Page 4 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch September 6, 2013 Live Entertainment MARGARITA’S & CRAFT BEERS! AND DON’T FORGET MEXICAN MONDAYS! Raw Bar Bloody Mary Bar Mexican Monday H A P P Y H O U R S P E C I A L S CRABBY CHEESE DIP IN A BREAD BOWL! GROUPER FINGERS, CAESAR SALAD, WINGS, KEY WEST, MILD, MEDIUM, NUCLEAR, INFERNO, GARLIC PARMESAN, OLD BAY, BOURBON, BAR B Q, ASIAN SESAME & NAKED! D E L A W A R E L O T T E R Y G A M E S Outcry Leads City To Abandon Beach Vehicle Access Plan By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER NFL Drink Specials $1.99 Select Domestic Pints $1.99 Select Domestic Bottles $1.99 Rail Drinks NFL Food Specials Tacos • Nachos Quesadillas • Mexican Pizza Fajitas & Much More STRAWBERRY SALAD, LOTSA SLIDERS, BURGERS, LEPRECHAUN LEGS, CLAMS, OYSTERS, STEAMED SHRIMP, COLD PINTS OF DRAFT BEER, 5S 2C HR DE BE IN GS OCEAN CITY – The opposing public was heard loud and clear over the last week, leading resort officials to put an immediate halt to the possibility of allowing vehicles drive on the beach in the offseason. Last Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor and City Council discussed the possibility of having a one-year trial to allow vehicles to drive on a specific section of Ocean City’s beach for surf fishing during the offseason. The council decided last week to move forward with the pilot program contingent upon Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) review and approval. Following the Mayor and City Council’s discussion, an online petition surfaced. The petition was created on Change.org by Matt Landon, titled “Ocean City, MD Council: Repeal the approval to drive on the beach from Nov.1 to March.31.” In a matter of days, the petition had received hundreds of supporters, reaching over 900 signatures as of Wednesday morning. The number of signatures increased from over 600 on Tuesday morning to over 800 by that afternoon alone. Besides the online petition, the town received major backlash through other social media outlets once the news had surfaced. The Dispatch’s post on its Facebook page received over 80 comments that were all negative with the exception of a few. Councilman Joe Mitrecic began yesterday’s Mayor and Council legislative session by stating due to misrepresentation of local news the public became under the impression the legislative body had made a final decision to allow vehicles on the beach in the upcoming off-season resulting in an influx of opposition. Last week’s motion was approved 6-1, with Councilwoman Margaret Pillas opposed, to approve vehicles on the beach during the off-season for surf fishing only subject to DNR’s review and approval and to create a marketing plan for it. “I don’t think surf fishing was ever a done deal. It was out there, we were going to have DNR look at it, and possibly come back for discussion again,” he said. Mitrecic made a motion to withdraw an application submitted to DNR to allow vehicles on the beach and table further discussion until after a series of public hearings would be held to gain public input on the manner. City Manager David Recor explained following the council’s discussion last week staff had submitted an application to DNR that outlined the town’s proposal to allow vehicles on the beach during the offSEE PAGE 47