Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
Legal or not, a board of directors that unanimously consents to vote via email on a particular action, and then votes unanimously to take that action risks running afoul of the Elvis provision of politics. That would be, considering the propensity of the public to think the worst of an otherwise harmless circumstance, the “Suspicious… Read more »
Ocean Pines officials are absolutely right when they insist that parameters be set on how the money in the new capital reserve fund may be used. If one thing has been proven in Ocean Pines year after controversial year, it’s that people are inclined to believe all sorts of things, regardless of the truth of… Read more »
For the money, last Friday’s Art of the pARTy fundraiser at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin had to be one of the best deals around for area foodies. Had another $20 been added to the ticket price of $49 and change, that still would have been a decent price for a 12-station buffet that featured… Read more »
Lisa Kershner, the state’s public access ombudsman, and Maryland Public Information Act Compliance Board Chairman John “Butch” West, issued a joint statement last week declaring their support for legislation that would strengthen the state’s public information law. Since the law was instituted 50 years ago, most government documents have been available for inspection by any… Read more »
Of the many questions regarding the application of wastewater spray irrigation for Ocean Pines or any other area, the least critical is whether public health will be adversely affected. Strict environmental regulation and monitoring of effluent used in spray irrigation have eliminated the public health concern, as has been evidenced all across the Eastern Shore…. Read more »
Not only will members of the Ocean Pines Association have their first opportunity to learn about the new budget at next Wednesday’s board of directors session, they have been encouraged to attend and find out more about it. The budget process doesn’t get any more open than that, and kudos go to board President Doug… Read more »
The importance of the decennial headcount conducted by the Census Bureau can’t be overestimated, considering that each uncounted person is worth, theoretically, $18,000 per decade ($1,800 per year) in state and federal grants. That would mean, using rate of participation data provided by the Census Bureau to the Maryland Department of Planning, that Worcester County… Read more »
Short-term rentals have become a long-term headache for elected officials across the country, as they weigh the interests of their constituents in residential neighborhoods and the property rights of vacation rental investors. The absence of irrefutable arguments on either side of the debate has resulted a situation so complex that no one has produced a… Read more »
It’s budget time for all the local governing authorities, so it will be all about the money from now until spring. That’s when council members, county commissioners and members of the board of directors will declare their financial plans are as good as they’re going to get. They’re never even close to perfect, because taxpayers… Read more »
Maybe it was an offhand remark or a subtle political jab, but Berlin Mayor Gee Williams’ comment this week about seeking a county tax differential for the town was one of the waning year’s most surprising endings. For county residents who haven’t been following Ocean City’s decades-long pursuit of a better tax deal with Worces-… Read more »