OC Boardwalk Smokers Will Have To Use Designated Areas On Beach; Ordinance Headed For Approval Next Month

OCEAN CITY – The resort’s new restricted smoking policy advanced this week as the Ocean City Council agreed to prohibit smoking on the Boardwalk with designated smoking areas on the beach only.

During Tuesday evening’s Mayor and City Council meeting, City Manager David Recor continued the discussion from Jan. 5 when staff first proposed designated smoking areas on the beach and adjacent to the Boardwalk. Since that meeting, the City Council toured the Boardwalk reviewing the originally proposed designated smoking areas.

Prior to November’s municipal elections, the former council voted 5-2 to restrict smoking on the beach and Boardwalk effective May 1, 2015. At that time, the council directed staff to prepare an implementation plan.

Following the discussion, a Smoking Policy Committee was formed comprised of a number of town departments who were tasked to devise a plan of action, develop enforcement criteria and prepare draft legislation that would outline designated smoking areas for further review and discussion. Those in opposition were favoring an outright smoking ban on the Boardwalk.

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