Anthony W. Barrett
city manager · active c. 1982–1989
City Manager of Ocean City through the decade in which the beach settlement was made. He briefed the council in April 1982 on the State's wish that it endorse the Trident Report, and on the funding shape that followed — the State carrying the bond and the town the operation and maintenance. On 18 January 1988 he asked the council to pass seven ordinances it had not read, as emergency measures, because the State was opening bids on the Beach Nourishment Project the next morning; Ordinances 1988-1 through 1988-7 passed that night. He also handled the budget amendment that paid for Mayor Harry Kelley's funeral in February 1985.
In the record (17)
1982 · 1982-04-05
The erosion the 1978 joint session had blamed on the jetties acquired a plan — the Trident Report — and with it the shape of every coastal deal that follows: the State builds it and the town maintains it
"…the upshot of the informal get-together with some of the people from the State was that they would really like to see this Council endorse the Trident Report … What was discussed was the continued annual approach to the State for jetty construction, as well as some type of state bond, passing a bond referendum for jetty construction based on the Trident Report." President Trimper: "would an acceptance of the Trident Report in any way accept the funding for the Trident Report?" Mr. Barrett: "…no, of course, they could not commit the State to any kind of funding package … a number of different options — that the State would take care of the bond issue, pay the interest and the payment on the bond — and one of the things discussed … was that the O & M cost, the operation and maintenance cost, would perhaps [fall elsewhere]." Kelley had written asking where the current year's jetty money had got to. Trimper was also told the town retained latitude: "if an emergency develops, you can go in there and put your own jetty."
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1982 · 1982-11-01
Reviewing the late-October northeaster the mayor said the winds had been only seven knots with more north than northeast in them, that the beaches had been low around 10 October, and that the town might get back into the jetty-building business
The mayor's agenda at the regular meeting of 1 November 1982. Kelley: "I'd like to talk about the storm and about the jetties and maybe throw a little political plug in there right at the end of it." He and City Manager Barrett had walked the Boardwalk "looking at the beaches and I feel it's important for the public to know that the jetties had built the beaches up to a real good position but around October 10th, we were low, we were hurting." "About ... 7:30 Monday night, we found out that the winds were only 7 knots which if anybody was up there on the Boardwalk watching the waves come in, they didn't have the wallop, there was more north to it than northeast, had they been more around to the eastward, the waves would have had more of a wallop and we could have possibly had the damage that was south of us and north of us." He doubted the two DNR-designed jetties could be built for "the 300,000 dollars," said "the city may end up getting back into the jetty building business," and urged anyone with friends in Caroline County to help re-elect Delegate John Hargreaves, chairman of Appropriations. Trimper: "That could be called a political plug, right?" The Coast Guard proclamation of 15 November dates the same storm's rescue to 25 October 1982.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1982 · 1982-12-06
The third annual Christmas on the Beach was set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday 21 December 1982, with Santa's sleigh going down the Boardwalk from South First Street to a tree-lighting at Caroline Street accompanied by the Stephen Decatur Show Choir
Under new business at the regular meeting of 6 December 1982 City Manager Barrett introduced Susan Seifried as the new Public Relations Officer. Seifried: "Christmas on the Beach this year, our third annual Christmas on the Beach is going to be held on December 21st, which is a Tuesday, at 10:00 A.M. and as usual, Santa Claus is going to come down the boardwalk in his sleigh starting at South First Street down to Caroline Street, which is where the tree lighting ceremony is going to be. This year, as far as entertainment goes, we are lucky enough to have the Stephen Decatur Show Choir accompany Santa on his sleigh down the boardwalk so there will be carols heard all around and Alonzi and his country band will also be performing at the Caroline Street location." She invited the Mayor, Council and City Manager "to ride along with Santa in the sleigh," promised candy canes and bleachers, and said "if we have a White Christmas, it doesn't start until after the activities." The mayor would give his traditional address. Earlier the same morning the city had handed out five-, ten- and fifteen-year service awards to employees - three blue sapphires for five years, three rubies for ten, two sapphires and a diamond for fifteen - with Larry Lewis of Public Works marked absent, "out putting up Christmas lights."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1983 · 1983-08-01
A request to keep a python in a 5th Street apartment died when the applicant failed to appear, and the council sent the police chief to evict the snake personally
On the 1 August 1983 agenda: "Approval to shelter a python snake in a residence on 5th Street, presented by John Anderson." No one came forward. Councilman Ellis: "The snake must have ate him." President Trimper: "The snake got him. (LAUGHTER). Well, moving right along, the snake wins again." Councilman Duggan established from the city manager that the snake was already in town, said the request "has always been voted down," and moved that the ordinance be enforced. Fire Marshal Lankford explained that one of his inspectors "walks into a snake" in a building and "wouldn't go back into the apartment." Trimper: "All right, who gets the honor of evicting the snake?" City Manager Barrett: "The Police Chief will take care of it tomorrow." Duggan: "Is he going to delegate that or handle it himself?" Barrett: "I think that is something he personally ought to handle."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1983 · 1983-12-19
Delmarva Power and Light let the town hang its Christmas decorations on its poles in 1983 only on condition they stayed unlit, citing union men who would refuse to climb a decorated pole - "Scrooge takes over," said the council president
Councilman Duggan on 19 December 1983: "I hope next year we improve on the Christmas decorations (APPLAUSE and CHEERS FROM PRESIDENT TRIMPER) I honestly think they are very, very poor." Councilman Moore: "Wait a minute, D.P.&L won't let us put them up on the poles?" Trimper: "They would not, but they finally agreed they could be put up but not lighted." City Manager Barrett: "they claim, union problems, the man will go there and refuse to climb the pole if the Christmas decorations are on it and they have other problems with running electricity to it, however, I must say that after yelling at them they were happy to do it in the spirit of Christmas and they did allow us to put the decorations up on the poles unlighted and they assured me that we can work something out for next year." Trimper: "every other little town in the country is allowed to put them on D.P.&L light poles and they are lighted in every other little town but in Ocean City because of our unique situation I am sure, Scrooge takes over and we don't get the lights lit ... They are pretty decorations, but you can't see them." Duggan: "Well, what I can't see, I don't like."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1984
The Maryland Coast Dispatch was founded in 1984 — the first local paper since the Democratic Messenger stopped in February 1973 — but its online archive does not reach back this far
Eleven years without a hometown paper in this corpus, ended in principle and not yet in practice. Twenty-seven meetings this year. Mayor Harry W. Kelley; President Trimper, with Acting President Hurley; Councilmen Ellis, Deutsch; Councilwoman Conner; City Manager Barrett; Guy Ayres, City Solicitor.
Harry W. KelleyMrs. George B. ConnerGuy R. Ayres III
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1985 · 1985-02-18
Boy Scout Troop 261 came to the first council meeting after Kelley's funeral and were handed 'Supreme Order of Sun Power' certificates the dead mayor had already signed
Regular meeting of 18 February 1985, the evening Granville Trimper took the oath as mayor. President Hurley: "I'd like this evening to recognize our local Boy Scout Troop. I believe I belonged to that Troop at one time - #263 is that the number?" ("261.") Mayor Trimper: "I have some certificates of Supreme Order of Sun Power which Mayor Kelley had signed and if you all would come up as I call your name I'd like to give those to you." He called Trevor Steadman, Scott Hammerbacher, Bruce Bossaker, John Bradford, Chad Dolman, Steve Cropper, Mitch Yunson and Ricky West; one boy, Teddy McCrobie, had no certificate. Councilman Moore: "it's probably one of the last things that the Mayor personally signed so I would definitely hope that you hold on to them forever and Teddy, don't feel too left out because you'll probably get the first signature of the new Mayor on yours." Earlier in the same meeting City Manager Barrett asked that the Washington Police Department be thanked for sending men "to work with our Honor Guard" at the funeral.
Harry W. KelleyGranville Trimper
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-02-21
Harry Kelley died in office after fifteen years as mayor, and the council voted unanimously to pay for his funeral in a special session that also required a budget amendment
The minutes do not eulogise; they show the shape of it. On 21 January Kelley chairs, as he has since 1970. On 4 February the attendance line reads "ABSENT: MAYOR HARRY W. KELLEY," and President Trimper reads the American Heart Month proclamation "in Mayor Kelley's absence" — a proclamation about a disease that "this year will kill nearly one million Americans." On 21 February, in special session: Councilman Ellis — "In view of recent events and the death and the loss of the Mayor, funeral expenses are… I think the Council has voted to go ahead, unanimously by the way, and pick up the Mayor's funeral expenses. It's going to require an amendment to the budget." Councilman Duggan: "Do you have any idea of the cost?" City Manager Barrett: "I've got a ball-park figure… I will not get the bill — the funeral home has not tendered us a…" Mayor Trimper: "I think you might as well wait until you have the final figures and then announce it." By that session Granville Trimper is Mayor and George Hurley is President.
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1985 · 1985-04-01
For the 1985 Fourth of July the council opened a Grucci bid of $35,000 and a Vitale bid of $5,500 for the same thirty-minute electrically fired show, and voted for thirty minutes
Regular meeting of 1 April 1985, bid opening for fireworks. Councilman Ellis read the Grucci Fireworks bid (New York Pyrotechnics Products Company, Bellport, N.Y.): electronically fired displays of 20, 30 and 40 minutes at $25,000, $35,000 and $45,000; manually fired at $9,500, $12,500 and $15,500; "in the electronically fired display for $25,000 there's 1367 shells. In the manually fired display there's 468 shells." Mayor Trimper, on Grucci: "They always bid." Then Vitale Fireworks Display Company of New Castle, Pennsylvania: "These bids I think will make you a little happier" - electronic 20, 30 and 40 minutes at $4,500, $5,500 and $6,350. Councilman Moore moved to consider the 30-minute show, Duggan seconded, with the low bidder to be recommended after City Manager Barrett and Susan Siefried evaluated shell counts. On 15 April WWTR-FM was allowed to co-sponsor the display with "a sound track of appropriate selections of music" broadcast live "via remote microwave transmission."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-08-19
Six inches of rain fell on Ocean City overnight in August 1985, put the town on CNN, and drew from the city manager the observation that in a beach community the water goes away an hour later
Regular meeting of 19 August 1985. City Manager Barrett: "I would like to publicly compliment our City Engineer and Public Works staff and the public safety entities that were involved in the six inches of rain that we had. They did a very good job of keeping things together and answering all the calls; we had a lot of calls. Thank goodness we live in a beach community where an hour later the water goes away." Councilman Hurley: "Not now, they're going to put hot mix on all of them." Councilman Ellis: "It just gets to the bay quicker, George." Council President Trimper: "I understand we made national news on CNN with the six inches of rain overnight." Mayor Powell: "You have the National Park Service that says we'll take eleven inches." Barrett: "Eight over a twenty-four-hour period." Trimper: "I would think it was more than six inches; it sure seemed like it." Ellis: "how full was the bay with water?" Powell: "Before they dredged it out it didn't bother us as much." The index heads the item "City Manager compliments City for work during heavy rainfall."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1985 · 1985-10-07
Hurricane Gloria enters the 1985 council record only at the first meeting after it, as a round of public thanks and a newspaper line about a steady hand on the helm
Gloria passed the coast on 27 September 1985; the next council meeting was 7 October. City Manager Barrett: "as the City Manager I want to again publicly thank our staff people for their response to Gloria (hurricane), also the City employees, the Police and Fire Companies, Ladies Auxiliary, all the utility companies... the State Highway Patrol, State Highway Department, everyone did a fine job and pitched in at our time of need." Mayor Powell: "I'd like to join with Tony in commending all the City employees for their fine work during the storm... but I think the people that really deserve some credit are the people of Ocean City and the visitors who adhered to any request that the Mayor and City Council asked for. They performed very well. There was not any confusion." Councilman Ellis: "one of the most succinct comments about the whole thing with the storm was done by I think it was Linda Kanamine in the paper. I think the comment was about the steady hand on the helm of the ship of State." A visiting speaker from the state firemen's convention said he "heard nothing but compliments and no criticisms of the actions taken by the City officials." Councilman Hurley was not sent to a conference on "Post Storm Restoration" ("$15.00 Registration Fee and a tank of gas"); the mayor said he was needed at home. What the storm did to the town is not described; the boardwalk engineer's assessment came on 18 November and the bill in January 1986.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1986 · 1986-01-06
The council met fifty-two times in 1986 — the first year it sat weekly — and opened the year by lifting a building moratorium
"DISCUSSION ON BUILDING MORATORIUM … Then I think we probably need a motion to go ahead and lift the building moratorium." Mayor Roland E. Powell in his first full year; Council President Granville Trimper; Councilmen Duggan, Meehan, Moore, Ellis, Trumpower, Hurley; City Manager Anthony W. Barrett; City Solicitor Guy Ayres III; City Engineer Dennis Dare; City Planner Jesse Houston; Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith; Clerk/Treasurer Sheldon Dietert. In 1946 the council met thirty-one times; in 1957, forty; now every week of the year.
Rick MeehanDennis W. DareGranville TrimperGuy R. Ayres IIIJesse Houston
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1987 · 1987-09-06
Red Skelton played the Fourth Annual Saltwater Festival on 6 September 1987, and the new councilman thanked the staff for bringing "a living legend" to town
Councilman Trumpower announced at the 6 July 1987 meeting that "in our continuing concert series, the Fourth Annual Saltwater Festival will have Red Skelton on September 6th at 8 P.M. for anyone who has not seen a living legend." Mayor Powell: "Is that on the menu or what? Red Skelton? Is that like Red Snapper?" The festival's fireworks were bid on 20 July - "they're all for $5,000" - and remanded to staff. At the meeting of 7 September Councilman Hall "wanted to thank Bob Rothermel, Tony Barrett, and the City staff for putting together the Red Skelton Show and the fireworks. I thought it was just an absolutely excellent affair, well managed. We were out of there quickly on the parking. I think it was a first-class entertainment and the City should be very proud of it." President Trimper: "I'm proud that we brought a man of Mr. Skelton's calibre." Councilman Trumpower: "A nice fellow too."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1987 · 1987-09-21
The City Manager apologised in open session to the north end of town for the smell from chicken manure an employee had ordered for Northside Park to save on fertiliser
At the regular meeting of 21 September 1987 City Manager Barrett said: "I have one other matter which I want to apologize to some of our citizens who live in the northwest quadrant of the City. We had a problem where some chicken manure was ordered for Northside Park and it was placed at Northside Park unbeknownst to myself. The phone rang off the hook... In all deference to the City employee who ordered such, he thought he was saving us some money instead of using chemical fertilizers. It caused me a great deal more concern and I apologize to those of you who live in the north end." Councilman Hurley recalled the previous year's complaint about "the odd scent that existed in downtown Ocean City" - "I reported that it was 50 tons of chicken manure that had been dumped on the Airport... that low, no-good land out there yielded 23 bushels of soybeans an acre so it does work." Steckman: "But we're not growing that up in Northside Park however." The clerk's synopsis called it the "fowl" odor.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1988
The year the sand was actually pumped is recorded here from forty-eight sets of council minutes and nothing else
About 1.67 million characters. Mayor Roland E. Powell; Council President Granville Trimper; Councilmen Feehley, Hurley, Meehan, Steckman, Trumpower, Hall; City Manager Anthony W. Barrett; City Solicitor Guy Ayres III; City Clerk Carol Davis. The environmental groups whose objection Hurley describes are known to this record only through the mouths of the men who waited them out.
Rick MeehanA. C. DavisGranville TrimperGuy R. Ayres III
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1988 · 1988-01-18
Ten years of argument about the beach ended with the council passing seven ordinances it had never read, as emergency measures, to catch a bid opening the next morning
"this is somewhat of an unusual request involving this first set of ordinances which you really have not seen … the bids will be opened tomorrow for the Beach Nourishment Project and Jim Peck called me late on Thursday afternoon and asked if there was any way that we could get the ordinances that we needed … so that they could go immediately once these bids have been received by the State … they then go immediately to the Board of Public Works … my request of you this evening, because of the important nature of the Beach Nourishment Project, is that you, this one time, indulge us and go ahead and pass these as an emergency." — City Manager Barrett. Councilman Hurley asked the only question that mattered — "Have you personally gone over this and does it satisfy you?" — and Ordinances 1988-1 through 1988-7 passed that night.
Source · checked 2026-09-02
1989
Forty-nine meetings, about 1.32 million characters, and still one source — sixteen years after the county paper stopped
City Manager Barrett; City Solicitor Ayres; City Engineer Dennis Dare; City Planner Jesse Houston. The Maryland Coast Dispatch was five years old and the Maryland Times-Press had been publishing since November 1988, held at Enoch Pratt. Neither is in this corpus.
Dennis W. DareGuy R. Ayres IIIJesse Houston
Source · checked 2026-09-02