OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
MEETING
KEY DETAILS DISPUTED
The OPA and Tiffany Knupp are at odds over how a recent powwow went down – Page 23
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Five years of talking leads to cable pact cently got to a place that both parties find acceptable. “It’s certainly been a process,” said Chris Comer, director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the ComBy Mallory Panuska cast Beltway Region, of the contract Staff Writer discussions that began in early 2017. (Nov. 18, 2022) After years of ne“There’s a number of things that gotiations, the Town of Ocean City is have happened over the years beready to ink a franchise agreement tween changes in staff, a pandemic with Comcast to provide cable televi- that we’ve all been dealing with, sion service for residents going back and forth on the for the next five years. issues, but we believe this is ‘This contract a good agreement with Council members voted 6-1 on Tuesday, with Coun- expired back in Ocean City,” he continued. cilman Tony DeLuca op2017 and it’s “We are pleased to be a posed, to send a new been the subject partner here in Ocean City agreement, with some and look forward to conof numerous slight refinements, to a tinue to providing adongoing public hearing for approval. vanced services to help The proposed language inmeet our customers’ discussions.’ cludes requirements that needs.” — City Manager the company maintain a The company initially Terry McGean brick and mortar store in wanted a 15-year contract, city limits, notify customers no requirement to notify within 30 days of rate changes, and customers of rate changes, and no cover the full cost of burying utility contribution toward the cost of burylines on Baltimore Avenue. ing utility lines on Baltimore Avenue. “This contract expired back in Company officials also were not 2017 and it’s been the subject of nu- planning to provide funds for upgradmerous ongoing discussions,” City ing public, educational and governManager Terry McGean told council ment access equipment, which the members Tuesday. new contract requires. A 10 percent Negotiations have been underway discount for seniors was removed as See AGREEMENT Page 3 for more than five years, and just re-
Council advances contract with Comcast to provide services through 2027
PHOTO COURTESY SAM VARANO
OVER THE RAINBOWS
Sam Varano captures a double rainbow on Nov. 11 from the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites at 32nd Street.
New fire station on despite price spikes Council splits, but approves project at 65th Street for $10.5 million ... for now By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Nov. 18, 2022) While the financial hits keep on coming for a new
planned Ocean City fire station, the project narrowly avoided another major snag this week thanks to a slim council majority. At a work session Tuesday, council members Tony DeLuca, Frank Knight, Will Savage and Carol Proctor voted in favor of adjusting the city’s bond issue to cover the latest
cost projection, $10.5 million, for the planned 65th Street station. The vote edged out opposition votes from Council President Matt James, and Councilmen Peter Buas and John Gehrig, who shot down the measure for reasons that ranged from wanting more information, to simply objecting to the overall price tag.
With the approval, the payments for the new station will come from a portion of a multimillion-dollar bond issue originally slated for the Baltimore Avenue utility burying project. They also do not include a previously promised contribution from the volunteer fire company. See RISING Page 4