Serious hopes for subcommittee’s report Saturday
Originally published in the print version of The Ocean City Sentinel
February 4, 2026
by Bill Merritt
To the Editor:
As the City Council’s Boardwalk Subcommittee convenes for its first public meeting on Feb. 7, many residents are understandably eager to hear what comes next for our Ocean City’s most important civic asset. We share that excitement—not because we are expecting final decisions at this point, but because we are expecting to see the data flow, which thoughtful and durable solutions can begin to take shape.
We look forward to seeing the information that has been collected: trends, benchmarks and relevant comparisons drawn from reputable, unbiased sources, and presented in a way that is properly categorized and genuinely instructive. A solid analytical foundation is essential before any meaningful design, policy or development decisions can responsibly be made.
We will also be looking at the quality and comprehensiveness of this first report as a way of measuring the effectiveness of the subcommittee itself. This group includes talented and capable individuals, and we are confident they will bring that expertise to bear.
We also hope the presentation does something that may seem counterintuitive at first: it should raise more questions than it answers.
The future of the boardwalk is a complex, multi-dimensional problem. We are not planning for next season, but for the next 20 to 30 years. At this stage, the discussion should feel challenging, nuanced and unresolved. If it appears too simple, that may be a sign we are overlooking important variables.
Clear solutions will come—but only after the data has been fully organized and thoughtfully prioritized, and enough public input has been gathered. For that groundwork, not rushing ahead of it, we thank the subcommittee.
A better-informed, more curious and appropriately aware community ahead, and comfortable that it is in the right hands, is the best outcome we can hope for at this early stage.
Bill Merritt
Ocean City 2050
