Potential Marina Owner Saves Ocean City Expense of Cleanup

City Council on Thursday ignored a proposed ordinance to authorize the spending of $100,000 to clear damaged docks and other debris from the bay near 10th Street.

The city administration had recommended the action, because the ordinance is no longer necessary. The prospective owners of the property had gone in and done a lot of the cleanup work themselves.

The damaged structures are part of the former Dan's Dockside Marina property on the 900 block of Palen Avenue. The long-abandoned marina and restaurant are now bank-owned, but a corporation operated by Tom and Patrick Gill is the contract purchaser.

The Gills own the Tackle Direct business in town, and they have said they want to rebuild a working marina with a fuel dock and a restaurant at the site.

The city had been worried that loose marine debris at the site could damage nearby homes in storms. But on Thursday, Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported that the Gills had obtained approval to go onto the property and remove material — including damaged docks, above-ground fuel tanks and abandoned fuel pumps.

"We don't believe this mechanism will be needed," Dattilo said.

No member of City Council moved to introduce the second reading of the ordinance, and so it died with the failure to take action.