Ocean City Council Provides Support for Abandoned Properties Legislation

Citing the need for a stronger foundation for an ordinance that would give the City more power to handle abandoned and vacant properties, Ocean City Council approved a resolution “finding that abandoned and nuisance properties exist in Ocean City” on Thursday night.

The resolution states that there are some properties in the City that “are so old, dilapidated, or have become so out of repair as to become dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for human cohabitation.”

There are also properties in which construction began but was never complete, according to the resolution.

The resolution states some of the property owners have become neglectful of their properties, and that the City believes these properties can become attractive nuisances or pose risks to the health, safety or welfare of the community.

The resolution paves the way for the City to re-introduce an ordinance that calls for a public officer, to be appointed by the mayor, to establish an abandoned properties list. That list would be compiled based on citizen input and the City’s own investigations.

Once 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.

The ordinance was introduced on April 23 in response to three gas stations that are not being maintained on 9th Street.

It was approved, 6-0, on its introduction.

However, it died on second reading after City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson expressed concern for the need for a supporting resolution.

Now that the resolution has been approved, the City can move forward with re-introduction of the ordinance.

City Council next meets on June 11.