Ocean City to Provide Strong Foundation for Abandoned Properties Ordinance

It’s going to take a little more time before Ocean City can clean up the 9th Street gateway to the City.

Following the suggestion of City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson, Ocean City Council let an ordinance that would give the City more power to handle abandoned and vacant properties die at the table during Thursday night’s meeting at City Hall.

“This ordinance gives the municipality substantial power,” McCrosson said. “If the mayor has to exercise this power, we need to make sure the foundation for this ordinance is strong.”

The ordinance was up for second reading. It was approved, 6-0, on its introduction.

Her suggestion was to let the ordinance die at the table so the administration could bring a resolution before council expressing the need for the expanded powers. Once that resolution is approved, the ordinance could be reintroduced in June.

A stronger foundation for the ordinance would better protect the City from possible litigation, McCrosson said. She came to this conclusion after meeting with solicitors from other municipalities currently dealing with issues related to abandoned and vacant properties.

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian expressed concerns about three gas stations on 9th Street in his mayoral update posted on the City’s website a few weeks ago.

“The City has been attempting to get the owners of the three vacant gas stations near 9th Street and Bay Avenue to clean up the properties and maintain them in a safe and presentable condition,” said. “Clearly the property owners have not cooperated as we would like.”

When the ordinance was introduced, McCrosson said all three gas stations have been cited.

Other properties were mentioned when the ordinance was introduced as well, including the old Booker’s Restaurant on 9th and Wesley.

The old Palermo Market on Asbury Avenue was even brought up as a possibility, prior to the Planning Board’s approval of seven duplexes on that spot on May 6.

The proposed ordinance 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 administration clarified Thursday night that it will take every precaution to ensure second homeowners won’t have their properties placed on the list if they aren’t around an extended period of time. McCrosson said the City will go out of its way to contact all property owners before placing a property on the list. She added properties are able to come off the list as well.

City Council will next meet on May 28.