Newsletter

Message from CWCA President Brian Shane 

As the 2022 season hits its stride, I want to reflect on how we Ocean City homeowners and residents have so much for which to be thankful. But how many of us give a second thought to the work that goes into keeping Ocean City beautiful, safe and enjoyable?

Consider how our beach and boardwalk are kept spotless and safeguarded each summer, how our roads are in good shape, and how our parks and recreational areas are kept in perfect condition. Think how, when you need a police officer or a firefighter, they’ll be there in mere minutes — and how up the road in Delaware, that isn’t always the case.

For all this, we should thank those who run our various municipal departments. Their knowledge, diligence, and problem-solving are what keep our resort town humming. Many have been here for years and are experts in their field.

This year, your property tax will drop ever so slightly. If you’re glad to hear it, thank OC Budget Manager Jennie Knapp. She leads a months-long effort every year to create a budget that covers the cost of running our town. This year the budget is about $90 million, roughly half of it coming from property tax.

Do you know how hard our police department works? They have to recruit seasonal officers — a tough task as fewer young people wish to pursue a law enforcement career — while keeping their full-time roster of officers staffed. They have to figure out how to use and store footage from body cameras, a new program rolling out this year. And in recent years, OCPD officers have had to fight like soldiers in the fall when troublemakers in tricked-out cars invade our town, wanting nothing more than to raise hell and post videos to social media.

If you’re happy with how policing in Ocean City has been going in the last decade, thank Chief Ross Buzzuro. Thank the career officers, too, who have risen from patrol ranks, serving now as administrative captains and sergeants.

Do you like having clean running water? Are you happy that our buses are operating smoothly, even with COVID restrictions and a struggle to recruit drivers? Do you notice how clean the beach and boardwalk are each day when the sun comes up?

All of these responsibilities fall to our outstanding Public Works Department, headed by veteran boss Hal Adkins. His staffers handle maintenance, construction, transportation, water and sewer service, and even running an airport. Behind the scenes, Public Works staffers work nonstop, 24 hours a day, and residents and tourists reap the benefits.

So, the next time you’re out enjoying your day without a care in the world, consider the painstaking efforts of our incredible city staff and department heads. I’ve mentioned only a few here, but there are so many more who work tirelessly for our benefit. We’re lucky to have them and I’m grateful for their efforts.