Ordinance Amending Peddlers, Hawks and Vendors Law in Ocean City Passes Introduction

Ocean City, NJ -- An ordinance proposing changes in the way peddlers, hawkers and vendors operate in Ocean City came at the behest of City Purchasing Manager Joseph Clark, who has monitored the situation for a few years, the Ocean City Gazette reports. It’s been a while since the ordinace was last updated, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said during Thursday night’s council meeting.

The ordinance includes the following changes:

• a limited number of licenses will go to vendors at designated City owned street ends and designated rights of way during an established summer season;
• the Cape May County Department of Health must approve the bicycle carts;
• licenses shall be limited to 10, as opposed to the current number of 20;
• each license and its associated vehicle will now be assigned corresponding numbers. Stickers will no longer be issued;
• operators would now be required to wear their licenses during hours of operation;
• hours of operation will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m., as opposed to 10 a.m.-sunset;
• carts may not be parked in an “area designated for parking,” and no longer than 30 minutes in an “area designated for parking” at the beach street end or designated place;
• street ends and locations must be approved on an annual basis;
• all vendors, hawkers and peddlers must wear proper attire; and
• vendors will be notified of license termination 90 days ahead of time, as opposed to “three months.”

Council unanimously approved the proposed ordinance, although Councilman Michael DeVlieger said he would further evaluate the issue before the second reading, scheduled for Jan. 14, according to the report.

Council also unanimously approved an ordinance on final reading that appropriates $2,100,000 and borrow $1,995,000 for “improvement by construction and reconstruction of various streets, alleys and drainage systems” based on the city’s capital plan.

Council approved an ordinance on final reading that cuts the density requirement for buildings in R-2 residential zones to encourage more single family homes in duplex districts. Councilman Pete Guinosso provided the lone dissenting vote, according to the report.

Read more at shorenewstoday.com.