Knupp family lawyer snipes at OPA statement calling MOC opponents out for ‘vengeance’

Parks calls for dialogue with ‘Do It for Gavin’ supporters but not before he accuses them of bullying, harassment and disrupting the community and its financial interests

By TOM STAUSS Publisher

The lawyer for the family of the Ocean Pines teenager killed last summer in a hit and run accident called out Ocean Pines Association President Doug for “elevating” the OPA’s own interests ahead of residents they were elected to serve, but only after he said the family of the late Gavin Knupp would not be responding to a prepared statement highly critical of the “Do It for Gavin” supporters.

Knupp family attorney Neil Dubovsky according to a recent account in a local weekly said rather than respond to Parks broadside in a “back and forth”, family members and supporters “remain focused on the [Gavin Knupp Foundation and honoring Gavin’s memory.”

Dubovsky did not define what OPA interests Parks was promoting, but it most likely referred to Parks’s statement that a continued campaign against the Matt Ortt Companies in the form of protests, boycotts and “bullying of the business staff ... and threatening organizations, customers and OPA board members” at some point “will affect us financially, which in turn will most likely lead to an increase in annual assessments. We must continue to do what it takes to protect our community and the amenities we have paid to enjoy.”

Parks said a series of targeted actions against MOC by the “Justice for Gavin” and “Do It for Gavin” groups “demonstrated a move from jus- tice to support for vengeance.”

Dubovsky did not respond to that allegation.

Parks later walked back somewhat the statement that annual assessments will increase as a result of the anti-MOC campaign.

In a response to Dubovsky’s snipe about the OPA putting its financial interests ahead of the interests of OPA members, Parks said that “we can’t ignore the potential impact these effects could have on our operations.”

So far there has been no measurable impact on food and beverage revenues by the anti-MOC campaign, but there has been some lost business, a gathering of the Raven’s Roost organization and some weddings that were canceled.

Other weddings have been booked to replace those that were canceled, with the Yacht Club still one of the go-to venues for nuptials in the area. Recent nights at the Yacht Club with booked live entertainment have been packed, according to those who were there, and this is before the annual onslaught of summer residents arrive en masse.

But Parks said that if these efforts to hurt MOC-managed Ocean {ones businesses are suc-

Saying About

Parks statement

From Page 7 cessful, it “could” turn what have been profitable enterprises for the OPA into a net loser.

Amenity losses historically have been subsidized by higher annual assessments than otherwise would be necessary. The OPA has actually decreased assessments for two consecutive fiscal years.

The “will” was converted into a softer “could” in his response to Dubovsky.

Parks wondered what the lawyer meant when he suggested that the interests of OPA members had been diminished in Parks’s March 18 statement.

“We responded because of many emails from our members asked us what we were planning to do” about the anti-MOC campaign, he said.

Rick Farr, the OPA vice-president, recently told the Progress that most of what the Board has heard from residents is support for MOC, with some hate mail and threats in the mix.

After some charged commentary in his March 18 statement, in which he itemizes some examples of harassment and bullying, Parks suggested that dialog might turn down the heat on a divisive community issue.

“We would welcome a conversation with representatives from the Do It For Gavin group with the hope of understanding why they want to disrupt the Ocean Pines community and how their actions would serve to move forward with justice. Trust that justice regarding this case is what all of us want. Perhaps we could convince them that their anger should be directed towards those who are in charge of the investigation,” Parks said.

He later clarified that he is aware that investigations are not overnight affairs and that he is not advocating protests against the Maryland State Police or the Worcester County State’s attorney.

Dubovsky in his brief remarks did not respond to Parks’s call for dialog.

“I can’t predict what anyone will do,” Parks said, suggesting that perhaps in time some cooler heads in the Do It for Gavin group will agree to discussions. He was less conciliatory in his March 18 statement.

“When will they stop? I can answer that – they won’t!!” he said. “This is a call to all Ocean Pines Association members – raise your voices and be heard. We cannot let this