Ocean City’s Early Pier Deal Talks Violated Open Meetings Act

OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City was taken to task for violating Open Meetings Act requirements after two separate complaints were filed questioning the negotiation process behind the new franchise agreement for the historic pier.

Late last year, Ocean City officials announced the town had reached an agreement with franchise holder Charles “Buddy” Jenkins and his Synepuxent Pier and Improvement Company to extend the franchise agreement for the iconic pier that juts eastward from the Boardwalk at Wicomico Street. In 2018, Jenkins approached the city about renewing the pier franchise agreement reached in 1978.

The accord was set to expire in 2029 and the franchisee sought to extend it an additional 25 years beyond the remaining term, essentially extending it for another 35 years. The full Mayor and Council appointed a three-member work group consisting of Council Secretary Mary Knight and Councilmen Dennis Dare and John Gehrig to negotiate with the franchisee and work through the details of the agreement extension.

However, those negotiations were conducted in a series of closed sessions over a period of 18 months beginning in 2018. Late last November, Mayor Rick Meehan announced a new agreement had been reached and in the subsequent weeks, the council introduced and ultimately approved a pair of ordinance changes to formalize it.

In a nutshell, the pier franchise extension ensures the iconic pier, its amusement park and the associated pier building will remain in the control of Jenkins’ company for another 35 years. The benefits of extending the agreement are significant for both parties. For Jenkins, a 25-year extension means he can confidently continue to make investments and improvements to the pier and his Jolly Roger amusement park and other amenities.

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