August 2020 Ocean Pines Progress by Ocean Pines Progress

Perrone selected OPA president in 4-3 vote by board

August 2020

Larry Perrone was elected by his colleagues in an Aug. 12 organizational meeting of the Board of Directors to serve as president of the Ocean Pines Association for the coming year. The vote was 4-3. Voting for Perrone were directors Colette Horn, Frank Daly and Camille Rogers. Voting for Steve Tuttle were Tom Janasek and Doug Parks, with Perrone and Tuttle voting for themselves. ~Page 6

OPA members OK electronic voting by two to one margin Ocean Pines Association members have endorsed electronic voting in annual OPA board of directors elections by a two to one margin, but that doesn’t mean it will happen in 2021 elections. ~ Page 10

COVER STORY

Perrone says OPA may need community referendum for Bainbridge Park drainage project New OPA president says that $550,000 in initial tranche of state funding won’t cover project cost By TOM STAUSS Publisher n remarks shortly after being elected president of the Ocean Pines Association on Aug. 12, Larry Perrone announced that the $550,000 received last month in a grant for the Bainbridge park drainage project will be insuffiicient to cover its estimated cost. Perrone suggested that the difference between the estimated cost and the grant might have to be covered by OPA members. “It now appears that it may become a referendum issue,” Perrone said. “We’re planning, in September, to have the General Manager give a complete presentation on the scope of that project, the cost, the funding, the impact on our profit and loss statement, and the impact on our homeowners’ assessments.” Perrone said that while “we were fortunate to get a grant of approximately $550,000, my understanding is that is about a third of what we were hoping for and the project cost has grown recently,” he continued. “It’s an issue that needs to be brought to the community’s attention.” Perrone added there may be more grant funds available next year, but, “this whole project may exceed our referendum number.”

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GM ‘interference’ in presidential selection alleged The Board of Directors has scheduled a closed session on Monday, Aug. 17, to hear a complaint that General Manager John Viola may have interfered in the election for board president in the Aug. 12 organizational meeting by influencing “swing vote” Camille Rogers in her decision to vote for Larry Perrone. Possible interference in the election by Viola was alleged by Director Tom Janasek, who told the Progress that there is written evidence that Rogers had discussed the competing candidacies of Perrone and former vice-president Steve Tuttle with Viola and was influenced by Viola. ~ Page 8

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“Because of the size of this project, my preference would be to make sure that the community is aware of what we’re talking about here,” he said. “Up to this point, I think everyone felt … that the $550,000 was going to be the amount of money to do the project – and it’s not even close.” Larry Perrone Perrone said he hoped many people from the community would attend the Sept. 9 Board meeting when the issue will be discussed. “This is a very important issue and it could be a very expensive issue,” he said. The Progress has learned that the estimated cost of the project is $2.2 million. The project includes piping stormwater from the Bainbridge Park pond across Beauchamp Road to a holding pond that would be built on property owned by Bluewater Consulting, which plans to build a single-family development on the property to be called Evergreen. Stormwater after filtering To Page 5

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OCEAN PINES Bainbridge drainage From Page 1

in the holding pond would then be piped out through an outfall to the St. Martin River. In addition to the $550,000 received in the state grant, the OPA had already budgeted $611,000 this year for drainage improvements. That leaves a $1 million shortfall, not including a possible additional expense for the purchase of land for the new holding pond. County Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell said the county in cooperation with the OPA drainage team headed by Logistical Operations Director Colby Phillips would apply for additional grants from the state Department of Natural Resources, and that the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is working to obtain federal grant money. He said there are no guarantees, and that the project might have to be implemented over a number of years to reflect receipt of various 20 Headlines-Ad 8/3/2020 3:39 PM Page 1 grants. Alternatively, Mitchell said the funds could be repurposed and the project “rescoped” to achieve a good

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS result with the $550,000. He said that the OPA has already contributed extensively to engineering costs related to designing a shovel-ready drainage project. As for the possible acquisition costs associated with a new holding pond on the Bluewater property, Perrone confirmed that the OPA had received a letter from the developer saying that the OPA would have to purchase the property for the pond. He declined to give additional details. County commissioner Jim Bunting, whose district includes a portion of Ocean Pines, said he hadn’t heard about the purchase demand and would check into it. He suggested that the county might not go along with it since eventually the developer would need to build the pond to accommodate its own stormwater requirements. As proposed, pond construction would be paid for by grant funds and eventually Bluewater would be allowed to use it. OPA Director Tom Janasek in a comment to the Progress said he thought Perrone’s reference to a possible referendum was premature and that he’s heard that some coun-

ty officials wonder why it would be necessary to tax Ocean Pines property owners for the project shortfall. He said the better approach is to allow the county and the OPA drainage team, and organizations like Coastal Bays, to continue to solicit grant money. The OPA on July 23 announced the award of $549,000 in state grant money for drainage improvements. Funds will come from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a “Shingle Landing Prong Watershed” proposal. The application was sent in last year. According to DNR, the money will pay for water quality improvements and improved flooding protection by retrofitting Bainbridge Pond, as well as improvements to outfall channels within Ocean Pines and at Windmill Creek. The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund will pay for the proposal, DNR said. “The team started working on this project last summer after looking through studies that were done decades ago on drainage issues,” Phillips said. She said that Bunting and his

colleague on the county commission, Chip Bertino, were both very active on drainage and helped through the process. “They both assisted in getting this grant proposal approved for submission to receive funds for our community, as we must go through the county for all grants,” Phillips said. She added that “Bob Mitchell and Bobby Shockley with the county were both huge assets of this team, as were Rich Polk and Eric Jones with Vista design, Board President Doug Parks, Public Works Director Eddie Wells, and Kevin Smith and Steve Farr with MD Coastal Bays. It was a true team effort. “Drainage, stormwater runoff and water quality are all huge issues, and I am so excited that we are heading in the right direction to make improvements in Ocean Pines that will not only assist stormwater issues with homeowners, but also the quality of our coastal waters,” Phillips added. Bertino also said it was a team effort, and a big win in getting money from the state into Ocean Pines for such a critical issue.

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August 2020

Perrone elected OPA president

Parks, Horn coast to re-election

arry Perrone was elected by his colleagues in an Aug. 12 organizational meeting of the Board of Directors to serve as president of the Ocean Pines Association for the coming year. The vote was 4-3. Voting for Perrone were directors Colette Horn, Frank Daly and Camille Rogers. Voting for Steve Tuttle were Tom Janasek and Doug Parks, with Perrone and Tuttle voting for themselves. Also elected were Horn as vice-president, Parks as treasurer, and Rogers continuing as secretary. Michelle Bennett was appointed executive secretary, Steve Phillips assistant treasurer, and Jeremey Tucker general counsel. The board retained its auditing firm. The directors did not immediately choose a parliamentarian. The organizational meeting took place within days of the conclusion

of this summer’s board election, in which incumbents Parks and Horn breezed to reelection. Parks captured 2,206 votes and Horn 1,801. The third place finisher, Stuart Lakernick, earned 1,149 votes. Parks and Horn were elected for three-year terms, after which OPA bylaws prohibit them from running again for the board for at least one year. Directors also set the regular Board meeting schedule for the coming year, with each meeting scheduled in the Assateague Room of the Ocean Pines Community Center on 235 Ocean Parkway. Regular Board meetings were scheduled as follows: •Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.; •Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. •Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. •Saturday, Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. •Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

•Saturday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. •Saturday, March 20 at 9 a.m. •Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. •Saturday, May 15 at 9 a.m. •Wednesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. •Wednesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. After the meeting, Perrone thanked his predecessor, Parks, who had served as president since 2017. “I and the rest of the Board want to thank Doug Parks for last three years, serving as president and agreeing to step up as treasurer going forward,” Perrone said. “Doug has put a lot of time and effort into the community, and he’s done a good job.” Perrone said the biggest issue over the next year was likely to be “dealing with the covid-19 [pandemic] … whether or not that goes into next summer and managing our financial situation through that.” Another issue is the Bainbridge

Doug Parks

Colette Horn

Park drainage project, Perrone said. [See Cover Story in this edition of the Progress for details.] He said he hoped that the board would continue to operate in a collegial manner as it has this past year. The 2020 ballots also included a question regarding the possible use of electronic voting in future elections. A total of 1,581, or 65.8 percent, were in favor of electronic voting, while 822, or 34.2 percent, said they were not in favor. In total, there were 2,403 responses to the question. [See separate article in this edition of the Progress for details.]

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8 Ocean Pines PROGRESS August 2020 New OPA officers

Special meeting called to hear allegations of GM ‘interference’ in board voting for president Janasek unhappy with Rogers for ‘reneging’ on commitment to vote for Tuttle for president; Rogers says there was no deal By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors has scheduled a closed session on Monday, Aug. 17, to hear a complaint that General Manager John Viola may have interfered in the election for board president in the Aug. 12 organizational meeting by influencing “swing vote” Camille Rogers in her decision to vote for Larry Perrone. Possible interference in the election by Viola was alleged by Director Tom Janasek, who told the Progress that there is written evidence that Rogers had discussed the competing candidacies of Perrone and former vice-president Steve Tuttle with Viola and was influenced by Viola. Janasek said that Viola should have opted out of offering any views on the competing candidates for president when asked. Janasek also said that Rogers had reneged on what he regarded as a commitment to vote for Tuttle as part of an agreement in which the

board would also vote for reelected director Colette Horn for vice-president and former president Doug Parks for treasurer. Janasek bowed out as a potential vice-president as part of the agreement as a way of securing Rogers’ support for Horn as vice-president, he said. The agreement -- Rogers later denied that there was one -- apparently unraveled sometime before the Aug. 12 organizational meeting. Voting for Perrone as president were Horn, Rogers and Frank Daly, as well as Perrone. Voting for Tuttle were Janasek, Doug Parks and Tuttle. The Progress has obtained a copy of a text message exchanged by Rogers and a friend, Ocean Pines property owner and resident Debbie Bloom, which indicate Rogers said she “based [her decision to vote for Perrone] on my conversation with John Viola last night.” In the text message, it was clear that Rogers agonized over the deci-

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sion in favor of Perrone. “This was a horrible decision to have to make,” she wrote. “I hated being the swing vote. I had to make a decision after interviewing everyone and then speaking to John (Viola). I think the world of Steve. I am so sorry I disappointed you,” she told her friend. Bloom responded that Rogers’ decision “was not what you said (you’d do),” adding that she would not say what she could say “now, but this (the decision to go with Perrone as president) will be a shi--show with staff. Awful decision.” After Rogers said she based her decision on her conversation with Viola, Bloom told Rogers that “that could be the problem. I am sad for our community.” She concluded by saying they could talk later. In a follow-up interview, Bloom said that she and Rogers talked briefly the following day, with Rogers offering the clarification that “John did not tell me how to vote.” She also told Bloom that she would be willing to offer a detailed explanation for why she voted as she had. Bloom said she’s not quite ready for that conversation, but may be in time. “Right now it would be too difficult to sit and be cordial,” she said. She said she’s so unhappy with Rogers’ vote that it may cost them their friendship. “It would be her doing,” Bloom said. “It’s sad. I campaigned for her, had a yard sign.” Tuttle in comments to the Progress said he thought he would have Rogers’ support in his bid for the q

From Page 6 The Elections Committee released a breakdown of overall voting totals. According to committee Chairman Steve Habeger, 6,975 total ballots were mailed. A total of 2,759 ballots were counted, for a return of 39.6 percent, including 2,745 scanned ballots and 14 manually counted ballots. A total of 20 ballots were rejected, including 18 which were marked improperly or included comments on the ballot, and two which used improper return envelopes. In addition, 60 ballots were not counted because they were received one day after the Aug. 5 deadline. Including rejected and late ballots, the total 2020 return rate was 40.7 percent. By way of comparison, 7,957 ballots were mailed in 2019, and 3,073 were counted, for a 38.6 percent return rate. Also in 2019, seven ballots were declared invalid, including four which were marked improperly or included comments on the ballot, and three which voted for more than the allowed number of candidates. Forty-six ballots were received after the voting deadline, including 42 received two days late and four received four days after the deadline. Including rejected and late ballots, the 2019 return rate was 39.2 percent

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Ocean Pines property owners endorse electronic voting by two to one margin

Elections Committee chair ‘not enthused” about implementation next summer By TOM STAUSS Publisher cean Pines Association members have endorsed electronic voting in annual OPA board of directors elections by a two to one margin, but that doesn’t mean it will happen in 2021 elections. Elections Committee chairman Steve Habeger told the Progress in an Aug. 9 telephone interview that had voters not endorsed electronic in balloting that concluded Aug. 7, the idea would have been taken off the table. But now that voters have spoken -- 1,581 were in favor and 822 opposed -- it will be up to the committee to investigate whether the concept is cost-effective and feasible operationally, Habeger said. That might take some time, and he didn’t seem optimistic that the committee would be ready to implement electronic voting by next summer’s balloting. That means that the traditional mail-in voting will likely be in place when ballots are mailed out next July. “I’m not enthused” about trying to implement electronic voting next summer,” he said, preferring to focus on improving use of the new equipment and software that the OPA purchased for first-time use this summer. Included in those purchases was a new scanner by Fujitsu, new software called Snap Survey that compiles ballot information, and a new laptop computer not connected to

the Internet that runs the software. The new system replaces the clunkly Scantron equipment that required manual feeding of ballots and several hours of work by the Elections Committee to oversee the count. The committee retained the services of Tom Gulyas of Ace Printing and Mailing in nearby Berlin to process the ballots this summer as he has done for many years, using the new software and hardware that is much more robust and faster when producing results. Unlike past summers, the committee’s labors on the day of counting, traditionally the Friday before the scheduled annual meeting on the second Saturday in August, was limited to “adjudicating” whether problem ballots identified by the Snap Survey software could be cast or had to be invalidated. Habeger said he believes Gulyas actually scanned in the ballots himself in his Berlin office, with the contents contained in 11 PDFs (portable document files) of about 250 ballots each. The separate PDFs were combined by Snap Survey, which also identified ballots that required scrutiny by committee members. OPA bylaws require invalidating ballots with extraneous markings -such as messages to the OPA board -- or those that vote for more candidates than the number of board seats to be filled. A few of these errors occur every year, Habeger said. He was unconcerned about the initial scanning of ballots that occurs outside the presence of commit-

tee members. “We hold ballots for a year at least and they can be checked if anyone asks for a recount,” he said. Committee board liaison Steve Tuttle said that given the fact that a significant number of property owners oppose electronic voting and some don’t have computer systems, there might have to be some sort of hybrid system in place that combines electronic voting with a mailin option. How a hybrid system could be implemented is an open question. Habeger said he was unaware of any voting software that combines the two approaches. Mail-in ballots would have to be entered into the computer system, requiring staff time to make that happen, he suggested. One possible option would be to invite OPA members without computer systems or computer literacy to an “election kiosk” with a computer at an OPA venue and staff available to assist voters in using the equipment, before they’re given privacy to cast a ballot, Habeger said. “Is it fair to expect a non-resident far away to come in to vote?” Habeger asked rhetorically. But he said the greatest obstacle to electronic voting might be its cost relative to mail-in balloting. “Voting software isn’t free,” he said, and OPA bylaws currently require paper ballots to be mailed to property owners at their residences of record. To change that would require a

Special meeting

Janasek said he was not sure whether it might be possible that Rogers would ask for a revote and then change her vote for president in the Aug. 17 special meeting based on the negative feedback from her friends and supporters. That appears unlikely. Viola in a text message to the Progress said he couldn’t comment on the meeting agenda or Janasek’s allegations but said he was not invited to attend the special closed meeting.

“I serve at the pleasure of the board,” he said. Janasek is not attempting to have Viola removed as GM nor does he expect a board majority would vote that way. But he said he expects the Monday meeting to “be a shi-show” with In comments to the Progress, Rogers said that her vote for Perrone “was a tough decision” and that she made it “after due diligence” that including talking to Perrone, Tuttle, Parks and Viola.

From Page 8 presidency. “I thought I would bring a temperament and style to the position that would be in the best interests of Ocean Pines,” he said, acknowledging that he was disappointed and surprised by the result. He said he did not ask for Rogers’ support and did not receive a commitment but thought the interview with her went well.

OCEAN PINES referendum, he said. If ballots and election materials continue to be mailed out to property owners, then the OPA will continue to incur mailing preparation and postage expenses, he said. Habeger said his preference is to continue to improve the new system used this summer, at the same time the committee investigates the electronic voting option “We have an investment in it (the new hardware and software), and I’m not sure I’m prepared just to abandon it,” he said. He said one possible improvement in the system will be the ballots themselves, which resembled the ballots used in previous summers to accommodate the Scantron. He said the new software is much more robust in reading markings on the ballots. It might be possible to replace the fill-in bubbles next to the candidate names with a box that could be checked or filled in with an X, Habeger said. Sharp-eyed voters noticed one change on the mail-back envelope used this summer. In place of the traditional identification information, the name of voters and their mailing information, was a numeral code that refers back to the property owner. This preserves a greater degree of confidentiality when envelopes are opened, Habeger said. The change prompted a flurry of email to Habeger and the Board of Directors by oceanpinesforum.com owner Joe Reynolds, who initially wondered whether the elimination of personal identifying information could result in property owners requesting multible ballots and somehow voting more than once. Habeger assured Reynolds that nothing of the kind could occur because of the ability to track how many ballots are cast per address.

“I was struggling,” she acknowledged. “No one tried to influence me.” She also denied that there was any deal among any of the directors to vote for Tuttle and Horn in some sort of package agreement. “I don’t make deals,” she said. “That’s stupid.” She said she didn’t think there would be any any lasting damage to relationships on the board by the current situation.

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OCEAN PINES

August 2020

Steen abandons duplex approach to Triple Crown Estates project Developer plans to begin road and utility installation in 92-acre development adjacent to Section 10 next spring By TOM STAUSS Publisher t’s back to the future with Developer Marvin Steen’s long-delayed 92-acre Triple Crown Estates development that has been slated to become Ocean Pines’ newest residential section for almost 20 years. Steen recently disclosed that he has abandoned efforts to develop the site adjacent to the Sherwood Forest section of Ocean Pines (Section 10) with 30 duplex units, a plan that has been on the drawing boards since at least 2015. Instead, he said he intends to return to the original plan to develop the parcel with 60 single-family building lots, a change he attributed to market demand. The 60 lots will be larger than those typically found

in Ocean Pines, roughly 100 feet by 125 feet, more than a third of an acre. The current plan is to begin construction of the development’s main roadway, an extention of King Richard Road in Section 10, in April of 2021, Steen said. There continues to be no plans for direct access to the property from Route 589 or Gum Point Road. The existing gravel road from the property to Route 589 will be used for emergency access only, according to earlier agreements between the county, the Ocean Pines Association and Steen. A wastewater force main already runs through the property, having been extended from the Ocean Downs casino property years ago. The sewer line runs through the

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Steen property and along King Richard Road to a connection on Ocean Parkway. Water, electric and fiber optic lines for high-speed Internet and cable television will be part of the development that Steen hopes to begin next spring. “There are a lot more people who want a bigger lot to build a single-family lot on than who want a duplex,” Steen said in a recent inteview. After years of marketing the duplex concept, he determined that either it was not going to work or would take too long to build out. “A developer who doesn’t understand his market isn’t going to be successful,” Steen said. He knows a lot about succcess, having developed the two Wood Duck Isle sections in Ocean Pines, which are comprised

mostly of single-family homes along with duplex canal-front townhouses. The plan with Triple Crown Estates will be to market the 60 lots in the subdivision to both builders and individual buyers, Steen said. Lot buyers can work with Steen Builders on their new home projects or can work with other contractors, he added. “This approach will result in a faster build-out,” he said. Under the duplex approach, the plan was for Steen to build out the duplexes in response to demand. Steen said he doesn’t believe the change in plans from duplexes to single-family homes will require a lot of new approvals from the county. “I’m just going back to a plan that had been approved years ago,” he said. The new single-family “faster build-out” approach in cooperation with area builders should be good news to the OPA, which will receive $6,500 whenever a lot sale goes to settlement. At $6,500 per lot, the OPA is in line to receive $390,000 To Page 14

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the Matt Ortt Companies, hopes this new opportunity for summer fun will be a success, because live entertainment on the Yacht Club deck is profitable when it happens and not so profitable when it doesn’t. Bands

Triple Crowne Estates From Page 13 from the sale of lots in Triple Crown Estates. A fully built-out section would generate more than $59,000 per year in annual assessments at the current rate, and the OPA is likely to receive amenity membership revenue as homes are built. Once all 60 lots are sold, the OPA’s inventory of assessable lots will increase from the current 8,542 to 8,602. The change to single-family development ends a process beginning in 2015 in which Steen engaged in a protracted approval process to convert Triple Crown Estates into a duplex townhouse development. It had concluded in October of 2017 when the county’s Technical Review Committee reviewed a final plat and construction plans. It didn’t require full Planning Commission approval

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are a key to the venue’s success, with revenues from food and drink far exceeding their cost. “It was too hard to manage,” DeAngelus said of evenings when live bands took the stage on the Yacht Club deck. Taking pains to say that most patrons were cooperative, he said there were issues when some brought their own chairs to supplement the outdoor tables and chairs set up on the deck.

14 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

because the “final” plat conformed exactly to a “preliminary” plat submitted earlier in the process. At one point, it appeared that Steen might have to apply for a rezoning from single-family to multi-family, but that hurdle was avoided when county regulators determined that the duplex project could proceed as a residential planned community, or RPC. The Worcester County commissioners approved the duplex concept in a vote taken in 2015, with the full support of the OPA at the time. The OPA Board of Directors in May wrote a letter of support for the duplex version of the project because the characteristics of the development remain the same as originally proposed with the 60 single-family home design. By an agreement negotiated with the OPA as part of a failed effort to develop a Northern Worcester County YMCA in 2002, every home sale in Triple Crown Estates will generate a $6,500 payment to the Ocean Pines Association. That payment is compensation to the OPA for equivalent dwelling units reserved to Steen for water and wastewater treatment capacity EDUs that at one time had been reserved for use by the OPA. The property is partially located in the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, about 55 acres, and received a county growth allocation for 60 units years ago. Extensive environmental work, as well as analysis of stormwater measures, buffer protection measures, traffic and other planning concerns was performed during the growth allocation approval process. In redesigning the project, the developer has been able to preserve all of the woodlands, tidal and non-tidal wetlands and provide buffers to create additional forested area around streams on the site. Nearly 47 acres of the 92-acre site will be preserved in open space.

OCEAN PINES

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

The Yacht Club is under capacity requirements related to the number of available parking spaces at the venue, requirements that pre-date the arrival of covid-19, the pandemic that shuttered the Yacht Club for indoor and outdoor dining for a couple of months starting in March. When the facility reopened for indoor dining but at reduced capacity in response to covid, DeAngelus and his team were able to spread out the tables indoors while adding tables outside on the deck, consistent with the county’s capacity rules. Similar use of outdoor spaces have been employed by other area restaurants as a way of dealing with indoor limitations imposed by Governor Larry Hogan and enforced by local health departments. The Yacht Club’s generous decking spaces made it possible to cope with those restrictions, in effect preseving the upper limit on seating allowed by the county. But that capacity limitation means that any additional chairs that patrons bring during periods when live bands are playing violate the county’s parking-related capacity limit. DeAngelus is pleading with Yacht Club patrons to respect his management team’s desire to stay in compliance with county regulations by not bringing chairs to the venue. DeAngelus also said there were incidents of patrons not wearing masks and observing social distancing while bands were playing. That in turn generated complaints from those people who were abiding by the rules. “The staff was placed in an untenable position,” he said. “Younger wait staff were uncomfortable with asking our older customers to wear masks unless seated at their tables.

But perhaps even more difficult was dealing with those who were upset that others weren’t following the rules.” Rather than allow unpleasant incidents to continue or Ralph DeAngelus to run afoul of county capacity rules, DeAngelus said he and his team made the difficult decision last month to suspend live entertainment temporarily -- call it a timeout -- with the understanding that it would cost the Yacht Club revenue and profits. DJs have filled in during the interim, “but we don’t get the same crowds with DJs as we get with bands,” he added. DeAngelus said the county health department did not pressure the Yacht Club management to make the difficult decision to put the live bands on hiatus. It was made in-house to protect the staff and the pleasant experience expected by customers at the venue. The resulting loss of revenue from food and beverage sales at the Yacht Club when bands play is not in the interests of the OPA, Yacht Club patrons or the Matt Ortt Companies, DeAngelus said, “So we’re going to give it another shot (beginning on Aug. 14),” he said in the hopes that the issues that caused the temporary hiatus in live entertainment won’t recur. “We’re losing money every single day we can’t have bands. We’ll see how it goes once they’re back. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it going,” he said.

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OCEAN PINES

August 2020

OEAN PINES BRIEFS OPA changes health insurance carrier

With no formal announcement or public board of directors’ approval, the Ocean Pines Association has quietly changed its health insurance carrier, with some reported pushback from employees who think there’s been some dimunition in the quality of service delivered. The OPA dropped its long-time carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland, and brought United Health Care on board as the replacement. The action was taken by management as a way to reduce premium increases, according to General Manager John Viola, who confirmed that there’s been some pushback from employees in Public Works. The concern is that the new carrier has changed the doctors that employees can use for medical services, disrupting long-established doctor relationships. Viola told the Progress that there will be a more robust program of

consultation between the human resources department and employees to better explain the new health insurance package.

OPA not selling coupon debit cards this summer

Blaming it on the coronavirus, General Manager John Viola recently confirmed that the Ocean Pines Association isn’t selling the traditional coupon debit card this summer for discounted access to the OPA swimming pools this summer. Those who might have been inclined to purchase the $35 cards are able to pay cash instead, Viola said. That option doesn’t involve discounts for frequent users. Traditional membership options are also available. But many debit card holders are already members who buy cards for use of visiting family members and other guests. The board of directors eliminated the bundled Beach Club parking/ pool pass option earlier this year, but the debit card option was not

Red, white and blue luncheon

The Republican Women of Worcester County held their annual Red, White and Blue luncheon on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at the Carousel Hotel in Ocean City. Guest speakers were , left to right, State Delegate Wayne Hartman, RWWC President, Beth Rodier, Maryland Federation of Republican Women President, Diana Waterman and State Senator Mary Beth Carozza. abolished and could be resurrected whenever the Aquatics staff and Viola decide to do so. Accounting for debit card revenue has been a persistent irritant for Viola and the membership department, as the OPA grapples with the issue of unexpired balances on cards. For some time, the OPA has

been issuing extensions of card expiration dates. Holders of these cards say that without such extensions the OPA is effectively confiscating cash from users without delivering the service. By no longer issuing these cards, the OPA may have found a way to circumvent the accounting issue related to them.

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18 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August 2020

Covid-19 does a number on amenity memberships Revenues 59 percent of budget through June 30

Other beach parking memberships have decreased year-over-year. Those who have purchased memberships in golf, aquatics or racquetball sports can purchase a beach club parking pass at a discount rate. The number of parking-pass-with-othermemberships decreased from 384 a year ago June to 275 through June 30 this year. There were no weekly or daily passes sold through June this year, compared to 43 and 12 a year ago. As of June 30, beach parking pass revenue is 61 percent of budget, short of budget by $162,234. Even so, the $417,439 in parking pass revenue sold through June 30 might be considered a victory of sorts during a pandemic. Parking passes sold in July will narrow the gap somewhat. Another exception to the general decline is pickleball, which saw an increase in sales from 85 a year ago through the end of June to 98 this year.

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Golf membership is continuing its slow decline according to the June numbers. A year ago through June the total number of memberships sold stood at 93. That’s dropped to 83 this year. The number of lifetime memberships through June of this year is

16, one less than a year ago. There are 32 family memberships on the books through June 30, meaning that the total number of golf members as opposed to memberships is at least 115. There are estimates that more

Membership Report Period Ending 6/30/20

By TOM STAUSS Publisher t’s hardly a surprise during a pandemic. Amenity memberships in the new fiscal year are down year-over-year through June, affecting the bottom line in a predictable way. Amenity memberships with the exception of beach parking and pickleball -- aquatics, golf, tennis and platform tennis -- are underperforming compared to where they were through June of last year. Beach parking is one exception. The Membership Deparment sold 1,224 parking permits through June, compared to 498 a year ago. The comparison is misleading, however, as the Board of Directors eliminated the bundled beach parking/ Beach Club pool pass this year, and last year’s bundled sales don’t appear in this year’s summary. Those who previously purchased the bundled option most likely opted for the parking-only pass this year.

This zucchini or squash casserole beat eggs, stir in mayonnaise, onion, Pines represe August and 2020 seasonOcean Pines PROGRESS 19 is an excellent vegetarian dish or a green pepper, cheese and several unique to like a battleground. He said welcome side any dinner.Ocean ings.Pines Add squash and turn into ‘Sting jet’ downs trees allto over trees fell in White Horse Park and Public WorksDot even had to pull one greased 1-1/2 qt. baking dish. buildt was a wild, windy day in Ocean Police and Public Works did an excel- “Some of the big trees by the south off of the temporary police I ask for your ing, degrees so police for could get through the Pines Aug. 3 because of Tropi- lent job todayZucchini and thereor was a lot ofCasserole gate pond arewith overturned Squash butter. and Baketheat 350 front door. cal Storm Isaias, with dozens of work to be done.” area is completely roped off.” Primary Elect cups chopped (skin 30 minutes. “It looks like somebody just came trees falling all over the community Police Chief4Leo Ehrisman said his on)Ehrisman compared the impact in and all the T and Police and Public Works crews crew worked steadily from about in Ocean Pines toI enjoy that ofhearing a heavy from squash or zucchini or a5combinamy clipped readersthe topsourof district. working throughout the morning a.m. until late in the afternoon. Po- snowstorm. “All of our calls were trees,” he said. of White tionmore of both and willhebesaid. happy answer any Horse Park was and afternoon to keep up. lice received than 30 calls for trees that blew down,” “We to Much Only about an inch of rain fell in service during the storm. had several trees down into houses roped off with caution tape. 2 eggs questions my recipes. Elsewhere in the community, the community and it seemed the “We got the rain [early] and the and several across roads. about I couldn’t Ehrisman said one 22-24-foot boat worst had passed by around 10 a.m., rain had practically stopped before even guess how many.” 1 cup mayonnaise bevwisch@aol.com when a “sting jet” manifested and we got wind damage. But there are Ehrisman said some of Ocean came off a dock lift, went into the caused havoc with high, damaging trees down everywhere,” he said. Pines’ wooded park areas looked If you’d like winds. I can b According to the Washington Post, a “sting jet forms in rapidly Bertin

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From Page 18 than 1000 Ocean Pines residents play the golf course from time to time, without the benefit of a prepaid membership, but those rounds are not captured in membership stats. These totals represent 89 percent of budget, $116,115 in membership revenue compared to the $130,000 budgeted. Given the late start to the golf season because of the covid pandemic, it could have been a lot worse. Hardest hit in the membership totals by covid through June 30 is aquatics, with 248 memberships compared to 617 year-over-year. Unlike golf and racquet amenities, however, annual aquatics memberships are sold 12 months of the year and are credited to the month in which they’re sold. There could be some recovery in the annual memberships when renewals are booked over the remainder of the fiscal year. When combined, all amenity membership sales through June 30 were 59 percent of the budgeted $935,084. That’s a shortfall of $385,803.

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Taylor Ham ……...........................…….. $8.95 Turkey ………...................................….. $9.45 Roast Beef …..................................…… $9.45 Cappicola …….................................….. $8.95 A Bagel Genoa Salami …................................… $8.95 and.. Italian Combo …...........................……. $9.45 (Roast Beef, Cappicola, Salami and Provolone) Roast Beef & Turkey ……................….. $7.45 Liverwurst …...............................……… $7.55 Bologna ................................................. $7.55 Egg Salad ….............................………… $7.55 Tuna Salad ………..........................……. $9.25 Whitefish Salad …..................…………. $9.25 PB&J ……………….........................……. $4.50 Grilled Cheese ……........................……. $6.55 Add to any sandwich Cheese 85 cents • Meat $1.65

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deepening low-pressure systems when a band of precipitation wraps back along a cold conveyor belt in a region of exceptional wind energy … When it occurs, very fast winds from the mid-levels of the atmosphere can descend to ground-level.” The name comes from the shape, which resembles the stinging tail of a scorpion. “We thought the worst of the storm had passed us early on, but the wind picked back up and that caused lots of downed trees,” General Manager John Viola said. “The biggest thing is there were no injuries that we know of. Ocean Pines

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20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August 2020

County issues occupancy permit for renovated police station Completion occurs one month early, under budget by about $100,000

orcester County issued an occupancy permit for the expanded and renovated Ocean Pines police station Aug. 12, General Manager John Viola has confirmed. Officers moved into the new space of roughly 5300 square feet, leaving behind for good temporary trailers that were set up in White Horse Park when the renovation began late last year. The revamped police station, which is connected to the Ocean Pines Administration Building on Ocean Parkway, came in at a cost of $1.162 million, or about $100,000 below budget. It’s also a month ahead of the original completion date of September. The Whayland Company of Laurel, Del. oversaw construction, but many helped in moving the project from the planning stages to the final product, including the Ocean Pines Public Works and IT departments, local builders Marvin Steen and Bill Stamp, and designer Tobie Jacobs.

Leo Ehrisman officially took over as the new Ocean Pines Police Chief on Aug. 1, just in time to make the move into the new offices. Ehrisman said he’s thrilled with the renovated and enlarged spaced. During a recent tour of the facility given to the media and community members, he said the new 5,300 square feet facility “gives us everything we need to be a modern, well-equipped and safe police department. The old pre-renovation space was only 1,700 square feet, built for six people. The current staff is four times that. “The original building was built when Ocean Pines was still a ‘special police department.’ And it was a construction building – it wasn’t a public safety building,” he said. “The new one has been designed and built as an actual public safety building. It meets the state requirements as far as holding facilities, as well as all the other safety regulations and federal ADA regulations.” He and Jacobs both said the ex-

Sting jet

get another email or phone call about a downed tree. “I’ve never seen it this bad, with the wind damage,” he continued. “We’ve had hurricanes go through and you might have 15-20 trees that go down, but this was just relentless for so long.” Wells said the sting jet caused the majority of the damage. “That’s what hurt. We were doing really well up until that point but, when that hit us, we really got some high winds out of that,” he said. “That scorpion tail, that back wind that we had, it just lasted so long and it was real hectic for a while. We’ll probably be cleaning up branches for the rest of this week.” According to Wells, about 9/10 of an inch of rain fell during the day. He said no injuries were reported to Public Works. “We had quite a few trees go down and hit houses, but I haven’t heard of any injuries,” he said. “All the roads are open and passable now. I can’t tell you how many trees were down, but we got them all off the road.”

From Page 19 water, banged into the bulkhead and sank. Another person went overboard trying to bail out their boat and had to be rescued. However, no injuries were reported to Ocean Pines Police. Ehrisman said a tree on White Horse Drive came through the roof of one home and ruptured gas lines, and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department were called to assist. Another home, on Moonraker Road, had a tree crash through a skylight. “All roads are now open, but there’s a lot of debris left on the roads,” Ehrisman said. “We ask that everyone use caution while driving, especially at nighttime. There’s still the chance of a tree coming down that we’re not aware of and there’s quite a bit of debris on the back roads.” Public Works Director Eddie Wells said he’s never seen anything like Isaias in his nearly two-decade career in Ocean Pines. He said Public Works received several hundred calls throughout the day. “It’s been nonstop,” he said. “As soon as you think you’re done, you

Viola said there was minor damage to the east side of the Yacht Club roof, but no other damage.

panded building compares favorably to the new police station in nearby Berlin, despite it’s smaller size. She added that dollar for dollar, she believes Ocean Pines achieved the same fuctionality as the Berlin facility for a lot less money. One of the main benefits for Police, according to Ehrisman, is separating “good guys from bad guys.” “In the old building, if we locked somebody up, they were basically in the same work area as civilians and dispatchers. In this building, that’s completely independent,” he said. “It has a processing area and a holding area that is separate from the officers’ workspace and the civilians’ workspace – as a public safety building should be.” Public Works Director Eddie Wells agreed that safety was the biggest concern. “It’s a lot safer building now,”

Wells said. “Before, if you brought a prisoner in, they would walk right back and sit at a table where an officer was doing work. Now, it’s all separated. The safety and security is just so much better.” The interview room was originally planned with a tile floor, but Jacobs, the designer, changed that to an epoxy floor similar to what might be found in a typical residential or commercial garage. There’s a drain in the interview room floor, for easier hosing down in the event that an intoxicated detainee can’t hold his beer. Wells said the renovation also helped update the heating and air conditioning systems of the old offices, built around the late 1970s or early 1980s, as well as supply a much-needed technology upgrade. For example, Ehrisman said new phone and computer systems can now tie into the Worcester County dispatch through a universal 911 hookup. That means, in case of an emergency, Ocean Pines Police could work from the county offices in Snow Hill, or vice versa. There are also many everyday uses for the new systems, which

OCEAN PINES the armory, reconfiguring locker rooms for male and female officers, creating more efficient works stations for each officer, and using local and commercial vendors to help cut costs. All told, she estimates those changes saved more than $54,000. General Manager John Viola said Jacobs’s contract fee was for $5,000, which means that OPA’s investment in her services paid off ten-fold. “This project was especially rewarding to me because I was able to blend my knowledge of security, investigations and interior design to create a functional, safe and beautiful space,” she said. Viola, who oversaw the renovation, said he is most proud of the value Ocean Pines got for its money. “One of the best things I ever did was reach out to Marvin Steen and Bill Stamp, and also to Tobie Jacobs, who is much more than a designer,” he said. “It’s a compliment to the team and everybody contributed, including all the work done by Ocean Pines IT and Public Works. And, of course, it’s a credit to Whayland. They built us two really good buildings and they were great to work with.” In an interview two years ago, former Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey called the old police station cramped and unsafe, and an architectural afterthought. “I’ve been trying to get them to upgrade what we have since 2006,” he said at the time. “It’s frustrating ... Just about every police facility in

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should help to strengthen partnerships with other law enforcement agencies. “Before, if a Worcester County deputy had an arrest out on Route 589, they would have to transport the person to Snow Hill just to process and fingerprint, and then come all the way back to Ocean City to see a commissioner, and then go back to Snow Hill again if the subject was to be placed in the county jail,” Ehrisman said. “Now, if they have an arrest in the north end of the county, they can just come directly to our office, tap into their own system, do the processing, and go right across the bridge to Ocean City.” Steen, who toured the building, said he couldn’t be happier with the results. “It turned out great!” he said. “They’ve been working on it so long – at least 10 years – and during that time they thought about this and that and they looked at other places, and they were able to include all of those things they needed. And that really helped, big time.” Steen consulted on the renovation and helped to connect Ocean Pines with the Whayland Company. That partnership has now resulted in two successful construction projects. The new Ocean Pines Golf Clubhouse, also built by Whayland, wrapped construction earlier this year and at a similar cost savings. “I grew up in Dagsboro and I knew who they were, and it’s just a great company,” Steen said. “They did a great job, they really did. Everybody in Ocean Pines worked really well with them.” Jacobs’ involvement began as a designer, but she also became an important consultant on the project. After an early meeting, she said it was clear that the layout still needed some work. “My background was very valuable in completing this project,” she said. “I have 30-plus years of security and investigative experience in government and private sector. During this period, part of my duties were the handling and security of evidence and property during criminal prosecutions. Officer safety has also played an integral part in my life, and my martial arts background led me to be a state-certified self-defense tactics instructor for multiple police agencies in Maryland.” Among the changes credited to Jacobs are moving the evidence room to the front of the temporary detention area, building a storage area for uniforms and supplies near

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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August 2020

OPA completes major projects on time and under budget

From Page 21 this county has been upgraded.” In an interview last month, Massey again underscored the importance of building a safe and modern home for Ocean Pines Police, and he expressed his gratitude to those who helped make that dream a reality. “The old police station was not designed by criminal justice experts. So, it didn’t take into consideration some of the safety concerns of our officers,” he said. “We had a prisoner once who basically pulled his handcuffs out of the wall and ran out the back door. “The facility that we’re getting ready to open – thanks to the Board of Directors and our General Manager – is state of the art, it’s going to be high security, and it’s going to provide for our citizens for many, many years with a safe environment for police officers and a safe environment for them,” Massey continued. “I’m very grateful, for all of that.” Ehrisman said it’s a rarity for a new chief to be able to move into a new headquarters, and it’s also a fitting end to Massey’s nearly two-decade legacy in Ocean Pines.

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Viola reports total budget savings of $453,000 By TOM STAUSS Publisher eneral Manager John Viola is taking a kind of victory lap over recently completed capital projects that came in on time and under budget. According to an operational review of the past year posted on the Ocean Pines Association Web site earlier this month, Viola said that new golf clubhouse, the new golf cart barn, the police station expansion/ renovation, the administration building upgrade and the new Pine’eer Craft building came in under budget by $453,272. The golf clubhouse came in under budget by $103,347, the cart barn by $117,817, the police station by $113,427 and the administration building by $118,681. The craft building came in right on budget. Viola also said the NorthStar software installation is currently $12,269 over its $400,000 budget. The review was supposed to have been delivered during the Aug. 8 annual meeting of the OPA. The meeting was canceled minutes after it was launched by OPA President Doug Parks, who said that various reports scheduled for presentation during the meet-

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22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Police station

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August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Operating fund deficit declines to $162,000 OPA wipes out $1.6 million deficit recorded at the end of FY 2017-18 By TOM STAUSS Publisher emember those horrific deficits in the year-long Brett Hill tenure, especially the $1.5 million loss in Fiscal 2017-18 stemming from huge deficits at the Beach Club and Yacht Club that year? At the end of April of 2018, the Ocean Pines Association’s operat-

ing fund deficit stood at about $1.6 million, triggering increases in the annual lot assessment in an programmed effort the next two years to bring the fund deficit closer to zero. The effort paid off. With a $571,000 operating surplus in the year ending this past April 30, the operating fund had mostly recovered. It stood at a deficit of $162,095, the lowest it’s been since May 1 of

Major projects

2016, when it held a $5,899 surplus. Dedicated assessment dollars in the amount of $600,265 in FY 2018-19 and $252,779 in FY 201920 helped bring about the improvement, along with a return to an operating surplus at the Beach Club and, for the first time ever in the most recent fiscal year, an operating surplus at the Yacht Club. In an operating fund performance history released by General Manag-

er John Viola as part of his annual report that was intended for delivery at the annual meeting of the association Aug. 8, there was an unexplained negative “prior year” $90,263 adjustment to the fund. Asked to explain the negative adjustment by the Progress, Viola said it was related to a change in the way that legacy aquatics coupon cards are accounted for. About two years ago, more than $100,000 was credited to Aquatics from an obscure fund where revenues from coupon sales had been booked. A lot of unexpired dollars on those coupons remained as of April 30 -- $90,263 to be exact -- and according to Viola accounting rules require those dollars to be debited q

OPA FINANCES

OPERATING FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY FISCAL YEAR 2017-2020

From Page 22

through Public Relations and Marketing Director Josh Davis and reopened OPA amenities and other facilities in a phased approach • researched, applied for and accepted federal Payroll Protection Program funds in the early stages of the covid-19 pandemic • completed or is in the process of implementing a compensation study, NorthStar software, board meeting video/audio upgrades, and findings of a forensic audit of OPA operations • produced a $570,660 operating surplus in the 2019-20 fiscal year that ended this past April 30 • introduced a competitive compensation program based on a compensation study, and • began developing a strategic and long-range planning work group and schedule

Source: General Manager’s Report, August 2020

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August 2020

Audit right on the money with April financial results OPA officially records $571,000 operating surplus in 2019-20 SUMMARY OF RESERVE ACCOUNTS At April 30, 2020 and Projected at April 30, 2021 (In Thousands)

Source: General Manager’s Report, August 2020

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association’s auditing firm confirmed what the final departmental financial summary for 2019-20 disclosed: The OPA generated a $571,000 operating surplus for the year. The differences between the audited departmental summary and the last unaudited summary issued for April 30 were miniscule. The April 30 statement said the OPA earned $571,912 for the year. The audited statement pegged it at $570,660, a difference of only $1,252. Auditor adjustments are typical most years, and it’s bit of a parlor game to try to ferret out the differences between the two. One year, the

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From Page 23 from the operating fund. He added that the write-down was not charged back to Aquatics but was simply an adjustment to the operating fund. The write-down would not have been necessary had the Board allowed the balances on these legacy cards to expire as of April 30, Viola said -- again, accounting rules explain the somewhat arcane treatment. But he said the directors as a matter of policy -- and he said he agrees-- don’t want any holder of a legacy debit coupon card to lose any value stored on those cards. But because of that arcane accounting rule, extending the expiration date of those cards resulted in the $90,263 write-down in the operating fund, with Viola saying that the OPA’s auditors are fully on board with it. “There’s really no choice in the matter,” he said, adding that it’s a one-time charge-off and won’t be repeated next April 30 if, as seems possible if not probable, the board votes again to extend the expiration date on the legacy cards. Even if those expirations are extended, it won’t matter, Viola said, as the charge-off doesn’t need to be repeated to conform to accounting rules. Viola and Director of Finance

OPA FINANCES differences revealed some previously unannounced bonus payments to the general manager, which were factors in a decision by the newly elected board of directors to terminate the GM’s at-will contract. Nothing remotely similar occurred this year. General Manager John Viola and Finance Director Steve Phillips anticipated adjustments that the auditors were most likely to make and made them part of the April 30 pre-audited statement. That didn’t leave much for the auditors to change when they reviewed the books and subsequently issued their unqualified opinion that the OPA’s books were fully in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. A review of the audited departmental summary and the April results confirms that they’re identical in all key departments. Viola prepared a summary of the audited results for presentation at the annual meeting of the OPA April 8. 

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Steve Phillips said the legacy cards are not to be confused with any new coupon debit cards that might be issued this fiscal year. They’re currently on hold “because of the corona virus,” he said, saying that the aquatics staff earlier this year recommended not selling the cards this summer out of fear that the pools might close because of covid-19 and that purchasers might not receive full value from the cards. Viola said sales of these sales may or may not resume in the fall. If they do, he said they will be sold with the proviso that they will expire this coming April 30, whether or not they still carry an unused balance. Historically, debit cards are used most heavily during the summer months, with many of the cards purchased by pool members for use by out-of-town family members and guests. Cash sales have spiked up somewhat because coupon debit cards were unavailable, even as aquatics memberships are off year-over-year, according to the most recent OPA financial summary. With understanding that new cards issued this fiscal year expire on April 30, which he said the membership office would make clear if debit card sales resume, no accounting adjustment will be necessary to reflect unused balances.

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

The meeting was gaveled to a close within minutes of the start because of the lack of a quorum. Viola’s summary was posted on the OPA Web site, however. Viola’s summary compared actual results compared to budget, excluding depreciation, working with the audited departmental results. The audit report includes departmental summaries both with and wthout depreciation, but inexplicably doesn’t include a composite schedule that matches up with the April unaudited summary that doesn’t include depreciation. The audit report’s composite deparment summary includes depreciation expense, which makes departmental results look much worse than they do without inclusion of depreciation. So if Viola wanted to show an apples to apples comparison, he and Phillips were going to have to generate a summary based on audited results that excluded depreciation. Viola’s summary of the audit report presented some information differently than what appeared in the unaudited April summary. There’s a line item referred to as “book additional allowance for doubtful accounts,” which shows one of the adjustments made by Viola and Phillips pre-audit. That adjustment had been included in the general administrative department in the April results. Viola highlighted it in his audit report summary. His audit report summary also included a line item called administrative contract services, legal, liability insurance, and miscellaneous, which are generally included under general administration and

SUMMARY OF OPERATING FUND AUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS FISCAL YEAR 2020 Actual Compared to Budget

Source: General Manager’s Report, August 2020

Source: Unaudited April 2020 financials by department

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OPA FINANCES

Ocean Pines PROGRESS August 2020

Two months into fiscal year, OPA records $613,000 surplus Payroll protection plan revenue continues to offset revenue shortfalls By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Covid pandemic has adversely affected amenity revenues in the first two months of the 2021-22 fiscal year, but that hasn’t prevented the Ocean Pines Association from accumulating a substantial operating surplus in May and June, including a $520,405 positive variance over budget in June alone. The OPA booked almost $340,000 in federal payroll protection plan revenues in general administration in June, accounting for more than 50 percent of the operating surplus. PPP revenues also helped to reduce payroll costs at food and beverage venues operated by the Matt Ortt Companies. Also contributing to the operating surplus was better-than-budgeted performance at the Yacht Club, Beach Club, golf and the Clubhouse Grille. The OPA started off the 2020-21 fiscal year with a $92,000 surplus in May, but June’s results were more than five times that. The $520,405 surplus was the result of revenues over budget by $139,839 and expenses under budget by $380,566. For the year through June 30, a $612,522 cumulative surplus was driven by revenues under budget by $230,509 and expenses under budget by $843,030, suggesting continued success by departments in controlling expenses as most amenity revenues declined during the pandemic.

The numbers were disclosed by Finance Director Steve Phillips in a report to the Board of Directors last month. Most amenity departments generated operating surpluses in June, led by the Yacht Club ($125,202) and followed by beach parking ($96,881), marinas ($24,464), aquatics ($24,294),

OCEAN PINES ASSOCIATION Net Operating by Department - June 2020

Source: Ocean Pines Association, Department of Finance

Audit report From Page 23 manager’s office departments in the monthly summaries. Viola’s audited summary confirmed financial results for various amenity departments last year. The Yacht Club generated $100,563 in net earnings, exceeding its budget by $201,650. Golf including the Terns Grille lost $149,481 for the year, missing its budget by $73,303. Aquatics lost $8,181 for the year, under budget by $46,182, Beach parking generated $370,240, ahead of budget by $35,250. The Beach Club food and beverage operation earned $124,962, ahead of budget by $21,891. Marinas generated $230,255, exceeding budget by $43,816. Recreation and parks, funded by OPA assessments and program fees, cost the OPA $448,892, ahead of budget by $68,861.

OPA FINANCES

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

the Beach Club ($21,259), the Clubhouse Grille ($13,429), golf operations ($8,897), and pickleball ($3,306). Only tennis and platform tennis were in the red for the month, and then only modestly. Most amenity departments exceeded their budgets in June, led by the Yacht Club’s $79,233 positive variance and followed by the Beach Club ($18,587), golf operations ($18,087), the Clubhouse Grille ($8,641), tennis ($3,321), pickleball ($2,567) and platform tennis ($363). Missing their budgets for June were beach parking (-$47,276), aquatics (-$13,932), and marinas (-$4,977). For the year so far, all amenities

are in the black through June 30, led by beach parking ($241,406), marinas ($203,465), the Yacht Club ($89,943), golf ($123,351), aquatics ($21,109), pickleball ($16,585), Beach Club ($13,358), Clubhouse Grille ($10,567), platform tennis ($4,054), and tennis ($260), It’s a mixed bag relative to budget, with beach parking under budget by $193,434, aquatics by $113,724, golf operations by $61,224, marinas by $8,338, platform tennis by $6,636, the Clubhouse Grille by $4,722, and pickleball by $2,147). Amenity departments ahead of budget for the year through June included the Yacht Club ($63,093), the Beach Club ($35,622), and ten-

nis ($289). Departments reliant on assessment dollars to pay for their operations generally exceeded budget for June and for the first two months of the fiscal year. Recreation and parks missed its budget target by $20,599 in June and is under budget by $14,967 for the year through June 30. Status of reserves: The OPA’s reserve balance through June 30 was $7.78 million, down from $8.33 million at the end of May. The replacement reserve balance through June 30 was $4.85 million, the bulkheads and waterways reserve $2.14 million, roads $689,836, and new capital $101,312.

RESERVE SUMMARY PERIOD ENDED 6/30/2020 (UNAUDITED)

Source: Ocean Pines Association, Department of Finance

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Assessment collections at 90 percent By TOM STAUSS Publisher ven with the 90-day extension given to property owners to pay their assessments for the 2020-21 fiscal year, a covid-19 grace period, collections have well outpaced worst case scenarios. As of the Aug. 1 due date, Ocean Pines Association President Larry Perrone said that the collections were $1.1 million short of where they normally are at this time of year. That’s an 87 percent collection rate, not bad considering the board, over Perrone’s dissent at the time, signaled a somewhat less fervent desire to collect the assessment. When voting to extend the due date by 90 days, the board requested that those who could pay on time do so, and by and large most property owners did. After the Aug. 1 due date, when interest starts accruing on the balance owed, another $100,000 or so came in, Perrone told the Progress, bringing the collection rate to about 90 percent. In normal years, the collection rate is about 98 percent for the year. Of the $1 million that remains outstanding as of mid-August, Perrone said some property owners in arrears may have entered into payment plans. While that option remains for those adversely affected economically by the pandemic, the OPA also is banking on others paying the full amount owed sooner rather than later. Perrone said that it’s too soon to know how the shortfall will affect budget preparation for 202122, a process that normally begins in the fall. It’s also too soon to know what extent pandemic conditions will be present when the new fiscal year begins in May of next year, he said. Although federal Paycheck Protection Program funds have cushioned the blow from covid, PPP funds presumably won’t be part of the OPA’s revenue stream next year.

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Longtime soccer coach given Wilkinson Award for volunteerism

ric Benson on Aug. 12 was given the Sam Wilkinson Award in recognition of his volunteer efforts for Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks programs. The presentation occurred during a special Board meeting at the Ocean Pines Golf Clubhouse. one-on-one complimentary, no obligation * Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue said (0.00%) TAX-FREE 3.25 % TAX-FREE* act me at 410-208-1704 for a one on one complimentary, no obligation, consultations or consultation or attend our seminar. the annual presentation of the award began in 2003 to attend our seminar. Call for times, and location. Call for times, date anddates location Prince Georges Md (Name of MuniCnty Bond) honor 8-year-old Sam Wilkinson, who died in a tragic Carrie Dupuie, AAMS 98.500 Price: (00.00) water accident in Ocean City. Carrie Dupuie, AAMS® My picture Coupon: (00/00/00) 3.25 (Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Name) Financial Advisor Wilkinson played soccer in Ocean Pines and his fahere Maturity Date: 07/15/2036 (00/00/00) (Approved Title) 215 North Main Street 07/15/2028 ther, Bob, was a volunteer coach for Ocean Pines RecreCallable Date: (00/00/00 or N/A) 215 North Main Street 100 Call Price: (000) Berlin, MD 21811 ation programs. Berlin, Aaa /MD AAA 21811 Rating: (XXX/XXX) (Address) “As a way to honor the memory of Sam and the Other:410-208-1704 (Obligor) 410-208-1704 (City, ST 00000) Wilkinson Family for their dedication to the Ocean Carrie.Dupuie@RaymondJames.com (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: Carrie Dupuie, AAMS 800-000-0000) Pines Recreation and Parks Department, this award Raymond James(Financial Financial Services Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC Advisor Name) (Approved Title) James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. nvestments advisory services offered Raymond Fax:through (000-000-0000) was established to recognize other outstanding individ(Address) uals who dedicate their time and talents to help others,” (E-mail (City, STAddress) 00000) (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: 800-000-0000) Donahue said. “Each year, the Recreation and Parks De(Website) Fax: (000-000-0000) (E-mail Address) partment honors one volunteer that stands out in our (Website) department.” This year, the award was given to Benson, who DoSubject to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser nahue said has spent countless hours over the last five of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally exempt from federal taxation and may also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where years volunteering for soccer programs in Ocean Pines. the bonds were issued. However, bonds may be subject to federal alternative tax (AMT), and profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. RatShe said Benson has extensive coaching experience, is ings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to 18 buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely licensed to coach by the United States Soccer Federapayment of principal and interest. No representation is made to any insurer’s ability to meet its nd price change. Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally exempt financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not remove risk since they do not guarantee tion, and was once recognized by U.S. Youth Soccer as a nd may alsothebemarket free ofvalue stateof and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. However, the bond. to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT), and profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. national “coach of the month.” Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FNRA/SIPC. andard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to review, (c) 2015 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC 15-MFI-0113 ICD BS 8/15 duction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment ofDonahue principal and inter- said Benson was born in England and grew Financial Advisor

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up watching Manchester United games and playing soccer. His other passion was music, and he played keyboard in a local rock band that opened for legendary artists including The Kinks and The Who. After college, Benson worked through the ranks of a major U.K. company and later moved to New York to work for the John F. Kennedy International Airport. He later transferred to Dulles International Airport, in Virginia, and retired after 14 years as the logistics director of an international company also based in that state. “Prior to retiring in Ocean Pines, he coached several competitive travel youth teams in Virginia for over 20 years, two of which were state champions and regional finalists,” Donahue said. Benson has two sons who live in Virginia and has been married for 36 year to his wife, Nina, who is a volunteer at the Ocean City Library. Donahue said, “He’s stated, ‘My coaching approach has always been to show enthusiasm, honesty and humor. Players pick up on the passion that I give. It’s the things that give me the most enjoyment, when a player responds and just enjoys the game. We provide a nurturing, fun and positive environment to our Ocean Pines players. Both Coach Joe [Monteverde] and Recreational Supervisor Katie Goetzinger are great, and we bond well together.’” Benson thanked Donahue for the award, and also thanked Goetzinger and Monteverde, who is a prior Wilkinson Award winner.

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August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

A Dairy Queen who offers 24 flavors of soft serve and fat-free yogurt By SUSAN CANFORA Contributing Writer apper Snoop Dogg once quipped, “When I’m no longer rapping, I want to open up an ice cream parlor and call myself Scoop Dogg.” Not a bad idea, since every business needs a unique twist. Michelle Dell’Aquila-Reed certainly has that to offer, at her new ice cream and desserts shop, Sweet Shack. Located in the Manklin Station plaza in South Ocean Pines, it offers 24 flavors of soft serve. Cones, cups, sundaes and other delights are made by adding essential oils and blending them into basic chocolate or vanilla to create flavors like cotton candy, cheesecake, pina colada, strawberry cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, amaretto and apricot. Toppings include M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter cups, Sour Patch Kids candy, gummy bears, potato chips, chocolate syrup, pineapple, marshmallows and chocolate-covered raisins. Dell’Aquila-Reed, a dairy queen of sorts, who moved to this area ten years ago, fondly recalled shops that specialized in frozen desserts when she was growing up in New York. “I managed a couple of those shops in Ocean City and at Frontier Town. I always wanted my own ice cream shop. I love decorating cakes. I went to college for culinary arts,” she said. Her plan is to also sell cakes at Sweet Shack, for birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations, as well as cupcakes. Confections from bubble gum to candy bars are for sale and on display at her business. Welcoming a visitor, Dell’Aquila-Reed explained the machine can make two dozen flavors. “Nobody has one like this down here so I kind of wanted to bring it in. All the flavors are made of essential oils with no added sugar. It’s all natural and it’s edible,” she said, as she demonstrated, filling a cup with chocolate ice cream, adding peanut butter essential oil from a bottle with a pump, then holding the ice

Michelle Dell’Aquila-Reed smiles as her husband Matthew tastes an item from the menu at Sweet Shack, newly opened in the Manklin Station commercial area near the Ocean Pines South Gate.

cream under a mixer. “Would you like to try it?” she said, pushing a plastic spoon into the cold dessert and smiling as the recipient took a bite, then another, while mumbling, “Mmm. That’s really good.” “When I worked at Frontier Town, I told them we should get this machine. I said, ‘These flavors are awesome.’ I’m a chocolate girl. I like chocolate. I like soft serve over hand

dipped. Now I can try all the flavors, although my husband is the more adventurous one,” she said. “We also have fat-free frozen yogurt, with all the flavors. We have Italian ices and hand-dipped ice cream,” she said as her husband, Matthew, said children select any flavor that is blue because they want it to color their lips and tongues. “We signed the lease June 12. We have on our menu cones, cups, sun-

daes, specialty sundaes, gelati. It’s made with ice and ice cream, layered. Ice cream cakes are coming soon. We have milkshakes, banana splits. Most popular is the gelati, from any flavor,” she said. The Sweet Shack opened on July 17 and business has been brisk. It’s open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Happy hour at Sweet Shack is from 2 to 5 p.m., when customers can receive $1 off any item with mention of an ad. The plan is to stay open all year, but probably with shortened hours. Soft-serve ice cream machines have to be cleaned regularly and Dell’Aquila-Reed said she is meticulous about sanitation. “Some machines have to be taken down every day and you have to clean every part. I clean my machine more than is needed. I’m very aware of that. I use a sanitizer,” she said. The couple’s daughter is working there this summer, along with her job on the beach. Their three sons are in Pennsylvania for the summer, helping their grandparents. “My husband has been working here, too, to help us get started. He does landscaping and he helps me at night. He’s been my lifesaver. He made my dream happen,” Dell’Aquila-Reed said, remembering having her eye on the location when ice cream was sold there last year, and excitedly noticing when it closed and it was again available to rent. There is no indoor seating at Sweet Shack, only take-out service at the window, but Dell’Aquila-Reed said she’s thinking about arranging tables behind DeNovo’s Trattoria, the anchor restaurant in the plaza, q

LIFESTYLES

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

LIFESTYLES

August 2020

Mary Mac pickleball tourney raises thousands Funds will support local children, recreation programs and homelessness prevention

Essential oils are used to make 24 flavors of ice cream at the Sweet Shack.

Dairy Queen From Page 29

and having an oversized Connect Four game and cornhole lawn game boards. Not only is Dell’Aquila-Reed an ambitious businesswoman, but also a survivor of Stage 4 breast cancer. “I’ve been stable for two years. The pain is not too bad. I get screened every few months,” she said. “Running this business keeps my mind off it. If I’m sitting down or lying down and I go to get up I feel the pain more. If I’m moving and I keep going and smiling and talking I don’t hurt as bad,” she said. “I used to work long hours bartending. The doctor told me, ‘You have two to three years.’ That was two years ago this month. I left my job. It took me awhile to get back on my feet. I was starting treatments and finding the right medicines. I went back to work last summer at The Captain’s Table in Ocean City. I worked as a manager and supervisor,” the 38-year-old Dell’Aquila-Reed said.

Now, she concentrates on ice cream. “The colors are pretty. I like bright to colors. I like the colors of ice cream. Mint flavor is green. Cotton candy is blue. That’s the whole idea of summer. I think it’s just fun. Ice cream makes everybody happy. “I remember my grandfather taking me, in Brooklyn, to Coney Island and some of the fairs. And him saying, ‘Don’t tell anybody I got you ice cream.’ It was a special memory. I see a lot of grandparents coming in with their grandchildren and it reminds me of my childhood,” she said. Dell’Aquila-Reed isn’t concerned about competing with other ice cream shops or trucks that travel the streets of Ocean Pines, their musical jingles filling the air as children on bicycles race to meet them. “What I have is more geared toward the 24 flavors, something different from what they have,” she said. “I want us all to be good. I don’t want to compete with each other. We’ll all be there, together with each other.”

he inaugural “Mary Mac Foundation Pickleball Beach Fest,” held Aug. 8 in Ocean Pines, raised $6,000 for programs benefiting local children and other charitable causes. Organizers Daryl and Cathy Noble, and Frank Kramer, came up with the idea to help the Mary Mac Foundation after the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser, an annual golf tournament, was canceled because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mary Mac Foundation each year raises money for local and regional youth programs to honor Mary McMullen (1948-2012), a special education instructor at Severna Park High School and Ruth Eason School in Millersville, Maryland. During the 1970s, she also helped establish the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department. Programs supported by the foundation include Camp Barnes, a residential camp in Frankford, Delaware for low-income children, and Camp St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore, an organization offering eight-week summer camps for homeless children. The foundation also supports summer youth recreation programs in Ocean Pines. Tim McMullen, who cofounded the Mary Mac Foundation to honor his late wife, said the tournament was a big success. “It far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping that we could pick up $3,000, which would be 100 players at $30 a piece,” he said. McMullen said two things happened to help that total balloon far above expectations. First, tournament sponsors contributed $2,000. Second, platform tennis members added an extra donation. “I was getting ready to leave on Saturday and the platform tennis people called me over. They had held their own get together and raised $900,” he said. “So, I think it’s another statement about our community. This place is unique and the support we got from pickleball and platform tennis was just unbelievable, and especially from Daryl, Cathy, and Frank Kramer.” McMullen said he, his brother Don and their sister Susan Wojciechowski were all humbled by the community support that has included many calls, texts and individual donations since news broke in June that the golf tournament was canceled. He said triumph over adversity was the inspiration for starting the Mary Mac Foundation, and it was only fitting to see so much kindness during a year when so many are coping with hardships related to the pandemic. “When Mary was told she had a terminal disease in 2010, she was an extremely spiritual person and said, ‘OK, we’ve got to go ahead and make the best of this.’ And she did an unbelievable job preparing my three children, myself and my family for what she had to go through,” he said. “I think that that has to be our attitude for this entire year. To be surrounded by this community that’s responded that way during a very difficult time means the foundation will survive 2020, and we’ll actually come out of this stronger,” McMullen added. He said funds raised this year would again support Camp Barnes and summer youth recreation programs in Ocean Pines. Additional funds will go to Diakonia in West Ocean City, a nonprofit that provides emergency housing, emergency food assistance, homelessness prevention, housing assistance, veteran services, and case management for local people in need. Corporate sponsors include Kim and Bonnie Hardt of Action Island, Bob Saunders of American Financial, Tom Terry of Choptank Electric Cooperative, Linda Dearing of Copy Central, Nick and Dave from Food Lion, Don Boger of Home Instead Senior Care and from Seacrets, Julie Woulfe of Shamrock Realty, and Charlie Gale Masonry.

CAPTAIN’S COVE

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Developer awaits documents from Broadband Connections By TOM STAUSS Publisher he prospect that Broadband Connections will begin laying fiber optic cable in Captain’s Cove in the next month or two seems to be fading. A deadline for the company to deliver relevant documents to the Cove developer has been missed, Captain’s Cove association president Tim Hearn said in an Aug. 11 telephone interview. Documents that the developer has been waiting for include proof of financing, site plans, and proof of insurance, Hearn said. Receipt of those documents would indicate that the contractor is ready to begin laying fiber optic cable to bring high speed Internet to Captain’s Cove. “No news is good news,” Hearn said, declining to paint a pessimistic picture of the situation unless and until it becomes clear the company is unable to fulfill its obligations. “I don’t know why the docs haven’t been delivered,” he said. “It could be be Corona-related. It could be that the company has five projects it wants to do and only enough staff to do three.” Delay doesn’t mean the project is dead, he added. Whatever the explanation for the delay in providing documents, Hearn said one way or the other the board is determined to deliver high speed Internet to the community, and Broadband Connections remains the best option to make that happen. Town Center pool -- Hearn announced that a decision has been made to keep the Town Center outdoor swimming pool open through September, depending on availability of staff. The Marina Club outdoor pool will close after the Labor Day weekend, while the indoor Marina Club pool will remain open. A new heater for the indoor pool is due to be installed in the September-October timeframe, Hearn said. The additional month of operation for the Town Center pool reflects the late start to the season because of covid-19, Hearn said, and likely demand that will extend into September by good weather.

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32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

August 2020

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OPINION

August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

COMMENTARY

No need for referendum on drainage

ewly minted Ocean Pines Association President Larry Perrone turned heads at the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors by focusing a bright spotlight on a funding shortfall in the OPA’s Bainbridge Park pond drainage project. He said that to address the shortfall, the OPA might need to conduct a community-wide referendum to approve the OPA share’s of project costs, without providing any details on what those costs might be. He advised that General Manager John Viola and the OPA’s drainage team headed up by Colby Phillips, the OPA’s Director of Logistical Operations (the relevant portion of an unwieldly title), would be providing a detailed report on the status of the program at the board’s Sept. 9 monthly meeting. Perrone later provided some welcome transparency on one aspect of the project, conﬁrming that the OPA has been in talks with the owner of property on the other side of Beauchamp Road, Ocean Pines’ northern boundary, where a holding pond to store excess stormwater from Ocean Pines would be constructed. Apparently the developer, Bluewater Development, has indicated it wants the OPA to purchase the area where the pond would be located. That’s an unwelcome request and needless complication. The request should be politely rejected by the OPA. Bluewater when it gets around to developing its property will need that holding pond for its own stormwater management and will be beneﬁting from the fact that it’s already been built on someone else’s dime. If past is prologue, the developer will also be coming before the

county to obtain water and wastewater treatment services from the county-owned Ocean Pines facilities, facilities that have been maintained and upgraded over the decades by Ocean Pines property owners’ quarterly contributions. Asking for more from Ocean Pines is -- let’s not sugarcoat it -- beyond the pale. The OPA should elicit the assistance of county officials to ensure that this unwelcome request by Bluewater is taken off the table. As for the possible need for a referendum to pay for the OPA’s share of an estimated $2.2 million in project costs, this is a worst-case scenario and in the end is and should be avoidable. Here’s why: Through the efforts of Colby Phillips and the drainage team, and the assistance of county environmental officials, the OPA has received $550,000 in state funding for the Bainbridge project. That’s roughly $1 million short of what had been requested, but still should be considered a triumph in these covid-19 times. The OPA has already budgeted $611,000 for drainage in the current fiscal year budget. It has hired an environmental engineer, Rich Polk, to create the specs for a shovel-ready project, important work that was crucial in making the OPA eligible for the $550,000 grant received last month. The county, the OPA and even the Coastal Bay’s program is continuing to seek out additional grant funding to make up the $1 million shortfall. Having seeded the program at one third the original request, the state’s Department of Natural Resources and the state’s Board of Public Works might be in a better position to fund the

cost differential next year. We simply will have to wait and see. County Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell suggests the possibility of a multi-year roll-out. The project involves piping excess stormwater from Bainbridge pond under Beauchamp Road to a newly constructed holding pond on the Bluewater property (the former Pine Shore golf course) and then out to the St. Martin River through an outfall pipe. Completing it in phases over multiple years is a possibility, according to Mitchell. It may take another year or so to gain some clarity on additional grants for this project, and if so, so be it. In the era of covid-19, very little is going to be unaffected. Delay is inevitable. Meanwhile, the OPA Board of Directors should not be in any hurry to extract the $1 million shortfall from property owners in the form of an assessment increase. This is why talk of a referendum is premature, at best. Perrone hasn’t commited an egregious sin by raising the possibility, but a whack-a-mole response to it is completely justiﬁed. If as is certainly possible no additional grant funding comes through, Mitchell also has laid out the possbility of “rescoping” the project so that the $550,000 received to date is repurposed to achieve a degeree of excess stormwater removal. That and the $611,000 appropriated this year by the OPA can move the needle. The Sept. 9 presentation on the status of the project should be an educational one. -- Tom Stauss

President’s Report 2020 Annual Meeting

assist OPA members who may have experienced some level of financial hardship. We carefully followed the state mandates and the CDC guidelines with respect to conducting meetings and opening our amenities. We will continue to adhere to the stated restrictions as we slowly return to some level of normalcy. In the meantime, I hope that all OPA members, their families and their friends remain safe and healthy. Doug Parks President, Ocean Pines Association

What many of you may not know is, soon after the first wave of cases were reported in Maryland, the Board, John and his team almost immediately responded, including creating a task force, creating information page on the OPA website, and assessing how Covid-19 may impact OPA operations ... There are currently two pending cases against the Association. The first relates to claims brought by a former employee. The second relates to a petition submitted last year. Both of these cases are being defended by the Association’s insurance company’s appointed counsel. The Association also took a more aggressive stance on covenant enforcement. The Association has filed several complaints in the Circuit Court, seeking court orders to compel certain Members’ compliance with OPA’s governing documents. On the collection side, we continue to see the fruits of the more aggressive collection process the Board implemented several years ago. In the past year, we collected $127,361.33. In the last 3.5 years, we collected $857,211.64 It remains an honor to represent Ocean Pines. Jeremy Tucker, General Counsel

I wanted to share my condolences on the loss of Tom Sandusky. Tom was a former Board member who passed away last week. His work in serving the community was very much appreciated. Fiscal 2019-2020 was a financially successful year and the Association finished in the black for the first time in several years. Effective management on the expense side in operations along with profits in our food and beverage operation were key components of our positive financial position. Fiscal 2019-2020 was a successful year from a project perspective as well. The Board approved funding for a new craft building, a new clubhouse and cart barn at the golf course and an upgrade/ buildout of the administration building for the police department. Each of these major projects were delivered on time and under budget. The pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on life both here in Ocean Pines and around the globe. Changes were required in our everyday lives as well as daily operations and amenities within Ocean Pines. We extended the date for payment of the annual assessment as a way to

Legal Update 2020 Annual Meeting

As anticipated this year has been a little quieter on the legal front. As I spoke about last year, having undertaken the difficult work of addressing the issues of the past, the Board has continued focusing on the future. We were pleased to be able to contribute to these endeavors, including ssisting with the contracts for new clubhouse and police station, renewing and expanding PA’s agreement with Matt Ortt, and adding Comcast to Ocean Pines. I would be remiss if I did not address Covid-19.

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

August 2020

Viola secures his dream regime W

ith the election of Larry Perrone as OPA president and Colette Horn as vice-president in Board of Directors voting Aug. 12, on the heals of Horn unexpectedly winning reelection to the board earlier in the month, General Manager John Viola scored a trifecta. He has a leadership team with whom he is on the best of terms, while avoiding the presidency of Steve Tuttle, in which he possibly would have encountered some turbulence. It could be argued that Viola has secured a dream regime, one that, relatively speaking, should make the remaining 22 months on his employment contract a relatively smooth one. And a contract extension if he wants it is a given. Next year’s election, in which the terms of Tuttle and Frank Daly expire, probably won’t upset the status quo all that much. Tuttle is leaning against reelection, or so he has said, while Daly told the Progress he’s leaning in favor of a reelection bid. The election of Perrone was a close one, a 4-3 vote, with directors Camile Rogers, Daly, Horn and Perrone himself in the Perrone camp and directors Tom Janasek, Doug Parks and Tuttle in the Tuttle camp. Rogers was the swing vote, who reportedly agonized over her decision. In texting with the Progress, Viola didn’t deny or confirm that he had a conversation with Rogers on the night before the vote, during which he presumably made the case for Perrone, a former colleague on the influential Budget and Finance Advisory Committee. Viola offered a no-comment instead, and that’s not a surprise. He didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. As reported elsewhere in this edition, a friend of Rogers castigated Rogers for her support of Perrone over Tuttle. Rogers responded -- and this seems credible -- just how difficult the decision had been. Daly arguably was a swing vote as well, but not really, as he told colleagues well before the vote that he was “leaning” toward Perrone. Daly told the Progress he had a problem with Tuttle’s lonely effort earlier this year to bring about a referendum on board capital spending authority to the membership. Daly said Tuttle resisted his proposal to

that didn’ turn out to be reflected in the final results, either. Parks led An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs the pack by a comfortable margin. of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. He was probably everyone’s second By TOM STAUSS/ choice once they had decided for eiBy TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher ther Horn or Lakernick. Horn also suffered the indigeliminate a loophole in the referen- bought into a scenario in which she dum process that allows the board would vote for Tuttle for president nity of being on the losing end of endorsements in two local publicato bypass the referendum require- along with Horn for vice-president. ment by breaking up a capital projRogers in comments to the Prog- tions, including this one. Lakernick ect into phases. Tuttle’s response to ress didn’t directly address allega- and Parks were the endorsees, provthe proposed friendly amendment tions of inappropriate GM interfer- ing that newspaper endorsements bothered Daly and apparently was ence, but it’s obvious she finds them don’t mean all that much. Horn also won reelection by taka factor in his preference of Perrone to be unwarranted. over Tuttle. She said she spoke with Viola, ing what ordinarily would be perAs for why Rogers preferred Per- Tuttle, Perrone and Doug Parks as ceived as an unpopular position on rone over Tuttle, her email to her part of her “due diligence” to help assessment increases. This is what she had said in pubfriend didn’t really say. She had pos- her decide whom to support for preslished remarks in the context of the itive things to say about both men, ident. but in the end had to decide. Let’s “No one told me how to vote,” she coronavirus: “We will likely face reduction in services and access to at least acknowledge the possibility said. that it was an agonizing choice beAs for the allegation she reneged amenities and at the same time incause a vote for both could be jus- on the deal to make Tuttle president crease in assessments due to expecttified. and Horn vice-president, Rogers ed financial losses.” Lakernick pushed back on that That the GM apparently had a scoffed. conversation with Rogers the night “I don’t make deals,” she said, comment in a front page Progress article, to no avail. before the vote didn’t sit well with adding, “that’s stupid.” If indeed the board feels comat least one Tuttle supporter on the So that’s where it stands. Too bad board, who said that such “interfer- the Aug. 17 special meeting isn’t pelled to raise assessments next year to deal with losses, real or imagence” in board affairs by a GM is un- open to the membership. precendented, or at least since the It’s a personnel matter, though, ined, Horn’s reelection suggests that administration of former GM Bob and the board is fully justified un- a sizeable number of OPA members Thompson. der the Maryland HOA Act’s open will be OK with that. Though it seems like ancient his- meeting provision to thrash this out tory, it was less than a decade ago behind closed doors. that Thompson and the OPA presiViola, by the way, isn’t invited. dent of the era, Tom Terry, were said Janasek predicted that it was goby critics to be too closely joined at ing to be a shi-show, and there was The Ocean Pines Progress, a journal the hip. no reason to think that it wouldn’t of news and commentary, is pubThe board member, Tom Janasek, be. lished monthly throughout the year. suggests that history will be repeatAfter his election as president, It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Bering itself with the Viola-Perrone Perrone expressed the hope that the lin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, duopoly. board’s recent record of collegiality Va. Janasek said that Viola’s “inter- would continue. ference” might justify some board Whether it will remains an open 127 Nottingham Lane oversight, and he seems to have question. It might take awhile. All Ocean Pines, MD 21811 achieved that result with a special- elections have winners and losers meeting of the board -- closed to the and those who fall short require PUBLISHER/EDITOR membership because it involves a time to process and to heal and to Tom Stauss personnel matter -- scheduled for move on. stausstom@gmail.com Aug. 17. This special meeting suggests 443-359-7527 This meeting is unlikely to result that collegiality might be somewhat in a reversal of Perrone’s election more difficult to achieve right out of Advertising Sales as President. That would require the box. Frank Bottone a board majority to consent to an As for Horn’s unexpected second 410-430-3660 agenda item in a special meeting for place finish in this summer’s board a new vote for president, and that election, she overcame a lot of headCONTRIBUTING WRITERS might be difficult to secure. Even winds to secure another three-year Rota Knott more problematic would be the effort term on the board. A poll on oceanInkwellMedia@comcast.net to persuade either Daly or Rogers to pinesforum.com had candidate Stu443-880-3953 reverse their votes for Perrone. art Lakernick ahead by a two to one Janasek also lamented what he margin, and this poll hasn’t been Susan Canfora myboyruss@earthlink.net called Rogers’s broken promise to wrong on the winning candidate 410-208-8721 support Tuttle’s bid for the presi- in more than 15 years. It also had dency. He suggested that Rogers had Horn and Parks neck-and-neck, and

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August 2020 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Call for your FREE crawl space assessment! 410-543-4848 MHIC #102406

“Delmarva’s Crawl Space Experts!”

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS August 2020

We’re by your side so you can stay at home.

Whether you are looking for someone to help a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance, Home Instead can help. SM

Home Instead CAREGivers can provide a variety of services. Some include:

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

410.641.0901

• Personal Care • Memory Care • Hospice Support • Meals and Nutrition • Companionship Care • Transportation Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated. © 2020 Home Instead, Inc. • License #R3740

Locally Owned and Operated

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