July early august ocean pines progress by Ocean Pines Progress

July-Early August 2014

Vol. 10, No.4

410-641-6029

www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress Directors to decide GM’s bonus criteria at July meeting

THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY COVER STORY

HACK ATTACK? Pool user tracking system shut down for days at a time Laptops have been consistently disabled at all five Ocean Pines pools on Saturdays and Sundays this summer, and some data has been manipulated. The laptops remained unusable into the week after the Fourth of July, suggesting an acceleration in denial of use attacks. By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Progress has learned that the tracking system used at all five Ocean Pines Association swimming pools may be failing more consistently this summer for reasons that may not be related to weak or intermittent microwave signals. All the laptops that are used in the tracking system at all five of the OPA pools have failed almost like clockwork on Saturday mornings this summer, remaining inaccessible on Sundays but then mysteriously, for the latter part of June, functioning again normally on Monday mornings. Then on Fourth of July weekend, the laptops failed to boot up on the following Monday and the ensuing weekdays following the weekend shut-down. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson told the Progress in a telephone interview July 9 that the problem had persisted and that, as a result, “we’re exploring alternatives because of the unique manner” in which the attacks on the computers have occurred.

He declined to confirm that the OPA has been hacked but his reference to the “unique manner” of the attacks suggested that the possibility has crossed his mind. The pools are usually busier on weekends than they are on weekdays, adding to the inconvenience experienced by the pools’ check-in staff. All the pools were congested over the Fourth of July weekend, aggravating the inconvenience. When the tracking system is down, all pool debit card transactions have to be recorded by hand, with the information then delivered manually to the membership department in the OPA’s administration building, where the cost of the pool visit is then supposed to be deducted from the debity card data on file. It’s time-consuming and tedious and the sheer drudgery of the task probably makes it prone to error. It also invites attempts by some card-holders to game the system in an effort to avoid the fee to use the pools. Thompson has vowed that no OPA member will be able to do so, promising that the To Page 21

The Board of Directors will be deciding at its July 23 meeting the criteria by which Ocean Pines Association General Manager Bob Thompson will be able to qualify for roughly $10,000 in additional compensation unrelated to meeting financial goals, OPA President Tom Terry has disclosed. Another $30,000 or so in incentives are tied to reaching amenity financial goals and may be out of reach if certain key amenities fail to meet or come close to meeting optimistic budgetary forecasts. ~ Page 8

Thompson “attacks” Collins for asking about pond clean-up Director Jack Collins said he feels like he was personally attacked by the Ocean Pines Association’s general manager at the June 18 Board of Directors meeting during a discussion of drainage issues in the community. Collins, a resident of Harbor Village, wanted to know if cleaning out the two stormwater ponds in that section of Ocean Pines will be part of the OPA’s drainage improvement effort that is currently under way. When Collins asked about the issue, Thompson said he wouldn’t give preferential treatment to board members. ~ Page 10

Candidates offer competing views on benefits of amenities Whether or not the Ocean Pines Association’s amenities should be profitable or are just that – amenities for which property owners must help foot the bill when losses occur – was a hot topic during a June 21 forum for the five candidates battling it out in this summer’s board of directors’ election. Candidates vying for two open seats on the board are Pat Renaud, Dave Stevens, Terri Mohr, Jeff Knepper and Lawrence Lee. ~ Page 16

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OPA seeks permit for Beach Club pool fence OCEAN PINES BRIEFS He said people may or may not like the looks of the chain link fence but “At least we’re open and operational.” The new Beach Club fencing when it’s installed, presumably sometime this summer, will be identical to that used at all other OPA swimming pools except on the ocean side. In that area a three foot knee wall with fencing on top will be installed to help control sand intrusion, Thompson said. The new fencing will help improve air flow around the amenity as well. “This should help comfort level, aesthetics, just everything all around, plus we don’t have to worry about the fence collapsing every winter,” Thompson said.

Connectivity issues remain with pool swipe cards, GM says

The Ocean Pines Association is still trying to address issues with its swipe card and microwave systems at some of its swimming pools.

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“We have had some connectivity issues which we thought we had all covered,” OPA General Manager Bob Thompson disclosed during the Board of Directors’ June 18 monthly meeting. He was referring to laptop computers, swipe card and microwave mechanisms on site at the various pools interacting with computer software that tracks pool usage and is supposed to debit the prepaid swipe cards that some OPA members use for pool access. ‘We’ve identified where we can make the improvements,” he said. Microwave connectivity at the Yacht Club has been intermittent. There are several routers in the Yacht Club that push out a signal, including one in the inside bar area. But sometimes that signal is lost, for reasons that have not been fully explained. So an additional router will be installed in the Tiki Bar to push the signal around the pool area, Thompson said. The signal usually works but is slow at the Sports Core pool, the result of trees that interfere with line-of-sight to

the nearby Public Works building, especially during the warmer months. So the OPA is seeking quotes to have the system hardwired by either Mediacom or Verizon there to provide for improved connectivity. “Although it’s working, it’s not as efficient as it should be,” Thompson said. At the Mumford’s Landing swimming pool, the OPA is investigating hardwired connectivity and also creating a hot spot at that location. The hot spot system involves connecting a unit to a cell phone to pick up the signal. Sign-ins have been handled manually at the Mumford’s pool because the microwave connection to the nearby Yacht Club is weak. Thompson did not mention either the Beach Club or the Swim and Racquet Club pools during his comments. Both are presumably hard-wired or using a hot spot system and therefore have not had the same issues that have plagued the Sports Core, Mumford’s and Yacht Club pools. Thompson said he has been disappointed to learn that some OPA members or pool users who aren’t necessarily OPA residents or property owners are

he Ocean Pines Association has applied for permits to replace the fencing around the Beach Club swimming pool in Ocean City. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson during a June 18 meeting said he has had questions about the chain link construction fencing placed inside the vinyl fence earlier this year. “We went ahead and set up the chain link construction fence now inside the vinyl fence” in preparation for repairs and replacement, he said. “On the ocean side, when the storms come through and the winds blow, that vinyl fence tends to fail. We had several broken pieces,” Thompson said. Instead of simply replacing the broken pieces, since new fencing was budgeted anyway, the OPA elected to apply for the permits to do that work now. He said the new fencing was ordered, and the permit was expected to be issued any day. “So as soon as that’s good to go, we’re going to take down the vinyl fence, but it shouldn’t affect the operation because the other fence is already in place,” he said. “So we did it before we opened for a purpose.”

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card. From Page 5 “We had a few people trying to take trying to take advantage of the connec- advantage of it. We’re gonna close that tivity failures to access the pools with- loop very shortly,” he said. out having the use against Wecredited have the best prices on Thompson’s disclosure during the their pre-paid debit repairs cards. and sales of June 18 meeting was a marked concars and “We’re tracking it. You’re gonna get a trast to comments he had made severOnly minutes from bill for it. You’re not trucks. getting by. It’s 10 more al months earlier to criticism from OPA work for us but we’reOcean tracking when you Pines on 113.resident Randy Romblad that the swipe come in,” he said. card system was underperforming. Thompson said when they find out Thompson said the problem areas had the system is working, only then do been fixed by boosting the microwave

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Yacht Club calendar filling with events

During his June 18 presentation to the board of directors, General Manager Bob Thompson said event bookings at the Ocean Pines Association’s new $5 million dollar Yacht Club are strong. As of that date, he said nine events had been held at the Yacht Club since it opened in late May, including four weddings and five other events, and an additional 37 were scheduled. He said that the club was booked with an event every Saturday to November with the exception of the Fourth of July weekend. “That’s pretty astounding,” Thompson said. Thompson said the OPA has also hosted two weddings at the Beach Club, one at the Country Club and two other events at the Country Club since the start of the summer season. Seven more events are already scheduled at the Beach Club and four more are set for the Country Club. “Events, bookings, those types of things are up, and at every one we do we find things we can improve on, things

we can add, suggestions, but out of the gate they’ve been going extremely well,” he said. He added that, while staff is “learning as we go,” it is positive that events are continuing to be booked. Director Jack Collins said he was approached by a woman who wanted to hold a small event for about 80 people at the Yacht Club but thought the second floor dining room was too big. “She thought that the second floor was so big that it would bury the 80 folks,” he said. He asked about the concept of installing dividers to break the large banquet room into smaller gathering spaces that can accommodate smaller events or multiple activities at the same time. Thompson responded that Collins was correct in remembering a discussion about the dividers and the infrastructure for them is in place to do so, but the decision was made not to install the dividers this year. The clear implication: A request for the dividers will be included in the general manager’s draft budget for next year. Thompson said the facility can still accommodate smaller events with about 50 people in attendance. “By moving them to one side or the other of the room and putting our focus

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July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 7

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 6 there, it has not been an issue,” he said. The Progress has received some reports that the large space on the second floor has, in fact, been an issue for some groups, in effect confirming Collins’ concerns. As one OPA resident said: “If the group takes its business elsewhere because it wants a more intimate setting, the OPA might not necessarily know about it.”

Boat Club announces boat parade route

The return of the Ocean Pines Boat Club’s boat parade this month brings a new parade route. The parade will take place July 26 at Pintail Park in Ocean Pines beginning at 2 p.m. The rain date will be July 27. The theme is “Fantasy.” Those attending should bring chairs. Beginning at noon in Pintail Park, the Kiwanis Club’s “dog team” will start cooking hot dogs and will also have soft drinks and snacks for sale until 4 p.m. Other food vendors will also be present. There will be games for the kids and adults to play, such as ring toss, horse races, bocce ball, hula hoop contest, chicken dance contest, and balloon toss. Prizes will be given to the winners. Crabby the Clown will make balloons and the MDA Poster Child will attend. The Honor Guard from the American

Annual book sale

Legion of Ocean City will present the colors and will start the parade with the National Anthem at 2 p.m. Boats will be parading through several canals allowing many viewing opportunities. The parade is open to all Ocean Pines residents, organizations and businesses. To enter, contact Steve Stein at spikerex@aol.com, 410- 641-8930, or Fred Heinlen at fheinlen5@msn.com, 410208-3165, or see the club’s website at opboatclub.com.

Henrietta Kralick, a volunteer with the Friends of the Ocean Pines Library, stands beside some of the thousands of books she helped sort for the upcoming annual book sale at the library from July 25-26. The sale will begin on Friday, July 25, with a preview for members of the FOPL only, beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join or renew memberships at the door and proceed to the sale. Membership is $5 for individuals or $10 for a couple or family. The sale continues for all comers on Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and concludes on Monday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, prices will be marked down to half price all day. Books for sale include histories, biographies of eminent men and women, political commentaries, and accounts of military action; cookbooks and books on crafts and hobbies, and fiction.

OPA reviewing options for handling violations

Having received a flurry of contacts from property owners wondering about changes to the Ocean Pines Association’s policies for addressing derelict properties and junk vehicles, General Manager Bob Thompson said during a June 18 board meeting that nothing is changing any time soon. “Nothing’s happening differently right now, not next week, nor the following week,” he said. Staff is currently in an information gathering phase, reviewing existing resolutions and restrictions, past actions, legal input and talking with other communities about how they handle such violations. “So we can look at it from a more global picture, and then we’re going to figure out if our current resolutions are effective enough; if we’re not following them as accurately as we should or if

we need to add some things to put some more teeth in them,” Thompson said. For the board of directors meeting in July, Thompson said he will have that information available for consideration. ‘We’re going to get it corrected and do what we have to because we all agree. Everyone wants this fixed,” Thompson said. OPA President Tom Terry said “this is not coming off the radar.” He said the OPA is very seriously looking at the existing regulations. It’s not a simple as “junk is junk,” he said. “We have to have the regulations in place” so that when the OPA takes an issue such as a junk vehicle or neglected

property to court for resolution, it has adequate legal standing, Terry said. One area where the OPA is considering strengthening its regulations is in the area of repeat violations. Terry said currently there is nothing in the guidelines or restrictions that address that issue. “Once and for all, let’s figure out the best way to do this,” he said. Director Jack Collins said he realizes “that it’s not flicking a switch” but many of the problems on properties in Ocean Pines have existed for several years. “Something’s wrong there. But we’re headed in the right direction. Let’s get it done,” he said.

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8 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors will be deciding at its July 23 meeting the criteria by which Ocean Pines Association General Manager Bob Thompson will be able to qualify for roughly $10,000 in additional compensation unrelated to meeting financial goals, OPA President Tom Terry has disclosed. Another $30,000 or so in incentives are tied to reaching amenity financial goals and may be out of reach if certain key amenities fail to meet or come close to meeting optimistic budgetary forecasts. The $10,000 bonus unattached to financial performance is probably more achievable, but that remains to be seen. The employment contract that the board extended to Thompson in April specified that the criteria for the non-financial goals would be worked out over the summer. Thompson’s base pay was increased from $150,000 to $165,000, but the incentives in theory could boost the final compensation to $205,000, not including health insurance and a retirement plan. Terry’s disclosure, made during a telephone interview with the Progress July 5, suggests that the criteria could be ready for a vote by the board at the July meeting. The board has been exchanging emails on an initial draft of the bonus criteria prepared by OPA Director Jeff Knepper, who read them into

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

OPA directors to decide Thompson’s bonus criteria at July board meeting the record during the board’s June 21 monthly meeting. Knepper proposed five items that would constitute Thompson’s bonus criteria not tied to financial performance. He suggested that the number of items could increase or decrease, but that five would be a good workable number. The proposed five objectives include: • delivery of an information technology plan for updating the OPA’s network of computers and software, as measured by completeness and accuracy • coordination with the county and development and implementation of a plan for OPA oversight of a county program to replace aging water mains in Ocean Pines, as measured by quality and implementation • updating the OPA’s capital improvement plan for presentation to the board, as measured by completeness for a plan of action through 2020. Thompson gave the board a new version of the plan in two phases last year, with the second phase delivered in November.

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It included a so-called “rack and stack” of proposed projects totaling about $17 million. That draft CIP has not been approved or even addressed by the board since then. • successful operation of the new Yacht Club, as measured by quality of service, speed of service, quality of food and completion of the building. • development of a drainage strategic plan and successful operations, as measured by responsiveness and quality of work. Terry said there has been some fine-tuning to Knepper’s list and that there might be another item added before a final vote is taken. He said the directors have been wrestling with ways to produce a “defined deliverable” so it will easier to determine whether Thompson has achieved the objective. For instance, with respect to the updating of the CIP, Terry said it was likely that a date would be attached to the objective. “It would be a date when we want the CIP” delivered to us,” he said. Critics of this component of Thompson’s contract have said that it virtually guarantees that the general manager will receive a $10,000 bonus for essentially just showing up for work. Terry disagrees. “It’s not as automatic” as some people think, he said. The contract, approved by the board with a 5-2 majority – Directors Marty Clarke and Jack Collins opposed it partially on grounds it was too high for the area -- includes a nine-month severance package. The board can terminate Thompson’s contract “without cause or at our convenience” at any time but that the OPA would be liable for his salary and health care benefits for nine months after the official termination date, Terry

has said. The contract says that Thompson can earn an additional 25 percent of his base salary, or roughly $40,000, by meeting certain performance standards. Of that $40,000, $30,000 could come from meeting amenity targets and another $10,000 could be earned by meeting the set of performance objectives that the board most likely will approve at the July 23 meeting. The amenity incentives would seem to pose a real challenge for Thompson. The contract specifies that five amenity operations together – golf, the Yacht Club food and beverage, aquatics and Beach Club food and beverage – are the measures against which Thompson’s performance will be compared. Specifically excluded from the benchmark calculation will be tennis, Beach Club parking and marinas. That’s because their financial results can’t really be influenced by the general manager, Terry has said. Together, these included amenities are budgeted to lose $97,000 for the fiscal year that began May 1, with one caveat. The approved Yacht Club budget for the year calls for break-even operations, while Thompson’s original draft called for a loss in the neighborhood of $97,000. For purposes of establishing a bonus benchmark, the board elected to use Thompson’s original Yacht Club number rather than the board’s zeroed-out Yacht Club budget. To earn the first $10,000 amenity incentive, Terry said that Thompson will need to achieve “90 percent’ of the deficit target of the five amenities combined, which happens to be a loss of $97,000. Thompson will earn that first $10,000 if the combined loss in the five departments is $109,000 or better. To earn a second $10,000 bonus, the contract says that Thompson would need to trim $50,000 off that $109,000. A third $10,000 would be earned if the deficit is trimmed by another $50,000, Terry said. “Essentially, he gets the full bonus if these five departments are close to break-even,” he said. The incentive package was specifically designed to avoid payouts for sepTo Page 10

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Thompson ‘attacks’ Collins for contacting Wells about cleaning Harbor Village ponds Director says he wasn’t seeking special treatment when he approached public works director By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer irector Jack Collins said he feels like he was personally attacked by the Ocean Pines Association’s general manager at the June 18 Board of Directors meeting during a discussion of drainage issues in the community. Collins, a resident of Harbor Village, wanted to know if cleaning out the two stormwater ponds in that section of Ocean Pines will be part of the OPA’s drainage improvement effort that is currently under way. When Collins asked about the issue, Thompson said he wouldn’t give preferential treatment

Thompson bonus From Page 8 arate amenity departments, Terry said, because that might allow the general manager to focus on several of the amenities rather than the amenities in totality. The package won’t deliver for Thompson if any of the five included amenities produce substantial losses relative to budget, Terry said. Just one poorly performing amenity will probably be enough “to prevent Thompson from receiving any bonus incentive,” he added. “If golf doesn’t improve substantially, for instance, he gets nothing.” Terry defended the $165,000 base salary as appropriate despite widespread criticism that it’s substantially higher than what top governmental executives in Ocean City and Worcester County

to board members. During the meeting, Thompson presented an update on the special drainage improvement effort, saying a four-man crew is addressing problem areas throughout the community. That crew will be working on cleaning out stormwater management ponds located throughout Ocean Pines, along with stormwater ditches. “We have a number of those around, and they are going to get in and clean those up,” he said. In a move that seemed designed to bring the issue to the fore, Director Sharyn O’Hare opened the door wide for Thompson to criticise Collins by asking if the Harbor Village and Bainbridge ponds would be among those cleaned out by a four-man crew that is addressing special drainage problems throughout the community. “Are those the ponds that you’re addressing?” she asked Thompson responded that the Bainbridge pond is on the list, but he was noncommittal about those in Harbor Village. “We have a number of ponds that are kind of hidden off the main areas ...,” he said, adding that the work crew is helping to build a maintenance program for them. Collins then asked, “Did I hear you correctly that you are not necessarily going to do anything in the Harbor Village ponds?” Thompson responded that he didn’t want to address the Harbor Village issue, telling Collins that “you’ve spoken to the head of public works about some issues you’re having there. I’m trying to keep a very clear separation between board member and resident. That’s why I stayed away from that.” “What does that mean in English?” Collins asked of Thompson.

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From Page 10 “It means board members aren’t going to get preferential treatment,” Thompson replied, and then quickly added, “Not that you asked for it.” Collins said special treatment is not what he’s asking for, but rather just to have long-overdue work done to the ponds. “I did go to him as a civilian, not as an elected official, because I was getting some heat from the folks” in Harbor Village, he said of his meeting with Public Works Director Eddie Wells. “Again, I tried to stay away from it,” Thompson said. “I need to, in English. I can’t give the board preferential treatment. So I have to be careful there.” Thompson added that he does not think his staff is capable of distinguishing between when a board member is acting as a board member and when they are asking questions as a resident. “When a board member approaches a department head, it’s hard for the department head to make a distinction (between) board member/resident.” “He was clear that I was a resident,” Collins said of his conversation with Wells. “He should have been because I tried to make it clear to him.” Still, Thompson said there is no real distinction. “Just like when you walk into my office and say I’m coming to you as a resident not a board member, you’re still a board member,” he said. Collins responded, “I have rights as a resident, and I want to maintain them.” “Ok,” Thompson said. “And the third thing is – we’re exploring the turnover agreements for specific areas because turnover agreements in each section have certain limitations, certain things added in or not added in.” While he didn’t actually say so, the indication was that maintenance of the Harbor Village ponds may not be the OPA’s problem. As an example, he cited recent damage to a sign in the Pointe section of Ocean Pines. “Well, that sign doesn’t fall under the Ocean Pines Association’s purview to go fix it, repair it, that type thing.” Thompson said the OPA will assist with that type of work, but the residents of the Pointe had to pay to fix the sign. “We’ll help where we can. But it’s up to the individual sections to maintain anything that was not turned over to the association in the agreement,” Thompson said. When someone approaches the OPA about issues with structures like stormwater management ponds, fountains, bubblers or signs, staff has to review the restrictions to determine if their maintenance is in fact the association’s responsibility, he added. Collins said he was not taking issue with the overall drainage program but rather just asking what the project will entail. “This is a great step forward,” Collins said of the overall effort to improve community drainage. “I’m not being critical.

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

“I’m trying to keep a very clear separation between board member and resident. That’s why I stayed away from that.”

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OCEAN PINES

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Harbor Village From Page 11 two seasonal employees. During the first 30 to 60 days the crew was focused on cleaning up major drainage ditches that are inaccessible by motorized equipment and are dry enough right now to access. Therefore, “Current efforts you don’t necessarily see,” Thompson said, adding that many of those drainage ditches are off the beaten path. “They have to walk down there to do the cleaning and pruning and that’s where the focus of this crew has been the last few weeks and will continue to be moving forward.” The crew will use a new “sewer machine” to blow debris from the drainage pipes throughout the community as well. “That was a big thing last year,” Thompson said, adding that the OPA

had to rely on the county to do that in the past. He said it’s been helpful owning a machine that will allow the OPA to do the work in-house and try to “stay ahead of it.” The special drainage crew is not assigned to complete any drainage work orders initiated by resident calls. It is entirely focused on long term maintenance issues, Thompson said. According to the general manager, some residents have called to ask the drainage team to address problems on their properties. “This crew is not taking assignments through the regular work order system. They’re doing separate work,” he said. O’Hare wanted to make sure that residents can still call in to public works with issues of concern. “Oh yeah! We have our regular crews going out (on resident requests),” Thompson said.

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Aquatics committee, Aveta support joint RFP for pool improvements Sports Core resurfacing to be delayed another year By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association’s Aquatics Advisory Committee and OPA Facilities Manager Jerry Aveta are on the same page regarding

resurfacing of the Mumford’s Landing and Swim and Racquet Club swimming pools: They agree the two projects should be combined in a single request for proposal (RFP), with specifications farmed out to prospective pool contractors this

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summer. The joint project would be authorized and completed this fall after these pools close for the summer season. The consensus emerged during the committee’s June 26 monthly meeting and was consistent with previous committee discussions about these projects, both of which involve a full abrasion of the pool surfaces down to the concrete, replastering with a new bond coat, and then, in a final step, applying a new Diamond Brite surface similar to that at the one-year-old Yacht Club pool. Aveta, the OPA administration’s representative at the committee meeting, told members that he supported doing both projects simultaneously and intended to draft a single RFP by Aug. 1 for both pools, subject to approval from OPA General Manager Bob Thompson. Aveta said that after a recent meeting with Thompson he believes the general manager is on board with that approach. The OPA Board of Directors will also have to authorize the two projects along with their financing mechanisms. Mumford’s pool improvements were authorized and funded in the fiscal year that ended this past April 30. New fenc-

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ing and zero-entry access to the Mumford’s Landing baby pool were completed as scheduled prior to the opening of the pool. Because of time constraints this spring and a desire to have the Mumford’s pool open on time, the OPA elected to do some relatively minor patching of cracks in the pool prior to Memorial Day, postponing the comprehensive, and far more costly full abrasion and resurfacing until the fall. For this to happen, the OPA board would have to approve moving the funding from the previous fiscal year to the current one for the Mumford’s pool. Alternatively, the board could find some other funding source, such as diverting funds from the approved Sports Core pool decking and resurfacing project that was approved for the current fiscal year but almost certainly will be delayed from this summer to next year. The Swim and Racquet Club pool improvements, however, including some pump room upgrades, are funded in the current year’s capital project in the amount of $45,000. Committee members with Aveta’s encouragement agreed to support moving up a similar full abrasion and resurfacing of the Swim and Racquet Club pool to this fall, rather than waiting until next spring, when pool companies tend to be very busy and may not be as will-

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OCEAN PINES Aquatics committee From Page 14 ing to take on major resurfacing projects as a reasonable cost. The logic behind the recommendation is that by combining the pool resurfacing projects into one RFP, the OPA will receive better pricing proposals because of economies of scale and better timing. Also at the June 26 meeting, Aveta delivered some news regarding the long-delayed Sports Core pool decking and resurfacing project that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really surprise anyone. He told the committee that because of complexities involving the project, he is reluctantly giving up on what he had hoped would be the issuance of an RFP for the project this summer with the possibility of commencing work in late August or September. That schedule would have closed the Sports Core pool for a month or more during that time, when other community pools, all outdoor, would have been available for use. Aveta said there simply is not enough time to develop a detailed Sports Core RFP in time to keep to that schedule and that he therefore recently recommended to Thompson that the project be delayed and budgeted for late summer next year. That schedule will give him time to draft the RFP in sufficient detail, Aveta said, telling the committee that Thompson told him he agreed that delaying the project for another year made sense. Committee members accepted the delay with no dissent, as it was more or less expected. They have been researching various options for replacing the Sports Core pool decking and to date have not reached consensus. Options under consideration included rubberized matting products from companies such as Renysis or Rubaroc, with one member favoring pavers like those that were installed at the Yacht Club pool. Thompson also has been in favor of pavers like those used at the Yacht Club pool. Whatever decking material is finally recommended by the committee, Aveta and committee members are well aware that the existing concrete decking with its many imperfections will need to be leveled in a way that makes it possible to install the new surface over it. The project also involves replacement of several pool skimmers that are said to be failing and possibly adding new coping stone around the perimeter of the pool. Whether that really is necessary if some sort of rubberized matting product is installed right up to the pool edge is yet to be determined. The committee also has not given up on the idea of recommending the addition of ultra-violet filtering equipment in the pool pump room and, possibly, a salt-generated chlorination system. The latter is seen as more practical when metal pumps at the Sports Core pool are replaced with plastic versions, less subject to corrosion, while UV

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

Strawberry festival

Members and friends of Community Church recently celebrated strawberry season with an old fashioned Strawberry Festival where they enjoyed strawberries, ice cream, cake and beverage in the churchyard. Music was provided by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Spare Changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performers Kevin Compher and Mike Hughes. Pictured are some of the festival volunteers, left to right: Dennis Faber, Janet Morse, Linda Bowen, and Marian Bickerstaff. equipment can more easily interact with existing equipment. UV is touted for removing odors and exposing pool users to fewer chemicals used in a conventional chlorination system. Resurfacing of the Sports Core pool is the other major component of the project and is relatively straightforward. Much of the existing pool surface is already eroded down to the concrete base and is badly stained and cracked throughout. The committee previously concluded that deck replacement and pool resurfacing probably should be accomplished at the same time, but that coordination has proven difficult to accomplish and has contributed to delays. Had the committee recommended pool resurfacing only, separate from deck replacement, arguably the former would have been accomplished by now. But that approach still would have left the pool decking in poor condition.

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Board candidates offer competing views on costs and benefits of amenities Stevens, Renaud running as a team to dislodge incumbents By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer hether or not the Ocean Pines Association’s amenities should be profitable or are just that – amenities for which property owners must help foot the bill when losses occur – was a hot topic during a June 21 forum for the five candidates battling it out in this summer’s board of directors’ election. Candidates vying for two open seats on the board are Pat Renaud, Dave Stevens, Terri Mohr, Jeff Knepper and Lawrence Lee. Stevens and Renaud are running as a team against incumbents Mohr and Knepper. Their platform is based on a contention that the sitting board – or at least a five person majority – is ceding too much authority to the general manager. They’ve also raised Cain over a new compensation package for the

general manager that, with incentives, could cost the OPA $205,000 per year, not including fringe benefits such as health care and a retirement plan. Mohr and Knepper do not seem to be running as a team in the way that Stevens and Renaud are. Mohr especially is running on what she regards as many board accomplishments during her three years on the board. She also said she represents women in Ocean Pines and those who work for a living. One palpable subtext behind the election, however, is that the team of Stevens and Renaud is hoping to dislodge the current board majority of OPA President Tom Terry and Directors Sharyn O’Hare, Bill Cordwell, Mohr and Knepper. If Stevens and Renaud manage to win the election, they are likely to join with minority directors Marty Clarke and Jack Collins in a new coalition that could and probably would change OPA governance significantly. While Stevens and Renaud have not

advocated the dismissal of OPA General Manager Bob Thompson, Thompson’s supporters and reportedly Thompson himself believe that his departure would just be a matter of time with a Stevens-Renaud victory. All that can be said with some certainty is a Stevens-Renaud victory would mean Terry would not be reelected board president this fall when the board reorganizes after the election. But that might not have happened anyway. OPA Vice-president Sharyn O’Hare presides over board work sessions and is thought to be interested in the job. Stevens, a former six-year member of the board and the OPA president for one of those years, is seen as a likely contender if he and Renaud win the election. Stevens and Thompson did not get along well when Stevens last served on the board. One of the primary jobs of the OPA president is to liaise with the general manager. As for amenity losses and the subsidies they require, there is some indication that Renaud and Stevens both would take a harder line against them than Mohr, with Knepper a little more difficult to pin down. In some respects, he and Renaud did not seem to differ all that much. “We have a lot of losses in a lot of areas,” Renaud said, adding that he would

16 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES Candidates From Page 16 like to look at each amenity separately and develop a strategy to make them all profitable. Mohr, on the other hand, said the amenities are not necessarily supposed to be profitable; some are profitable while others are not. She said they really exist for the enjoyment of property owners. “That’s what we signed onto when we moved to Ocean Pines,” Mohr said. She added that no OPA member is forced to purchase an amenity membership. She mentioned that all OPA’s amenities are open to the general public for use – either as paid members or fee-based daily users -- as a way to help offset their operational costs. Knepper, who was appointed to the board to replace the retiring Dan Stachurski last winter, said there are two approaches to the finances of the amenities. “I look at the amenities in total, and the net is what’s important to me,” he said. However, when determining where to make changes, that is the time to study them on an individual basis. “If we want to know what to work on, pick the one that’s losing money and move forward with a goal of breaking even, he said. Stevens said the OPA has a resolution that clearly states the OPA’s goals with regard to the amenities and that is to break even financially overall and operate them in a business-like manner. He said the real problems are not in the amenities themselves but in the way they are being managed. Lee said the amenities “are an absolute asset to Ocean Pines. What would Ocean Pines be without them?” He said in considering how much money the amenities make or lose, the board must also weigh the good the amenities do for the community, including boosting property values. In response to a question about aquatics, Knepper said the OPA has a new aquatics director in place and that the OPA is taking steps to reduce losses. “I think we bit the bullet on aquatics when we covered that pool,” Stevens said, adding that the amenity used to make a significant profit but now the expenses for the Sports Core pool are eating into that revenue, resulting in annual operating losses. He did not propose any specific remedies. “I would not change aquatics. It’s a key part of Ocean Pines,” Lee said. He agreed with Stevens that the expenses related to the covered pool were embedded years ago. “It was done,” he said, adding that the board needs to focus more on getting “competent people” to operate the amenity, and hopefully it will begin to break even again. Renaud said he is a swimmer and uses his aquatics club membership several times per week on a year round basis. As a member, he said if the association needs to raise its annual assessment to cover losses at the amenity, he

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS would be willing to do so. “I think it’s a really great thing to keep asking that question” about the status of not just the aquatics program, but of all amenities all the time, Mohr said. The pools are well used and the OPA’s aquatics committee works very hard at helping to decide the best way to keep the pools operating efficiently, effectively and safely, she said. As for closing the golf course and turning it into the park, none of the candidates said they would support such a move at this point.

Lee said the OPA needs to keep the golf course because it, too, is important to Ocean Pines. “The core of Ocean Pines is the golf course as well as the waterways here,” he said. If it was to be converted to a park, then the association would simply have another park to maintain, he said. Renaud said he favors keeping the golf course operational but said it should have a professional manager with a vested interest in seeing it become profitable. That seemed to suggest that he would favor leasing out the

course to competent management as opposed to continuing to hire a fee-based management company to run the course for the OPA. “I really don’t know at this point what the future of our golf course is,” Mohr said. She indicated that the OPA needs to get through the current season and then decide its future. Mohr said the board realized that the golf course was in poor condition and has made numerous improvements to it, including replacing the greens. She said To Page 19

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MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: OPVFD 911 Ocean Parkway Ocean Pines MD 21811

18 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

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The Community Church at Ocean Pines is participating in Operation Christmas Child, a program sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, in July. Those who articipate receive a shoe box and instructions on how to fill it with small items for a child. They choose the gender and age of the child who will receive the box and contribute a small amount to cover shipping. Operation Christmas Child will insert Christian literature in the language of the country that will receive the boxes. Boxes are shipped to over 20 countries during the Christmas season. Call Louise (410-430-0284). Pictured is Jeff Morse, chairman of the Church Council at Community Church, receiving the first shoebox from Louise Lassiter, program coordinator.

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OCEAN PINES Amenities

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

the decision to spend the money necessary to undertake that particular project was an agonizing one for her. But, she said, she realizes the importance of the amenity not just to golfers but to the community as a whole and to home values. “The golf course is a complex question. I don’t play golf; I like the golf course. I’m glad it’s here,” Knepper said. Still, he said, the losses sustained at the golf course during the last few years are not bearable, but he doesn’t know if it can ever be profitable. Knepper said changing the golf course to a park is an “interesting idea” but it would not be easy or inexpensive to do. He said property owners would be stunned by the cost to maintain a park, which would generate no revenue at all. “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” he said of closing the golf course. Instead he said the OPA needs a good operator and acknowledged that “Casper hasn’t worked out for us.” Stevens said he has been a member of the Ocean Pines Golf Club for 35 years. Now that the greens have been replaced, Casper has a pristine course to manage and promote, so the OPA should wait and see what the company is able to do to generate new interest in the course, he said. He took issue with the lack of reporting from Casper to the board of directors.

Candidates debate role of directors versus GM in governing Ocean Pines By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer he five candidates vying for two open seats on the Ocean Pines Association’s board of directors in this summer’s election have slightly varying views on what the Candidate’s forum role of that elected Candidates for the OPA board of directors Lawrence Lee, Pat Renaud, Terri Mohr, Jeff Knepper and Dave Stevens. body is in governing the community. sponded that it would be to “represent ity to the board. Candidates Lawrence Lee, Pat Re- the people of Ocean Pines and to make He said directors need to have all of naud, Terri Mohr, Jeff Knepper and Da- decisions that can benefit the communi- the information required to make decivid Stevens each had the opportunity to ty both today and into the future. sions on an issue prior to board meetcomment on the duties of the board ver“You do that with one word,” Lee ings, not have it presented to them by sus the general manager during a June said. “It’s not rocket science. That word the general manager and be asked to 21 forum hosted by the OPA’s Election is accountability.” make a decision on the spot. Committee, with some saying current Mohr took issue with Renaud’s That accountability is from the genGeneral Manager Bob Thompson has eral manager to the board, he said, add- statement, saying the board’s agendas been given too much leeway to make de- ing that the general manager works for are published three to five days before cisions on his own. the board. “It’s got to be kept that way.” meetings but sometimes information on Some of the questions designed to Renaud said governance in general is an item may be missing if staff is still elicit candidate views were pedestrian, the problem that he sees in Ocean Pines trying to gather all of the required inand the responses on occasion were trite today. formation. and uninformative. He said there needs to be a clear disShe said she personally looks to the When asked what would be his pri- tinction between the board’s authority general manager to provide her with all mary role if elected to the board, Lee re- and the general manager’s responsibil-

From Page 16

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From Page 19 of the information as well as a recommendation on issues. “He is the one who runs the community” and prioritizes its needs, she said, adding that the directors “just kinda chip away at things.” Knepper, who was appointed to the board last winter to fill a vacancy but is running for his first full term, said “the biggest challenge is often figuring out what we want.” He said something that is really important to one property owner may be of no interest to another. “It’s going to be hard to solve some of those,” he said. When asked how the current board arrived at the salary package provided to the general manager when his contract was renewed this year, Knepper circled around the question, ultimately refusing to answer. Instead he said it was complicated, the research was substantial, and he couldn’t explain the matter properly in the two minutes allotted during the forum for his response. Instead, he said any OPA member who wanted a more detailed explanation could meet with him after the forum. Stevens said the reason he decided to run for election to the board after a year’s layoff was because the current directors have “relinquished their power” for developing policy to the general

manager. He said that is not the right or responsibility of the general manager, but of the board. “I truly honestly believe we’ve gone in the wrong direction,” he said. Mohr said that if property owners feel that the board is moving in a “wrong direction” they should “stand up and tell us what direction we’re going wrong in. We don’t know if you don’t tell us,” she said. Stevens said “something is going very wrong with the governance of this community.” He posed the question of what could be wrong when there is a new Yacht Club, a slight decrease in annual assessments this year and a substantially rebuilt golf course. including new greens and drainage improvements. “Maybe there isn’t anything wrong unless you wonder at what cost,” he said. He questioned whether or not the OPA has been building “what is really needed or the general manager’s private vision of what is needed.” Mohr said she is proud of what has been accomplished during the three years she has served as a director. “Has everything been smooth and rosy and great? No. But we have made some major progress in our community,” she said, adding that property owners look to the board to provide guidance q

20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 20 and set policy. The board can only do that by working with the general manager, she said. Lee said he should be elected to the board to help bring back participative management for property owners and progress through accountability. “We’ve got to hold each member of the board responsible. We have to hold each person in the community responsible,” he said, without offering any detail on how that might be accomplished. Renaud said his campaign theme is one of change and that there needs to be a better balance of power and clearly defined functions for the general manager and the board. Regarding who has responsibility for which actions, the board or the general manager, Stevens said the OPA’s bylaws spell it out very clearly for both. He said developing the policies and requirements for moving the association forward is the responsibly of the board; that is not something that should be turned over to the general manager. During the last few years, Stevens said the line between the responsibilities of the directors and the general manager has become blurred, with the board giving way to the general manager’s demands. “The board has to take back that responsibility,” he said.

If elected, Stevens, a former board member who served two, three-year terms, said he would consider it his responsibility to monitor the execution of projects undertaken by the general manager, including their budgets and timetable for completion. “Yes, it is the board’s responsibility to do that,” he said, adding that the board needs more direct reporting from the general manager. In his earlier service on the board, Stevens often sparred with the general manager on reporting issues. “It’s the dynamic between the general manager and the board that makes it work,” Renaud said. He said the board represents the people, but the general manager does not do so directly. “He carries out board instructions.” Mohr simply said it’s important for all board members to “do their homework” when it comes to projects that are being undertaken by the association. Sometimes, she said, directors do tend to micromanage projects that the general manager is charged with overseeing. She cited the recent construction of a new Yacht Club as an example, without giving any details of areas she thought the board had gone too far. “The board has an absolute duty to supervise the general manager and his staff,” Knepper said. “Not so much on an ongoing detail day-to-day basis at the task level” but in an overall fashion.

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Hack attack From Page 1 OPA will bill any card-holder for pool visits that weren’t paid for. However, a source told the Progress that Thompson’s promise to seek payment from card-holders can only go so far. While the OPA may have some leverage with OPA members who are trying to take advantage of the connectivity problems, the source said that many card-holders are people who neither live nor own property in Ocean Pines, making collection efforts for a relatively small amount of money very difficult. BDK, the company that custom-made the Lanza tracking system used at the pools, has detected unauthorized access to the software that runs the systems, the Progress was told, but initially had come up with no antidote to unauthorized access or the complete shut-down of the system’s laptop computers on

weekends. Thompson confirmed that the OPA has discussed the situation with the software vendor. The unauthorized software access and laptops’ inaccessibility suggest a far more serious situation than heretofore publicly acknowledged by Thompson. At the Board of Directors meeting in June, Thompson told the board, in effect, that previous declarations about connectivity issues at the pools had been resolved was no longer accurate. “We thought we had (the issues) covered,” he said. According to Thompson, the connectivity issue had resurfaced at the Sports Core, Mumford’s Landing and Yacht Club pools, but he attributed it to intermittent or weak signals in the microwave transmission component of the system. He also told the board that solutions had been identified and were being implemented.

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22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

USGA rep says golf course greens are in good condition

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer verall, the Ocean Pines Association’s golf course is in good condition, according to a United States Golf Association representative who visited the amenity recently. Darin Bevard, director of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the USGA Green Section, presented his verbal evaluation of the golf course to the Board of Directors during its June 18 meeting. Bevard, a former assistant superintendent at Talbot Country Club in Easton, Md., conducts visits to golf courses throughout the five-state region. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said Bevard comes to Ocean Pines once a year to evaluate its golf course. He said Bevard had just gotten off the course that day so “I asked Darin to come in and just give us what he saw today.” Bevard said he looked at the entire golf course but added that the greens were of great interest to him because of the investment that has been made in them by the OPA during last few years. “They look really good overall right

“I’m just suggesting that people observe the impact that cart traffic has on the fairway. That’s all. Because inevitably when it gets hot and you catch the rain events, the fairways have struggled.” USGA representative Darrin Bevard

now,” he said. “Now that they are starting to mature I think you’ll see greens on the front nine that are going into their third season. Basically, I think they’ll be pretty much problem free.” The refurbished back nine greens have seen better weather in their first year and should come along much more

Hack attack From Page 21 Among the solutions cited were an additional router in the Yacht Club’s tiki bar, hard-wiring at the Sports Core for improved connectivity, and hard-wiring and a so-called “hot spot” for Mumford’s Landing. But it turns out that the problems at the pools involve more than poor connectivity and affect all five of the pools, not just the three mentioned by Thompson at the June meeting. The denial of use of the laptops on Saturdays and Sundays, and more recently into weekdays, along with the unauthorized manipulation of data in the system, suggests that the OPA has

quickly than did the front nine holes, he said. Right now, he said, in evaluating the turf grass the fairways are the weaker area on the Ocean Pines golf course. Still, he said, they are overall in very good condition, while some are pocked with cart tracks. been subject to a consistent attack by a hacker or hackers. Thompson made no mention of that possibility at the June meeting and still stops short of using the word. The Progress source said the laptop inaccessibility at the Sports Core on Saturdays and Sundays predated the opening of the outdoor pools on Memorial Day weekend but then spread to them when they opened for the season, continuing every weekend since. The source said that Thompson has been informed of the laptop outages on weekends and data manipulation. In addition, intermittent or weak signals of the kind discussed by Thompson at the June board meeting can happen anytime during the week,

He said that was the first thing he noticed and “I’m not sure there is anything you can do about it if you wanted to.” He suggested that golfers on the board look at the condition of the turf on the cart side of the path and on the restricted side of the path to get an idea of the impact cart traffic has on the turf grass. OPA Director Jack Collins asked Bevard if he was suggesting that the golf course move to a cart path only operation. When Bevard quickly responded,

Carts causing damage to fairways, expert says, but calls cart-only policy impractical for Ocean Pines

the source said. Until such time as the OPA can regain control of the tracking system, the source suggested that the best interim solution would be to suspend use of the debit cards in favor of a cash-only system. The discounts embedded in the cards would be honored at check-in but there would be no debiting of the cards during the cash-only period. OPA President Tom Terry told the Progress in a July 8 telephone interview that the problems illustrate issues with Ocean Pines’ computer backbone system. He acknowledged that given the pattern in which computer outages have occurred could suggest a systematic denial of service attack, or hacking.

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OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Volley for the Cure

The third annual cure for breast cancer fundraiser was held at the Ocean Pines Racquet Complex on May 30. More than 100 platform tennis, tennis and pickleball members participated. The three sports gathered together and played. Play was followed up by a luncheon at the clubhouse and afterward many players returned to the courts. The event was spearheaded by Linda Lee, June Freeman, Frank Creamer and Julie Wolfe. Nearly $3000 was raised and donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

USGA report

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From Page 22

“No. No. Not at all,” Collins asked him to elaborate on the impact of carts on the course. “I’m just suggesting that people observe the impact that cart traffic has on the fairway. That’s all. Because inevitably when it gets hot and you catch the rain events, the fairways have struggled,” Bevard responded, adding “I don’t think cart paths only is even practical for your situation unless it’s just so wet you can’t get out there.” He said the OPA has experimented with using Bermuda grass on the fairways because it may “hold up better.” OPA President Tom Terry asked if the golf course is at a point where the association should consider using another type of grass on the fairways. “Are we at any situation going forward where a change put to something else might make sense down the road?” Bevard said he believes that possibly Bermuda grass may be a better option, but he added that any change should wait awhile so the golf course staff can evaluate its use on an experimental basis. He said even it comes with challenges; Ocean City Golf Club has Bermuda grass fairways and it was an issue for the golf course all spring because the Bermuda grass did not “green up” as early as they would have liked. “It’s a balancing act that you have to look at,” Bevard said. “At this point in time you’re doing exactly what I think you should do -- experiment and look and see what options are out there.” The challenge with cool season grasses like rye grass, annual blue grass, Bermuda grass and bent grass is that they each have different needs and tolerate different chemical products differently, Bevard said. For example, he said the belly of Hole nine just short of the bunker contains four different kinds of grass and that is one of the areas that is troubled on the OPA’s golf course. “I’m not sure there’s a perfect solution for the fairway situation,” he said. “But looking at different options is well founded, and there are areas of Bermuda grass in the fairways that can be evaluated.”

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24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

USGA report From Page 23 Golfer Frank Watkins asked if it would be possible to have alternating weeks where golfers would be subject to cart path only rules one week on a series of differing holes. “I don’t have a problem with that. But that’s not a decision for me to make. I think a lot of people would view that as impractical. I guess that’s something that could be discussed. But cart paths

only on nine holes to a lot of people is as bad as cart paths only on all 18 of them,” Bevard said. Director Bill Cordwell added that Ocean Pines has a lot of older members who simply can’t walk the distance from the cart path to play. “Once it’s cart paths only, they can’t play anymore.” “We have to be cognizant of everybody. If they’re members, too, or they’re paying customers we have to be cognizant that what we would like to do with the course is different; we have to ac-

commodate everybody.” Collins said Watkins had a good thought and thanked him for the idea. He, too, said carts only would be impractical on the OPA’s golf course given the average age of the membership. He added that the Ocean Pines golf course has to be competitive, as other golf courses in the surrounding area are also looking for play and are going to accommodate potential customers to

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the best of their ability. “If they restrict them with heavy duty walking, they’ll go somewhere else,” he said. “They will play somewhere else.” Bevard also suggested that wherever possible, especially around the greens complexes, the OPA should continue to consider tree removal options. He said he is not suggesting clear-cutting of trees on the golf course but that some thinning is necessary.

The Ocean City Power Squadron recently presented the “Partners in Command Seminar” as a community service. The squadron offered this course to provide boaters, guests or crew the most up to date information on safety and emergency procedures in case the Captain of the boat is disabled. Topics covered included how to respond to emergencies such as medical issues, stormy conditions, running aground, a fouled propeller, collisions, taking on water, man overboard and more. Pictured are P/Lt/C Bela Gulyas, and PC Fried Stiehl taught the class at the Ocean Pines Community Center.

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA team meets with golf course leasing companies By TOM STAUSS Publisher cean Pines Association President Tom Terry has confirmed that he and two other members of the OPA Board of Directors met with two golf course management companies on July 8 to discuss the possible leasing of the 18-hole golf course to them later this year. Terry said the meetings were preliminary and exploratory and that, as expected, neither party submitted formal leasing proposals during the meetings. Terry was joined by board members Jack Collins and Jeff Knepper and Marvin Steen, the founder of a local organization that has urged the board to lease out the golf course as a way of reducing if not eliminating significant operating losses, golf-related depreciation expense and ongoing capital expenditures at the golf course. Last year, the golf course recorded an operating loss of about $330,000 and golf-related depreciation expense funded from lot assessments totaled about $420,000. Drainage improvements on holes 11 and 12, including Hingham Lane which bisects them, were funded in the form of an in-house financing mechanism in the amount of $615,000. Terry said the meetings were productive but he declined to offer details. He said the OPA team would be meeting with other companies interested in leasing out the golf course over the summer. “There are no front-runners (for a golf course lease),” he said. Billy Casper Golf, hired by the OPA to manage the course for it more than three years ago, has been given a relatively short period of time to meet or exceed budgetary targets for the current fiscal year that began May 1. If it manages to do so, Terry has said a new threeyear contract that began May 1 will be honored, but if not, he has said the OPA board will be prepared to consider alternatives by November. Terry has said there is language in the agreement that allows the board of directors, on its sole authority, to cancel the contract if BCG fails to meet financial objectives. “I certainly hope they succeed and they deserve to have every opportunity to do so,” Terry said recently of BCG. “But if it doesn’t happen, language in the new contract allows the board in its sole authority to get out of the contract.” While the targeted loss to stay in the good graces of the OPA is $95,000, the budgeted golf loss for the new fiscal year that began May 1 is $73,300. The contract in effect says that the board will tolerate a loss that falls short of the budgeted goal by $21,700. As a practical matter, it’s what a board majority would decide at the conclusion of the calendar 2014 golf season that will tell the tale on how much of a loss will be tolerated. As one director, Terry said he is prepared to ask the

OPA president following through on pledge to explore possibilities with companies and individuals who might be willing to relieve the OPA of huge golf-related expenses

company to depart in the November-December time period if the $95,000 loss target for the fiscal year appears to be out of reach. He also said there’s an understanding that the company will assist in any

transition to new management, and that there is no non-compete provision in the new contract that would prevent the OPA from hiring any current BCG employee. That would seemingly allow the OPA

to offer jobs to Golf Pro John Malinowksi or Superintendent Rusty McClendon should the OPA elect to tender either or both men an employment offer. That could be an option should BCG fail to meet budgetary targets and should the ongoing efforts to explore a lease alternative fail to produce an acceptable lease proposal that can win majority board support. To Page 28

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OPA Bylaws Require Governance By an Elected Board, Not Management

Imagine AND An Ocean Pines • The GMthe is accountable to the Board Where Board Insists On:for his actions or failure to act. Pat Renaud Pat Renaud

Dave Stevens Dave Stevens

••Immediate, proactive steps tomust cleanbederelict properties collect past assessments The GM/Staff compensation fair, justified and and compatible with due the economics of our community. • A primary focus on critical infrastructure maintenance and improvement • Adjustments to income must be based on meeting peformance-based, measurable, • Adjustments to income board-established goals. based on meeting peformance-based, measurable, board-established goals. • After four years of inaction, it is time for the board, with advisors from the community, • Development of requirement-based improvement plans that identify future costs to take back responsibility for capitalcapital planning. and sources of funding • Roads, drainage, maintenance and member property upkeep are as important as expensivebusiness replacement of “income facilities.estimates • Realistic plans and data in producing” support of budget for our income-producing amenities • The board has a duty to closely monitor GM project execution. • Management/staff compensation increases that are based on actual accomplishments • Unbudgeted expenditures for the “Next Great Idea” or preventable emergencies are unacceptable. • Spending proposals and project execution held within approved budgets The Boardtimely is entitled complete, timely andfrom accurate information from Management ••Complete, and to accurate information Management when requested. when requested. • Management reporting that meets the specified needs of the Board • Our Reserves are not a Venture Capital Fund.

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An Open Letter to Ocean Pines Within days, Ocean Pines Association members will be receiving their ballots for the annual OPA Board of Directors election. No election in recent memory is as crucial as this one. Property owners will have an opportunity to change the direction of an association that has ceded too much authority to its general manager while paying him much more than it should. Members will have the opportunity to change the composition of a Board that has spent too much on projects like new golf course greens and collects more than it needs to in assessments from its members. COPE is urging OPA members NOT to vote for the two Board incumbents who are seeking reelection. An example of how badly this Board of Directors has gone astray is the recently adopted compensation package for the general manager. In 2010, the OPA paid its general manager $120,000. In the four years since, the Board majority increased the salary 37.5 percent, while many of Ocean Pines’ major amenities continue to suffer financial losses. The compensation package recently approved by the Board majority, including the two incumbents seeking reelection to the Board, raised the general manager’s salary by $15,000, a ten percent increase, to $165,000. This compensation package was completed many months before the expiration of the previous contract. Why the hurry? The Board majority and the two incumbents also approved a lucrative bonus package that could bring the general manager’s potential compensation to $205,000, plus all the generous fringe benefits such as health insurance and a retirement plan. In addition, the new contract provides a generous severance package of nine months, should the general manager leave before the new contract expires. In the opinion of COPE, this package is far too generous, especially when compared to the salaries of local government executives with oversight over budgets much larger than the OPA’s and with a greater array and complexity of services. Is the OPA general manager really worth more than the city manager of Ocean City or the Worcester or Wicomico county administrators? We think not. Ocean City pays its city manager a base salary of about $151,000, while the administrators of Worcester and Wicomico counties earn about $140,000 and $125,000, respectively. The OPA operating budget for the current fiscal year is $10.29 million, with another $3 million or so in projected capital spending. Ocean City’s budget is about $77 million and Worcester County’s about $168,000 million. But the OPA has no public transportation system to run, no sheriff’s department, no court system, no planning and zoning function to oversee, no land records to maintain. The OPA’s aquatics department is modest when compared to Ocean City’s massive Beach Patrol. The Ocean City Police Department grows exponentially in the summer months, with more than 300 officers employed. Ocean Pines’ police department has less than 20 staffers year-round. Ocean City’s public golf course historically has made money or broken even, while the OPA’s golf course has lost $500,000 and $328,000 in the past two years. This doesn’t count huge golf-related depreciation expenses (more than $400,000 annually in dollars out of the pockets of property owners) and millions in capital expenditures for an amenity with a depleted and stagnant membership base of about 150, despite the massive spending for new greens and drainage and an ongoing purging of mature trees that line the golf course. The current board, with the active approval and participation of two directors seeking reelection this summer, outrageously used a comparison to an HOA in Montgomery County, Maryland – one of the richest counties in the United States – as a justification for the general manager’s new compensation package.

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

s Association Property Owners When asked to justify the increase during the Election Committee’s recent candidates’ forum, incumbent candidate Knepper declined to do so. He said it couldn’t be done in the allotted time and to check with him after the meeting for a detailed explanation. No amount of time could explain this outrageous decision by the Board of Directors. The new contract will allow a bonus payment of about $10,000 to the general manager for completing such tasks as delivering a plan to replace the OPA’s outmoded information technology systems, to make drainage improvements in Ocean Pines, and to update the OPA’s 2011 Capital Improvement Plan, among other items that the Board has been considering in recent weeks. The general manager will receive the bonus if, in the subjective judgment of the board majority, he has achieved these goals. All of these items should be considered core responsibilities of the general manager. To offer him additional compensation for accomplishing them is another example of Board mismanagement. It suggests that the Board is well aware that progress in these important areas has been lagging. This is not to say that the general manager has not had some accomplishments in the past three years. The new Yacht Club opened before Memorial Day, and hundreds if not thousands of OPA members are trying it out. We are watching closely to determine whether the old management team that did not succeed in the old building can do so in the new one. It should be noted that neither the Tiki Bar nor the Harbormasters’ office was completed on time. A lengthy punch list of repairs and other tasks remained after the official opening. In May, the month when it opened, the Yacht Club lost $36,566 and missed its budget target by $8,344, not a very positive start to the new fiscal year. Let’s see how the Yacht Club performs this summer before making any conclusions about the financial success of this new amenity. COPE is not calling for the dismissal of the general manager but for a renegotiation and revamping of the contract’s overly generous terms. Let’s restore the Board’s preeminent policy-making role and remind the general manager that he works for the Board, not the other way around. Let’s task the general manager to find ways to reduce assessments, especially the roughly $2.65 million to be collected this year from members for a capital improvement plan that is three years out of date and counting. Let’s eliminate the $3 million natatorium that the general manager included in his proposed CIP plan released this past November and reduce the $3.2 million proposed for a new Country Club. In the view of COPE, the issue above all others in this summer’s board election is the new compensation package for the general manager, including incentives that in theory could push his pay to more than $200,000. If you’re OK with the new salary and incentive package for the general manager, then by all means reward the two candidates, Knepper and Mohr, who enabled it. If you’re NOT, we respectfully invite you to vote them out of office AND vote for two candidates who will make better decisions for Ocean Pines and OPA members.

COPE (Coalition for Ocean Pines Equity) COPE recommends: q Dave Stevens q Pat Renaud

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

Combined golf operations May 2014

Golf management From Page 25

While it’s too soon to know with any certainty whether BCG will be on track to meet the $95,000 loss target for the current fiscal year in November, the actual results for May do not bode well. May was supposed to be a month when golf revenues surged from the addition of outside play. To some extent that happened, at least when compared to May of last year, but net golf operations were just slightly less than $35,000 behind budget, driven by net revenues that missed budget forecasts by almost $40,000 to the negative. Golf operations generated a surplus of $49,609 for the month, but the overly optimistic budget forecast was for an $84,605 surplus. Starting the year almost $40,000 behind budget will not make the task of losing only $73,000 or $95,000 for the year particularly easy. Outside play was robust but not as robust as it needed to be. The cup was half full in the sense that greens fees and cart fee revenue did significantly better in May of this year than May of 2013, when revenues in these two categories were $59,039 and $47,642, respectively. This year, these revenue numbers had

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OCEAN PINES grown to $90,245 and $60,210, respectively. But both missed budget by significant margins, $20,030 and $14,506, respectively. The May financials also show that golf membership remains flat as measured by revenue. Member dues for May generated $14,223 in revenue compared to the budgeted $15,737, a $1,515 shortfall. In May of last year, member revenue was $14,224, a mere $1 more than this year’s May number. While extending the Casper contract is the way management of the golf course will be handled over the summer and fall months, Terry has said previously that the OPA will continue to build on recent discussions with parties who have expressed interest in leasing the course. “While we attend to the current season, we must continue to build a positive alternative should our golf usage not return to trends that could lead us having a much improved financial story,” Terry wrote in a document released March 19 that summarized discussions he had with those parties. The decision to sign a new contract with BCG in April was a political and management victory for OPA General Manager Bob Thompson, who had ar-

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Learning to fish

Eric Wilkinson and son Seamus, who was tackle box winner, at the annual Ocean Pines Anglers Clubs Teach A Kid To Fish day in June. Sixty-four youth ages 1-16 and just about as many parents and grandparents participated in the event. Stations were set up to introduce the youth to knot tying, lure selection, fish identification, casting, regulations. Help and free bait was provided so the young anglers could practice their new found skills. Drawings were held for a free rod and reel as well as other prizes thanks to MSSA and the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club. A surprising number of fish were caught. gued strenuously against exploring any lease option, expressing concerns that it would send the wrong message into the marketplace at a critical time of the golf season.

That appears not to have happened, as $90,000 in non-member greens fees and $60,000 in non-member cart fees for the month would seem to be a good result, if only these numbers did not have

to be measured against overly optimistic budget projections. The golf budget is developed by BCG, with oversight by Thompson and approval by the OPA Board of Directors.

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30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

OPA FINANCES

First month of fiscal year produces $65,000 negative variance to budget By TOM STAUSS Publisher ay, the first month of the new 2014-15 fiscal year, didn’t exactly set any performance records for the Ocean Pines Association financially. The negative variance to budget was $65,542. There were some bright spots. Beach Club parking passes produced $278,554 in revenues, beating its budget for the month by $6,879. Platform tennis and pickleball also got off to good starts, beating their budgets by $618 and $465, respectively, on revenues after expenses of $10,472 and $6,448. With two exceptions, all amenity departments generated surpluses for the month. Golf operations earned $49,609, while aquatics’ surplus was $84,812. This was virtually guaranteed in the case of aquatics because May is the month when most of the membership revenue in this department is recorded. Marina boat slip revenue was $140,642, $13,011 below budget forecasts. May, too, is the month when most of the annual boat slip revenue is booked, with June also receiving a good share. By July, most of the slips that will be sold have been. The two exceptions to actual amenity

OPA Net Financial Operations through May 31, 2014

were open every day. June financial results normally would be reported no later than the third week of July. The Beach Club in particular has traditionally been a money-maker for the

OPA, as it’s a summer-only operation. There are also high expectations for the new Yacht Club this summer, particularly in the area of wedding banquets and 

surpluses in May were the Yacht Club, which had a $36,566 loss, and the Beach Club, with a $1,710 loss. Both amenities opened Memorial Day weekend and should turn around in June, when they

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From Page 30 similar events booked for the amenity’s second floor banquet hall. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said recently that every weekend for the rest of the year has some sort of banquet, party or similar event scheduled. With the exception of platform tennis and pickleball, amenity departments including golf operations, aquatics and the Yacht Club missed their budgets for May. Golf operations (including food and beverage at the Tern Grille) had a $34,995 negative variance, followed by aquatics’ $28,243 and the Yacht Club’s $28,222 negative variances. While not necessarily indicative of how well the rest of the year will fare, the May results for the Yacht Club, aquatics and golf do not give rise to the sort of cheerleading that probably would have occurred had the variances to budget been positive rather than negative. The OPA financial reports offer two ways to measure budgetary success or challenges – actual performance and results compared to budget. By year’s end, the variance to budget, either negative or positive, normally corresponds to the OPA’s reported net loss or surplus. According to the May financial statement prepared by OPA Controller Art Carmine, the operating fund variance for the month was a negative $65,542. Revenues were under budget by $75,259 while expenses were under budget by $9,717. At the Yacht Club, banquet food and beverage revenues performed better than budget forecasts, but regular food and beverage did not, by a significant margin. Given that the Yacht Club was only scheduled to be open for about a week and a half, budgeted regular food revenues of $86,500 were probably excessive to begin with. Actual revenues for food were $49,728, resulting in a negative variance in that category for the month of $36,722. In golf operations, an analysis of the results show that May was not the solid month for outside, non-member play, at least when measured against optimistic budget forecasts. Non-member greens fees generated $90,245, but that was $20,030 less than budgeted. Similarly, cart fees generated $60,210 in revenues, $14,506 less than what the budget called for. Member dues also fell short for the month -- $14,233 in revenue as compared to the budget’s $15,737, a $1,515 shortfall. Even so, the cup was half full in the sense that greens fees and cart fee revenue did significantly better this past May than in May of 2013, when revenues in these two categories were $59,039 and $47,642, respectively. Membership dues revenue was virtually unchanged year-over-year, with $14,223 recorded this May and $14,224 recorded in May of last year. Member dues in aquatics (with a $24,901 shortfall relative to budget) explain most of that department’s negative

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA reserves surge to $6 million in May Reflects annual contributions in assessment dollars from OPA property owners for funded depreciation and the so-called five-year funding plan By TOM STAUSS Publisher he reserve summary released as part of the May financial report shows that the OPA’s allocated reserve balance surged in May to $6,003,165, reflecting the annual contribution from assessments that traditionally is recorded in the first month of the fiscal year.

The total contribution from assessments was $3.73 million, of which $2.75 million was allocated to the OPA’s major maintenance and replacement reserve. Another significant contributor to the surge was $822,367 in new money allocated to the bulkheads and waterway reserve from the so-called waterfront differential, the difference in assessments paid by owners of waterfront

property in Ocean Pines and the $909 base lot assessment. As a result of that contribution, the bulkhead and waterway reserves stood at $1.5 million as of May 31. According to the April reserve summary, the OPA’s reserve balance at the end of the 2014 fiscal year stood at $2,393,179, its lowest point for the pre-

operating variance to budget for May. The approved budget forecast $150,000 in membership revenue for the month, but only $125,099 materialized. This shortfall was partially offset by better-than-budgeted numbers in cash fees and swimming lesson revenue. Status of reserves – The reserve

summary released as part of the May financial report shows that the OPA’s allocated reserve balance surged in May to $6,003,165, reflecting the annual contribution from assessments that traditionally is recorded in the first month of the fiscal year. The total contribution from assess-

ments was $3.73 million, of which $2.75 million was allocated to the OPA’s major maintenance and replacement reserve. Status of balance sheet – There was no balance sheet released with the May financial report, because of the ongoing audit of last year’s books, Carmine said.

OCEAN PINES OPA finances

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32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July - Early August 2014

Village Square Shopping Center to host art walk ceeds will be donated to the Home of the Brave, a place for returning war veterans to unite with their families, located in Worcester County. Taylor’s Restaurant will feature a micro-brew/ appetizer combo and two artists, a mother and son duo. Donna Chew Becker is a hand-building potter originally from Baltimore but now an Ocean Pines resident. She has worked with the Rehoboth Art League and plans to utilize Ocean City’s Art League’s open studio in the fall. Most of her pieces have been sold to private buyers. Her son, Holden Becker, is a professionally trained fused glass artist. He follows the wabi-sabi school of art; the imperfections make it beautiful. From food safe functional pieces to large fine art wall hangings, Holden loves the way glass is in constant motion and how he can manipulate it. Yummy’s Sweet Shop is featuring Jill Kohut, a painter, graphic designer, and photographer, who expresses her love for nature in all her work. She presently teaches the visual and performing arts program for Wicomico County. Also, the author S. Snyder Carroll will be on hand for book signings of her novel On the Edge of Dangerous Things. Free

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mini-cupcakes will be offered during the Art Walk. Coastal Resort will be featuring Barbara Orbock, an artist and writer. Her preferred mediums are colored pencil. Acrylics, windows and doors are her favorite subjects. Another great love is for

cats, and Barbara often changes the subjects in famous paintings from people to cats, giving a bit of humor to the subject. She is the author of two published books, Child of Air, and its sequel, And In Another Garden Play. The books will

OPA reserves

$60,115 balance, a very slight uptick from April, while the operating recovery fund had a surplus of $135,152. At the end of April, and for many of the months prior to that, it had been zeroed out. The major maintenance and replacement reserve as of May 31 had a balance of $4,754,531, reflecting the full annual transfer from lot assessments into this fund. The balance at the end of April was $2,348,591. The reserve summary indicates that this reserve has been replenished with $2.75 million in new money from assessments. This $2.75 million in new money was comprised of $1,647,245 in funded depreciation (listed in the summary as the historical funding stream) and $1,098,110 from the separate, so-called five-year-plan revenue stream, which is now in its sixth year.

From Page 31 vious fiscal year, reflecting substantial outlays throughout the year for the new Yacht Club. According to the May reserve summary, the end-of-year balance was actually $2,358,734, which probably is the result of normal end-of-year adjustments that occur before and during the audit process. The balance in the roads reserve as of May 31 was $67,068, identical to the April balance. The golf drainage reserve carried a $639,907 negative balance as of May 31, a slight reduction from the April negative balance of $667,190. The future projects reserve had a

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n Friday, Aug. 1st from 6-9 p.m., the Village Square Shopping Center located at the South Gate of Ocean Pines is sponsoring an Art Walk. Each business will feature an in-house artist and a display of the artist’s work. The artists featured will be available for a meet-and-greet with the public. First stop will be Newport Kitchen and Bath, a new showroom featuring Fabuwood cabinets and vanities, for a wine and cheese meet-and-greet. The store will feature the renowned panoramic photographer David Orbock, well known for his large format panoramics of cityscapes and landscapes. During the past 33 years he has photographed much of the United States, including major cities, small towns, and national parks and monuments. Other areas photographed include most of Europe, the People’s Republic of China, the Serengeti, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Ecuador, Bolivia, Thailand, Canada, and Mexico. In addition, he has worked with the Orioles, Red Sox and Dodgers filming their ballparks and spring training facilities. Newport Kitchen and Bath will raffle off one of his photographs. The pro-

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July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Art Walk From Page 32 be available for purchase and signing during the Art Walk. Her essays, poems, and memoirs have appeared in several journals. Kitty’s Flowers will be featuring a jewelry designer and South Side Deli will be featuring a woodworker; then it’s time to kick back at La Hacienda with

one of their signature cocktails and music by the artist Brant Quick, a singer, guitar player, and song writer. He plays an eclectic variety of original and cover songs from country and classic rock to rap and reggae. For more information on the event or the purchase of raffle tickets, please contact Newport Kitchen and Bath at 410-641-0654 or stop by during business hours.

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First Shore Federal Savings & Loan Association broke ground on its ninth branch on Lower Delmarva on June 25. Joining First Shore Federal board members, officers and staff at the ground breaking were representatives of the Town of Millsboro, Sussex County and Delaware Economic Development Office, contractor Gillis Gilkerson, subcontractor Melvin Joseph Company and design firm George Miles and Buhr. From left are Ken Adams, Melvin Joseph Construction; Bob Stickels, First Shore Federal board member; John Thoroughgood, Town of Millsboro; Dwight Miller, Gillis Gilkerson;, Judy Schwartz, George Miles & Buhr; Vance Phillips, Sussex County; Marty Neat, president & CEO, First Shore Federal.

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34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

July - Early August 2014

Bunting secures return as District 6 commissioner Bertino wins District 5 Republican primary; early voting carries publisher to squeaker over Helvey

Commissioner Jim Bunting (left) secured a return to his seat, while competitiors Chip Bertino (center) and Tom Willson will do battle in November.

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vote of 333 to 321. Ray Unger netted a total of 78 votes in that race. Bertino will now take on Democratic challenger Tom Wilson, who brought in 425 primary votes, in the general election. Early voting totals carried Bertino to victory, with Helvey winning among those who voted on Election Day. On election day, Bertino had an eight vote margin, which grew to 12 after all the ballots were counted. Even though they won’t face off against each other until the November general election, many eyes were watching the voting for incumbent Democratic State Senator Jim Mathias and his challenger Mike McDermott, currently a member of the House of Delegates, in the District 38 Senate race. Mathias brought in 1,246 votes in Districts 5 and 6 and 2,549 in Worcester County in his unchallenged primary, while McDermott garnered 1,697 votes in the Ocean Pines districts and 3,220 overall in the county. Also at the state level in the Democratic primary for the newly created District 38C seat in the House of Delegates, West Ocean City’s Judy Davis

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By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer here may be a tight gubernatorial election brewing, but locally attention during the June 24 primary was focused on the battles for the two Ocean Pines seats on the Board of Worcester County Commissioners and state legislative seats. Both Ocean Pines commissioner districts, 5 and 6, had contested Republican party races in the primary election, with an incumbent commissioner retaining his seat and a newcomer capturing the nomination to compete in the general election come November. In District 6, which includes part of Ocean Pines, Bishopville and Showell, Commissioner Jim Bunting easily secured a return to that board defeating challenger Linda Busick, a former commissioner, in a vote of 511 to 297. Bunting has no general election competition from the Democratic Party. The contest in District 5, the only all Ocean Pines District, was a close one, coming down to the final provisional and absentee ballot counts to determine a winner. Ultimately, local newspaper publisher Chip Bertino scored the win, besting his nearest competitor, Grant Helvey, in a

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Incumbent Republican Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason retained his seat for another four years by beating newcomer George Truitt in the primary election. Mason was favored in both the county, with 2,915 votes to Truitt’s 640, and in the Ocean Pines districts by 1,502 to 335. A group of Republican candidates also battled for three open positions as Judge of the Orphans’ Court. Emerging as the victors and headed to the primary election are Linda Hess, J. Franklin Knight and Dale Smack. Other candidates were Jack Shook Jr. and Donald Stifler. Hess had 1,168 in districts 5 and 6 and 2,012 overall, while Knight scored 571 in Ocean Pines area and a 1,107 vote total and Smack had 997 in Ocean Pines area and a total of 2,064. Shook garnered 576 in districts 5 and 6 and Stifler had 558, while in the county Shook totaled 1,047 and Stifler 973. On the Democratic Party’s side, the only candidate is Bill Shockley, who Ocean Pines area voters favored with 1,173 vote and who had 2,437 countywide. Incumbent Charlotte Cathell, a convert from the Democratic party to Republican, is unchallenged in her bid for another term as Register of Wills. Still in the primary election she earned 1,610 in districts 5 and 6 and a countywide total of 3,037. The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s race had no primary competition, but Republican incumbent State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby will have to de-

Poster child

Young angler Madison at the Ocean Pines Anglers Clubs Teach A Kid To Fish day held in June.

From Page 34 defeated Mike Hindi of Ocean Pines. Davis brought in 861 votes combined in the Ocean Pines districts, versus Hindi’s 161, and scored 1,388 overall in the district to his 253. Davis will do battle against Republican Mary Beth Carozza, who was unopposed in the primary and netted 1,571 votes from districts 5 and 6 and a total of 2,362 in the overall district, in November. At the south end in District 38A, Republican incumbent Delegate Charles Otto, who brought in 834 votes, is being challenged or his seat in the general election by Democrat Percy Purnell, mayor of Crisfield, who earned 755 primary votes. In other countywide races, five contenders were trying to secure the Clerk of Court’s job, which is being vacated by the retiring Stephen Hales. Republican candidates battling in the primary were top vote getter Susan Braniecki, and competitors Mary Burgess and Eric Mullins. Braniecki brought in 844 votes in districts 5 and 6 to Burgess’s 559 and Mullins 412. Overall Braniecki had 1,604, while Burgess had 813 and Mullins had 1,072. Democrats facing off against each other in the primary were J. Marie Bodley and Valerie Gaskill. Countywide Gaskill picked up 1,348 votes to Bodley’s 969, and in the Ocean Pines districts Gaskill had 639 votes to Bodley’s 466.

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer esults, that is what Democratic incumbent Maryland State Senator Jim Mathias claims distinguishes him from his Republican challenger Mike McDermott, currently a member of the House of Delegates. McDermott, on the other hand, says the results that have come out of the Senate during Mathias’ tenure have done nothing but harm District 38. During a May 15 Senate candidate forum, Mathias and McDermott went head to head on issues that included economic development, taxes and ensuring representation of District 38 in Annapolis. Mathias hammered home his ability to work with legislators on both sides of the political aisle for the benefit of the district, while McDermott attacked the incumbent for being heavily aligned with the O’Malley Administration. When asked how to ensure that the Eastern Shore has a seat at the political table in Annapolis and that its legislative issues are making it onto the state’s agenda, Mathias responded “We have a seat at the table.” He said he works with people “across the spectrum,” adding “I don’t drive them out of the room,” an obvious jab at his challenger. Mathias said it takes 24 votes to secure passage of a bill in the Senate and in order to garner those votes he has to be able and willing to work with legis-

Primary election From Page 35 feat Democrat Michael Farlow, a former Worcester County deputy state’s attorney, in the general election to retain that job. Oglesby brought in 3,192 votes countywide and 1,697 in the Ocean Pines-based districts, to Farlow’s 2,130 and 1,075. In other state races, Democratic voters in district 5 and 6 picked current Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and his running mate Ken Ulman as their candidates for governor and lt. governor in the November general election. Worcerster Republicans favored David Craig and Jeanne Haddaway but it wasn’t enough to get them the nomination. Businessman Larry Hogan, the former appointments secretary in the Ehrlich administration, will be the party’s standard-bearer in November. In the Ocean Pines-based districts, Brown and Ulman scored 613 votes and took 1,289 countywide. The nearest competitor was current Attorney General Doug Gansler with 427 votes in the districts and 886 total for Worcester County. On the Republican side, Ocean Pines favored Craig and Haddway with 773 votes and county voters providing a total of 1,529, with candidate Larry Hogan picking up 671 in the districts and 1,242 across the entire county. Hogan won the election statewide. In the comptroller’s race Peter Fran-

McDermott, Mathias offer competing visions of a state senator’s role Challenger says the District 38 representative should be offering proposals to reduce state spending and taxation, while the incumbent cites his ‘seat at the table” that allows him to deliver for his constituents

State Del. Mike McDermott

State Sen. Jim Mathias lators from across the state and of all political parties. “That’s how you get your voice heard. And that’s how you get it amplified,” he said.

McDermott, however, said the district needs someone who can make constructive compromises “where you don’t sacrifice your core values but you sit down at the table with people who un-

chot was unopposed in the Democratic Primary, picking up 1,120 district 5 and 6 votes and 2,196 overall in the county. On the Republican side, William Campbell was also unopposed and brought in 1,579 district votes and 2,922 in Worcester County. Racking up the most votes for Congress in the district was Republican incumbent Andy Harris and Democratic challenger Bill Tilghman.

Harris handily defeated his primary competitor, Jonathan Goff Jr. 1,553 to 342 votes in districts 5 and 6 and by 2,881 to 730 total for the county. Tilghman defeated John Laferla for the Democratic party nomination, scoring just 552 votes to Laferla’s 680 in the Ocean Pines districts but topping him 1,312 to 1,215 in the county. Finally, in the race for Attorney General, Jon Cardin bested two challengers,

derstand that Marylanders are Marylanders across this state, families are families across this state….” As an example of his ability to “get the job done,” Mathias cited the 2012 legislative session when the General Assembly adjourned without a budget. When that happened, he arranged for Senate President Mike Miller to meet with representatives of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties to ensure that their concerns were addressed prior to a legislative special session. Similarly, he said he worked hard for Worcester County’s restaurant and bar industry to secure the ability for them to purchase liquor on the free market, saving 15 to 30 percent on liquor purchases, instead of through the county dispensary system. He also cited the ability to work with state and federal legislators to secure funding for projects in the district, including the widening of Route 113 and building construction at Wor-Wic Community College. “That is demonstrative proof of being able to have a seat at the table and deliver effective results,” Mathias said. McDermott said he finds Mathias’ claims to be overblown. He said any elected or appointed official will gladly respond to calls from constituents, like the restaurant and bar owners, to help resolve their concerns. “When I look at the return on invest-

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Aisha Braveboy and Brian Frosh, on the Democratic side, while Republican Jeffrey Pritzker was unopposed in the primary election. Cardin picked up 675 votes in districts 5 and 6 to Braveboy’s 105 and Frosh’s 518, while countywide Cardin scored a total of 1,378 to Braveboy’s 284 and Frosh’s 974 votes. Pritzker netted 1,547 votes from the Ocean Pines area and 2,865 votes in the county.

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From Page 36 ment for Marylanders that live on the Eastern Shore, I think it’s abysmal,” he said. He said it is easy to point to buildings on state campuses as the answer. But in reality businesses are closing up and leaving the state, he said, a result of state government in the control of a single political party. “I believe Maryland is in trouble. I think many of you do as well. I think Maryland is on a path that is not leading us to prosperity. It’s been an eight year decline for us when it comes to our business environment,” he said, adding “In fact our situation is perilous if we don’t change the way that we think.” McDermott said that if the state does not change its approach to business and government’s role in the lives of its citizens, then Maryland is going to continue to decline. He said many states like Maryland that have a progressive agenda are driving their business environment “down a negative path.” He said the state needs to do everything it can to support economic incentives and support successful businesses for the economy to turn around and “if we want good schools, if we want a state where people can prosper and if we want to be a state that people are running to as opposed to running away from,” McDermott said residents have an opportunity to do that in 2014 by electing conservative legislators like himself. Mathias said that when he goes to work for his district, the number one priority is to achieve effective results. As a member of the Senate finance committee, Mathias said “we made some votes that have been very, very good for our district and very, very good for our state.” When queried about Maryland’s reputation for being adverse to business growth and development, because of its high corporate and personal income tax rates, McDermott agreed that is the case. “Our business tax climate is pathetic. It’s terrible. It is one of the worst in the country. In fact we’re rated about number 44 right now,” he said. He said the state’s taxes are too high, with the personal income tax and unemployment tax being some of the worst in the country. That, he added, affects small business because that’s how they report income. “These are the areas that attack business.” The state’s corporate tax rate is competitive, but that only impacts big businesses, McDermott said. “I believe Maryland’s taxes are too high,” Mathias also said, adding that he demonstrated that by voting against taxes like the sales, corporate, gas and alcohol taxes. But voting against taxes is one thing and taking action to bring revenue back to the Shore is another. “You’ll hear a lot of pronouns here today. It’s ‘I, I, I’ but the real story is it’s ‘We, we, we’ and that’s what you’ve

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS got to do to get the job done,” he said. “You’ve got to get 24 votes out of 47, you’ve got to go over to the House and get the 72 you need, and you’ve got to get those signatures.” He cited changes made to the minimum wage bill by the Senate finance committee in the 2014 session as an example of how he listens to the community and then works to achieve effective results as a senator. The committee was able to extend the timeframe for implementation to four years rather than three, freeze the tip wage and get a seasonal wage for six months. McDermott said that doesn’t cut it. “Not voting for taxes is one thing but voting for every budget that spends all that

money is another,” he said of Mathias’ voting record. “For the last eight years my opponent’s been in the General Assembly. In fact, for almost the last half a century the Democratic Party’s been running things and deciding how we spend money,” he said. Overall, McDermott said the state spends money like it’s going out of style. “We spent more money than we brought in this year. How many businesses do that?” He said he hasn’t seen Mathias propose a single bill that attacks those policies at the state level. Republicans and conservatives will propose those changes, he said. “I plan to do that in Annapolis.” On the issue of wind energy, pro-

posed offshore from Ocean City, Mathias said he was one of few Eastern Shore legislators who voted for the bill and had opportunity to work with the bill in the Senate finance committee. The committee put language in the bill that enables the local area to maximize the economic benefits from the proposed project. “We’re building jobs here,” Mathias said. McDermott said he loves alternative energy and called it “a wonderful concept” as long as the private sector takes the lead instead of government. “Let the private sector do what it does best and embrace capitalism in the state and quit subsidizing these programs that lead us next to nowhere,” he said.

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AROUND THE COUNTY

The Parke seeks lower fee for irrigation use

The Parke at Ocean Pines is asking the Worcester County Water and Wastewater Division for a reduction of the sewer charges to its account for water used in irrigating its landscaping. The Worcester County Commissioners considered and rejected the request during a July 1 meeting. The Parke irrigates landscaping at its mail pavilion, clubhouse and central square. “It is thought that the association should receive a discount on the sewer portion of water bills through the months of irrigation. In fact there is a separate meter located within our pool

pump room that measures the amount of water used through the irrigation lines around the clubhouse, one of the largest areas of irrigation,” Kristi Clarke, general manager of the Parke at Ocean Pines, said in a letter to the county. John Tustin, county director of public works, said his office discussed the Parke’s request with both the Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee and the finance and operations staff. He said it has never been Worcester County’s policy to allow for irrigation meters. The only waivers to the policy that have been approved

County and Hardwire partner to boost safety

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‘Hard and fat’ crabs are store’s specialty By Nathan Brunet Staff Writer BERLIN — Country Barn Seafood, co-owned by “Speedy” Voss, sells quality carryout seafood. Maryland Blue Crabs are Voss’ specialty, which he promises will be more “hot ‘n’ heavy” and “hard and fat” than the crabs served at more popular venues around town. The specific blue crab sold at Country Barn Seafood is bigger and sweeter than most crabs served at restaurants in the area, according to Voss, who got his nickname after being born within minutes of reaching the hospital. Not only is the quality of crabs notable, but also the process in sorting crabs for purchase. Voss measures the crabs individually and separates them into baskets by size and weight. Crabs deemed large enough are put in the regular pile to be sold by the bushel or dozen, while the smaller crabs are- sold at a discounted price. “I’m the last person I know of that does that,” said Voss, who claims no one has ever complained about the size or weight of his crabs that were purchased by the dozen. He admits some small crabs may be added to bushels accidentally because of the large quantity of crabs being processed, but it does not happen often. Surrounded by crabs since he was a little kid, Voss has been a major part of local seafood businesses since the early 1970s. He has either owned or managed a number of seafood

NATHAN BRUNET/BAYSIDE GAZETTE

"Speedy," Voss, owner of Country Barn Seafood, poses with one of his "hard and fat" Maryland Blue Crabs. Voss individually measures each crab and separates them into baskets by size and weight. According to the owner, he is the only seafood place in the area that still does so.

restaurants through his career, including Crab Alley, The Crab Bag, City Fish Co. and Supreme Seafood. After getting tired of the increasing population in Ocean City, Voss settled into the now 80-year-old barn in the late 1980s with Ken Jaworski, who is still a co-owner even though Voss performs all of the labor. In the mid-2000s, Country Barn Seafood was rented out and operated by different families at times, but it is now back to the man who started it all. “I retired five times and I’m still working,” said Voss, who is helped every day by his nephew, Marty, who began working at the restaurant in 1998 when he

was 13. Little neck clams, jumbo shrimp, scallops, fresh Maryland crabmeat, tuna and salmon accompany Voss’ crabs, as well as his crab spice that comes from a recipe that has been in circulation since 1946. Beer and wine is also available to take home. Country Barn Seafood is open daily each summer from noon until dusk. There is no set time of closure, as Voss chooses the closing time depending on how busy the market is that day. For more information, or to place an order, call 410-6415164.

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are where wastewater facilities are not available and the water has been used on a very limited basis. He said the reasons for the policy include that implementing a significant discount in the use of potable water for irrigation purposes would encourage overuse of that limited resource. Additionally, he said that considering the proximity to the coastal waters, over pumping could lead to saltwater intrusion into the water supply aquifer and excessive water use could result in the need to construct water supply facilities prematurely.

Hardwire, a high technology company located in Pocomoke City, is partnering with Worcester County to enhance public safety. The county purchased bulletproof whiteboard shields and clipboards from Hardwire totaling $12,000, with Hardwire stepping up and agreeing to match the purchase dollar for dollar to provide additional safety equipment. “Hardwire is an international leader, creating cutting edge products for military and public safety customers,” Bud Church, Worcester County Commissioner president, said. “We are proud to say Hardwire’s headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Worcester County, and we are pleased to partner with them to boost public safety.” The shields and clipboards will be used by Sheriff ’s deputies and school resource officers in the public schools and court houses. These boards will also be used in the state’s attorney office, treasurer’s office and Worcester County Developmental Center. “After the Sandy Hook event and most recently the University of California Santa Barbara shooting, it is evident that there continues to be a serious problem with active shooters that needs to be addressed,” George Tunis, Hardwire chief executive officer, said. “At Hardwire, we want to help take proactive steps in our community to ensure that if this unfortunate situation were to present itself here we are prepared to keep as many folks safe as possible.”

Pines resident helps develop bike trail

The same Ocean Pines resident who had led the charge to create a bicycle path around Bainbridge Park has spearheaded the completion of a mountain bike trail as the newest addition to Newtown Park in Pocomoke. The project is the result of a partnership between Worcester County Recreation and Parks and both the Worcester County and the Eastern Shore chapters of the International Mountain Bike Association. The trail build was organized by Tres Denk, president of the ESIMBA, and Maryland Conservation Crew of Assateague and Maryland Coastal Kids program volunteers helped build the

WORCESTER COUNTY trail. The single track mountain bike trail measures six-tenths of a mile in length and is geared toward beginning riders. The trail, which is located off the Newtown Park Road access before the pond, includes safety and educational signs. The trail is open to the public at no cost.

County approves phase 2 of school safety upgrades

The Worcester County Commissioners in June approved a request for $120,751 in county matching funds for phase 2 of the Board of Education’s School Safety Capital Improvement Program. Overall the program is estimated to cost $241,502. Superintendent of Schools Jerry Wilson said that the school board worked collaboratively with local law enforcement to identify the additionally needed safety equipment. Wilson said the program includes upgrading and replacing interior and exterior security cameras at Stephen Decatur High School at a cost of $35,636, upgrading and installing additional exterior and interior cameras and 16-channel digital video recorders at a cost of $30,568, Angeltrax digital security camera systems on school buses at a cost of $96,672, and a Motorola VHF duplexer repeater operation for school bus radio communication system at a cost of $8,000. Additionally, the effort will involve installing a bi-directional amplifier system for Ocean City Elementary School at a cost of $52,000, upgrading and installing a security system at the Board of Education at a cost of $5,443, and upgrading and installing interior and exterior security cameras at the Board of Education at a cost of $13,183. Commissioner Louise Gulyas made a motion, which was approved by the commissioners unanimously, to move forward with funding of the program as presented.

Gum Point Boat Ramp slated for replacement

With state funds allocated for the project, Worcester County is soliciting bids for replacement of the Gum Point Road boat ramp and finger piers located on Herring Creek south of Ocean Pines. Funding is available for the project through a combination of Waterway Improvement Grants totaling $107,995 provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and assigned funds of $99,000 from Worcester County. The county has already acquired all of the permits necessary to reconstruct the boat ramp.

School wants to use landfill for runners

Stephen Decatur High School’s cross country team wants to continue using the old, closed Berlin landfill site for its “home cross country course.” “Mt. Decatur,” as the school calls its q

38 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

AROUND THE COUNTY From Page 38 home course, is the only site at which the team can practice running on a hill – the hill formed by debris and dirt relocation of the old landfill. Training on the hill allows the team to prepare for other difficult inclined courses that it will face during the cross country season. “If we are not able to use this facility next year, we will be forced to run laps around the school for our home cross country course, which will be a severe detriment for our team and will negatively impact the experience our student-athletes have,” Joseph Stigler and SDHA Principal Thomas Zimmer said in a letter to the Worcester County Commissioners. John Tustin, county director of public works, said the school has used the property for its cross country training and home meets in the past with “relatively little disruption to the surrounding neighborhood.” Tustin recommended allowing the school to continue using “Mt. Decatur” for this season and in future years. He said the school uses the old landfill property on Wednesdays when the homeowner convenience center for recycling and refuse drop-off is closed so it would not disrupt county operations. Additionally, he said it is a controlled environment where no smoking is allowed and where both the spectators and runners are under the general supervision of staff members from SDHS.

Taylor Bank joins used shoe drive

Taylor Bank has collected over 5,300 donated pairs of shoes for the Maryland Bankers Association’s Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance used shoe drive in partnership with Soles4Souls, Inc. Taylor Bank was one of 34 Maryland banks that participated in this year’s philanthropic initiative. A total of 63,270 shoes were donated which enabled a distribution of 500 pairs of new shoes to a Maryland non-profit organization. Bank president Raymond Thompson

New school system policy focuses on nutrition, health for students and staff objective is to comply with the federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 and Maryland State Department of Education regulations. As an essential component of the Worcester County Public School wellness plan, procedures will be put in place to ensure nutrition guidelines, education and promotion, along with physical activity and education and other school-based activities to promote stu-

dent health and staff wellness. The school system will follow the Healthy, Hungry Free Kids Act of 2010 to promote and encourage students to establish and maintain lifelong, healthy eating patterns, and to provide a nutrition education program that meets state regulations and health curriculum. Schools are also charged with creating an environment that supports the promotion of healthy food and beverage

extended a sincere thank you to Taylor Bank employees and customers that contributed to the campaign. Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company, founded in 1890 in Berlin, offers a wide range of loan, deposit, and ancillary banking services through ten offices located in Worcester County and lower Sussex County.

tering Grades 1st through 8th. The 2014 Soccer Camp will be held at the Worcester County Recreation Center (WCRC) in Snow Hill. Camp will begin Monday, July 14 and will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Instructing camp this year will be Salisbury University’s Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach, Katie McMahon. Children will learn and develop fundamental soccer skills, such as ball control, dribbling, passing and shooting techniques, during this camp. Participants will have the opportunity to practice individual soccer skills, work in small groups, and participate in full

Soccer Camp Kicking Good Time for Everyone

Worcester County Department of Recreation & Parks (WCRP) is offering a week-long Soccer Camp for youth en-

products and an active lifestyle. The new policy says that the schools “shall minimize the commercial exploitation of its students, as well as, create and maintain a learning environment that minimizes commercial distractions, with regard to food and beverage.” In the area of physical activity, the schools will provide a physical education program that meets state regulations and “value, model and promote positive and age appropriate physical activity and education.” The schools are also charged with promoting student health through a variety of programs and initiatives. Each school will be required to form a health and wellness committee to encourage good nutrition and daily fitness activi-

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer ecognizing that good nutrition, healthy eating patterns, and physical activity are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well-being, the Worcester County Board of Education on June 17 approved a new health and wellness policy. Changes to the existing school system policy are needed to ensure compliance with the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 and Maryland State Department of Education regulations. The school board charged Jerry Wilson, superintendent of schools, with developing procedures to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity. The

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

game settings. Campers will also learn the importance of positional play and the responsibilities associated with each position. This will be a fun and positive experience for all who participate in this soccer camp. Financial aid is available for most youth programs to those that demonstrate a need. Register today for this great summer camp. For more information call Ken Tustin at 410-632-2144 x112 or ktustin@co.worcester.md.us. Visit our website at www.worcesterrecandparks.org for more information.

40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

July - Early August 2014

School board From Page 40 ties and to have a health and wellness committee site coordinator who oversees this committee. In the area of staff wellness, the policy states that the Worcester County public school system will promote staff health and wellness by providing a variety of organized programs for staff, designed to enrich and improve their nutritional, physical, mental and emotional well-being. The Board of Education during its June 17 meeting also heard an update on the performance matters program. Worcester County Public Schools uses a variety of types of data to create its master plan, goals, and instructional programs. “Over the years we have discovered that this could be an arduous task. It had become an overwhelming burden to our teachers. We searched for a way to support our teachers in the use of this data,” Coordinator of Instruction Stephanie Zanich and Data Specialist Rebecca Henderson said in their written report to the board. The school system started using a program called Edusoft but quickly discovered it was not robust enough. Using Race to the Top funding, it purchased

the performance matters program instead. Zanich and Henderson gave brief overview of the program, how it is used, and the benefits of an assessment data system. The performance matters platforms link student and educator data. The data is used to drive the decisions made by teachers, administrators, board members and parents to improve student learning and educator performance. The system can be used for teacher observation and evaluation. “We believe that in using data we can better meet the needs of every student. It is part of our success in helping our students be successful for life.” Zanich said. The school board also adopted an updated educational facilities master plan, which is required annually to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Planning by July 1. The 2014-2015 Plan is presented in five sections: goals, standards and guidelines; community analysis; enrollment projections; inventory and evaluation of school facilities; and facility needs analysis. All five sections have been revised to reflect current information, including updates on the successful bidding phase and start of construction for the Snow Hill High School renovation and addi-

tion project and the completion of the Showell Elementary School feasibility study. The plan outlines the challenges facing the schools system, including population growth, aging buildings, technology needs, and changing program needs. A major renovation and addition or replacement school project at SES has been prioritized in both the school system’s educational facilities master plan and the capital improvement program for many years. In May, the school board voted to move forward with planning for the construction of a new Showell Elementary School, based on the results of the Showell School feasibility study. The board accepted the recommendation of the architectural and engineering team led by Becker Morgan Group to proceed with the design of a replacement school at an anticipated cost of about $37 million. The consultant determined that the construction costs were comparable for renovating and expanding the existing school versus building a completely new facility. Because of the extensive nature of the renovations and expansion that would be required, the cost of that option was estimated at $36.8 million. On the other hand, the consultants said a brand new school could be constructed

on the same SES property for slightly more at $37.4 million. Overall, after including design and management fees, playground equipment, movable equipment, portable classrooms, phasing of the renovations and additions, technology costs and miscellaneous costs like inspection fees, it will be less expensive by about $4 million to build a new school than renovate and expand the old one. The cost of keeping the current building but renovating it and adding on was $44.8 million while the total estimated cost of building a new SES was just $40.9 million. Finally, during the meeting the school board approved the fiscal year 2014-2015 operating budget for Worcester County Public Schools. The budget includes funding for salary step increases for eligible employees, a longevity step, a .5 percent cost of living allowance, a 3 percent increase for bus contractors and an 8 percent increase in insurance rates. The budget also includes major expenditures of $354,000 to replace gymnasium floors at Berlin Intermediate, Pocomoke Middle and Snow Hill Middle schools, $144,000 to replace gymnasium bleachers at Stephen Decatur High School and $200,000 in non-recurring costs for student technology.

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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CAPTAIN’S COVE

July - Early August 2014

Captain’s Cove Utility Co. to sell assets to Aqua Virginia By TOM STAUSS Publisher Assets totaling roughly $2.342 million held by the Captain’s Cove Utility Co. are being sold to Aqua Virginia, a prominent owner and manager of utilities in the state, a process that could take up to a year to complete and, in the meantime, will freeze water and sewer rates in the community at current levels. Utility Co. President Tim Hearn, who also serves as president of the Captain’s

Cove property owners association, announced the pending asset sale at the June 23 meeting of the Cove POA’s board of directors. The sale is subject to approval by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. Included in the sale are $2.2 million in sewer-related assets and $142,000 in water-related assets and some but not all of the CCUC’s debts. Hearn had previously hinted about the possibility of a sale of the utility company assets as a way of addressing

rising costs of operating the business. Without it, Hearn told Cove residents attending the meeting, utility rates in Captain’s Cove would have to increase 20 percent or more according to a recently completed cost of service study. Sewer users could have seen an increase up to 50 percent, Hearn said, citing the same study. Aqua’s take-over of the Cove utility system will lessen the need for these kinds of increases, Hearn said, because

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it has a track record of efficient operations resulting from economies of scale and other factors. A rate case that the Cove Utility Co. was expected to file with the SCC has been postponed pending regulatory approval of the asset sale. Hearn said that funds received by the utility company from the sale will be used to pay off demand notes and accrued interest, including about $120,000 owed to the Cove POA by CCUC. Another key component of the pending sale will be the transfer of ten acres in Section 14 owned by the Cove developer, CCG Land LLC, to Aqua as a potential future site for treated wastewater discharge through what’s called a RIB system. The demand note pay-off would address an issue that has split the Cove board of directors in recent months. Hearn said the Aqua take-over of utility company assets will result in a close to 50 percent savings in the cost of about $1.5 million in water system improvements that CCUC has been planning for some time. Engineering, permitting and implementation of the improvements would occur in 2015-16, earlier if the asset sale occurs this year. Improvements include installation of an ion exchange system. Also, Aqua will be seeking a permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to discharge brine (saltwater) from the water treatment process into the bay rather than into ground water. DEQ prefers that method, Hearn said. Individual water meters remain part of longer-term planning, with Hearn suggesting that installation of meters could be six years away. Aqua will be abandoning efforts that the CCUC had begun to obtain state revolving fund grants and loan money to fund the water system improvements, Hearn said, because “Aqua is self-capitalized.” Hearn said replacement of the existing 40-year-old wastewater treatment plant will also occur when Aqua takes over the system, at a cost of roughly $1 million. This should result in substantially lower operating costs that can be passed on to sewer customers, he said. The project would be slated for the 2015-16 timeframe, earlier if the asset sale is approved this year. Hearn said Aqua will inherit plans to replace Captain’s Cove vacuum collection system with individual grinder pumps at individual homes and a new high pressure gravity system in community rights of way. Financing for grinder pumps will be extended by CCUC or an affiliated company, Hearn said. CCUC is not being dissolved after the transaction settles. To complete the sale, Aqua is insisting on the installation of 3,800 linear To Page 44

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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44 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Captain’s Cove

LIFESTYLES

July - Early August 2014

From Page 43 feet of sewer lines in areas of Section 14 that lack them, Hearn said, adding that expansion of utilities in the other sections will be coordinated with the Cove POA and new road construction. A new rate case to be filed with SCC is expected sometime in 2014 and 2015. Hearn introduced Aqua executive Cliff Parker, director of corporate development and engineering for the company, who fielded a number of questions from Cove residents. He said that if the Captain’s Cove golf course ever finds itself lacking for water, he would “jump on” the prospect of supplying treated wastewater from the Cove treatment plant for spray irrigation. However, there is no indication at all that the Cove is suffering from a water shortage, so prospects for spray irrigating the course seem remote. 2014-15 assessments – The Cove board of directors dealt with budget-related issues during much of its June 23 meeting and, in the end, voted unanimously to approve Hearn’s motion to raise the annual lot assessment in the 2014-15 fiscal year from $950 to “no higher” than $1,050, with a “downward adjustment” possible. Waterfront property owners would not be assessed an additional fee next year. The new fiscal year begins in October. One possible source of revenue that could result in an assessment increase less than $100 would be receipt of $120,000 for the CCUC demand note that is supposed to be paid off as part of the Aqua purchase of CCUC assets. Another potential source would be proceeds from the sale of association-owned lots to Cove property owners. During the meeting, the board unanimously endorsed a proposal by Hearn to make the roughly 200 association-owned lots available to property owners of record for $1 each, provided that the purchasers prepay lot assessments in the amount of $3,000 and also cover closing costs. The offer is available through the end of August. The prepaid assessments would show up as a credit on a property owner’s account posted on the members area of the Cove Web site. The credit would be gradually reduced as semi-annual payments come due, zeroing out after about three years depending on the actual assessment charged in any given year. During discussion, directors also considered a number of other revenue-raising proposals, including the raising of golf cart fees $1 or $2 per round. Before approving any increase, the board will be asking the golf advisory committee for its views. Another idea, much less likely to survive further consideration, is to reestablish a campground at its former location in the Cove and to charge property owners for the privilege of parking their RVs there. The campground was removed in the Warfield era in the 2,000s because

it was considered an eyesore. Noise and related complaints from homeowners who live in the area of the former campground also contributed to the decision to close it. As part of the budget process, the board agreed to fully fund depreciation expense in the amount of $350,000, to make up a shortfall in the capital expenditure reserve in the amount of $250,000, and to make up half of the remaining amount owed to the capital reserve fund by the operating account, in the amount of $120,000. Hearn and Cove treasurer Michael Glick urged the full funding of depreciation in next year’s budget, something that apparently has never before occurred in Captain’s Cove. Other direc-

tors agreed. Marina Club changes – In response to complaints that the Marina Club bar-dining area is too noisy for some diners, the Cove board has decided to make some interior design changes that should provide some relief. Hearn described the Cove’s bar-dining area as more like a sports bar during the winter months, with more of a family dining vibe during the summer when non-resident owners use their vacation homes. The board agreed to a plan to convert the little-used billiards room adjacent to the bar-dining area into a dining room, knocking out the wall between them for two glass doors. As of the June 23 meeting, the POA was checking into costs, in the hopes the project could be done for

less than $100,000, Hearn said. John Ward complaint – In an action that surprised no one, including property owner John Ward, the board unanimously rejected his complaint and contention that Virginia law requires property owner associations, such as Captain’s Cove Golf and Yacht Club, to be overseen by a board of directors composed of homeowners. After brief discussion of the applicable state statute cited by Ward to support his argument, it was clear that none of the directors construed the law as he did. A July letter to Ward from the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations suggests that the agency also believes Ward may be misconstruing the relevant state statute.

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Saturday, July 12 Kiwanis Club’s bingo night, Ocean Pines Community Center, doors open 5 p.m., games start 6:30 p.m. Tickets in Advance $20, at the door $25. Food for sale, $200 and $50 bingo games, door prizes, 50-50, and scratch-offs. Ocean Pines Anglers Club, monthly meeting, 9:30 a.m., Ocean Pines Library. Flounder have now changed their locations and have gone to cooler, deeper water and require altered methods to catch them. New fish have entered the bay, including croakers, spot, bluefish and possibly redfish. Members of the club will discuss ways to catch them. Wednesday, July 16 Annual Taylor Bank golf tournament, Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club, 9 a.m., sponsored by the Ocean Pines Members Golf Council and Taylor Bank. Major fund raiser for the Council’s scholarship fund. Ron Rider, 410208-6713 or the pro shop, 410-641-6057 Thursday, July 17 Pine’eer Craft Club, monthly meeting, Ocean Pines Community Center, 9:30 a.m. refreshments, 10 a.m. club business. Craft following the meeting – create a fish from CDs and colored foam for $3. RSVP 410-641-7101. Guests welcome. Worcester County Tea Party

HAPPENINGS speaker series, Ocean Pines Community Center, Assateague Room, 7 p.m. Lawyer Chad R. Lingenfelder speaking on Maryland gun law, gun trust and estate planning. Free.

nizations and businesses. To enter contact Steve Stein at spikerex@aol.com, 410- 641-8930, or Fred Heinlen at fheinlen5@msn.com, 410-208-3165, or see the club’s website at opboatclub.com.

Saturday, July 19 Art Hansen memorial youth fishing contest, sponsored by the Ocean Pines Anglers Club, South Gate pond, near Sports Core Pool, Ocean Pines. Registration 8:30-9:30 a.m., contest 9-10:30 a.m. Youths should bring their own fishing rod and reel. Bait is provided. 3 age groups: 4-7, 8-11, 12-16. Awards for the three largest fish and for the most fish. All participants will receive a prize compliments of the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Club and various other sponsors. Walt Boge, 410208-2855

Friday, Aug. 1 Art walk, 6-9 p.m., Village Square Shopping Center located at the South Gate of Ocean Pines. Each business will be featuring an in-house artist and a display of the artist’s work. The artists featured will be available for a meetand-greet with the public. Featuring artists, writers, and photographers.

Saturday, July 26 Ocean Pines Boat Club’s boat parade, Pintail Park in Ocean Pines, beginning at 2 pm. Rain date July 27. Kiwanis Club’s hot dogs, soft drinks and snacks for sale, noon to 4 p.m. Other food vendors, games for the kids and adults. Prizes, Crabby the Clown, MDA Poster Child, and the Honor Guard from the American Legion of Ocean City. Boats will be parading through several canals. Open to all Ocean Pines residents, orga-

Saturday, Aug. 2 Craft fair, 37th annual, White Horse Park, Ocean Pines, 9 a.m. More than 100 crafters, food vendors, bake sale table, farmers market, music, and children’s activities. Music by the Honeycombs, children’s activities throughout the day. Farmer’s Market, Pine’eer Ctraft Club open. Barbara O’Connor, 410-726-8062. 7th Annual Flounder Fishing Tournament, sponsored by the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce. Entry forms available at the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce office, 11031 Cathell Road Berlin, or on-line on the Chamber website. Entry fee is $35 per person with discount for multiple fishermen. 410-641-5306.

Friday, Aug. 22 Kiwanis Club’s annual Duck Race fundraiser, to benefit scholarships, 6 p.m., Frontier Town Water Park, Rt. 611. Prizes including $1000 for first, $300 for second or $200 for third. Tickets at $5 per duck or 3 for $10. 410-2084108. Presence not required to win. Ongoing Free Movie Monday, through Aug. 25, 8 p.m. every Monday in White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Concessions for sale. 410-641-7052 for details and movie titles. Concerts in the Park, every Thursday through Aug. 28, White Horse Park pavilion, 239 Ocean Parkway. 7 p.m. 410-641-7052 for band listings. Concessions for sale. BYOB OK. Family Fun Nights, Yacht Club pool, every Wednesday through Aug. 28, 6-8 p.m. DJ, food and contests. Swim members w/ID $3, non-members $5, non-residents $7. 410-641-7052. Beer and wine-making classes, Brews Up, 9028 Worcester Highway, Berlin, Wednesdays and Saturdays and by appointment. 443-513-4744 for information and schedule. Pine Tappers free adult tap dance classes, Tuesdays, 2-3:30 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Exercise and have fun with choreographed tap dancing routines. From 2-2:30 p.m., brush To Page 48

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July - Early August 2014

Discounts of up to 30% for Ocean Pines Association Guests & Members Passes Available at the Ocean Pines Community Center www.JollyRogerPark.com 30TH St. & Coastal Hwy & At The Pier

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Jolly Roger celebrates 50 years of fun in the sun

ome newer full-time residents in Ocean Pines and many summer residents regard Ocean City as perhaps the chief reason they decided to invest in the bayside community. Ocean Pines does indeed have a wide array of amenities to entertain residents, but it’s the summer playground to the east, with its free beaches and ocean access, Boardwalk, restaurants, nightclubs and array of amusement parks and other attractions, that makes life in Ocean Pines all the more rewarding. Suffice it to say, Ocean Pines would not exist today were it not for Ocean City. Ocean City’s close proximity makes it possible to enjoy the amenities and relative tranquility of Ocean Pines with everything Ocean City has to offer. One well-kown Ocean City amusement park, Jolly Roger at 30th Street, is part of Ocean City’s eclectic mix of attractions. It’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer, having starting out as a miniature golf course and driving range in 1964. Located on 35 acres bayside, the park contains a mix of nostalgic and cutting-edge rides. Early in 1964, Charles “Buddy” Jenkins and Arnold Palmer’s manager, Mark McCormick, met. Jenkins owned a large parcel of bayside property at 30th Street in Ocean City. Palmer, the reigning professional “king” of golf in that era, was developing driving ranges and miniature golf courses throughout the country. Jenkins purchased a Palmer franchise. In July of 1964, he opened the Arnold Palmer Putting Course and Driving Range at 30th Street. The following year, he added six amusement rides, including a merry-go-round, kiddie roller coaster, skyliner and train, that latter of which still operates today. In 1966, the park expanded to include a carousel, dry slide and bumper cars. In the early 1970s, Jenkins launched Splash Mountain with a concrete water slide. In 1974, Jenkins purchased the Ocean City Pier Company and in a multi-million dollar renovation, added new rides and attractions. This would become known as Jolly Roger at the Pier. Over the years, Jolly Roger added a wide array of attractions that turned the 30th Street property into a full scale amusement park. It hosted live shows, such as the Flying Wallendas, the Royal Hanneford Circus, and the Parker Playhouse. In the early 1970’s, the 30th Street park added a go cart track and a concrete water slide that were the beginnings of Speedworld, now home of one of the largest collections of go carts and tracks in the country with over 11 tracks and 400 cars. Jolly Roger’s crown jewel, Splash Mountain, was named the

best small waterpark on the East Coast by Funworld Magazine, the amusement industry’s leading trade magazine. In the early 2000’s, Stealth, Master Blaster, Wave Pool and Rain Forest were added to Splash Mountain, with Eye of the Hurricane added in 2007. Ziplines were added to Speedworld in 2010. Aqua Loop, the East Coast’s only 360-degree looping water slide, was added to Splash Mountain in 2011. Haven’t found time to check out Jolly Roger? The Ocean Pines Association makes it easy by offering discounts up to 30 percent. It’s as easy as picking up passes at the Ocean Pines Community Center in White Horse Park.

Above, Jolly Roger Park, circa 1964. Below, the original pirate who greeted visitors at the park entrance.

Today, Jolly Roger is a mix of the nostalgic and cutting-edge, featuring Splash Mountain and Speed World and other attractions that entertain the entire family.

48 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

July - Early August 2014

COMMENTARY

Reading the golf course/Yacht Club tea leaves “There’s something to be said for remaining positive until all hope is actually lost.” Clive Cussler, Ghost Ship

hile it’s far too soon to draw any definitive conclusions about how well the new Yacht Club and golf operations will fare this summer, some very preliminary indicators suggest that there may very well be turbulent times ahead financially for these two amenities. If these very early trends continue into the summer, contemplating changes in the way these amenities are managed is hardly premature. The Yacht Club managed to lose money in May, its first month of operation, in the amount of $36,566. Some of this is no doubt attributable to start-up costs, but those could and should have been anticipated during the budget process. Compared to budget, the Yacht Club fell short by $8,344 for the month. It’s impossible to know how the facility’s soft opening Memorial Day weekend, three weeks into the month, affected these results. Labor costs embedded in the numbers seem very high, no doubt reflecting a judgment call that it was better to have too much staff at the opening than too little. The silver lining in the abbreviated first month of operation was banquet food and beverage operations, which managed to exceed budget forecasts by more than $9700. Extrapolate these results across a full month and there is every reason to hope for solid results in the banquet space going forward. This may be a business that the OPA can effectively manage. Still, let’s wait for the numbers before making any hasty conclusions. There have been some reports that groups with smaller numbers feel lost in the vast spaces on the new amenity’s second floor. It’s impossible to know how much business has been lost because some groups prefer a more intimate space for their events. General Manager Bob Thompson downplayed this phenomenon in comments made during the Board of Directors’ June meeting, but he was not persuasive. It’s not necessarily the case that groups who have taken their business elsewhere would inform the OPA or explain their reasons for doing so. It’s difficult to quantify business that did not materialize. The sooner the OPA installs sliding dividers on the upper level, the better. They were promised in the run-up to the community referendum that approved the new Yacht Club, but then were quietly removed from final construction plans, probably to help keep

HAPPENINGS From Page 45 up on basic techniques and a review of the routines, then join the regular class from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Every week or dropin as convenient. Lori at 410-251-2162 or tntandcompany@gmail.com. Ocean Pines Ping Pong Club, Ocean Pines Community Center, Monday noon to 2 p.m, Wednesday and Friday noon to 3 p.m. In the summer schedule changes to evenings. All levels of players welcome. Neil Gottesman, 732773-1516. Suicide Grievers Support Group, 3rd Wednesday every month, 6 p.m., Worcester County Health Department,

the cost down below $5 million. The dividers would allow the club to host at least two banquet or similar events simultaneously, which has to be good for the bottom line. The board of directors should direct the general manager to take immediate steps to remedy this omission. The likely scenario will be to include it in next year’s capital budget, too late to make a good first impression on some potential banquet clients. On the regular food and beverage side, May results were not particularly encouraging. Regular food revenue missed its target by $36,722, and not coincidentally that was virtually identical to the overall loss for the amenity in May. June may very well produce different results for regular food and beverage. Then again, it may not. The Progress received a report in June that a couple wanting to partake of the Sunday brunch were discouraged from doing so by staff, who told them that the Yacht Club was trying to encourage larger groups to reserve the larger tables on the second floor. The absence of smaller tables drove the point home as did the reported claim by staff that this was being done because of staff shortages. Eventually, the couple joined up with a foursome they didn’t know to share one of the larger tables, but the deed was done. It’s unlikely there will be a return visit anytime soon by the twosome; who knows about the foresome. Since then, this operational “trial balloon” if indeed it can be so characterized has been thoroughly discredited and abandoned. One board member told the Progress that the incident never happened, that the staff at Sunday brunch will seat anyone who shows up. Perhaps. Let’s hope so. Trial and unforced error is no way to run a restaurant. If very early results for general food and beverage operations at the Yacht Club are not particularly encouraging, golf operations also fell well short of budgetary expectations, even while actual results were positive – an $80,000 surplus for the month – and much better than those produced in May of 2013. Golf did not finish well in the last fiscal year, with a loss that almost reached $330,000 for the year, according to published unaudited results. End-of-year prognostications issued at the three quarter mark into the fiscal year proved to be wildly divorced from reality. The first month of the new fiscal year shows just how perilous it can be to forecast actual results when wearing rose-colored glasses. If golf continues on the pattern of beating last

Healthway Drive, Berlin, adjacent to Atlantic General Hospital. Open to anyone who has lost a friend or loved one to suicide. Free of charge. Quiet listening, caring people, no judgment. 410-629-0164. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines – Ocean City every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. in the Ocean Pines Community Center, except the third Wednesday of the month when it meets at Hall’s Restaurant in Ocean City from June through September. Sanctioned duplicate bridge games, Ocean Pines Community Center, Sundays 1 p.m., Mondays noon, Tuesdays 10 a.m. Partners guaranteed. $5, special games $6. Third Sunday of every month is Swiss teams (no partner

year’s numbers but falling short of budget in June and in subsequent months, then it won’t be possible for final results to be anywhere close to the $73,300 loss projected in the current fiscal year’s golf budget. May non-member or so-called “outside” play numbers were solid, with $90,245 in greens fees and $60,210 in cart fees, which compares favorably to the May 2013 numbers of $59,039 and $47,642, respectively. A private golf course entrepreneur might really be able to work with those numbers, if given a chance. The problem is that the numbers weren’t solid enough: The budget called for $110,275 in greens fees and $74,716 in cart fees. (Some cart fee revenue is member-generated, but most of it probably comes from outside play.) If this pattern holds, the budget will fall short in 2014-15 in the same way it did in 2013-14. The only real difference is that the annual loss perhaps won’t be as great. Last year’s $330,000 loss might conceivably drop below $300,000 by some modest amount, still much too high to guarantee another multi-year extension for Billy Casper Golf. Meanwhile, a three-member team of the OPA Board of Directors has been and will continue to meet with private golf course entrepreneurs who are interested in leasing the golf course, with two exploratory meetings taking place July 8th. OPA President Tom Terry says there are no formal lease offers on the table and that his team will be checking into other possible tenants over the summer, as a fallback should it become evident that BCG management is falling short of budget expectations. It will become evident soon enough whether both the Yacht Club and golf course are on a path to meeting high budgetary expectations or aren’t. May did not bode well for either, but then there’s something to be said for remaining positive. It’s hardly the end of the world should both amenities fall short of budget. Leasing out both amenities – perhaps keeping the lucrative banquet business in-house – are viable options to the status quo. Two separate kitchens make this option practical. One possible permutation is to consider leasing out the lower level of the Yacht Club and the golf course to a single entity. There are well-known, successful national companies that can manage both, and at least one local company that does, as well. – Tom Stauss

guaranteed for teams). Felicia Daly, 410208-1272; Pat Kanz, 410-641-8071 The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-05, meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S.C.G. Station, Ocean City. Visitors and new members are welcome. Dennis Kalinowski, 410-208-4147. Web site http://a0541205.uscgaux.info. Life after loss support group, second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Race Track Road, Berlin, 11 a.m. 410-641-5433. Worcester County Democratic Club meeting, fourth Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Marlin Room of Ocean Pines Community Center. No

December meeting. Club membership is not required. All those interested in Democratic platforms and agendas are welcome. Beach Singles, every Thursday, 4-6 p.m., Castaways, Coastal Hwy. at 64th Street, Ocean City, 45+ singles for socializing and monthly activities, 302436-9577. Republican Women of Worcester County, fourth Thursday of each month, 11 a.m. meeting (doors open at 10:30), lunch at noon, local restaurants. For information, call membership chair Barbara Loffler at 410-208-0890. January through June, and again September and October. Dinner meeting in November. No meetings July, August

OPINION

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Thompson vs. Collins: Needless unforced conflict

parring publicly with a member of the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors is probably not the best way to ensure longevity for an Ocean Pines Association general manager. When that director happens to be last summer’s top vote getter, and who is easy-going and non-confrontational to a fault, then sparring with him almost suggests a death wish on the part of the GM. And yet GM Bob Thompson seemed to go out of his way to pick a fight with Director Jack Collins at the June board meeting, when Collins enquired about whether ponds in his neighborhood of Ocean Pines, Harbor Village, are on a list of drainage projects to be addressed by the OPA Public Works Department. Collins acknowledged he made a call recently to Public Works Director Eddie Wells asking about his section’s ponds, which by all accounts are in need of a thorough cleaning. That phone call, it was apparent during the June meeting, had Thompson’s nose out of joint. The general manager, while conceding that Collins had not tried to trade on his status as a board member to gain preferential treatment for his neighborhood, nonetheless implied that, more or less, this is precisely how the call was interpreted. In effect, he was asserting that his department head is incapable of distinguishing between a board member

nance is the responsibility of the OPA or the neighborhood association. Fair enough. It’s a legitimate staff An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs concern. But would the Public Works deof Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. partment embarked on such a review if By TOM STAUSS/ Collins had not initiated his phone call By TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher to Wells? It’s always possible that a recalling as a board member and a board fusing to commit to action in Harbor Vil- view would have been conducted in due lage, Collins asked Thompson to clarify course, to be sure, but it’s more plausimember calling as an OPA resident. Collins pushed back on the implica- his intentions, “in English,” a somewhat ble to suspect that the study to which tion that he forfeits his right to contact a pointed, and understandable, request Thompson referred was prompted by department head as a resident if he hap- for clarity. The GM took it as a challenge Collins’ interest in the condition of his and said that his comment meant that neighborhood’s ponds. pens to serve on the OPA board. If so, that’s another reason why the He’s right, and moreover it would not board members will not be receiving call was appropriate. Without formally to be a desirable state of affairs if some- preferential treatment. “Not that you asked for it,” he quickly requesting action, the call seems to have how board members were not allowed prompted action that appears to have to seek answers to questions on behalf added. So if Collins did not ask for prefer- been needed before the Harbor Village of their constituents by contacting department heads. While conceivably a ential treatment, why introduce the ponds can be cleaned up. Rather than spar with Collins on board member could abuse the right by subject at all? It conveys the impression constantly contacting department heads that even if preferential treatment was whether the phone call was appropriate, and demanding preferential treatment, not being sought in word and deed, the the general manager would have been there is no evidence to suggest that Col- mere fact of a phone call can be con- wiser to confine his explanatory remarks strued in precisely that way. The general to the need to review the OPA’s responsilins has behaved in this way. By Thompson’s own admission, Col- manager said as much, unintentionally bilities with respect to the ponds in Harpainting his department head as a sim- bor Village. lins did not. Even better would have been a simSo why did Thompson go out of his, as pleton unable to distinguish between a Collins put it later, to “attack” the board request for information and a demand ple comment to the effect that Collins’ call resulted in something constructive. for action. member in the way he did? Instead, the general manager went Later in the discussion, Thompson Hard to say, really. It was totally unnecessary, really, an unforced error, a relayed a plausible reason for why he on the attack, as if his prerogatives as was unwilling at that time to commit to general manager were under assault. needless provocation. The reaction betrayed a defensiveWhen Thompson gave an opaque an- cleaning out the Harbor Village ponds. swer to a question from Director Sharyn He said staff needs to review covenants ness that was unnecessary and divisive. It doesn’t suggest a general manager O’Hare about the status of ponds in and turn-over agreements for Harbor on top of his game. Village to determine if pond mainteBainbridge Park and Harbor Village, re-

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

COMMENTARY Stevens is more than fit for office despite criticism an earlier interview published in defense of the salary package. On the face of it, Gomsak’s numbers seem credible. But the difference is a relatively piddling amount, and who really cares whether Olson’s final salary was $135,000, as Stevens said in his letter, or $139,040, as Gomsak says? Assuming the Gomsak number is the more accurate one, you can start with it, apply annual cost of living increases of three percent over five years were Olson still on the job – Thompson will be starting his fifth year on the job later this year – and end up with a hypothetical salary for Olson of $161,185, not that far from Thompson’s base pay of $165,000. Differences over competing ways to number crunch miss the larger point of what’s wrong with the new compensation package for the general manager, however. Whether $160,000 or $165,000 or somewhere in between, the base compensation is simply too high for the lower Eastern Shore when compared to governmental or quasi-government salaries earned by executives with far more responsibility than the OPA’s general manager. The fundamental flaw of the OPA position was to use the earnings of a general manager of a homeowners association in Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, as a basis for the OPA general manager’s compensation.

No amount of lipstick will make that pig any more alluring. The move was also politically tone deaf, handing Thompson critics a political issue upon which to base a campaign for the board this summer. The wiser course of action would have been simply to extend Thompson’s old contract with reasonable cost of living increases, with bonus incentives for meeting financial goals. It would barely have registered on the radar had the board majority simply acted with a modicum of restraint. Instead, the timing of it all suggested skullduggery, an unseemly haste, which generated a lot of negativity, bad press for Ocean Pines, and a tailor-made election issue. And fodder for media commentary, to be sure. The board is in the process of coming up with non-financial criteria by which Thompson, in the subjective judgment of OPA directors, can earn about $10,000 more in bonuses for having achieved them, or some part of them. Financial incentives remain, in the amount of about $30,000, but even after one month into the new year there is early evidence that major amenities will continue to lose money in the current fiscal year and won’t make rosy-scenario budget targets. That means the general manager stands little q

he letters page of this edition of the Progress contains some rather hard-hitting criticism of board candidate Dave Stevens, a six-year veteran of the board who is running for the board this summer after a year’s “vacation,” among other activities serving as president of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony. Together, these letters could create the impression that Stevens isn’t quite up to the task of serving again and that, if elected, he and allies would reverse all the progress that’s been made in the community in recent years. The notion that Stevens would oppose reasonable improvements in Ocean Pines’ aging infrastructure runs counter to his record as a director over six years, during which he was very much part of constructive debate and policy-making. Former OPA director/treasurer and current assistant treasurer Pete Gomsak takes Stevens to task for the way he criticized OPA President Tom Terry in a recent letter on the issue of the general manager’s salary package. Gomsak picks apart some numbers offered by Stevens when describing the compensation for the former general manager, Tom Olson, who Gomsak says, had he stayed on the job with three percent annual cost of living increases, would have been earning close to what Thompson’s base package will be in his new contract. That was the point that Terry was trying to make in

50 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

July - Early August 2014

Rick Menard

Criticism of Stevens a bit over-the-top From Page 49 chance of cashing in on this component of his incentive package. The same isn’t true of the loosey-goosey $10,000 component, however. Is the OPA general manager position really worth $175,000, plus benefits? With all due respect to the current board majority, the answer to that is a resounding no. The criteria under consideration for cashing in on the $10,000 look very much like tasks the general manager should be performing just to keep his job. Had he been a board member this past year, Stevens would have resisted this employment package, joining directors Marty Clarke and Jack Collins in opposition. He might have been able to persuade one or two of his colleagues to see the issue differently. As a letter from Pines resident Gary Miller makes clear, a Stevens victory won’t sit well in all of Ocean Pines. That’s not too surprising. We’re not a homogeneous community that sees every issue the same way. Spirited differences of opinion have been a part of Ocean Pines’ fabric since the beginning and will remain that way well into the foreseeable future. Why is that a bad thing? It isn’t. In fact, it’s healthy. It’s evidence of a dynamic community onfident in its diversity. Miller takes on Stevens for one of his least proud moments as a director: initial opposition to the efforts of concerned residents who, some years ago, organized to lobby for the OPA to share, with the county’s four municipalities, the local impact funds that would

be generated by casino operations just south of Ocean Pines. The Worcester County commissioner representing Ocean Pines at the time, Judy Boggs, also opposed including the OPA on the casino gravy train. In the end, the OPA board reversed itself and

realized that it was better to receive the impact funds directly rather than rely on the pass-through discretion of county commissioners. With the help of delegates Jim Mathias and Norm Conway, state legislation was successfully amended to

accommodate the interests of the OPA. No one alive or at least sentient believes it’s a mistake to take the money. Stevens has said since that he believes he was wrong in his initial reaction, and that’s really all there is to it. We all make mistakes. His is hardly of the sort that disqualifies him for another term on the board. – Tom Stauss

LETTERS It’s that time of year again when we as a community must come together to elect members to the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors. Last year I fanned the political flames with the phrase, “Let’s get rid of the general manager.” Many people felt that Bob Thompson had misplaced the trust he was given by the board, by not giving out sufficient information to the directors until the day of voting, because he feared they would pick apart his proposals. Thompson seems incapable of getting his stories straight, given his explanations of was the pool full, or empty? Did certain amenities make or lose money? Then there is my personal favorite, 30-year-old kitchen equipment can be used again for another 30 years. All of this leads me to believe that Thompson has never heard the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. I also find it interesting and conspiratorial that (Terri) Mohr had announced that she would not be running again and then changed her mind. This leads me to believe her motivation is to dissipate the total votes cast in an effort to draw votes away from the other candidates who want to rein Thompson in. If she wins, and then decides to quit, it is my opinion that (Jeff) Knepper, should he not win outright, would be appointed to fill a vacancy yet again for another year. Ms. Mohr has in the past called for a code of ethics for the members of the

board. So I ask you just how ethical is it to run just to protect the seat on the board for the benefit of Thompson, even if she does not resign after being elected? While I’m on the topic of conspiracies, what was the real reason Thompson’s contract renewal date was pushed forward? Could it be because the new board when elected would find it hard to fire Thompson because of his contract severance package? We all know that Knepper, who was appointed to replace (Dan) Stachurski, voted in favor of the new contract for Thompson, which included a $10,000 bonus based on the board of directors’ judgment. So basically if he just shows up for work, he gets it. Knepper’s support of the general manager is duly noted. As a community, we can’t afford to vote only to find out after the fact that the person we voted for has no intention of staying, or even worse says one thing to get elected and then does another. I can’t help but feel this election is our last chance to change direction in the Pines, or we will forever just be giving up our wallets when we pay our assessment fees because the sky is not a limiting factor with a general manager that’s shooting for the moon, under the leadership of a board of directors that refuses to exercise control. I urge each voter to carefully consider the motivations behind the political antics that are being played

out here in the Pines, and to evaluate each candidate’s motivations for their positions. Let’s not be fooled again by pleasant rhetoric. Roland Langevin Ocean Pines

Thanks to De Novos

Primary Day is over and we want to congratulate all the candidates for taking part in one of the most significant privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in this country. The day is long! Not only for the candidates who seek approval from their fellow citizens but for the election judges who work the polls at each of the voting locations in Worcester County. Their day runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and, under the Board of Elections rules, workers may not leave the building for the entire period. While the workers enjoy the opportunity to support this civic responsibility to vote, there is no question that it can be an exhausting day. The workers of Polling Station 5-1 (Ocean Pines Country Club) want to heartily thank De Novo’s Trattoria for, once again, showing its support to the 19 workers by providing lunch sandwiches at no cost. The Country Club is a pleasant venue for voting but there is no refrigeration to keep food for lunch or dinner. Therefore, it was a very pleasant surprise to receive the news that De

Conspiracies abound

The Ocean Pines Progress, a journal of news and commentary, is published monthly throughout the year. It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Berlin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, Va. Letters and other editorial submissions: Please submit via email only. Letters should be original and exclusive to the Progress. Include phone number for verification. 127 Nottingham Lane Ocean Pines, MD 21811

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Tom Stauss tstauss1@mchsi.com 410-641-6029

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ART DIRECTOR Rota Knott

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rota Knott InkwellMedia@comcast.net 443-880-1348 Virginia Reister Susan Canfora

PROOFREADER

July - Early August 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

LETTERS Novo’s would have two trays of sandwiches ready for the lunch break. This is not the first time that De Novo’s has stepped up to support workers on Election Day and we want them to know how much we appreciate it. It’s great to have such a generous business within our community. Fred Stiehl Ocean Pines Primary Election Judges Precinct 5-1

A history lesson

In the 11 years that I have owned property in Ocean Pines, I don’t think there has been a more important election for the OPA Board of Directors than this one, for the very future of our community is at stake. The question really comes down to whether or not you want to continue the progress that the current board and general manager have begun or go back to the old plan of letting the community facilities deteriorate to the point of falling down before any action is taken? Or put into even clearer language, do you want your property values to continue to go up or do you want them to go back down? It is the desirability of our community that helps keep our home values up and to a large extent that has to do with the number of amenities offered, and their condition. Let’s consider some recent history. Shortly after we moved here the big topic was the new community center. After a referendum and positive vote by the Ocean Pines community a new larger building that could accommodate the needs of our growing community was planned. Before construction could get past the very beginning stages however, one of the current Board members and a small group of his supporters decided that we did not really need such a large facility and through their efforts the current small and inadequate building was erected instead. That building is so small that some of our community clubs are not able to hold meetings there because the rooms are not big enough to accommodate all of their members. Let’s also remember that the legal battle waged to block the planned larger building by that small group wound up costing OPA thousands of dollars in unnecessary legal and other fees. When the new Yacht Club was being planned that small group of people said the same thing. “We don’t need anything that big and expensive” was the rallying cry and it was nicknamed “The Taj Mahal”. Well fortunately the silent majority voted for the new building by an overwhelming 68 percent to 38 percent, and we now have a first class facility that has already been booked for weddings and banquets into mid-winter. Each weekend since it opened, the facility has been packed with residents

enjoying the view as well as the food and beverages. The patio is a big hit. But guess what? At least two of the non-incumbent candidates running for the Board, including Mr. Lee, have said that the facility is too big and should not have been built. Dave Stevens, a current OPA Board candidate, was on the Board when the Casino down the street first opened. At that time, there was legislation pending that assigned local impact funds to the county’s four municipalities but Ocean Pines was not included. A group of concerned residents organized to lobby for a change in the legislation to permit Ocean Pines to receive a portion of the local funds. As a Board member, Mr. Stevens argued against it wanting the funds to go to the County instead. Fortunately, the Board voted in favor of the proposal and the community benefits to the tune of about $225,000 a year. Over the six years that Mr. Stevens was on the Board, our assessments went up $189. So I wonder why he did not want OPA to take the offered money. During his first year on the Board, Mr. Stevens was the Treasurer and the OPA showed a loss of over $137,000. He became President during his second year and OPA showed a loss of over $160,000. Thankfully, his fellow Board members chose not to elect him to hold an officer position after that. Do we really want someone back on the board that was not looking to the future of the community enough to even take free money? Especially when OPA was incurring losses! Mr. Renaud, another OPA Board candidate, has said that he does not think Ocean Pines should be in the golf or restaurant business, although he seems to be wavering on the restaurant part at the moment. I wonder what else he will waiver on while campaigning? He and Mr. Stevens are running as a team in order to gain a majority of votes on the board when voting with current board member Mr. Clarke. I shudder to think what will happen if they are successful. So let’s look at the progress by the current board “majority”. The golf course, which was neglected for years has recently been upgraded and bookings are up for the current year. Drainage issues that were a result of neglect are now being addressed and the roads are being repaired thanks to free money from the Casino that Mr. Stevens did not want to take. In addition to a new Yacht Club pool, decking and furniture, all of the swimming pools are finally getting much needed repairs. A new splash pad was installed at Swim and Racquet Club, aquatic programs have been added and memberships are up. The Beach Club now has heat and air conditioning and the second floor bar is open. The Tennis facility has been upgraded and a dog

park added as well. With all of that, the current board was able to come in under budget for the year by about $14,000! Oh, and our assessments went down. Terri Mohr is running for re-election and Jeff Knepper, who was appointed to complete the term of a departing Mr. Stachurski, is running for his first full term. If you want to keep the community progress going and your property values going up, consider the recent history and your choice should be clear. Gary Miller Ocean Pines

Stop the deception II

This is in response to Dave Stevens’ letter that appeared in the May-Early June Edition of the Progress headlined “Stop the deception.” You would think that, if you were going to accuse someone of deception, you would at least make sure your numbers were correct and that your approach for comparing those numbers would at least be reasonable. Stevens’ letter attacks OPA President Tom Terry for stating that the recently increased salary of $165,000 for General Manager Bob Thompson was not that far from what the salary of the previous General Manager (Tom Olson) would have been, if it had been annually increased by 3 percent, which Terry calculated as approximating $162,000, based on a salary of approximately $140,000 for Olson. I obtained the actual salary data and performed my own calculations, which resulted in a figure of $161,185, which supports Terry’s approximation. Stevens, however, calculates the comparable Olson salary at $150,000, not $162,000, and mocks Terry by stating that Terry “… thinks 10 percent is a cost of living increase” and by asking “… I wonder which country he is living in.” Mr. Stevens states in his letter that Olson’s last salary “… was $135,000 and he was budgeted for a $2,194 (1.6%) raise in 2010, although he never received it.” He is wrong in both statements! Mr. Olson’s annual salary was never $137,194, nor budgeted to be. Olson’s last salary was $139,040, not $135,000. Further, Olson was not budgeted for a $2,194 (1.6 percent) raise in 2010. He received a 3 percent raise in Feb. 2009, but retroactive to October of 2008, raising his annual salary to $139,040, which was in place when he left in July of 2010. Therefore, he did, in fact, receive the full 3 percent raise which has been omitted from Mr. Stevens’ calculations. Does Mr. Stevens, who has served as an OPA Director for six of the last seven years, including one year each as treasurer and president, respectively, not understand the figures contained in the budget binder prepared annually for each board member? The fact is that the $2,194 was not a “budgeted” raise of 1.6 percent, as Ste-

vens states, but rather the fiscal year impact of a 3 percent raise (5.5 months at $135,000 and 6.5 months at $139,040). By the way, the 3 percent used by Mr. Terry for updating, for salary comparison purposes, is simply the percentage used by OPA for budgetary purposes during those years, based on the budget guidance developed by the board, to cover those who may receive a raise. Not all employees get a raise, and it is clear that Mr. Olson did not receive a raise in 2010. Mr. Stevens also conveniently only considered four hypothetical salary increases, not the five which are needed to match the time frame of Bob Thompson’s $165,000, as it was just recently granted and represents the salary he will receive for his fifth year of service as the general manager. If you take $139,040 and update it five times for 3 percent increases, you will get $161,185. It is very curious that Mr. Stevens used an incorrect salary of $135,000 for Olson, since he actually states in his letter that Olson received a 3 percent raise during Stevens’ one term as President, and he also acknowledges that this was the only increase he received “…during his tenure”. Did Mr. Stevens, in his calculations used to attack Mr. Terry, really forget that Olson’s original salary was increased from $135,000 to $139,040 while Stevens was president? And did he also inadvertently forget to update it for the required number of adjustments to be comparable to Thomson’s recently increased amount? Given the difference between Stevens’ flawed $150,000 and Terry’s $162,000, Stevens’ letter concludes with the following sentence: This continued deception and manipulation is getting too old. If one were to be cynical, they might suspect that the numbers and calculations of Mr. Stevens were manipulated to meet the intended objective. One might also suspect, as suggested by Mr. Stevens, that there was deception involved. Any deception or manipulation, however, would seem not to be on the part of Mr. Terry. The above circumstances certainly raise questions. Obviously, anyone can make a mistake (I certainly have and will). However, to make this many mistakes, in one salary comparison, raises troubling questions about those mistakes. Using flawed, and maybe even contrived, numbers to attack and mock the president of the association and then to accuse him of deception and manipulation is, in my opinion, extraordinary, totally unacceptable, and a sad commentary. Pete Gomsak Ocean Pines The writer is a former OPA director and treasurer and currently is an OPA assistant treasurer.

Ocean Pines PROGRESS July - Early August 2014

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