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Council Still Unhappy With Cops' 2nd Job General Order

OCEAN CITY - Approval of the general order outlining secondary employment for the Police Department was reviewed and sent back to the Police Commission for a second time, after the Mayor and Council voiced concerns this week regarding language in the general order. Secondary employment restrictions have been in affect for several years now, prohibiting police officers from taking a second job in any establishment that may pose a conflict of interest, such as a business that predominantly sells...READ MORE

Groups Want A Green Town

BERLIN - Three local environmental organizations have banded together to promote land and water conservation in the town of Berlin and its environs, and together are seeking funding for a three-year collaboration on green projects in and around the town. The green coalition plans to apply for funding from the Town Creek Foundation in early August and sought support from the town of Berlin to enhance the funding application. 'We are requesting a letter of support from the town,' Kate Patton,...READ MORE

Minor Fire Evacuates Boardwalk Hotel

OCEAN CITY - Firefighters encountered a fire in the storage area of the Phillips Beach Plaza Hotel on 13th Street yesterday morning, resulting in the evacuation of the hotel and a minor injury to one firefighter. Steve Price of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company reported yesterday that the call came in during the early morning hours, around 1:15 a.m. While the call was originally for an alarm activation in the building, it was quickly upgraded to a fire call. 'We had fire showing in the...READ MORE

OC Approves Purchase Cards

OCEAN CITY - The Mayor and City Council was presented with the town's procurement card policy this week, which outlines the town's newest system for purchasing cards, or credit cards, which will be used by a select number of town employees in lieu of purchase orders in an effort to save time and money. The Mayor and Council were briefed on the program earlier this summer, with City Manager Dennis Dare presenting the benefits of the M&T Bank procurement card program. After hearing the...READ MORE

11 Arrested After Resort Bar Brawl Spills Outside

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police last weekend made 11 arrests during a bar fight that began at a downtown nightclub and later spilled outside the establishment around closing time. Shortly after 2 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police officers on routine patrol in the downtown area responded to a reported fight inside the Paddock nightclub on 17th Street. By the time the officers arrived, nightclub security staff members were escorting several of the combatants out of the establishment. After the...READ MORE

Demolition Begins With Property's Future In Doubt

BERLIN - Six years after the Tyson chicken processing plant on the outskirts of Berlin closed its doors forever, its future remains in limbo, but demolition activity at the site this week signals something may be afoot at the historic property. Demolition began on the site first thing Monday morning with the giant claw ripping away at the vast network of outbuildings and mechanical systems that have remained part of the local landscape ever since Tyson closed its operation on the property....READ MORE

Ex-Employee Indicted For First-Degree Arson

OCEAN CITY - Almost four months to the day since the March 30 fire on the south end of the Boardwalk that destroyed the Dough Roller restaurant and severely damaged the adjacent Marty's Playland, a Worcester County grand jury on Tuesday indicted a local man on several counts of arson and other charges for allegedly setting the blaze. The grand jury on Tuesday formally indicted Gregory W. Wallace Kern, 48, of Ocean City, on two counts of first-degree arson for allegedly setting the fire that...READ MORE

Police Make Another Internet Prostitution Arrest

OCEAN CITY - An Easton woman was arrested on prostitution charges last week after arranging a meeting with an undercover OCPD detective, who discovered the services she was offering on the Internet. Last Wednesday, Ocean City police arrested Jennifer Watson Ambrose, 35, of Easton, on charges of soliciting for prostitution after detectives discovered advertisements for her services on an Internet website. On the site, Ambrose agreed to meet interested parties who would pay for her services in...READ MORE

Police Seek Child Abuse Suspect

BERLIN - Area police this week are looking for a 39-year-old local man wanted on child abuse, numerous sex offenses and assault after a joint investigation pointed to him as a suspect in a sexual assault on a 7-year-old female victim. After an investigation conducted by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) with assistance from the Department of Social Services and Ocean City Police, Richard T. Wright, Jr., 39, whose last known address is in Berlin, has been charged with sexually...READ MORE

Berlin Affordable Housing Project Denied Critical Grant

BERLIN - The Cannery Village workforce housing endeavor was denied Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, supporters learned last week, a potentially serious blow to the construction schedule. Supporters learned of the denial last Friday. 'The Cannery Village application was denied,' reported Berlin Administrative Director Linda Bambary to the Berlin Town Council Monday night. CDBG applications must be made through official government entities like towns or counties. The implications...READ MORE

Berlin Wastewater Plant Upgrade Process On Target

BERLIN - The expansion of and improvements to the Berlin wastewater treatment plant are on schedule so far, with an approval from Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for the requested expansion to one million gallons per day (mgd) arriving in early July and possible spray irrigation land under study. 'I'm not at liberty to disclose what land, but we are testing land now,' said Berlin's Administrative Director Linda Bambary. Berlin was tasked with moving solely to spray disposal for...READ MORE

Changes Aimed At Simplifying Zoning Fees

OCEAN CITY - The City Council unanimously approved changes in zoning fees this week, in an effort to simplify the process for calculating preliminary and final fees for permit applications. 'After the zoning fees were changed for FY09, while attempting to input them into our permitting program we discovered several instances in which formulas no longer made sense or were much more complicated than necessary,' explained Director of Planning and Zoning Jesse Houston. Currently, zoning fees are...READ MORE

Citizen Excuses Connection Fee For Planning Chair

BERLIN - Redeveloped lots in Berlin must maintain their water and sewer connections or face substantial fees to re-connect to the system, one homeowner learned this week. The legal code of Berlin does not include a process for reinstating a previously existing water connection that has been removed through redevelopment. Under the current code, the town could assess the full special connection fee, $11,600 for water and sewer, as well as ready-to-serve fees every month until the new tap is in...READ MORE

City Hopes For Public Interest In Zoning Changes

OCEAN CITY - The City Council postponed its review of the Planning Commission's recent recommendations on zoning changes this week, in hopes of garnering more public input through a second public hearing. A public hearing was held on May 13 regarding development in commercial districts, but few were present and no public comment was made. Despite the lack of public comment, the Planning Commission moved forward with the task of examining commercial development and zoning regulations within the...READ MORE

Council Makes Cab Fuel Charge Official

OCEAN CITY - The Mayor and City Council made the taxi fuel surcharge official this week, when they voted unanimously to approve the $1, per trip, fuel surcharge aimed at providing local taxi drivers with some relief. The topic was initially broached at a recent Police Commission meeting, with over 25 taxicab drivers attending. After discussing several options, the Police Commission agreed the best option would be a $1 fuel surcharge, to be added per trip, until November when the current fare...READ MORE

Increased Electric Bills Not Sparking More Complaints

BERLIN - The town of Berlin electric company may charge the highest rates in the state of Maryland, but most customers are enduring the burden rather than complaining, according to town staff, and appear content to wait for the professional electric rate survey proposed in late July. Staffers met with prospective consultants on the electric rate survey this week and could have a cost estimate for the study before the Berlin Mayor and Council in early August. The consultant will also look into...READ MORE

Main St. Improvements Eyed In Berlin

BERLIN - Berlin's Maryland Main Street initiative plans to focus associated grant funding and town matching money on signs, pedestrian improvements, advertising and promotion, architectural standards, and the 'Clean, Safe and Green' program. A meeting will be held at Town Hall on Aug. 14 to hammer out more specific goals and projects based on merchant and citizen input, said Main Street coordinator Michael Day. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The projects submitted with the application could...READ MORE

National Night Out Returns To Area

BERLIN - Like residents in similar communities all over the country, Berlin residents next week will have the opportunity to put aside fear and suspicion for at least one day and get out in their community to enjoy the annual 'National Night Out' against crime in their neighborhoods. Residents in Berlin are encouraged next Tuesday to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and get out in their neighborhoods to participate in the 25th annual National Night Out. Similar events are planned in...READ MORE

Ocean City Fire Department Officially Formed

OCEAN CITY - The town's fire and emergency services took on the official name of the Ocean City Fire Department this week, after the City Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation at a work session. The town's fire services, which include the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, Fire Marshal's Office and Emergency Services, were merged in a memorandum of understanding 60 days ago, following several months of turmoil. All three divisions were merged under the direction of town Fire...READ MORE

Resort Revises Emergency Operations Plan

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City's Emergency Operations Plan has been revised, reported the Emergency Services Director this week, highlighting the recent revisions to the plan, as well as emphasizing the importance of staying current with emergency service preparedness. At a work session of the Mayor and City Council this week, Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald presented the Mayor and Council with an overview of the town's current Emergency Operations Plan, as well as the necessary revisions...READ MORE

Va. Deputy Acquitted Of Rape

SNOW HILL - A Fairfax County (Va.) Deputy Sheriff accused in February of raping a 22-year-old woman in an Ocean City hotel room was acquitted last week in Worcester County Circuit Court after a two-day trial during which the victim's credibility was called into question. Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff Zachary Dennis Taylor, 32, of Ruther Glen, Va. appeared in Worcester County Circuit Court last week to face second-degree rape, second-degree assault and fourth-degree sex offense charges stemming...READ MORE