Nearly $11 Million Set For Various Ocean City Improvements

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Council unanimously introduced a bond ordinance that appropriates nearly $11 million towards various improvements throughout Ocean City.

This bond ordinance puts money towards projects in the previously-approved capital plan, Business Administrator George Savastano said at a recent City Council meeting.

According to the ordinance, $2.8 million will go towards rehabbing and repairing public buildings, such as replacing the roof on the Community Center, city-wide LED improvements and Beach Patrol renovations, as well as various other general improvements.

Another $2.5 million is authorized for back bay and lagoon dredging projects, according to the ordinance.

About $2.3 million will go towards improving public facilities, such as landscaping, fencing repairs and artificial turf installation at Tennessee Avenue among others, according to the ordinance.

The public will be able to speak on the bond ordinance at the Aug. 11 meeting, where it will be up for a final vote.

The dredging projects drew some debate within the council, as Councilmen Bob Barr and Tom Rotondi voted no on two resolutions that offered contracts to ACT Engineers Inc. to manage the projects. Both disagreed with going through a no-bid process.

Barr said he preferred a bidding process, which "provides a level of comfort and protection."

Rotondi agreed, calling it unfair to the taxpayers, adding that it does not fit with the bidding pool and "it just doesn't look right."

"I can't sit here in good conscience and vote yes to this knowing that we didn't put it through the pool to get a fair bid," Rotondi said. He said that the pool saves money.

"This is important, and I think it's just a bad look for the city," he said.

Councilman Jody Levchuk said that while he agreed with the two, he would vote yes because he had high expectations for the company. The vote passed 5-2.