OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
JANUARY 13, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Ocean City looking into raising bus and tram fees by $1 for upcoming 2023 season – Page 15
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Brakes applied to scooter-type rentals? Council appears on verge of ban on renting e-bikes, other speciality vehicles By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Jan. 13, 2023) The City Council’s attempts to come to a compromise on renting electric bicycles in Ocean City shifted into a whole new gear this week when the discussion turned to
the possibility of banning the rental of all personal mobility devices across the resort. “We constantly look for ways to improve safety on Coastal Highway; it’s an eight-lane highway dividing our town,” Councilman Will Savage said at a work session Tuesday before introducing a motion that would in part cease issuing new business licenses for the rental of all small motor-powered devices.
“We add streetlights, fences, demand people use crosswalks, walk smart,” he continued. “At the same time, we condone thrill rides being rented on Coastal Highway that consistently spill over into our residential communities and now we’re considering expanding that mayhem. That doesn’t make sense to me.” Savage, who was not on council yet when discussions on regulating electric bicycles began in the fall, has con-
See COUNCIL Page 3
Council voids right-of-way referendum Balt. Ave. properties will now be lumped together
PHOTO COURTESY CONNIE ALDERFER
ON REFLECTION
There’s nothing like the new year to pause for a moment of reflection, which is what local photographer Connie Alderfer did on her early morning walk on the beach when the calendar flipped over to 2023.
Dinky revenue leads to county ice rink’s end By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Jan. 13, 2023) Barely three years later, the Worcester County portable ice rink will melt into history.
In a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, the county commissioners decided to instruct Recreation and Parks Department staff to determine how the county could either sell or donate the
ice rink. The staff will also see if another county department could have a use for the cargo trailer used to transport the synthetic ice rink. See COUNTY Page 4
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Jan. 13, 2023) Ocean City voters will no longer be heading to the polls to determine whether the developers of a planned Margaritaville resort can officially take ownership and use a portion of a right-of-way along Baltimore Avenue for their project. But the matter is not dead, as dozens of other city-owned properties will soon be brought in as part of the overall revitalization of the downtown corridor from North Division to 15th streets. Council members voted unanimously at a work session Tuesday to rescind an ordinance allowing the city to abandon a 21-foot-wide rightof-way spanning the oceanside block between 13th and 14th streets on Baltimore Avenue. The measure was instituted at the request of the Margaritaville developers, who would want to use a portion of it for their project. The vote to withdraw the ordiSee RIGHT-OF-WAY Page 8