonstrations and tastings, and discussions on mental health and other wellness topics. I want to thank Karen Mahar and Jen Shirk for all their hard work in developing the new Ocean City Community Wellness Alliance and the kickoff event on May 4.

Warm regards,

 

 

Jay A. Gillian

Mayor