Title to all County property, both real and personal, transferred to Worcester County, the County Commissioners or any agency department or branch thereof by way of purchase, grant, gift, dedication or anyway whatsoever shall be titled to the County Commissioners of Worcester County unless otherwise specifically provided in individual cases by a resolution of the County Commissioners.
Management authority and responsibility for all County property and buildings is vested in and charged to the County Commissioners, and all decisions with regard to the use of the same and contracts with regard thereto, be they for acquisition, improvement or in any way connected therewith, shall be by resolution of the County Commissioners or as may be provided by law or regulation. The County Commissioners may, at their option, by resolution or as provided by appropriate law and regulation, delegate the authority and responsibility as prescribed by this section by franchise, lease or other appropriate executive or legislative act.
(a) 
Generally. Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever the County Commissioners propose to dispose of any County-owned property or any rights incidental thereto by reason of the fact that such property is no longer required for County use, they shall first advertise the same at least once a week for three successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation in said County inviting competitive bids to be made upon such terms and conditions as the County Commissioners may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, the right to accept or reject any and all bids as they see fit with regard to the disposal of such property and giving an opportunity for objections to any such disposal.
(b) 
For other public use. When any County-owned property is no longer needed for use by the County Commissioners and the County Commissioners propose to dispose of the same by lease, grant or otherwise for a public purpose, as such public purpose may be from time to time determined by a five-sevenths majority vote of the County Commissioners, the Commissioners shall, prior to adopting a resolution for the disposal of such property, advertise the proposed disposal once a week for three successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation in said County stating the terms of such disposal and the compensation to be received therefor and giving opportunity for objections thereto.
[Amended 8-20-2002 by Bill No. 02-11]
(c) 
Where bidding impractical. The County Commissioners may, by a five-sevenths majority vote, determine that it may be impractical to dispose of County-owned property or rights incidental thereto for nonpublic purposes by competitive bidding. In such cases, the County Commissioners shall, prior to adopting a resolution for the disposal of such property, advertise the proposed disposal once a week for three successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation in said County stating the terms of such disposal and the compensation to be received therefor and giving opportunity for objections thereto.
[Amended 8-20-2002 by Bill No. 02-11]
(d) 
Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the closing of public roads within the County or easements for public utilities or to property titled to other bodies corporate or politic of the County.
(a) 
Prohibited acts.
(1) 
It is prohibited to camp on, tent on, sleep on or inhabit any roadside of any County road or along any County roadside, within the right-of-way of the road or in any County recreational park or in, on or adjacent to any County landing or any other County-owned property unless specifically authorized by law or resolution of the County Commissioners.
(2) 
It is prohibited to dock, moor, tie-up or anchor any boat, vessel or watercraft at any County-owned boat landing or boat ramp, except for loading and unloading purposes and except in cases of bona fide emergencies on a temporary basis, unless specifically authorized by law or resolution of the County Commissioners. "Temporary," for the purposes hereof, shall mean not to exceed forty-eight hours.
(3) 
It is prohibited to enter upon or into any County-owned land or facility at any time when the land or facility is closed to the general public unless specifically authorized by the County Commissioners.
(b) 
Interference with County recreational activities. It is prohibited for any person to interfere with, disrupt or disturb any recreational activity duly authorized by the Worcester County Recreation Board for the County Commissioners, whether such interference, disruption or disturbance is caused by the action of the individual, inaction of the individual or by words, gestures or other means.
(c) 
Rules and regulations regarding County-owned property. The County Commissioners may, by resolution, adopt additional rules, regulations, hours of operation, limitation of uses or other standards with regard to the use of County-owned property. Such rules or regulations may not contravene the purposes of this section but shall be in addition to the requirements of this section.
(d) 
Violations. Any person who violates the provisions of this Subtitle or any rules or regulations adopted by the County Commissioners pursuant hereto shall be guilty of a civil infraction.
[Amended 11-10-1987 by Bill No. 87-5]
(a) 
Definitions. The following words, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, unless otherwise specifically defined in other parts of this section:
BOAT
A vessel or craft for use on the water or for navigating in or on the water.
COMMERCIAL FISHING
Fishing, fin-fishing, oystering, clamming, crabbing, shell-fishing and lobstering for financial profit and for trade or resale and not including sport or recreational fishing, etc.
COMMERCIAL SECTION
That portion of the West Ocean City Harbor wherein the County Commissioners have installed moorings, piles and piers and shall constitute an area as from time to time determined by the County Commissioners by resolution.
COUNTY BOAT RAMP
That portion of the West Ocean City Harbor wherein the County Commissioners have installed a boat ramp and shall constitute an area as from time to time determined by the County Commissioners by resolution.
WEST OCEAN CITY HARBOR
All that parcel of land, together with all appurtenances and advantages thereto, located on the southerly side of North Harbor Road in the tenth election district of Worcester County, Maryland, and fronting approximately one thousand feet on the northerly side of the Ocean City Harbor and binding upon the southerly side of said North Harbor Road a distance of nine hundred seventy-three and four-hundredths feet, more or less, and owned by the County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland.
(b) 
Division into sections. The County Commissioners hereby establish commercial and recreational sections in the West Ocean City Harbor, described as follows:
(1) 
Recreational section: the county boat ramp as described in Subsection (a) above.
(2) 
Commercial section: the commercial section as described in Subsection (a) above.
(3) 
Parking area: the entire area of the West Ocean City Harbor located north of the bulkhead and east of the easterly line of the county boat ramp extended in a northerly direction and shall be for both recreational and commercial uses.
(c) 
Limitation of uses.
(1) 
Recreational section. The recreational section, as herein described, shall be for the exclusive use of recreational boats as a boat ramp pursuant to its design. It shall be open to members of the public on a first-come-first-served basis. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to dock any boat in said recreational section other than for loading and unloading purposes and in case of an emergency. The Commissioners may, by resolution, provide for other recreational, educational and public service type uses, including the leasing of space.
(2) 
Commercial section. The commercial section is hereby established as an area for the exclusive use of commercial fishermen holding licenses pursuant to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the County Commissioners may reserve portions thereof for other public purposes as may be from time to time determined by the Commissioners.
(3) 
Parking area. It shall be unlawful for anyone to camp, tent, park overnight or inhabit the parking area of the county boat ramp.
(d) 
Division of commercial section into dock spaces. The commercial section shall be divided into dock spaces as may be from time to time determined by the Worcester County Commissioners for the purpose of the issuing of exclusive licenses to commercial fishermen for the use of the various dock spaces as they may be from time to time so determined. The County Commissioners shall charge a fee for the use of any dock space. Such fee shall be collected on at least an annual basis and shall be payable in advance. All dock spaces shall be leased pursuant to public bidding on a sealed-bid basis. Licenses for the use of dock spaces shall be in writing and signed by the parties thereto. Licenses shall be subject to cancellation by the County Commissioners and shall contain such other provisions and requirements as the Commissioners from time to time determine. Licenses shall provide that any licensee thereunder shall indemnify and hold harmless the County Commissioners from any and all damages on account of the granting of such licenses. The use of a dock space shall be in strict conformance with the terms of the license therefor and no one, other than the licensee and those claiming under him with such licensee's permission, shall use any licensed dock space for any purpose.
(e) 
Limitation on number of licenses. No license granted hereunder shall violate the provisions of Article 41 (Monopolies) of the Maryland Declaration of Rights, and the Commissioners shall make such investigations as they determine necessary to ensure that such provisions are complied with and make such determinations as they may see fit with regard to the real parties in interest to licenses, to the end that, to the extent possible, no one firm, person, corporation or organization shall hold more than one license nor shall be interested in more than one license. The County Commissioners shall be the final determining authority with regard to compliance with the provisions of this Subsection (e). The County Commissioners may deny the issuance of a license in the event of determination of a violation of this Subsection (e) or to any person who has been convicted of a violation of this section.
(f) 
Disposition of license fees. Any license fees collected hereunder shall be payable into the general fund of Worcester County.
(g) 
Violations. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil infraction.
[Amended 11-10-1987 by Bill No. 87-5]
(h) 
Transitional provisions. Nothing enacted in this section is intended to affect the provisions of any outstanding leases for the West Ocean City Harbor issued pursuant to Ordinance No. 35, the West Ocean City Harbor Management Ordinance previously in effect.
[Added 9-13-1988 by Bill No. 88-10; amended 1-12-1993 by Bill No. 92-19; 8-15-2023 by Bill No. 23-06]
(a) 
Definitions.
ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES
(1) 
Parking of vehicles used for transporting watercraft or passengers utilizing the landing;
(2) 
Crabbing and fishing; or
(3) 
Such other activities as may be permitted by the County Commissioners.
COMMERCIAL USER
An individual or entity using a County landing in a manner that is connected with or that furthers an ongoing profit-making activity.
COUNTY LANDINGS
Any dock, harbor, wharf, pier, or ramp owned, maintained, or operated by the County Commissioners of Worcester County.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
An individual or entity that operates earthmoving, construction, or industrial equipment that is mobile and weighs at least 1,500 pounds.
(b) 
Limitation on use.
(1) 
All County landings shall be used exclusively for the landing and retrieval of watercraft and ancillary activities.
(2) 
Commercial users are permitted to the extent that their use does not:
A. 
Create a conflict with the general boating public;
B. 
Interfere with recreational boaters' needs; or
C. 
Have the potential to damage the landing or related County property.
(c) 
Prohibited activities. The following activities are prohibited at County landings:
(1) 
Tenting, camping, or sleeping.
(2) 
Storage or warehousing of personal property.
(3) 
Anchoring, docking, mooring, or tying up to any County landing or its pilings.
(d) 
Heavy equipment operators using County landings must:
(1) 
Annually register with the County department designated to manage County landings; and
(2) 
Maintain adequate insurance as determined from time to time by the County Commissioners.
(e) 
Parking.
(1) 
From May 1 to September 30 of each year, commercial users and their patrons or guests are prohibited from occupying more than a total of two parking spaces in a landing's lot.
(2) 
The County may require payment for parking at any County landing.
(f) 
Impoundment of property. Any personal property left at any County landings without authorization will be subject to impoundment by the County Commissioners or the County Sheriff, who may charge a fee upon redemption in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of impoundment.
(g) 
Special use permits. Any person wishing a special use permit for an activity not permitted may apply in writing to the County Commissioners, who may, in their sole discretion, grant such permit.
(h) 
Violations.
(1) 
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil infraction.
(2) 
Each day of a violation constitutes a separate offense.