Ocean City Council Gives Final Approval to Abandoned Properties Ordinance

After a few months of discussion, Ocean City Council made its final decision on abandoned and vacant properties Thursday night.

Council unanimously passed an ordinance with a 7-0 vote that calls for a public officer, to be appointed by the mayor, to establish an abandoned properties list.

The ordinance was initially introduced and approved on April 23 in response to three gas stations that are not being maintained on 9th Street, but was allowed to die on second reading so that a supporting resolution could be drafted.

That resolution was approved on May 28.

The owners of the gas stations continue to pay taxes, but are making no effort to maintain the properties, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said.

She said fines that the City typically levies that usually motivate property owners to maintain their property have had no effect in these cases.

Once the list is established, the City will take inquiries from anyone interested in those properties. The owner will also be able to ask to have the property removed from the list and returned to their control.

The City’s rights to the property will include putting the property up for tax sale, sending it into foreclosure, steps to rehabilitate the property and taking action against the owner, among other actions.

The City will take every precaution to ensure second homeowners won’t have their properties placed on the list if they aren’t around for an extended period of time.

Each passage of the ordinance is supported by state statute.