OCEAN CITY — The City Council this week renewed its agreement with the Downtown Association to continue to operate the Boardwalk Information Cottage on Caroline Street with a little boost in funding.

As the name implies, the familiar cottage at Caroline Street is a conduit for pertinent information about the Boardwalk and the resort in general from where the restrooms are to when the trams run, when the fireworks start and everything in between. For the past seven years, the Downtown Association has operated it, staffing it largely with volunteers and a handful of paid employees.

On Tuesday, the Downtown Association came before the Mayor and Council seeking a renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding to operate the cottage along with a modest hike in funding to keep it going later on summer evenings and later in the season in general. With more and more special events later at night in the summer, including weekly fireworks and laser shows, the demand has increased.

Downtown Association President Mary Ann Manganello explained the cottage is operated from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends in May and September and from noon to at least 8 p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Originally, the association was tasked with manning the cottage from Memorial Day to Labor Day for a total of 336 hours. Now, however, with an increased demand the cottage is manned 993 hours.

“We have operated it for seven years and each year the hours have expanded,” said Manganello. “We’re staying open later and later and we’re asking for a small amount of funding increase. It’s hard to get volunteers to stay later in the evening.”

Manganello explained the cottage is staffed largely with volunteers, but there are a couple of paid employees that oversee the operation. In addition, there are costs for telephone and Internet service at the cottage along with other materials. The association was seeking an additional $500 for the 2016 season, taking the town’s total commitment to $5,250.

According to Manganello, last year over 32,000 visitors requested help or information. The association collected over 10,000 visitor zip codes and distributed thousands of visitor guides, coupons and brochures.

Councilmember Mary Knight recognizes thuable service.

“It’s amazing what you do with so little money,” she said. “People really appreciate it and almost nobody complains. Once in a while, they even help locate lost children.”