Ocean City Council Names Newest Member

Karen Bergman is back on Ocean City Council.

Five members of city council unanimously approved Bergman as the successor to former Council Vice President Michael Allegretto during a special meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.

Councilman Peter Guinosso nominated the 54-year-old Bergman, who then joined council following a 5-0 vote. Council President Keith Hartzell was absent.

“I am beyond excited to be back on this side of the table,” said Bergman, who represented the Second Ward on council from 2008-2012. “I look forward to doing what I can do and working for the best interests of the residents of Ocean City.”

Bergman beat out three other candidates who were interviewed by council during Tuesday night’s meeting. She was the only one to be nominated.

Bergman was Council Vice President from 2010-2012, was a member of the Planning Board, the Tourism Development Commission and member of the Business and Neighborhood Development Association (BAND).

She won the seat in 2008 and chose not to run for re-election in 2012, when Antwan McClellan won the seat.

The former owner of Nash’s News is now the Catering Director at The Flanders Hotel, where she has worked for five years.

She was sworn in immediately upon being selected and will be seated for Thursday night’s council meeting.

Michael Allegretto resigned effective Sept. 14, after he was appointed by Mayor Jay Gillian as the new Director of Community Services.

Bergman will serve until a special election in the spring. The winner of that election will be seated immediately, and will serve until the next regular election for the at-large seat, in 2018.

Bergman wasn’t sure if she would run in that election as of Tuesday night.