Council President· 2014-11-01–2026-11-05 (month-level start: November 2014 first elected to council per oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/mayor-and-city-council/; re-elected 2018 and 2022 cycle; end: organizational meeting Thursday November 5, 2026 after the November 3, 2026 election per oceancitymd.gov/oc/?p=2923, seat elected in 2022 for a staggered 4-year term per oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/form-of-government/)
Matt James
Ocean City
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 35
- Total speaking time
- 4:09:41
- Avg per meeting
- 7:08
- Segments
- 5280
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Top issues during term (19)(Public Safety)
Philadelphia Avenue Flooding Closure Policy
Rental inspection program efficiency
Inspection staffing added across planning and fire marshal offices; a $100 citation and court-notice confusion was cited by one operator.
2026 municipal election field confirmed
Each candidate paid the $25 filing fee; the town bears election costs at the convention center.
Board of Supervisors of Elections vacancy filled
Fire Prevention Commission Restructuring
Homelessness in Sunset Park and the Boardwalk
Fire department GPS tracking for missing dementia patients
About $25,000 requested from the discretionary fund.
Sign obstruction at 26th Street and Bayshore Drive
State short-term rental fire safety law
Owners face costs for interconnected alarms and evacuation signage; the town faces a potential annual inspection burden on ~9,000 units.
$90 bicycle ticket for J-1 student
A $90 municipal fine now applies to certain bicycle traffic violations, well above the $50 maximum for most other infractions.
Nor'easter Storm Response Recognition
National Safe Boating Week
Redundant 911 microwave link
About $105,256 in communications funding within a $210,488 budget increase.
Real-time crime center and Axon technology expansion
The Axon contract alone rises about $455,000, part of a $3 million police budget increase, with drone and expansion costs targeted for grant funding.
Battalion chief pay and shift alignment
Reflected within the $1.54 million Fire/EMS budget increase; shifts overtime backfill costs to a fixed salary structure.
Fire Station #4 apron project
The low bid of $58,919 is well under the $210,000 budget.
65th Street Service Center Renovations
About $1.29 million awarded, with spending authority up to roughly $1.47 million.
USPS mail delays in Ocean City
Fire-safety staircase variance at 202 8th Street
Alternatives such as fire-rated doors and windows or a sprinkler system would be far more costly for the building owner.
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while James was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Public Safety.
Voting record (0)(Public Safety)
No votes found matching Public Safety.