OCEAN CITY, Md. -- Over the past 40 days, critics of recently passed short-term rental restrictions have collected signatures. On Monday morning, petitioners submitted their work to Ocean City's City Clerk, and it looks like the group garnered enough signatures to put this issue before voters.
At 11:30 a.m., four people with the group OCMD Property Rights walked down a flight of stairs at City Hall. The group had just exited the office of City Clerk Diana Chavis, who had reviewed and approved 1,327 signatures over the course of several hours.
Terry Miller with OCMD Property Rights said it was a proud moment, given the hard work it took to collect that many signatures in a short time span.
"We needed 991 to bring it to referendum, we have 1,327," said Miller. "Now they need to get verified, it's a long process, but we hope that they will see that the people have spoken."
In March, Ocean City leaders passed new short-term rental restrictions, establishing a minimum length of stay in certain neighborhoods. This contentious decision barely passed after a 4-3 vote.
Miller believed there was just as much debate among Ocean City voters. So, with the help of other neighbors, including Robert Knauer, OCMD Property Rights launched into a 40-day marathon.
"We went door-to-door, we talked with the people," said Knauer. "I was very hesitant on how this was going to operate, how this was going to work at first, but when we talked with the people, 9 out of 10 people were insupportof us."
All 1,327 signatures still need to be verified by Ocean City's Board of Elections. If at least 991 signatures get the green light, the Board of Elections will notify the mayor and city council.
"Then the decision of the mayor and council becomes, do they hold a special election for the referendum or do they wait and put it on the ballot for the next scheduled election," said City Manager Terry McGean.
City officials said they have notified the Board of Elections of the approved signatures. However, they could not provide a timeline for verifying all the signatures.
If and when the signatures are verified, enforcement of the town's short-term rental ordinance will be suspended until an election occurs.