Mayor Thanks Ocean City for Successful Teamwork

A few weeks shy of the midway point of his four-year term as mayor of Ocean City, Jay Gillian took time Thursday to address the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and thank members for working together to make the resort so successful.

"This is a great time for Ocean City," Gillian said in a luncheon address at the Chamber's monthly membership meeting at the .

Gillian said the Chamber's marketing efforts have helped generate unprecedented visitor interest in Ocean City. He took note of the ribbon-cutting on the new Route 52 causeway ("the biggest thing that will be done in our lifetime"). He promised to continue to invest in infrastructure improvements for Ocean City, and said he was "more and more optimistic" about the prospects of funding for continued beach replenishment on the island.

Earlier in the luncheon, Chamber Marketing Director Shawnda McGinnis had reported that the Chamber has 45,179 entries to date for a summer-long vacation giveaway contest on the Chamber's website. The Chamber's Facebook page now has more than 66,600 "likes."

Ocean City's business community is a part of a "great team" working to promote the resort — along with the city administration, city employees, elected officials and residents.

Gillian thanked three City Council members who will step down after the completion of their terms on June 30: Roy Wagner, John Kemenosh and Karen Bergman.

He said his administration will continue to work to improve Ocean City's roads, beaches, bays and boardwalks.

He mentioned a successful project in creating a new drainage system on Wesley Avenue between 26th and 29th streets that potentially eliminates the need for an outfall pipe on the beach. He said work on a dredging project on the bayside between 15th and 34th streets is about to begin. And he said City Council will discuss tonight a proposal for a public-private partnership to build a marina at Second Street and Bay Avenue.

"I'm going to get a building on the Annex property if it's the last thing I do," Gillian said of the now-vacant city-owned property at the corner of Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue, across the street from City Hall.

The property had been home to City Hall Annex, which was torn down in the spring. Gillian drew a round of applause when he said the building would be named the "Mark Soifer Downtown Welcome Center."

Gillian promised the city is working on a "first-class" recreational facility between Fifth and Sixth streets that will include a new skateboard park. He said the area should also accommodate basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard and bocce facilities.

He thanked promoter Bob Rose and the city administration for putting together "the best concert series we've ever offered" (). He thanked the  Michael Hartman and the Ocean City Pops for their work for the city. And he thanked his family for all they do for him.

"We need to work together," Gillian said. "I really mean that."