July 2017 ocean pines progress by Ocean Pines Progress

July 2017

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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY COVER STORY

Acting GM’s tenure emerges as key issue; Clarke, Parks support current board Horn stakes out contrarian viewpoints, sharply critical of Hill By TOM STAUSS Publisher

SUMMER

The days of an adults-only Oasis swimming pool at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club may be numbered. Ocean Pines Association President Tom Herrick recently confirmed that Jeremy Tucker, the OPA’s legal counsel from the Bethesda, Md., law firm of Lerch Early, has been looking into whether the OPA can legally continue to operate the Oasis pool as primarily adults-only.

~ Page 14

OPA ELECTION

educed from an original slate of eight candidates to four, this summer’s Board of Directors election seemed destined to be a civilized affair compared to last summer’s raucous competition, when the fate of then General Manager Bob Thompson hung on the outcome. Nicole Crosariol But at the June 21 candidates’ forum conducted by the Ocean Pines Elections Committee, some sharp contours began to manifest. Candidates Marty Clarke and Doug Parks emerged as the candidates most supportive of the current board and most supportive of efforts to reduce what they regard as excessive contributions to OPA reserves. Their position on reserve contributions make it conceivable if not likely that they will be pushing for a reduction in lot assessments next year if they’re elected to the board. Colette Horn emerged as the candidate most sharply critical of the board, and more particularly Acting General Brett Hill. She criticized the unaudited operating deficit in 2016-17 as reported in the April financials. But Clarke later said that he has been advised that, because of the zeroing out of the deficit recovery reserve and the transfer of roughly $430,000 contained within it to the general fund, the Ocean Pines Association actually will show a profit of about $150,000 when the audited numbers are presented to the membership

Lawyer researching adults-only option at Yacht Club pool

Trendic fends off directors over contact with OPA employees

A testy and at times heated closed meeting of the Board of Directors June 19 did not result in a reprimand of or attempt to remove Director Slobodan Trendic from the board, despite some indications that Trendic was in trouble with some of his colleagues for discussions with unnamed Ocean Pines Association employees over allegations of hostile working conditions in recent months and other matters.

~ Page 29

Marty Clarke

Colette Horn

Doug Parks

at the annual meeting in August. “She committed a bit of a faux pas criticizing the board for a deficit that isn’t a deficit,” Clarke quipped. She criticized the board for not having started a search for a new general manager back in the fall, suggesting that it had done so, some of the reported infighting among the directors in recent months might have been avoided. OPA President Tom Herrick and Hill staunchly defend the nine-month tenure of Hill, who will shortly be replaced by a new, professional general manager. Hill, who has been serving in the role as an unpaid volunteer, has made no secret of his desire to return solely to his To Page 45

Clarke slams Jacobs, Trendic for ‘pressuring’ OPA employees ~ Page 36

Directors interested in shifting restaurant ops to Country Club

In an apparent nod to retiring Director Dave Stevens, who has let it be known that he supports shifting restaurant operations from the Yacht Club to the Country Club this winter, two Ocean Pines Association directors with influence on the matter have said they are in general agreement with Stevens. OPA President Tom Herrick and Director and Acting General Manager Brett Hill in recent interviews with the Progress said they are favorably disposed toward Stevens’s idea.

~ Page 30

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Racquet sport clinics available all summer long

hether one’s racquet sport of choice is tennis, platform tennis or pickleball, opportunities abound for court time this summer at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex, located at 11443 Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines. All activities are open to the public. Tennis players can take advantage of Ocean Pines’ eight Har-Tru clay courts and two hard courts with lights for evening play. Drop-in sessions for all skills levels are held Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. for $10 per person, per session. Participants must sign up at the racquet complex pro shop, by calling 410-641-7228 or by emailing Ocean Pines tennis pro Erin Starr at estarr@OceanPines.org. Anyone looking for a year-round sport is invited to try platform ten-

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS nis, the only Ocean Pines racquet sport that is primarily an outdoor winter sport but that is played all year long. The game, which combines elements of tennis and racquetball, is played on a court about one-third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by 12-foot fencing that allows play off the screens. A free clinic is offered every Saturday at noon followed by a free onemonth trial period. Players meet at the Manklin Meadows platform tennis courts to get started with an instructor and the necessary equipment. Seven drop-ins per week are also offered. Jim Freeman at jimisfreeman@verizon.net or 215-704-4592 can be contacted for more information. Another benefit of a platform tennis membership is the option of playing timeless tennis. Those who are no longer comfortable playing

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on a regular-size tennis court are invited to try the sport, which is new to Ocean Pines and has already attracted a number of players. The game is played on the racquet complex’s platform tennis courts using tennis racquets and low-compression balls. The screens surrounding each of the courts help keep the balls within reach. Timeless tennis drop-in play is scheduled every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. and free introductory lessons are available by appointment by calling Araceli Popen at aspopen@yahoo.com or 302-270-8118. Players who haven’t yet experienced pickleball, a family-friendly racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, are invited to try out a free beginner training class offered by the Ocean Pines Pickleball Club. Classes will be offered Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. and July 20 and Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. at the racquet complex. A follow-up drop-in will be offered the week after each class so that new skills learned can be used in organized games with other beginner players. The drop-in fee for the outdoor courts is $5 per person, per day. A complete schedule of drop-in times may be found at OceanPines.org. For more information or to register for a beginner class, contact John Hanberry at jhanberry@comcast.net or 703-598-6119.

Ocean Pines offers yearly tennis, platform tennis and pickleball memberships for families, individuals and juniors. Memberships are available to Ocean Pines residents and to non-residents, for an additional fee.

Ocean Pines offers youth sports camps

The Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department will hold several specialty youth sports camps this summer on land and at sea. All activities are open to the public. Ocean Pines tennis pro Erin Starr is leading two All Aces Tennis Camps, the first from July 10-14 and the second one Aug. 7-11 at the Manklin Meadows Recreation Complex, 11443 Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines. The five-day camp will be held from 9-10 a.m. for ages 5-10 and 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for ages 11-17. Participants will be individually evaluated and placed into groups by age and ability. The cost for ages 5-10 is $90 for Ocean Pines residents and $112.50 for non-residents. The cost for ages 11-17 is $130 for Ocean Pines residents and $162.50 for non-residents. At the Big Wave Beginners’ Surf Camp, little surfers starting at age 6 will learn the basics from professional surf instructor Brian Stoehr and his staff. The one-day sessions will be held at the beach on 36th St. in Ocean City from 8:30-10 a.m. on July 14 and 28 and Aug. 4 and 18. q

New ‘timeless tennis’ plays on smaller platform courts

6 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 5

They will also be offered from 5:30-7 p.m. on July 21 and Aug. 11. The cost per session is $65 for Ocean Pines residents and $81.25 for non-residents. Surf boards will be provided. Stoehr will also teach a three-day Beach Body Board Camp July 11-13 and then again on July 25-27 and Aug. 8-10 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the 36th St. beach. Kids ages 7-15 will learn water safety tips and how to read the waves. Participants must provide their own body boards and be able to swim. The cost is $95 for Ocean Pines residents and $118.75 for non-residents. Those interested in calmer waters can join K-Coast Surf Shop and Walk on Water SUP Co. for Stand-Up Paddleboarding Camp at the Swim & Racquet Club beach, located at 10 Seabreeze Road in Ocean Pines. Two-day camps will be held July 11 and 13, July 25 and 27 and Aug. 8 and 10 from 9-11 a.m. for ages 7-14. The cost is $85 per person, and stand-up paddleboards and personal

flotation devices will be provided. The month will wrap up with the Summer Slam Basketball Clinic at the Ocean Pines Community Center. The clinic will be held July 24-27 and Aug. 21-24 from 5:15-6:45 p.m. for grades 1-3 and 7-8:30 p.m. for grades 4-6. This beginner-level four-day clinic for those just learning the sport of basketball is $65 for Ocean Pines residents and $81.25 for non-residents.

Hill begins renovations of Administration building

While the plan had been to complete the renovations of the Country Club’s second floor this summer before moving ahead with a renovation of the Administration building, including an expansion of the police department, it turns out that Acting General Manager Brett Hill has started in at the Administration building much sooner than the original plan had called for. Delays in obtaining renovation permits for the Country Club’s second floor have freed up the Public Works Department.

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Hill said he isn’t concerned that a new board that will be organizing next month will put a stop to these administration building renovations, but he cautioned that “anything’s possible. But it wouldn’t be logical at this point.” A renovation well under way will make all the more difficult for a new board to stop it should it be so inclined. A newly reorganized board last August halted a number of projects then under way at the Manklin Meadows Recreation Complex. But it seems unlikely with respect to the Administration building, as all the candidates running for the board this summer have expressed varying degrees of support for the renovation, the primary purpose of which is to add operating space for the OPPD and to improve safety inside the building He said some of the OPA departments are already being shifted around in the building. “It will be a gradual transition,” he summarized. Limited demolition in the administration building was supposed to begin the first of July.

Election panel modifies format for candidate forum

The Elections Committee has modified the format of the second Ocean Pines candidates’ forum, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 22, at 10 a.m. at the Assateague Room in the Ocean Pines Community Center, to provide more interaction among the Board of Directors candidates. Unlike the first forum this election season, the four candidates -- Colette Horn, Nicole Schafer Crosariol, Douglas Parks and Martin Clarke -- will submit questions they would like to ask candidates to discuss. Candidates will have two minutes to answer each question. After all four candidates have given their two-minute response, each candidate will be given one minute for a rebuttal/comment. This is a modification from forum that took place on June 21. The format for the question-and-answer session will be similar to previous forums in that the candidates will be asked questions To Page 9

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in a rotating order. Each candidate will also have an opportunity for a three-minute opening statement and a three-minute closing statement. The Elections Committee is encouraging members of the Association to also submit questions for the second Candidates’ Forum, where candidates running for the Board of Directors are invited to express their positions on Ocean Pines issues. Questions, 75 words or less, can be submitted in a number of ways: members can post their question/s to the Real OP Forum or by calling the Elections Committee Telephone Hotline at 410-208-3989 or sending questions by email to Elections Committee Chair Steve Tuttle at sltuttle08@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting questions is Friday, July 21. Ballots were scheduled to be mailed on July 11 and are due on Aug. 10. Votes will be counted on Aug. 11. The two winners, each serving a three-year term, will be announced

during the annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. at the Assateague Room in the Ocean Pines Community Center.

Walking trail cleared, awaiting stone dust

The walking trail that leads through the woods in back of the Ocean Pines library, follows along Route 90 and connects up with Ocean Parkway near the Route 90 underpass has been cleared of debris and other impedimdents to walking or biking, Acting General Manager Brett Hill disclosed during the June 23 Board of Directors meeting. He said that the next step is the application of new stone dust to the trail, after which it would become “fully available” to residents. He expected that to be completed the last week of June. The trail to which he was referring is actually what remains of a former horse-back riding trail that dates back to Ocean Pines early years. The vacant two-acre parcel in front of the post office and library was once the home of an equestrian center bequeathed to the Ocean

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Pines Association by Boise Cascade Home and Land Corporation, Ocean Pines’ early developer. Eventually the OPA decided to get out of the horse stabling busi-

tion of the second floor. Acting General Manager Brett Hill expects permits to be in hand by mid-July with construction of the fully-gutted second floor space.

ness, and the equestrian center was torn down.

He said the golf course is an “excellent condition” thanks to the good work of course superintendent Andre Jordan and his crew. He said that a new irrigation system has been installed in the redesigned Huntington Park, “sprigging” is unTo Page 11

Country Club renovation awaiting county permits As of the June 23 board meeting, the OPA is still awaiting the receipt of county permits to begin renova-

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The Ocean Pines Ladies’ Golf Association recently donated over $500 to the Ocean Pines Golf Club. The money will be used to purchase new junior golf clubs for use with programs at the course. The donations were given by Ocean Pines Ladies’ Golf Association members in memory of fellow member Elinor Lees, who recently passed away. Lees was a long-time member of the Ocean Pines Ladies’ Golf Association as well as a competitive player on the league’s traveling team. Shown are Carolyn Neal (left) and Olga Novy (right) presenting a donation check to Ocean Pines Golf Club PGA Director of Golf John Malinowski.

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OCEAN PINES From Page 9 der way, and that the field will be ready for soccer and similar sports in the fall. Meanwhile, he said that the Parks and Recreation Department has been hosting “record participation” in the popular summer camps for kids.

Stevens asks for OPA aid in Parke drainage issue

On behalf of the Parke property owners association, Director Dave Stevens brought to the OPA board at its June 23 monthly meeting an issue with poor drainage on a forested wetland area adjacent to the Parke and the Manklin Station commercial area. The parcel at issue is owned by the OPA, Stevens said. Making clear that the Parke board is not asking for any OPA financial contribution, Stevens asked for OPA participation in a meeting to discuss the issue with Worcester County and Parke representatives. “I’m looking for direction (from the board) to be part of the discussion,” Stevens said, “or we could respectfully decline to participate.” Acting General Manager Brett Hill asked whether the matter could be put off until after the election of a new board this August. Stevens referred the question to Jim Trummel, a Parke representative, who said as long as there was some evidence of the OPA having interest “to go forward” with a meeting to discuss the matter, that should suffice for the time being. OPA President Tom Herrick reminded his colleagues that residents of Section 3 have been waiting for years for solutions to their drainage issues and that “maybe we should be looking at the entire issue” of drainage throughout Ocean Pines. Trummel repeated that the Parke was not looking for OPA funding of a solution but rather county funding. Director Cheryl Jacobs the jumped in to say there “no reason not to participate” and that the OPA’s environmental and natural resources committee could be involved. Stevens said he agreed and said he would be willing to see who might be interested to serve on a working group.

OPA close to fixing IT network issues

Acting General Brett Hill reported on some major problems with the OPA’s information technolo-

gy network, including its servers, during his June 1 town meeting. He updated the Board of Directors on progress in fixing the problems in remarks delivered in the General Manager’s segment of the June 23 monthly meeting. Bottom line, the repairs and upgrade “are about 95 per cent complete,” he said, adding that “security and data management upgrades are continuing, and point of sale functionality is improving . Pre-authorization of credit cards and gift card processing are expect-

ed back on line “within a couple of weeks,” he said.

Hill open to shifting winter operations to Country Club

Acting General Manager Brett said recently that he’s open to shifting food and beverage operations to the Country Club from the Cove at Mumford’s (the Yacht Club) this winter when second floor renovations to what he calls the “Golf Club” are completed. The idea was recently suggested by OPA Director Dave Stevens, and

has long been pushed by former Director Marty Clarke, who is running for the board in this summer’s election. Hill said he agrees that operating at the Country Club, especially with its zoned heating system that makes it possible to adjust temperatures room by room, should be less expensive than operating the Yacht Club. He said one of his concerns would be to keep a core management team in place over the winter months, something that Clarke doesn’t necq

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July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11

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OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 11 essarily agree with. Hill, like OPA President Tom Herrick, said that perhaps the Yacht Club could be opened one night a week, a Friday or Saturday, for some sort of “big band” event that would draw a large number of people.

Carmine helping out OPA with accounting challenges

Long-time Ocean Pines Association Controller Art Carmine, who retired from the job last winter but who has been helping out with the transition ever since, has been called to double duty with the recent resignation of Director of Finance Mary Bosack. Bosack was almost immediately replaced with former Budget and Finance Advisory Committee chair John Viola. Carmine, who had helped with the transition to Busack’s leadership, was then asked by Acting General Manager Brett Hill to assist in the transition to Viola. He agreed.

According to Hill, Carmine has been involved in the preparation of monthly financial statements and the annual audit of the previous year’s financial statements, normally completed in late July or early August in time for the annual meeting of the association in August.

Junior lifeguard program returns

Future lifeguards are invited to join Ocean Pines Aquatics for skill-building, swimming and fun at the community’s popular junior lifeguard program this summer. Participants ages 7 and up will learn lifeguard skills, basic CPR, first aid and more at the three-day sessions. Returning Ocean Pines junior lifeguards will serve as junior crew chiefs and will learn additional skills. The program will be offered July 18-20, Aug. 1-3 and Aug. 15-17. On Tuesdays and Thursdays of each session, class will be held from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Sports Core Pool, located on Cathell Road.

12 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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OCEAN PINES OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 12 On Wednesdays, program participants will assist with Family Fun Night at the Oasis Pool, located at 1 Mumford’s Landing Road in Ocean Pines, from 5:30-8 p.m. Those who have already served as junior lifeguards and junior crew chiefs are encouraged to join the junior lifeguard officer program. Officers will practice skills similar to those of official Red Cross lifeguards, including the use of rescue mannequins, full backboard extraction with head stabilization, passive victim and more. The junior lifeguard officer program will be offered concurrently with the junior lifeguard program during the July 4-6 and Aug. 1-3 sessions only. The fee per session is $75 per person, which includes a t-shirt, whistle and first aid kit. Dinner, drinks and snacks will be provided on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Registration for these programs, which are open to the public, will be taken at the Sports Core Pool only, during regular hours.

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Ocean Pines to host Junior golf tourney

Ocean Pines Golf Club will host its annual Junior Golf Tournament for boys and girls ages 5-18 on Wednesday, July 19 beginning at noon. The event is open to the public.

Learning to fish

The Ocean Pines Anglers Club hosted its annual Teach A Kid To Fish event on Saturday, June 24, for an enthusiastic group of young aspiring anglers who had the opportunity to learn about everything from fish identification to knot tying, casting, and tackle selection. The Department Of Natural Resources was on hand to discuss fishing regulations as well as hand out a few goodies to the kids. The Anglers Club provided bait so the young anglers could try out their newly acquired skills in the South Pond which had been stocked by DNR with 500 bluegills a couple of days before to provide some good fishing for the group. A drawing was held for a rod and reel. All was free to the kids. The club’s next free event will be a kids fishing contest July 22. Pictured are the winners of the rods and reels, Alex Schachter and Angel Akantara.

Players will be grouped according to age and/or ability. Male and female divisions will also be created if sufficient registrations are received. All skill levels are welcome. Ages 5-8 will play three holes, ages 9-11 will play six holes, ages 12-13 will play nine holes and ages 14-18 will play 18 holes. The cost to participate is $15 for three, six or nine holes and $25 for 18 holes. The entry fee includes greens fees, snacks and prizes. Registration may be completed online at OceanPinesGolf.org or in person at Ocean Pines Golf Club. The deadline for registration is Friday, July 14.

Golf Members’ Council awards scholarships

The membership of Ocean Pines Golf Club and the Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council recently awarded scholarships to area high school seniors in support of their college plans for the 2017-18 school year. A $2,100 scholarship was pre-

sented to Ocean Pines resident Hailey Brown. Brown, an employee of Ocean Pines Golf Club, who has worked in the golf shop and at the bag drop. Matthew Kristick, also an Ocean Pines resident and Stephen Decatur golf team member, received a $700 scholarship.

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anyone holding the photo ID cards to after the initial activation. The cost covwith the additional $25 in revenue to be use them at any of Ocean Pines’ five ers new weekly passes to be distributed allocated the PROGRESS Aquatics Department. to landlords or their rental agents with 14 Ocean to Pines July 2017 swimming pools. The parking pass fee for those with othThe photo ID option is designed to every new batch of weekly tenants. ByerTOM kindsSTAUSS of memberships would increase prevent the passes being used by those The landlord/rental pool passes will Publisher from $75 to $100. other than family members, an unin- be good at the Beach Club pool and any In he a signifi from prior tended consequence which has been of the OPA’s four mainland pools, an updayscant of change an adults-only summers, new Beach pool Club parking/ Oasistheswimming at the exploited by some to avoid paying fees grade from the Beach Club-only usage pool passes contain Ocean will Pines Yachtphoto ClubIDs mayof that otherwise would be required to for the legacy bundled package. OPA members. park in at the Beach Club and use the officials hope the expanded availability behousehold numbered. The four pool passes that previously pool there. will offset some of the sting from what, Ocean Pines Association Presiwere bundled with the parking passes Property owners who as landlords for many, will be a steep increase in fees. dent Tom Herrick recently confi rmed have been eliminated, with the parking rent out their homes by the week during or rental agents who are Herrick says board may Landlords be forced to decide that JeremyIDs Tucker, the OPA’s legal the summer, pass/photo to be bundled as a family or rental agents represent- Ocean Pines property owners, some of counsel from the Bethesda, Md., law parking/pool membership in the Beach ing owners, will be unable to recycle whom may be unwilling unable to whether the OPA will comply with federal or law firm LerchtoEarly, has been look- these photo ID passes to new renters as purchase the new seasonal package for Cluboflimited those living in a household. ing into whether the OPA can legal- he theythought come in for the week.recommenda- $600 $1000, always buy discount ally or and as acan community,” he said. Tucker’s Each family memberthe willOasis be given new renters’ for landlords cards that for their clients, ly continue to operate poola tionA to He added “butweekly I’m only one the Boardpackage of Directors might coupon card with a photo ID. or their rental agents has been designed still priced at $35 for adults and asswipe primarily adults only. a for mabe, but he seemed to suggest that board member, and it takes$25 As an alternative to the photo IDs for to accommodate renters in a way that children. The two exceptions to adults-only finding a loophole to allow continued jority” to change policy. He declined

usage are family hours on Mondays operation of the pool as adults-only from 5 p.m. to closing and a Wednes- would not be an easy task. day family fun night that closes the “He’s asking for more time to reCRS, Associate Broker pool at 5 p.m. for an organized pool search,” Herrick said, and “of course The Real Estate Market Is On The Move ... and You Can Be Too! party called “Family Fun Night” we want to give him all the time he jointly run by the OPA Recreation Office: 410-641-5000 Cellcome 410-430-5743 needs• to to a proper concluand Aquatics departments. Fax: 410-641-1633sion.” In late June, Herrick said that But Herrick said if it is deterTucker had asked for additional in- mined that the OPA cannot legally marlene@marleneott.com formation about operations at the continue with the adults-only pool, Yacht Club to help him determine he would be inclined to vote to open whether there would be some way up the Oasis pool seven days a week to operate the Yacht Club adults 11049 as Racetrack Road, Ocean MD 21811 toPines, family members of all ages. only legally under the federal Fair7 Brookside “I spent career in law enforceRoad.my • $365,000 Housing Act. SPOILment, Yourself!and One look elegantcomplying updates and soatI the think with space located the 4th hole of the OceanindividuPines Herrick declined to predict whatamazing the law is on important, both

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to predict what a board majority ming pool first opened to members might decide in the face of a clear in the 1970s, officers of the Ocean legal opinion from the association’s Pines Association quietly made it an adults-only amenity, only open attorney. In response to a suggestion that to those 18 and older. The decision the OPA could decide to operate the to do so was never made in a public pool as a membership-only amenity, meeting, with a recorded vote. The Herrick said that would be a prob- decision was for the most part aclem under a 503(C)(4) corporation cepted by the membership and has remained policy ever since. under the federal Internal Revenue Clinical Director & Certiﬁed Hand Therapist One of the first aquatics directors code that establishes rules for how in Ocean Pines, Virginia Reister, such organizations operate. Herrick said such Specializing in: “community and years later the first chair of the welfare” organizations must have OPA’s Aquatics Advisory CommittheirHand facilities open therapy (CHT)to the public to tee, recalls wondering whether that maintain their tax exempt status,

William Hamilton, Jr., DPT, CHT

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the non-resident rate (paid by those other than property owners and residents PINES of Ocean Pines) willOCEAN be increased $1, from $9 to $10 for adults and from $7 to OPA under discovered to its dismay $8as forthe children 12. several years ago owner/long in rulings term by the The daily property th U.S.rate Taxremains Court unchanged and the 4at District renter $8 for U.S.and Court of children. Appeals in Richmond, adults $6 for Hill also said there’s a carve-out exVa. ception forOPA time-share units at the Bor- inThe lost that case, which derlinks Condominiums, whose owners volved taxation of business income and owner agents able to purunrelated to itswill corebefunction at the chase the new seasonal parking/pool then private Ocean Pines Beach passes at 50 percent of the $600 and Club. Since rate thatinruling came down, $1000 seasonal effect elsewhere. been the careful to make Hethe saidOPA thathas imposing full rate on sure its Beach Club the Borderlinks would be parking too much passes of a andfor theowners Beachand Club restaurants are shock their clients. The Borderlinks rate to works to $40 available and open theout public. To Pageswim16 When the Yacht Club

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July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

Blessing of the fleet

Adults-only policy

On June 4, the Ocean City Power Squadron conducted its annual Blessing of the Fleet at the Ocean Pines Marina. The event was attended by OC Power Squadron members and guests. The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony has been passed down through generations of sailors, fishermen, merchant mariners and navies around the world. Senior Pastor Boyd Etter, right, of the Community Church at Ocean Pines, provided the blessing this year. Also pictured are Squadron members Linda Hess, Bonnie Curro, John Hess, Tony Curro and Fred Stiehl.

cerned enough about the violation to change it. It appears that the concern is real. Action to change the adults-only policy could also happen if someone sues or complains to an agency such as the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Filing a complaint with the MCCR is relatively easy and free, according to a former OPA Director, Chris Llinas, who said the commission staff is obligated by law to investigate any complaint made by a Maryland resident.

A visit to the commission Web site confirms that a complaint can be posted on line. Several months ago, the Ocean Pines Progress in an editorial questioned the legality of an adults-only swimming venue in the aftermath of an organized community backlash over a proposal by Acting General Manager Brett Hill to shift the popular Wednesday night family fun events – open to all ages – to Sundays. The proposal also called for the adults-only swimming at the

Swim and Racquet Club on Sunday afternoon until closing, coupled with the sale of beer and wine at that venue. The Progress editorial suggested that by “selfishly protecting” the interests of one group of Ocean Pines property owners, the opponents of Hill’s proposed changes were potentially opening up the possibility that the adults-only policy of the Yacht Club pool could come crashing down upon them. q

From Page 14 decision back then was fair to all association members, many with children or grandchildren who might have enjoyed using it and whose dollars contributed to its construction. The pool was replaced about five years ago, from funds raised from all property owners, including those with family members under 18. The rationale in the 1970s for making it an adults-only pool, and keeping it that way these many decades later, is that with four other pools in Ocean Pines, there are plenty of other swimming venues for families with children. That rationale was reflected in a name change at the Yacht Club this past year to Oasis, as in an amenity free of the laughter, squabbling, and energy of those not yet 18. But whether that rationale holds up to scrutiny under federal anti-discrimination law is debatable, or perhaps not. It could be a relatively open and shut case that adults-only usage is prohibited under federal law, with the only real question being whether anyone on the OPA board is con-

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16 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

Stevens agrees to stay on as chair of CIP working group Director concedes completed plan won’t be in place by his ‘retirement’ in August By TOM STAUSS Publisher cknowledging for the first time that a new capital improvement plan for the Ocean Pines Association won’t be complete by the time he retires from the Board of Directors next month, Dave Stevens said recently that he has agreed to stay on as head of a working group that has been toiling away on that elusive goal since for quite some time. While he said that he expects the working group will make good progress on the elements of devising a new CIP at a meeting scheduled this month, Stevens said a draft of the new CIP won’t be complete by August. But he said he believes it will be done before the OPA administration begins to develop a new budget for 2018-19 later this fall. Stevens said that OPA President Tom Herrick and Acting General

Adults-only policy From Page 15 More recently, OPA Assistant Treasurer Gene Ringsdorf, a longtime resident of Ocean Pines, weighed in on the matter on oceanpinesforum.com. He wrote, in a reply to a question posted on the forum, that “adult only restrictions for amenities within a 503C4-designated HOA, whose purpose is to further and promote the community welfare of property owners, may be in violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act provision barring discrimination based on familial status.” Back in the 1970s, when the Yacht Club pool opened, the Federal Fair Housing Act enacted in 1968 barred discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Familial status or age was not part of the law at the time. But that changed in 1988, when the law was amended to prohibit discrimination based on familial status and disability. Familial status generally is thought to pertain to the age of family members. In a recent commentary written by forum owner and moderator Joe Reynolds, he cited the opinion of Washington Post housing and legal columnist Benny L. Kass, who flat-

Manager Brett Hill have both indicated that they would like Stevens to stay on to complete the job, even when he’s no longer a member of the board. Stevens told the Progress he was inclined to accept the invitation, provided the working group continues to make good progress on the task and stays focused. In addition to Stevens, the working group includes Herrick, Marty Clarke (a former director who is competing for a new term on the board this summer), OPA Treasurer Pat Supik, OPA Director of Finance John Viola, and contractor Ted Moroney. The OPA’s facilities manager, Kevin Layfield, also is considered a working member, if not officially appointed. A meeting of the working group in June that Stevens had hoped to convene didn’t happen. It is now scheduled for July 11,

when the status of the effort to devise a new CIP should become clearer. Stevens has been working on coming up with a list of capital projects that can be anticipated over the next five to ten years, while he has said that Supik has been making progress in bringing up-to-date last year’s reserve study by DMA Consulting. “With what we’ve already done (board-approved renovations) or will be doing soon, there’s not a whole left to do,” Stevens said. “There’s the buildings around the Country club (golf cart barn, golf maintenance), maybe the North Gate bridge. I can’t think of a lot of big items that need doing.” Once last year’s reserve study is scrubbed of outdated or already completed projects, Stevens said his to-do list can be turned over to DMA, who then can produce an updated report that will constitute a

ly said that adults-only pools, with certain exceptions, are illegal under the 1988 Fair Housing Act amendment. One exception could be a swimming pool in a 55-plus community such as the Parke in Ocean Pines. Kass is quoted by Reynolds as saying that an association may obtain an exemption if its membership is at least 80 percent of the units occupied by over-55 adults, and the association’s policies are published to confirm that it qualifies for the exemption.”

Despite what appears to be a rather explicit prohibition in the law against adults-only swimming pools, and even adult swim set-asides, at least according to Kass, Reynolds said that most of the responses to Ringsdorf ’s thread and his commentary advocated a continuation of the adults-only policy. The argument continues to be that there are four other pools in Ocean Pines that are open to OPA members of all ages. Advocates have expressed safety concerns for elderly residents interacting with kids.

new and improved capital improvement plan, perhaps with an addendum that lists major requirements going forward. “We would have to write that,” Stevens said of his group. Recently, he said that he expected an updated reserve study would be completed by the time he retires from the board in August. While he no longer thinks that’s possible, he said he remains optimistic that it will be completed well before the end of this calendar year. “There may be some judgment calls (on what should appear in an updated CIP),” he said. The point of updating the reserve study and coming up with a CIP is to help the board decide how much will be needed in annual lot assessments to fund the OPA’s replacement reserves. Stevens said in his opinion it will be less than boards of directors in previous years have collected. Clarke has said the same thing, and hopes to be elected to the board this summer to be in a position to advocate for that objective. He previously has said that projects that could be added to the CIP include drainage improvements on holes eight and nine of the Ocean Pines golf course. At an April board meeting, there was also renewed interest expressed in renovating or replacing the landmark North Gate bridge when the state decides to add a round-about traffic circle to facilitate in and out access to Ocean Pines and the nearby medical complex.

Crafters on TV

Members of the Pine’eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines recently attended a taping of the DelmarvaLife show at the studios of WBOC TV. Sharon Puser, President, was interviewed and shared a little history of the club, their donations to the community, and the Aug. 5 Artisan and Craft Fair sponsored by the Craft Club. Lois Schultz, chairperson for the Craft Fair, also attended and WBOC shared pictures of the craft shop in White Horse Park and the application for vendors for the August fair on their website. Spaces for the fair are still available, both inside the Ocean Pines Community Center and outdoors in White Horse Park. Vendors exhibiting only original work will be accepted. Pictured in the studio are Puser, Schultz, Jackie Choate, and Barbara Stilwell.

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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18 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association has asked for and received a 60-day hearing extension in its quest to obtain a beer and wine license for the Swim and Racquet Club pool. With a hearing before the county’s Liquor Licensing board initially scheduled in May, the OPA requested a 30-day delay in the hearing until the board’s June meeting, the third week of the month. But OPA Acting General Manager Brett Hill said the OPA “administratively” requested a 60-day delay from the June meeting, which means that the OPA’s application to sell beer and wine at the Swim and Racquet Club facility won’t be heard until at least the licensing board’s August meeting, scheduled for the third week of the month. Because of the timing, it seems unlikely that the OPA would be able to gear up for beer and wine sales at the amenity this summer, assuming that it follows through with the application and a license is granted after a hearing. Hill declined to confirm or deny that the 60-day extension is related to research that the OPA attorney is conducting on whether the Yacht Club’s Oasis Pool can be operated as an adults-only venue. OPA President Tom Herrick said the decision to delay a request for a hearing on the Swim and Racquet Club license request was related to the ongoing research by the OPA’s attorney, Jeremy Tucker, on whether the operation of the Yacht Club Oasis pool as an adults-only venue complies with the federal Fair Housing Act as amended in 1988, when familial status and disability

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

OPA asks for another hearing date extension for a beer and wine license at Swim and Racquet Club Herrick says delay is related to ongoing research by OPA attorney of legality of adults-only policy at the Yacht Club ‘Oasis’ pool was added to the list of proscribed areas of discrimination. Hill told the Progress in early July that if a decision is made to open up the Yacht Club’s Oasis pool to all ages, it could hurt the chances of a beer and wine license at Swim and Racquet. The licensing board might be unwilling to grant a license to a pool with the same use policies in effect as another pool relatively close by, he said. Hill has made no indication that he’s ready to abandon the idea of selling beer and wine at the Swim and Racquet Club, even if it realistically can’t happen until the summer of 2018. The OPA’s application for a county beer and wine license for the amenity was postponed from the licensing board’s May meeting because of an error in the facility’s classification. He initially said he was still planning to proceed with the request at the licensing board’s June meeting, with a change in the request from a Class C commercial license to a Class B private club license, identical to the one in force at the OPA’s Beach Club in Ocean City.

Hill said that if the request for a Class B beer and wine license is approved by the licensing board, he would bring the issue of beer and wine sales at Swim and Racquet to the board for discussion. Even if no decision is forthcoming to sell beer and wine at the amenity this summer, as a general practice, there may be specific occasions, such as private parties or special events, when such sales could occur, he said. The aquatics committee in its mid-May meeting opted to oppose the sales, largely because the original Sunday adults-only set-aside has been abandoned. But Committee chair Kathy Grimes, a former professional pool manager in Ocean City, said during the committee’s May meeting that alcohol and kids don’t mix well and that she didn’t like the idea of beer and wine sales there “for safety reasons.” She said that for private parties or special occasions, exceptions could be made. Committee members noted that the Swim and Racquet Club pool, with the addition of a splash pad for toddlers two years ago, is very family oriented. Hill and Herrick have said that

the Swim and Racquet Club pool, which is the only outdoor pool in Ocean Pines with a deep end, might actually be more suited as an adults-only pool in Ocean Pines than the Yacht Club’s Oasis pool, which has had that designation since the 1970s. But neither seem prepared to change the character of either pool this summer, knowing full well what a pitched battle that would trigger among those who fervently hold to the proposition that the Oasis pool should remain adults-only, except for Wednesday family fun night and family swimming on late Monday afternoons. Swapping the roles for these two pools has not been addressed by the Board of Directors in open session. Hill recently told the Progress in a private conversation that the zero stepped entry at the Yacht Club’s Oasis pool is ideal for younger children, as proven at popular Family Fun Night events, while the shallow end at the Swim and Racquet Club is still too deep for them. “My kids are at an age where they really can’t enjoy Swim and Racquet,” he said, “so we don’t go there.” He also said he wasn’t a fan of the splash pad there, suggesting that a new baby pool should be “added back” to the amenity next year. Advocates for adults-only pool usage at the Yacht Club argue that the stepped entry there is ideal for less mobile senior citizens, while the portable steps at Swim and Racquet are difficult for older people to navigate. Neither Herrick nor Hill have presented the possibility of swapping the roles of these pools to the aquatics committee for a discussion and recommendation.

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Seafood • Steak • Pasta Dine In or Carry Out Mon-WedF F Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner $3AO y n 2 Breakfast Served All Day

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APPETIZERS

WINGS Hot, Mild, BBQ or Naked with blue cheese or ranch dressing 10 PIECE $8.02 ~ 20 PIECE $14.86 FRIED SEAFOOD MIX 1 pc. fish chip, clam strips, 3 butterfly shrimp with cocktail sauce $8.25 APPETIZER COMBO 3 mozzarella sticks, 3 jalapeno poppers & 3 chicken tenders with marinara sauce $8.25 CHICKEN TENDERS (5) $6.13 (10) $11.79 with honey mustard or BBQ sauce MOZZARELLA STICKS (6) with side marinara sauce $6.13 JALAPENO POPPERS (6) with side marinara sauce $6.13 ONION RINGS $4.95 CHEESE QUESADILLA with sour cream $5.90 STEAK FRIES French fries, steak, cheddar cheese sauce & pizza cheese $7.08 MEGA FRIES French fries, bacon, cheddar cheese sauce & pizza cheese $7.08 CHEESE FRIES French fries with cheddar cheese sauce $4.01 FRENCH FRIES SM $2.12, LRG $2.83, with GRAVY SM $2.59, LRG $3.30 GARLIC BREAD with side marinara sauce $1.89 6 PC. BUTTERFLY SHRIMP with cocktail sauce $6.13 POPCORN SHRIMP with cocktail sauce $6.13 CLAM STRIPS with cocktail sauce $6.13 STEAMED SHRIMP ½ LB. $7.78, 1 LB. $12.97 HOMEMADE SOUP $3.77

FRESH SALADS

GREEK SALAD Romaine, feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers & egg $8.96 PHILLY STEAK Iceberg, croutons, tomato, gr. peppers, cucumber, onions, mushroom, egg & cheese blend $9.43 GRILLED OR CRISPY OR BLACKENED OR BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, egg, green peppers & cheese blend $8.96 CHEF SALAD Turkey, ham, swiss cheese, iceberg, green peppers, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, egg, gr. peppers & cheese blend $8.96 CAESAR SALAD Romaine, croutons, cheese blend & tomato served with garlic bread $6.84 ~ Add grilled or crispy chicken $8.96 • Add grilled shrimp $9.91 COBB SALAD Romaine, tomato, pecan, onions, bacon, egg & bleu cheese $7.78 Add grilled or crispy chicken $9.91 ~ Add grilled shrimp $10.85 SPINACH SALAD Spinach, mushroom, pecan, onions & feta cheese $7.55 Add grilled or crispy chicken $9.67 Add grilled shrimp $10.62 TUNA SALAD OVER SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers, egg & cheese blend $8.96 CHICKEN SALAD OVER SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers, egg & cheese blend $8.49 GARDEN SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers, egg & cheese blend $6.84 TOSSED SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, green peppers & onions $3.77

WRAPS ~ $8.49 ~ Served with fries or soup

CHEESE STEAK Steak, American cheese lettuce, tomato, mayo CHICKEN CHEESE STEAK Grilled chicken yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo CHICKEN CAESAR Grilled chicken, pizza cheese, romaine lettuce & Caesar dressing BUFFALO CHICKEN Grilled chicken, hot sauce & ranch BBQ CHICKEN Grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, BBQ sauce CRISPY CHICKEN Breaded chicken, lettuce, tomato & honey mustard dressing SOUTH GATE Grilled chicken, salsa, lettuce FLORENTINE Grilled chicken, spinach, mushroom & feta ITALIAN Ham, capicola, genoa salami, lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone cheese & Italian dressing BLT Bacon, lettuce, tomato & mayo CHICKEN SALAD Chicken salad, lettuce, tomato & mayo TUNA SALAD Tuna salad, lettuce, tomato & mayo SHRIMP SALAD Lettuce & tomato

MELTS ~ $8.96 ~ Served with Fries of Soup

CRAB MELT Fried crab cakes, tomato & provolone cheese on English muffin REUBEN MELT Corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing & Swiss cheese on grilled rye TUNA MELT Tuna salad, tomato & Swiss on grilled rye CHICKEN CORDON BLEU Grilled chicken breast, ham & swiss on a hamburger roll ROAST BEEF MELT Roast beef, cole slaw, thousand island & Swiss cheese on grilled rye TURKEY MELT Turkey, cole slaw, thousand island & Swiss cheese on grilled rye PATTY MELT Hamburger, mushroom, onion & Swiss cheese on grilled rye CRAB CAKE SANDWICH (FRIED) Crab cake, lettuce,tomato on hamburger roll FRENCH DIP Tender roast beef on garlic bread with Swiss cheese & side cup of au jus

COLD SUBS ~ $8.25 ~ Served with Fries or Soup

ROAST BEEF Roast beef, lettuce, tomato & mayo HAM & CHEESE Ham, American cheese, tomato, mayo CHEF’S COLD CUT Ham, turkey, yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo DELI LAND CUT Roast beef, turkey, lettuce, tomato, mayo & provolone TURKEY SUB Turkey, lettuce, tomato & mayo ITALIAN COLD CUT Ham, capicola, genoa salami, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato & onion CHICKEN SALAD lettuce & tomato TUNA SALAD lettuce & tomato SHRIMP SALAD lettuce & tomato VEGGIE SUB Lettuce, tomato, onions, sweet peppers, olives & Swiss cheese

HAND-CRAFTED ½ POUND FRESH BURGERS ~ Served with Fries or Soup

HAMBURGER Lettuce & tomato $6.60 CHEESEBURGER Yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato $7.08 BACON CHEESEBURGER Bacon, yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato $8.25 DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER Yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato $8.96 ITALIAN BURGER Marinara sauce & provolone cheese $8.25 GARDEN BURGER Lettuce & burger (no bun) $6.60

Abi’s DINER

DELUXE CHEESEBURGER Mushrooms, sweet peppers, onion & provolone cheese $7.55 REUBEN BURGER Sauerkraut, Russian dressing & Swiss cheese $7.78 GRILLED OR CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH Lettuce, tomato & mayo on a hamburger roll $7.31

CLUBS ~ $8.96 ~ Includes Soup or Fries

Clubs made with lettuce, tomato, mayo & bacon on three pieces of toast

CHEF’S CLUB Turkey, ham & yellow American cheese CHEESEBURGER CLUB • GRILLED CHICKEN CLUB • CHEESE STEAK CLUB TURKEY CLUB • ROAST BEEF CLUB • HAM & SWISS CLUB DELI LAND CLUB Roast beef, turkey & provolone THREE MEAT CLUB Roast beef, turkey, ham CHICKEN SALAD CLUB • TUNA SALAD CLUB

BASKETS ~ $9.67 ~ All baskets served with French fries and one side

FRIED CHICKEN BASKET breast, thigh, wing and leg CLAM STRIP BASKET • FRIED SHRIMP BASKET • CHICKEN TENDER BASKET • BUTTERFLY SHRIMP BASKET • FISH & CHIP BASKET (Pollock)

HOT SUBS~ $8.49

CHEESE STEAK Steak and yellow American cheese CHICKEN CHEESE STEAK Grilled chicken, American CHEESEBURGER SUB Burger & yellow American cheese ITALIAN SAUSAGE Hot Italian sausage, green pepper, onions, marinara sauce & pizza cheese MEATBALL PARMESAN Meatball, marinara & pizza cheese CHICKEN PARMESAN Breaded chicken, marinara sauce & pizza cheese EGGPLANT PARMESAN Breaded eggplant, marinara sauce & pizza cheese STEAK PARMESAN Steak, marinara sauce & pizza cheese SHRIMP PARMESAN Breaded butterfly shrimp, marinara sauce & pizza cheese CRISPY CHICKEN Breaded chicken, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato FRIED FLOUNDER Fried flounder lettuce & tomato GYRO (BEEF OR CHICKEN) With lettuce, tomato, onions & homemade tzatziki sauce ABI’S CHEESE STEAK Steak, mushrooms, fried onion, sweet peppers & yellow American cheese $8.96 ABI’S CHICKEN CHEESE Grilled chicken, mushrooms, fried onions, sweet peppers & American cheese $8.96

HOT OR COLD SANDWICHES ~ Served with Fries or Soup

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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10514 Racetrack Road,Suite H Ocean Pines

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STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST Stuffed with homemade crab stuffing & covered in alfredo sauce $14.86 CHICKEN FLORENTINE Stuffed with spinach and feta cheese and covered in alfredo sauce $12.97 PRIME RIB 8 oz. cooked to serve $12.97 NY STRIP STEAK 8 oz. cooked to serve $12.97 COUNTRY FRIED STEAK Served with white gravy $12.97 HAMBURGER STEAK 12 oz. w/fried onions & gravy $12.50 ABI’S SOUTH STEAK 12 oz. served with fried onion, green pepper, cheddar cheese & BBQ sauce $12.97 STUFFED PORK CHOPS Stuffed with bread stuffing and covered with gravy $12.97 PORK CHOPS (FRIED OR BOILED) Covered with gravy $11.79 VEAL CUTLETS (FRIED) covered with gravy $11.79 ABI’S CHICKEN BREAST Melted 3 cheese (American, provolone, Swiss) and covered with gravy $11.31 LIVER & ONIONS with gravy $11.31 HOT ROAST BEEF PLATTER with gravy $11.31 HOT ROAST TURKEY PLATTER with gravy $11.31 GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST over rice with 1 side $11.31

BREAKFAST

All egg platters come with home fries and toast

1 EGG $4.01 ~ with your choice of breakfast meat $6.13 2 EGGS $4.72 ~ with your choice of breakfast meat $6.84 3 EGGS $5.42 ~ with your choice of breakfast meat $7.55 STEAK & EGG 8 OZ. NY STRIP $11.79 COUNTRY BENEDICT 2 poached eggs, sausage on English muffin topped with country gravy $8.49 CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF over toast or biscuit $7.78 SAUSAGE GRAVY over toast or biscuit $7.78

BREAKFAST SANDWICHES

Made with 2 fried eggs and choice of bread or toast, wheat, white, rye. Bagel add $1.00

Egg & Cheese $2.83 • Sausage, Egg & Cheese $4.95 • Bacon, Egg & Cheese $4.95 Ham, Egg & Cheese $4.95 • Scrapple, Egg & Cheese $4.95

FRENCH TOAST/HOT CAKES

B.L.T. SANDWICH Bacon lettuce, tomato & mayo on two pieces toast $6.37 CORNED BEEF Grilled corned beef on grilled rye $7.78 GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH Yellow American cheese and grilled white bread $5.66 Add tomato bacon or ham for $1.18 extra ROAST BEEF Roast beef, lettuce, tomato & mayo $6.84 HAM & SWISS Ham, Swiss, lettuce, tomato & mayo $6.84 CHEF’S COLD CUT Ham, turkey, yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo $6.84 TURKEY Turkey, lettuce, tomato & mayo $6.84 CHICKEN SALAD Lettuce & tomato $6.13 TUNA SALAD Lettuce & tomato $6.84 SHRIMP SALAD Lettuce & tomato $6.84

1SINGLE STACK (1 PIECE) ............................................................................................ $3.77 Add only 2 eggs ................................................................................................................. $4.95 Add only breakfast meat .................................................................................................... $5.90 Add 2 eggs & breakfast meat ............................................................................................ $6.84 SHORT STACK (2 PIECE) ....................................................................................... $5.42 Add only 2 eggs ..................................................................................................................$6.37 Add only breakfast meat .................................................................................................... $7.55 Add 2 eggs & breakfast meat ............................................................................................ $8.49 FULL STACK (3 PIECE) ........................................................................................... $6.13 Add only 2 eggs ................................................................................................................. $7.08 Add only breakfast meat .................................................................................................... $8.25 Add 2 eggs & breakfast meat ............................................................................................. $8.96 ADD TOPPINGS $1.42 (strawberry or blueberry or cherry)

ITALIAN DINNERS

BREAKFAST SIDES

~ Served with garlic bread and salad or soup

SEAFOOD PARADISE Shrimp, scallop & crab meat in alfredo sauce over ziti $15.94 SHRIMP SCALLOP STIR FRY Shrimp, scallops and mix vegetable in teriyaki sauce over rice or linguini $14.86 SHRIMP AFREDO Shrimp in alfredo sauce over linguini $13.92 SHRIMP SCAMPI Shrimp in butter-lemon sauce over linguini $12.97 CHICKEN MARYLAND Chicken & crab meat in butter-lemon sauce over linguini $14.86 CHICKEN STIR FRY Chicken and mix vegetable in teriyaki sauce over choice of rice or linguini $13.92 CHICKEN MARSALA Chicken in mushroom marsala wine sauce over linguini $13.82 CHICKEN ALFREDO Chicken in alfredo sauce over linguini $12.97 CHICKEN SCAMPI Chicken in butter-lemon sauce over linguini $12.27 SHRIMP PARMESAN $13.92 CHICKEN LEONARDO PARMESAN Fried onion, green pepper, mushroom & melted cheese $12.97 PASTA COMBO Ziti, stuffed shells, manicotti, cheese ravioli, meatball & melted cheese $11.79 VEAL PARMESAN $12.50 • CHICKEN PARMESAN $12.50 EGGPLANT PARMESAN $11.79 • HOMEMADE MEAT LASAGNA $10.85 ZITI PARMESAN $9.91 • STUFFED SHELLS PARMESAN $9.91 MANICOTTI PARMESAN $9.91 • CHEESE RAVIOLI PARMESAN $9.91 SPAGHETTI WITH MARINARA $8.96 • SPAGHETTI WITH MUSHROOMS $9.91 SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE 10.85 • SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT BALLS $10.85 SPAGHETTI WITH SAUSAGE $10.85 • SPAGHETTI WITH ALFREDO $10.14

ENTRÉE DINNERS

All dinners come with your choice of two sides: side salad, cup of soup, vegetable of the day, French fries, baked or mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, cole slaw, potato salad, beets & applesauce SEAFOOD COMBO (FRIED OR BROILED) Flounder, crab cake, shrimp & scallops $21.93 SEAFOOD DREAM Crab meat, shrimp & scallops broiled with provolone cheese $17.92 SEAFOOD TRIO (FRIED OR BROILED) Flounder, shrimp & scallops $16.98 STUFFED FLOUNDER with homemade crab stuffing $16.98 STUFFED SHRIMP with homemade crab stuffing $16.98 STUFFED SCALLOPS w/homemade crab stuffing $16.98 CRAB CAKE (FRIED OR BROILED) $16.98 SCALLOPS (FRIED OR BROILED) $16.98 FLOUNDER (FRIED OR BROILED) $14.86 SHRIMP (FRIED OR BROILED) $14.86 SURF AND TURF (New York or prime rib) & (crab cake or scallop or shrimp) $18.87

CUP OF CREAM CHIPPED BEEF ..............................................................................$4.95 CUP OF SAUSAGE GRAVY ...................................................................................... $4.95 MEAT CHOICES: bacon, sausage, scrapple, ham, hot Italian sausage or pork roll ............ $2.59 BAGEL ............................................................................................................................... $2.12 WITH CREAM CHEESE $2.59 TOAST: white, wheat, rye, English muffin, biscuit .............................................................. $1.18 HOME FRIES $2.12 • GRITS $2.12

OMELETS

All omelets made with 3 XL eggs, home fries and toast included

CHEESE OMELET .................................................................................................... $6.37 WESTERN OMELET ................................................................................................ $7.55 VEGETABLE OMELET ............................................................................................. $7.55 FLORENTINE OMELET ............................................................................................ $7.55 COUNTRY OMELET ................................................................................................. $7.78 MEAT LOVERS OMELET ......................................................................................... $7.78 CRAB OMELET ...................................................................................................... $10.85 SHRIMP OMELET..................................................................................................... $9.91 SEAFOOD OMELET ............................................................................................... $10.85 ADD MEAT FOR $1.18

BEVERAGES

SODA (free refill) ................................................................................................................$2.12 ICE TEA (free refill) ............................................................................................................ $1.89 CHOCOLATE MILK .......................................................................................................... $2.36 COFFEE (free refill) ............................................................................................................ $1.65 HOT TEA ............................................................................................................................ $1.65 MILK OR JUICE .......................................................................... SMALL $2.12 ~ LARGE $2.59 JUICE CHOICE: orange, apple, grape, cranberry and V8

Kids menu available with adult entrees Like Us

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

By TOM STAUSS Publisher fter months of wrangling between the Board of Directors and officers and members of the Ocean Pines pickleball club over drop-in rates for use of the two pickleball courts in the Community Center’s gymnasium, it appears that a resolution and a compromise of sorts is possible. As part of the 2017-18 budget, the board approved a rate structure that lowered prepaid fees for use of outdoor pickleball courts that recent-

Herrick signals willingness to consider pickleball rate adjustment by new board Relief for frequent users of indoor courts may be in the offing ly opened for play at the Manklin Meadows recreational complex in South Ocean Pines. In addition, the board set new drop-in rates for play at the in-

door courts in the Community Center. The rates are $3 for pickleball members, $5 for non-members who are Ocean Pines residents and/or property owners, and $7 for non-res-

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DROP-IN Guitar Lessons Week of

July 10-14 1:30-3:30

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idents who aren’t property owners. There is no prepaid annual rate that covers use of both indoor and outdoor courts, similar to an annual rate for aquatics that includes use of the indoor Sports Core pool and Ocean Pines’s four outdoor pools. The fee structure has been criticized by pickleball club members who would like to use the indoor courts on rainy days and during the colder months the year. According to pickleball club member Janis Green, she would have been playing at the indoor courts on recent rainy afternoons but members aren’t showing up, instead driving into Ocean City to play on indoor courts available there for less money than what the Ocean Pines Association is charging. She said her indoor fees when combined with an annual membership “would result in payments to the OPA from $150 a year to $322 a year “if I play indoors three times a week for five winter months. This is why people are angry!” For couples in a household, the dollar amount could be twice that, and could easily exceed $1,000 per year in total costs if rainy days force members indoors year round, she said. The result, she has been telling OPA President Tom Herrick in various e-mails, is a boycott of the indoor facilities by members. At the same time, as reported by Acting General Manager Brett Hill at a June 1 town meeting, the fee structure appears not to be adversely affecting membership and associated revenues, at least in the first official month of reporting in the 2017-18 fiscal year that began May. 1. Some club members had predicted a decline in membership as a result of unhappiness over the drop-in fees. So hard feelings among pickleball players remain, despite their appreciation for the eight new outdoor pickleball courts that opened for play in late spring. Herrick, in a recent conversation with the Progress, said he would be willing to consider an annual prepaid rate for pickleball that would cover use of both indoor and outdoor courts. Initially, he said the new rate should be considered during the budget process for 2018-19, but he later relented and said it could be considered by the new board after this summer’s annual elections. He said he personally would be willing to consider a specific proposal for a combined indoor-outdoor q

20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES Pickleball rates From Page 20 membership rate for pickleball if Aquatics and Recreation Director Colby Phillips presents one. He did

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS not suggest a particular rate, but made it clear that it would be the already approved rate with an addon for use of the indoor courts. Then members could decide whether they play indoor pickleball

often enough to justify a prepaid rate or just continue to pay as they go with the drop-in fee. “Depending on weather, the new pickleball courts are available for play year-round, though of course

APPETIZERS

BASKETS

Served with French Fries

Shrimp …….............………………………..………… $9 10 hand-breaded Large Shrimp lightly fried to perfection served with homemade Cocktail Sauce Clam Strips ……………...........……...……………… $9 1/2 lb of crispy Clam Strips hand-breaded & served with homemade Cocktail Sauce Oyster …………………...........………....……………. $9 Approximately 8 single-fried Oysters fried to perfection served with homemade Cocktail Sauce Calamari ………………………...............…………… $9 1/2 lb. of fresh Calamari, hand-breaded to order served with homemade spicy Mayo Sauce Chicken Tenders ……………..................………… $9 Crispy Chicken Tenders served with your choice of Honey Mustard or BBQ Sauce

SPECIALITY

Fried Hard Crab ……………................…………. Large, Steamed Crab stuffed with Crab Cake covered in Tempura Batter Crab Fluff ……………................………………….. 1/4 lb. Crab Cake covered in Tempura Batter Fresh Rockﬁsh Bites …….............……………… 1/3 lb. Striper chunks covered in Beer Batter & served with French Fries, Tartar & Hot Sauce Fresh Fish Tacos …………...........……………….. 2 Beer Battered Rockﬁsh Tacos topped with homemade spicy Mayo Sauce served with Tortilla Chips, Salsa & Lime

$16 $14 $14 $12

SANDWICHES & WRAPS

All Sandwiches served with Cole Slaw & Pickle with Lettuce & Tomato on the side

Substitute Macaroni Salad or Potato Salad Add French Fries for $1.50 Maryland Crab Cake (fried or broiled) ............ $13 Maryland Backﬁn Lump Crab Cake served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Fresh Rockﬁsh (Fried or Broiled) ….........…… $13 Served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Fresh Flounder (Fried or Broiled) ……………… $13 Served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Soft Crab (Fried) ………………..........……………. $13 Lightly battered Soft Crab deep fried to perfection Shrimp Salad (Sandwich or Wrap) ……….…….. $12 Steamed Shrimp lightly tossed in Crabs-To-Go’s Signature Spice mixture, light Mayo & Celery

not everyone will want to do that,” he said. To encourage use of the indoor courts during inclement weather, he said he would be willing to consider alternatives.

Scallops (1/2 lb.) Fried or Broiled ……............… Shrimp & Scallops Fried or Broiled ……......……. 5 Jumbo Shrimp & ¼ lb. of Scallops Fried Oyster (1/2 pint) ……………….………………. Lobster Tail (1) 8-10 oz Cold Water Tail …………. Broiled or Steamed

$21 $21 $19 $29

Crab Balls (1/4 lb.) ..………....................………. $13 5 Maryland Crab Balls fried to crispy perfection Crab Dip (1/2 lb.) …….....……......................... $12 Topped with Melted Cheddar & served with Crackers Crab Pretzel …….........…………............……….. $10 Braided Soft Pretzel topped with Crab Dip & melted Cheddar Clams Casino (6 Top Necks) ……….............…. $10 Crabs-To-Go style! Bacon, Spices and Mozzarella Cheese BBQ Shrimp (6) ….......…………………………….. $10 Jumbo Shrimp wrapped in crispy Bacon topped with BBQ Sauce & Mozzarella Cheese Matt’s Buffalo Shrimp (6) (Spicy!) …….…….…. $10 Hand-breaded Jumbo Shrimp drenched in home made Buffalo Sauce served with Bleu Cheese & Celery Shrimp Tempura (6) ……………..………………… $10 Jumbo Shrimp dipped in Tempura Batter & deep fried & Served with Sweet & Sour Sauce Coconut Shrimp (6) ………………..………………. $10 Jumbo Shrimp, hand-breaded with Coconut & Served with Sweet & Sour Sauce Crab Fries ……………….......…..........…………… $10 French Fries Topped with Crab Dip & Melted Cheddar Cheese Deviled Eggs ………………....................…………. $4 Crabmeat & Shrimp stuffed! Just try ‘em!

* Add a 4 oz. Tail or Crab Cake for $12

SIDES

Onion Rings ………..........................……………. $4.50 Hush Puppies ……………...............................…….. $4 Old Bay Fries …………...........................………. $4.50 French Fries ……….............................…………….. $4 Steamed Corn (In Season) …………………. $1.25 each Corn Bread ……………………….................……… $1.50 Mac & Cheese 8 oz. ……………….................………. $4 Cole Slaw ....... 4 oz. - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4 Potato Salad .. 4 oz - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4 Macaroni Salad 4 oz - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4

“Specializing in Quality Maryland Crabs” CALL AHEAD FOR FAST, HOT, CARRY-OUT!

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Open 364 Days a Year

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SOUP & SALAD

Maryland Crab Soup 1/2 Pint $4, Pint $7, Quart $14 Homemade vegetable base soup chocked full of fresh vegetables & Maryland Crabmeat Cream of Crab Soup 1/2 Pint $5.50, Pint $10, Quart $20 Cream base soup ﬁlled with fresh Maryland Crabmeat Garden Salad ……………........................…………… $5 Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Honey Mustard, Balsamic or Italian Dressing Add Shrimp Salad, Tuna Salad or Grilled Chicken: $5

KIDS MENU

Served with French Fries

~ Next to Raceway Citgo ~

Crabby Patty ………....................................………. Fried Clam Strips ….................................………… Fried Shrimp …….…...................................……… Chicken Tenders …..................................…………

Have Crabs-To-Go Delivered to Your Door

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Prices & Items Subject to Change Tuna Salad (Sandwich or Wrap) ……...………… $10 Fresh Tuna paired with our signature Spice mix & light Mayo (feel free to ask for a melt) Oyster ………………………....................………… $11 Fresh Maryland Oysters tossed in seafood breading & lightly fried & served with homemade Cocktail Sauce Grilled Chicken …………………………………….. $10 Grilled Chicken breast topped with BBQ Sauce, crispy Bacon & melted Mozzarella Cheese Chicken Chesapeake ……………………….....….. $13 Grilled Chicken breast topped with our Crabs-To-Go Crab Dip & melted Mozzarella Cheese

PLATTERS

Served with your choice of 2 Sides

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22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

Board approves two new platform tennis courts Long-delayed project sails through on a 6-0 vote, with completion expected in roughly six months

Public Works Department will be responsible for site work, concrete piers, and county permits. The cost of building the two new platform courts is far less than originally estimated. The project has long been delayed, primarily by concerns that their construction would require costly and complex stormwater management solutions. In a recent report to the board, Layfield advised that the costly stormwater management system that former General Manager Bob Thompson said probably would be necessary had been avoided. “After meeting with Bobby

Shockley (the county’s permit reviewer), it was determined that the SWM requirements could be met by sheet flow, thereby reducing the cost significantly,” Layfield wrote. It probably didn’t hurt that Layfield, hired to replace former facilities manager Jerry Aveta several months ago, used to the work for the Worcester County government in the same department that oversees compliance and permitting. Early this year, Director Dave Stevens reopened consideration of the status of the platform tennis proposal. He reminded the direcq

By TOM STAUSS Manager Kevin Layfield. Director Publisher Pat Supik did not attend the board he long wait for members of meeting. the Ocean Pines platform tenOnce completed, the new courts nis club is over. Well, almost. will expand the number of platform Although it was evident that the tennis courts at Manklin Meadows Board of Directors was preparing to complex from four to six. approve two long-awaited platform The staff recommendation was to tennis courts at the Manklin Mead- accept a low bid bid submitted by ows tennis complex – a motion to ap- Total Platform Tennis in the amount prove the courts was included in the not to exceed $129,446, including packet for the June 23 board meet- contingencies, for two new courts ing – a contingent of club members that will match the existing courts showed up at the meeting to urge the in design. board to vote for the motion. They Hill told the club members that it all said the platform tennis club has could take up to six months to have been extremely patient while the the new courts ready for play after board forged ahead with new pickle- the contract with Total Platform ball courts and a new playground at Tennis is signed. At the earliest, he the Manklin Meadows complex. said it could be 90 days, but he made They were not disappointed. With it clear that the six-month timetable no discussion or obvious division, was more realistic. It didn’t seem to the directors voted 6-0 to approve bother club members in attendance the two new courts, on a motion at the meeting. by Director Doug Parks to accept a While Total Platform Tennis, recommendation by Acting General based in Loveland, Ohio, will build OP-progressmagicad-0615_Layout 1 6/29/15 4:24the PM Page Manager Brett Hill and Facilities new1 courts, the Ocean Pines

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OCEAN PINES

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Platform tennis From Page 22 tors that when platform tennis was originally considered during Thompson’s tenure, it was first in line ahead of new pickleball courts and a new playground. New platform tennis courts were bundled in a comprehensive master plan for redevelopment of the Manklin Creek recreation complex during the Thompson era. The master plan came crashing down after last summer’s board election. Unhappy with various plans and proposals for redevelopment of the Manklin Meadows complex, the newly reorganized board in August called a halt to action on pending Manklin Creek projects. But during a Sept. 9 special meeting, the directors agreed to continue with conversion of two tennis courts for pickleball play. Those courts were completed and opened for play in late spring. The board also approved, in a separate vote, to continue with planned repairs to playground equipment in the Manklin complex, without relocating it, adding new fencing or expanding a parking lot, as had been

Pintail Park clean-up

On June 12, members of the Ocean City Power Squadron participated in the annual spring cleanup of Pintail Park in Ocean Pines. The OCPS has “adopted” Pintail Park and has maintained it for the past several years. Members pictured from left to right are Tony Curro, John Hess, John Tellman, Jeanne Stiehl, Neal Lookner and Tony Smith.

proposed in the original master plan that had a potential cost in excess of $700,000. There was no consideration given to building new platform tennis courts last September, with directors saying the issue would be addressed once the pickleball and playground issues were resolved. What had been a master plan for the complex – relocation of the

playground equipment and stormwater mitigation – was rescinded by a super majority of directors, who by their votes and comments indicated that they didn’t believe either was necessary. The playground decision was subsequently overtaken by events, with the acting general manager several months later declaring the old playground equipment dangerously

defective, requiring complete replacement. The old playground was declared off limits over the winter and then dismantled. A totally new playground reopened for use this spring. The previous master plan for the site was explicitly rescinded in a 6-0 vote during the special meeting in September, with Director Cheryl Jacobs abstaining.

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS By TOM STAUSS Publisher

OCEAN PINES

July 2017

fter a scheduled two-day meeting July 5 and 6 to interview finalists for the open general manager position, it’s possible that the board will be prepared to make an offer to the best overall candidate shortly thereafter, Ocean Pines Association President Tom Herrick said in an early July telephone interview. He even said there was an outside chance that a selection would be made prior to the printing deadline for this edition of the Progress, but that did not happen. Even if the board had been prepared to make an offer to a prospective candidate immediately following the July 5 and 6 interviews, it wouldn’t necessarily be the case that a candidate would immediately accept a job offer.. It’s possible that negotiations between the board’s first choice for the position over the terms of an employment contract will take some time to resolve. The top candidates are all currently employed, so the successful candidate would need to give anywhere from two weeks to a month’s notice to a current employer. As a practical matter, that means a new general manager probably won’t be on the job in Ocean Pines until sometime in August. Immediately after the July 5 and 6 interviews, the directors had not

Board close to hiring new general manager Directors conduct interviews with finalists July 5 and 6 decided among themselves which candidate is their top choice. Director Slobodan Trendic told the Progress that, as part of their internal deliberations, the directors also will have to resolve the issue of what kind of compensation package they want to offer their preferred candidate. Advertising for the position placed by the OPA’s exectuive search firm, the Novak Group, had a salary range of $150,000 to $170,00 for the position. Trendic said he could not support a salary more than $155,000, which he said is what the Town of Ocean City pays its manager. Other directors apparently are willing to go higher. The new general manager will replace the acting general manager, Brett Hill, who was appointed to the interim role in an unpaid capacity last fall, after the board decided to terminate the employment contract of Bob Thompson, who had served in the role for about six years. Back in May, some members of the Board of Directors were expressing some frustration that the

process of finding a paid, professional general manager, over a 90-day or so timetable managed by the Novak Group, was taking too long. Director Dave Stevens expressed worry that Novak built too much

time into the candidate review schedule. “To me this is an inordinate amount of time,” he said of the schedule, which doesn’t have the board making an offer to a candidate and bringing the new general manager on board until at least July. He said it is important for directors make a decision regarding the top candidate before the new board takes office in August. That much, at least, seems within reach.

Hill denies problems with bulk purchasing Hill says chink in supply chain had already been fixed when a property owner at his recent town meeting complained about food and beverage shortages at various OPA amenities By TOM STAUSS Publisher hen a property owner took to the floor at Acting General Manager Brett Hill’s June 1 town meeting to complain about food and beverage supply shortages at various Ocean Pines Association amenities, Hill responded that the alleged problems were “news” to him but he would look into them. A month later, Hill told the Progress that the shortages were tem-

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porary and already had been addressed by his staff and remedied. That had occurred even before the complaints were made at the town meeting, Hill said. The shortages were alleged to have been related to Hill’s announced policy of bulk purchasing. The resident at the town meeting said she had recently experienced something that she never expected to encounter at a golf course, specifically the Tern Grille, the lower level restaurant venue at the Country Club designed primarily to serve golfers. “They ran out of draft beer,” she told Hill, near the conclusion of the meeting in a question-answer segment. She said that there have been other shortages as well, with the grill occasionally running out of staples like French fries or chicken patties. The resident said the problem seems to be bulk purchasing managed out of the Yacht Club. While the OPA receives volume discounts by doing all of its purchasing out of one location, the problem seems to be that no reliable system exists for making sure each satellite restaurant venue receives its share of the food and drink that is delivered by Cisco and other vendors to the Yacht Club in large delivery vans. “This is the first I’m hearing about this,” Hill said, vowing to remedy the situation as soon as possible. When he looked into it, he discovered it no longer was a problem.

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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Thompson Thompson contract contractterminated terminated

What What caughtcaught many inmany Ocean in Pines Ocean by Pines by surprise, surprise, however, however, was the fact wasthat the the fact that the 26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS July 2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS axe fell axe asfell soonasassoon it did.asThe it new did. board The new board Stevens motion Stevenspasses motion4-3, passes over 4-3, Jacobs’ over Jacobs’ ‘emotional’ ‘emotional’ objections; objections;Brett BrettHill Hill named named acting acting GM GM reorganized reorganized itself with itself an election with anofelection ofof ofDave Stevens and OPA President By TOM STAUSS fices in fices a meeting in a meeting Aug. 22. Aug. H 22. H three options. three options. tors torswho who voted voted for forit,it,Jack Jack Collins, Collins, was was Tom Herrick, in particular, that Publisher By TOM STAUSS By TOM STAUSS ill’s motion ill’s motion to go into to closed go into session closed session Newly elected Newly elected director director Brett Brett Hill, Hill, who who defeated defeated in in his his election election bid bid this this summer, summer, they were. testy and at times heated Publisher Publisher on Aug. on 26 Aug. after 26the after openthe session openmade session made offered motion the motion to go to into go into closed closed ses-ses- with withhis his contract contract extension extension vote vote a possia possiAccording to a commentary closed meeting meeting closed that began that with beganoffered with the closed of meeting the Board no mention no mention of possible of possible termination. termination. on sion, in prepared sion, in prepared remarks remarks explaining explaining hishis ble blecontributing contributing factor. factor. intended purpose the intended reviewing purpose oceanpinesforum.com by several forum ofthe Directors June 19of did notof reviewing Trendic Trendic told thetold Progress the Progress several motion said motion that saidfive thatboard five board members members re-reAlso Also voting voting for for the theextension extension was was moderator Joe Reynolds, Herrick General Manager General Bob Manager ThompBob Thompresult in a reprimand of or attempt days after daysthe after decision the decision to terminate to terminate was was cently had cently discovered had discovered “many “many disturbing disturbing Dave DaveStevens, Stevens, who whowasn’t wasn’t on on thethe ballot ballot employment son’s employment contract, contract, mademade that “absolutely” that “absolutely” there was there no in-on was no carinsaid Trendic was called the to son’s remove Director Slobodanincluding Tren- including factors surrounding factors surrounding the handling the handling of the of the this thisyear year but but isn’t isn’tknown known as as a Thompson a Thompson director whatdescribed one directoras described “disturbtention tention or expectation expectation by the board by the maboard mapet notorfor responding to employees dicwhat fromone the board, despite some in- as “disturbbonus GM(for bonus the(for 2015-15 the legal 2015-15 fiscal fiscal year),” year),”on fan. fan. Both Both Collins and andStevens Stevens explained explained ing factors” ing factors” awas involving $30,900 abonus $30,900 GM bonus Director calls for opinion use of Collins surveillance cameras jorityjority of Herrick, of Herrick, Trendic, Trendic, Stevens and Stevens and dications thatinvolving Trendic in trouwell as as “adjustments well as “adjustments already already made made to to their theirvotes votes as as the thebest bestdeal deal possible possible for for who had approached him, but for for better-than-budgeted for better-than-budgeted amenity finanamenityas finanHill that Hill Thompson’s that Thompson’s contract would contract be would beto making unsolicited approaches ble with some of his colleagues for closed this budget year’s which budget related related to the to the bonus bonus openly the theOPA OPAwhen given given that, that, thethe time, time, therethere meeting, was drafted theyatatwent back into cial performance, cial performance, ended up with ended a highup with athis high-year’s terminated terminated in the closed in the session closed Aug. session 26. Aug. 26. discussions withcontentious unnamed Ocean clauses” that that would haveand have made made it much it much public was wasaasolid solid majority majority ofofpro-Thompson pro-Thompson di- di- employees. the would directors read like session following the portion ly contentious ly4-3 vote to terminate 4-3 vote to terminate the jointly the byclauses” He and He other and directors other directors declined an declined an “The fact is (Trendic) was repeatPines Association employees overemployment for easier Thompson for Thompson to earn toclosed earn a bonus a bonus re-re- of rectors rectors who could couldhave haverenegotiated renegotiated the the it,easier did not mention the door the who meeting that was closed. By contract and contract Thompson’s and Thompson’s employment emailemail invitation invitation by the Progress by the Progress to disto disedly bypassing the GM and going lated to lated amenity to amenity performance performance thisthis year. year. then, allegations of with hostile working con- contentiousness. contract contract to to make make ititeven even more more lucrative lucrative with the Ocean Pines the Association. Ocean Pines Association. media and OPA members had cuss how cussand howwhy and thewhy decision the to decision terto terHill Hill explanation in his explanation said said that that the the for for Thompson. Thompson. directly to occurred, staff members” and disditions in recent months and other Director BrettDirector Hill was Brett chosen Hill wasbychosenInstead, by in his the press release empha- been long gone, with no video camminate minate the contract the contract occurred, citing the citing the board “has boardan“has obligation an obligation to discuss to discuss a a Stevens Stevens was was participating participating in in the the cussing what Herrick said were “not matters. the board majority the board to serve majority astointerim serve as sized interim confidentiality confidentiality of closedofmeetings. closed meetings. new-found board collaboration era recording the event for subsemore objective more objective measure measure of bonus of bonus calcucalcumeeting meeting via via telephone, telephone, and and said said later later routine inquires as permitted in the or acting release general or acting manager general pending manager a A press issued after the apending quent posting on the OPA Web site onlation, matters that the board discussed press Thebylaws.” press release release announcing announcing the the so lation, a notifi so acation notification of a of(reopened) a (reopened) hehemight might have have voted voteddifferently differently hadhad he he TheOPA . search for a replacement. search for a replacement. airing onperson Mediacom’s Channel 78. decision decision said only said that only the that contract the was contract was negotiation negotiation wouldwould be inbethe in the best best or been been atat the the person totohash hash out out the the de- deAt a special At meeting a special of meeting the Board of the contract Board contract Trendic vigorously disputed HerOPA mademade for convenience, for convenience, meaning meaning that the that the interest of all parties of all parties to avoid to avoid further further is- is- tails tails ofofaaPresident renegotiation. renegotiation.Tom Herrick told of Directors Aug. of Directors 26, theAug. directors 26, the votdirectors vot- interest rick’s version of events in a teletheElections Progresshave several days after the Garden Club board board majority majority was not was alleging not any alleging sort any sort sues in future sues in years.” future years.” Elections have consequences, consequences, and and ed 5-2, with directors ed 5-2, with Patdirectors Renaud Patand Renaud and phone interview with the Progress. closed June 19 meeting that Trendic of wrong-doing of wrong-doing on Thompson’s on Thompson’s part that part that A decision A decision to revisit to revisit the contract the contract by by with with the the election election of of Hill Hill and and Slobodan Slobodan scholarship Cheryl Jacobs Cheryl dissenting, Jacobs dissenting, to go intoto go into would would have justifi have ed justifi a termination ed a termination for for He described his interactions had agreed “not to continue meeting the Aug. the 31 Aug. deadline 31 deadline would would have have opened opened Trendic Trendic it it was was apparent apparent that that Thompson Thompson closed sessionPines closed to Garden discuss session to Thompson’s discuss Thompson’s The Ocean cause. cause. a two-month a two-month window window for the for board the board and and no no longer longer had had a a solid solid majority majority of supof supwith staff as completely innocent, with OPA employees” over controcontract, which contract, had been which extended had been for extended for Club held its annual garden The termination termination for convenience for convenience Thompson Thompson to renegotiate, to renegotiate, something something versial porters porterson on the the board. board. and proper. As matters that have made itThenon-controversial three years onthree Aprilyears 28. on April 28. tour and luncheon. Megan means means that Thompson that Thompson will reap will a generreap a generthat Thompson that Thompson probably probably would would have have Indeed, Indeed, there there was was an an expectation expectation one example, he said he noticed an into the local media in recent month. Undisclosed at Undisclosed the time at the the contract time the contract Elizabeth Corcoran was ous severance ous severance package, package, including including salary salary welcomed. welcomed. Back in Back April, in April, he offered he offered to to in in the the community community that, that, at at some some point, point, extension was extension made public was made was public a prowas a proindividual in Acting General ManTrendic confirmed that he had the recipient of the OPGC’s and benefi and benefi for nine ts for months, nineouter although months, although drop drop amenity-based bonusbonus incentives incentives in in made Thompson’s Thompson’s contract contractprobably probably would would be be vision scholarship that allows vision the that“new allowsboard” the “new – in board” – inamenity-based agerts Brett Hill’s office workthat agreement with the board $1,500 award at apparently apparently he no longer he nowill longer be eligible will be eligible exchange for a more for a more predictable predictable incenincen- terminated terminated by by the thenew newboard. board. In pubIn pubthis case, the board this case, that thehad board three that new had three new exchange ing on electronic equipment. Trendic as a way of easing tensions with the luncheon. Pictured left for any forbonuses. any bonuses. tive package, tive package, but the butboard the board at the at the time time lished lishedaccounts, accounts, Thompson Thompson himself himself saidsaid members as amembers result of as this a result summer’s of this summer’s said hemonths asked that individual, some of his colleagues. At the sameNine to right are Megan’s mother, months Nine of salaryof works salary outworks to outwho to voted 6-1 voted to extend 6-1 to extend the contract the contract for for ananhe he was was expecting expecting the the board board to move to move in a in a OPA election –OPA to revisit electionthe – tocontract revisit theexcontract exturned out to be an IT specialist time, he made clear that he was Kathy Corcoran, Megan, $123,750 $123,750 for work for that work need that not be need pernot be perother three other years three without years without change. change. new new direction. direction. tension, whether tension, to renegotiate whether to renegotiate it or ter- it or terhired by Hill, whether he was workadmitting that his interactions formed. formed. New anointed New anointed OPA OPA President President Tom Tom notThompson andit,Judy Baumgartner, Thompson served served sixsix years years as generas generminate or keep minate it in it, force or keepasit written. in force as written. ing toover resolve that had with staff were in any way impropThe veil The veildeliberations overserver deliberations in issues closed in closed Herrick Herrick was the was only the only director director to vote to vote al al manager, manager, and and that’s that’s well well within within the the chairperson ofcontract the The contract The specifi ed anspecifi Aug. ed 31 an Aug. 31 been plaguing the OPA’s computer er, despite the contentions of some against against the extension. the extension. One One of the of the direcdirecaverage average time time of of service service for for managers managers of of scholarship committee. deadline for making deadline afordecision making aondecision the on the

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Trendic From Page 26 networks for quite some time. “He told me he wasn’t and that he wasn’t really trained for that sort of thing,” Trendic said. The director said there is absolutely nothing in the bylaws that preclude that sort of an interaction with an employee. He said OPA bylaws make it clear that directors can initiate contact with employees but can’t give them orders or instruct them in any way. He said he didn’t so Herrick was “off-base” for contending the contact violated the bylaws. Trendic said in all the recent controversy involving the board, nothing has risen to the level of any director violating OPA bylaws. The closest thing to a violation may have been Herrick’s failure to appoint a candidate search committee by the required date of Feb. 1, Trendic said, adding he wasn’t that concerned about that since a committee was eventually appointed. Trendic confirmed in response to a question from the Progress that another topic of heated debate during the closed June 19 meeting involved the installation of three surveillance cameras in the administration building by Hill without board approval. Trendic said that Stevens became quite heated in defending Hill’s right to install the cameras, which were subsequently turned off or removed when the presence of camera surveillance in the administration building was covered extensively by the local media in recent months. One editorialist called for Hill to be removed from his post as acting GM because of the installation. The board essentially ignored the advice, with Herrick in particular finding fault with much of the coverage in a local weekly. Trendic has said he was hoping that Hill would voluntarily give up his unpaid, acting role as a way of allowing the OPA to move on, but Hill reportedly declined because he thought resigning would be an admission of some sort of wrong-doing. Trendic said he countered Stevens during the closed meeting by telling his colleagues that the installation of cameras was a policy matter that should have been discussed and approved by the board. Any presence of cameras, either in private or public areas, has to be spelled out in a written policy, Trendic said.

fession reportedly sets a range of 30 to 70 percent as Clarke point July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 27 within acceptable limits for ACC funding. The OPA Club deficits. C From Page 52his colleagues, he said currently funds its replacement reserve at the low end edition of the Among by the multitude of candidates. of the “acceptable” range. should be used that only Cheryl Jacobs seemed reSupik is seen as a Thompson cheerleader, and For what it’s worth, Thompson reportedly has Let’s look at ceptive to his views on the requiresomeone in the mold of Pete Gomsak, a former board recommended 50 percent funding of the ACC, to be open. An OPA ments of and federal law regarding sur-treasurer very achieved over ten years; the recommendation is con- 30, 2016, (end member current assistant OPA veillance. much aligned with the Terry-Jacobs faction. tained in a document that the board majority won’t statement to c InBoth a follow-up to the directors in accountants, let him release to the OPA membership. not performed Gomsak and Supik are retired late Trendic wrote e-mail The stateme bothJune, are identifi ed with the an notion that OPA reserves A 50 percent funding level still would require a sigareHerrick underfunded, bothtoare to with and copies hiswedded col- to the idea nificant increase in the lot assessment, over a number site (under form that therequesting OPA’s reserve levels should of years, and talking about assessment increases is Operational sta suggest a one-night-per-week ‘big band’ leagues Herrick to seekbe a tied to some- They appear in depa thing called the annual component cost (ACC), a comnever popular, especially during election season. legal opinion from the association’s event could still be held at the Yacht Club putational confection conceived and embraced by the The rationale for keeping the document secret, ac- annual audited Bethesda law firm, Lerch Early, on August. The un accounting profession. cording to Thompson, is thatopening it is a working the document Yacht Club’s second By TOM STAUSS whether the OPA operate sur- Supik the “offi cial” o Gomsak and Terrycan tried to persuade to run involved in the updating and completion of the OPA’s floor to a “big band” event one day Publisher veillance cameras infailing private and The Yacht C for the board last year, to do so, but they sucongoing reserve study. per week, on a Friday or Saturday n an apparent nod to retiring public and under what condiceededareas, this year. That’s absurd, because the document itself is com- $76,219; a year Director Dave Stevens, who has night, during the colder months. tions. Granted, the If anyone is the anointed candidate of this particu- plete and has been referenced in one or two board Hill said a band like Tranzfusion is a let it be known thatProperty he supports nificant, but larHe faction, spades. for the meetings. owners paid for that document, said it’s he Supik askedinHerrick always a big draw, even with a covshiftingand restaurant operations from immediately. hefty funded Supik has saidon that, as chairman of the Budget and it ought to be released lawyer’s views whether the surer charge, and that a larger venue the Yacht Club to the Country Club ing) this past y Finance Advisory Committee, she is used to navigating Thompson seems willing to release it, but he’s beveillance policy should be spelled such as the Yacht Club’s second floor through the an in very roiled waters, forging a consensus in a group ing stymied by some of his board overseers, who in this winter, two Ocean Pines Associout in the employee’s handbook. Supik could with, at times, sharply conflicting views. ation directors this instance prefer secrecy over disclosure and transwould be suitable for it. with influence on the Trendic said he has read the reOther candidates over the years havematter said that parency. fear that the Thompson recom- had she indulg have said theyPerhaps are in they general cently revised handbook thatend has But both that the most Counrecentl nu they, like Supik claims now, can board factionalmendation could become an election issue, said adversely agreement with Stevens. been distributed and the Club, or Supik, as Hill likes toSupik call also it, s ism and infighting.toIt employees continues, despite best ef- affecting certain candidates,try particularly who OPA President Tom Herrick and noticed didsay notthey spell out camthan re thethat GolfOPA Club, might the better forts of that thoseitwho can end it. has been open in her viewpoint reserves arebe (rather Director Acting General Mannities, with infighting probably continue regard-andunderfunded. eraFactional surveillance policywill and practice, location for food and beverage op-the ager Brett Hill in recent current The minorit less of who is elected this year. It goes with the terWhat they interviews don’t seem toerations realize isin that keep- months. which he said was a gross oversight thebycolder with the Progress said they arealso fa- have the effect of adversely it’s not certain ritory. It becomes ugly when the infighting becomes ing it secret, it could that needs to be corrected. renovation of the second floor of the vorably disposed toward Stevens’s personal, such as when one director says he’s going to affecting certain candidates, particularly Supik, even part of the ma It’s a matter to be resolved as a Country Club, somewhat behind throw a colleague through the wall for the temerity more soseem than iftothey had allowed Thompson to release strongly biased idea, although they be leanmatter of board policy, he said. schedule, will a The candida of seeing issues differently. recommendations, and their rationales, to make the OPAthat option ing against ahiscomplete closure and As this edition of the Progress practical one this winter, both say. continued tenu Ocean Pines’ ACC has been estimated winterization at roughly membership. of the Yacht Club after was going towhich press, Trendic Herrick even went so farmon, as to ex-Ray Daly, $14 million, could mean said that he OPA reserves are Supik also has come under fire from former board Day. had not received any response his Labor the hope that a gas-fired fireThose who l underfunded by $10 million if 100topercent funding of member Clarke for her publicpress statements to the effect e-mail or comments Perhaps t the ACCfrom is the Herrick goal. OPA and thethey Ocean place Pines Yacht doing to tions. couldClub be isadded the upper Both Hill that and the Herrick said tion season. Actually, it doesn’t have to be; the accounting pro- well fithe nancially. from other directors. are considering possibility of To Page 30 – T

Election Commentary

Herrick, Hill signal interest in shifting restaurant ops to Country Club this winter

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July 2017

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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From Page 27 level of Ocean the Country Club to help January 2017 Pines PROGRESS 13 Direct Ocean Front One Bedroom, create a welcoming atmosphere. One-And-A-Half Bath Condo. In Upscale weighing in on the matter once the writAnother factor to consider is the Building, Ocean Place, Located In The ten report on the condition of the bulkextent banquet bookings at the ''Quiet North End'' Of Ocean City. Not A heads is of provided to them Yacht Club after Labor Day, about they After Hill made his comments Rental, Strong Association, Furnished, the “scary proposition” facing the OPA say. Banquets, normally held on the Assigned Parking, Pool, Elevator, with respectsecond to bulkheads, Trendic conbuilding’s floor, would affect 2nd Floor Unit With Unobstructed, tinued to insist that Hill needed to presPanoramic View Of The Ocean. the timing of a Yacht Club closure. ent clear, convincing evidence of need Herrick said he’s been interestbefore the OPA continued to collect moned in moving wintertime food and ey from waterfront owners. Worm infestation requires immediate action, Hill says beverage operations to the Country a holiday in the waterfront differential, tial outlaysPenFed requiredRealty in the future, Hill “If we don’t have a bulkhead plan, Berkshire Hathaway andtaking that the he made a an idea advocated by Director Slobodan seemed to beLane, saying that any waterfront Club how dofor weyears justifying money?” Ocean Pines South Gate - 11001 Manklin Meadows Ocean Pines MD 21811 point of advocating that when he Trendic in the absence of a new multi- differential holiday would potentially be he asked his colleagues. He said that if 410-208-3500 •a 1-866-666-1727 year bulkhead replacement program. big mistake. (Toll Free) Woodfor Duck bulkheads are in such ran the Isle board two summers ago. The original 35-year program is now Indeed, has LLC. notBerkshire backed off ofHomethat But poor he condition because of worms, “let’s ©2017 BHH Afﬁliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHhe Afﬁliates, Hathaway seemed somewhat reluctant Services and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered marks ofof HomeServices of America,completInc. Equal approaching year 40. view service in light the recently document it” before collecting money support complete Housing Opportunity. With evidence of a worm infesta- ed survey of bulkheading throughout to that may notabe needed. closure of the Yacht Club during the winter. tion, and with the potential of substan- Ocean Pines. But other directors will be

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“I’ve been told that it would cost us $10,000 a month in utilities at the Yacht Club over the winter, even if we completely shut it down,” he said, adding that there has to be some heat in the building to avoid broken pipes. One advocate for a complete shutdown, Martin D. Clarke, a candidate for a seat on the board in this summer’s OPA election, disputes the notion that the Yacht Club, if properly winterized, would cost in the neighborhood of $10,000 in utilities. Proper winterization normally involves draining pipes of water, and possibly filling them with anti-freeze, as well as with some minimal heating. In recent e-mail to the board, Clarke advocated an immediateannouncement of a decision by the board not to book any new banquets after Labor Day. So far, that suggestion has not been implemented. The OPA traditionally has held Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s dinner events at the Yacht Club, with a current board majority probably inclined to continue them. It would at least be theoretically possible to shift these events to the Country Club, however. How a new board will decide this issue probably depends a great deal on the outcome of this summer’s election. Among the competing candidates, sitting director Doug Parks is probably most likely to side with Clarke if both are elected this summer. They would probably still be short of a majority for a complete closure of the Yacht Club over the winter, given Hill and Herrick’s reluctance. Clarke also has said that significant savings can be realized by laying off staff, something that Hill and Herrick may be reluctant to do. Hill said it would be his intention to retain “core staff” even if operations are shifted to the Country Club this winter. Clarke is far more willing to let core staff go on unemployment, which he said is common in the food and beverage industry in Ocean City. Clarke and Parks also indicated in the recent candidates’ forum that they would go even further than Hill and Herrick when it comes to food and beverage management. Clarke said he would lease out the Yacht Club “in a New York minute” if given the opportunity, and Parks has said he is willing to consider that as well. Among current directors, Slobodan Trendic is the only one who has publicly supported leasing out the Yacht Club.

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 2017

Board stops short of mandating loss of voting rights for violators Parks’s proposal to make consequences automatic is resisted by colleagues

T Kiwanis scholarships It takes a year to raise funds for the biggest project of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines – Ocean City. On May 24 at Stephen Decatur High School, 13 scholarships were awarded from the Kiwanis Club. Noah Sperry received the $2000 Ray Pugh Memorial Scholarship, Lidia Kappelmeier received the $1000 David Lloyd Memorial Scholarship, Whitney Van Kirk received the $500 Al Levine Memorial Scholarship and Logan Gordy received a $500 scholarship dedicated to Marcus Page, a currently active long-time member of the Kiwanis Club. There were nine additional $1000 scholarships awarded to Holly Adelhardt, Nicholas Thompson, Asil Omar, Erica Hall, Tyler Keiser, Noah Shockley, Raymond Schockley, Hailey Brown and Megan Corcoran. The recipients are pictured with the Kiwanis Club presenters, President Barbara Peletier and VP Dick Clagett.

ileges to use OPA amenities could also become routine as part of the board’s CPI process. After proposing a motion that would have made removal of voting rights automatic as part of board CPI actions, Director Parks withdrew it, satisfied that he had made his point and that future CPI actions by the board will include consideration of voting rights. The motion was offered during the board’s regular monthly meeting June 23. After reading his proposed motion into the record, Parks said that under current policy removal of voting rights for property owners who are q

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors recently stopped short of mandating the removal of voting rights for property owners who are found to be in continuing violation of Ocean Pines Association restrictive covenants and guidelines. At the same time, removal of voting rights probably will become more routine as part of actions that the board takes most months on complaints forwarded to them for action by the Architectural Review Committee and the Department of Compliance, Permits and Inspections. Consideration of removal of priv-

6/30/17. 7/31/17

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Voting rights From Page 32 found to be in continuing violation is discretionary. He suggested language – precisely in what document he didn’t specify – that would make removal of rights mandatory. Board member and Acting General Manager Brett Hill pushed back immediately, suggesting he wanted to “understand the ramifications” before he could support the proposed motion. Director Dave Stevens also had his doubts, noting that OPA bylaws clearly state that removal of voting rights is discretionary. After OPA President Tom Herrick said he was confused by the motion, Parks said the status quo of discretionary application of the bylaws “leaves us with a potential inconsistency” in the treatment of property owners who are found in continuing violation. The intent of his motion was to treat all such property owners the same, he said. But Stevens said he didn’t think

the board was in a position to change the bylaws to permit mandatory removal of voting rights. He said that current policy of discretionary, caseby-case consideration of CPI violations serves the interests of property owners and the OPA. Director Slobodan Trendic said he agreed with Stevens and that voting in OPA elections is a “fundamental right,” adding that he was “uncomfortable” with the change suggested by Parks. He cited a section of the bylaws in which removal of voting rights is discretionary. He then asked for a suspension of the rules to allow Jim Trummel, a member of the Bylaws and Resolutions Advisory Committee, to weigh in. Trummel, too, said the bylaws are clear that removal of voting rights is “contingent” on the finding of a continuing violation but that such removal is not automatic. “It’s clear in all our documents,” he said, advising the board that if it wants to remove voting rights, it has to be clearly stated at the time a

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property owner is found in continuing violation. He did not take a position on whether the board should consider amending the bylaws to make removal of voting rights mandatory for those found in continuing violation. Director Cheryl Jacobs said the board was not considering changing the bylaws. Parks said he was not proposing a change in the bylaws but only a change in the process in which the board considers continuing violations. Stevens suggested that the board or the administration, in recommending CPI actions, could routinely consider removal of voting rights as one of the consequences of a continuing violation. That would leave the board with discretion on a case-by-case basis. Under current practice, the only typical consequence is that the matter is referred to legal counsel for enforcement action. Hill said that as proposed, the motion “didn’t do anything” because

Parks was not proposing a bylaws change. But he added that if the board wants to routinely add voting rights’ removal as another consequence of a continuing violation, another possible consequence – one conceivably with more teeth – would be “removal of access to amenities” until such time as the violation was cured. Herrick said that in any case the board should have “flexibility” in deciding penalties for non-compliance “depending on the severity” of the violation. Stevens then said no motion was necessary because the board already has the power to consider additional consequences for continuing violations. Jacobs said that going forward the board should consider adding suspension of access to amenities in its CPI reviews. Based on the comments of his colleagues, and with the understanding that consideration of additional consequences will become part of the CPI process, Parks opted to withdraw his motion.

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34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 2017

Trendic disappointed in slow pace of hiring temporary HR consultant

that he prepares as board secretary. That process won’t be concluded until the board’s July regular meeting. Trendic said he wanted to disseminate the board’s actions with respect to HR, food and beverage and accounting prior to the July meetFood and beverage consultant to be hired from seven applicants, Hill says ing, hence his inclusion of the topic By TOM STAUSS if not as “immediately” as a recent disagreement among the directors of “immediate” action on the board’s Publisher press release suggested it would. about the meaning of “immediate.” June 23 meeting agenda. Body lanirector Slobodan Trendic’s A June 20 Ocean Pines Associ- Trendic’s ideas appear to differ from guage of some directors seemed to hopes for immediate action to ation press release indicated that that of his colleagues, a point ac- indicate that they would have been hire a human resources pro- the Board of Directors, during a knowledged by OPA President Tom OK if Trendic had not included the fessional to fill in temporarily pend- closed meeting on June 19, “shared Herrick in recent comments to the update on the agenda. “I thought a board discussion (of ing the hiring of a paid, profession- observations” in the “key” areas of Progress. al general manager appear to have accounting, HR (human resources) “Some want us to take steps fast- board actions at the June 20 meetbeen dashed, or at least is not pro- and Food and Beverage. The press er than we have so far,” Herrick said, ing) was in order,” he said. Acting General Manager Brett ceeding as quickly as he had hoped. release said that the board worked an apparent reference to Trendic. The same isn’t true for a paid con- “collectively” to bring “immediate During the board’s regular Hill, commenting on the status of sultant to assist the board in evalu- support” in all three areas. monthly meeting June 23, Trendic a human resources consultant, said ating current operations in food and What that collective action en- focused on what he called a board the OPA’s Bethesda law firm, Lerch beverage operations. That seems to tailed was not specified in the press decision to hire a temporary human Early, has a human resources divibe proceeding more quickly, even release, and it appears there is some resources consultant who would be sion and would be sending a repreemployed “for a temporary period of sentative to Ocean Pines “to be on time” pending the hiring of a paid, site to begin training” on a recently professional general manager. He revised employee handbook. “The individual would be availreferred to the closed session June 19, after which the board convened able next week,” he said, referring in open session to reveal some of to the last week of June. After Trendic indicated this isn’t what was decided in the closed seswhat he had in mind by a trained sion. He said what the board discussed “dedicated” human resources indiin open session was not video re- vidual, Herrick said we “need a good Home of the famous ”SMITH ISLAND CAKE” corded as is customary for most job description” before such a per board meetings. The media also son is hired, and that board would DAY TRIPS: Leaves Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD Daily at 12:30 pm was not present as often occurs in need to get together soon “to draft ISLAND AMENITIES: Bayside Inn Restaurant famous for Crab Cakes & Smith Island Cake meetings that are primarily held in a confidentiality agreement” to enGift Shops • Museum • Golf Cart • Bike Rentals closed session. Trendic said that as sure that interactions between OPA Call for Reservations Directions: Rt. 413 to Crisfield, a result what occurred in open ses- employees and this consultant are turn left after Fire Department, Stop at sion wouldn’t be known by the mem- contained within the OPA. Capt. Tyler’s Motel for cruise tickets Director Dave Stevens said the bership until such time as the board www.smithislandcruises.com considered and approved minutes board has intended to hire and has budgeted for a human resources specialist since his first year as DON'T WAIT a director. He didn’t mention that SPRAY NOW! for a variety of reasons it has never Designing effective, environmentally sound weed control programs for • Enjoy a weed free property all summer long happened. Stevens suggested that Delmarva property owners for 30 years! (No more pulling weeds) • Eliminate hiding places for Lyme Disease carrying Lerch Early’s human resources de410-742-2973 ticks, rodents and snakes GUARANTEED Season Long WEED CONTROL partment might be able to fill the • Reduce weed pollen and related allergy symptoms • More time for summer fun (fishing, golfing, beach, etc.) position temporarily pending the or We Re-Treat for FREE! • Driveways hiring of a professional, paid generLook WhatYour Your Neighbors Look What Neighbors • Stone Yards SayingAbout About Our Our Service... AreAre Saying Service ... al manager by the board. • Sidewalks & Patios "Very pleased with thethe service, our yardour is free of weeds “Very pleased with service, yard is free & brush, our property looks great, very dependable..." • Shrub Beds In a conversation with the Progof weeds & brush, our property looks great, very dependable ...” Bob Conti, Ocean Pines, MD Locally Owned & Operated • Serving Delmarva for 30 years • Natural Areas ress in late June, Hill confirmed Licensed & Insured • Certified in MD, DE & VA "WeedPRO provides top notch reliable service. A great • Parking Lots value..." provides top notch reliable service. A “WeedPRO that the process that could result We Accept • Storage Yards great value&... ” Chuck Dashiell, MD "Friendly knowledgable, wish we had Salisbury, tried them sooner..." in the hiring of a human resources • Fence Lines “Friendly & knowledgable. 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(No more pulling weeds) cialist. property owners for 41 Eliminate hiding places for Lyme Disease carrying New Customer •Discount 410-742-2973 410-742-2973 Trendic later in the meeting notticks, rodents and snakes • Reduce weed pollen and related allergy symptoms ed that the board, also during the • More timeFor for summer fun (fishing, golfing, beach, etc.) First Time June 20 closed meeting, had agreed Look Customers What Your Neighbors We Accept to bring on a paid consultant to reAreCoupon Saying About Our Service... On placed 10/30/17 • Present Coupon after Free Onall allorders orders placed by by 9/30/06 • Present Money Mailer after FreeEstimate Estimate view operations at the Ocean Pines "Very pleased with the service, our yard is free of weeds & brush, our property looks great, very dependable..." 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July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

VOTE FOR CLARKE AND PARKS OCEAN PINES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Let’s Continue on the Path of Progress and Fiscal Responsibility

Over the past year, the current Board of Directors, with four first-year members and interim General Manager, has implemented more positive change than has been seen in Ocean Pines over the past ten years. This includes sadly neglected maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, and improvements to amenities, public safety and support. It was accomplished without an increase in assessments or the sacrifice of future needs. The Board:

Doug Parks

Marty Clarke

• Renovated bridges to correct deficiencies cited by the state since 2015 • Replaced Beach Club bathrooms and corrected other maintenance needs • Repaired the roof and performed mold remediation at the Country Club • Renovated the Tern Grille to achieve more space and improve the view • Began 2nd Floor Country Club renovation to improve access and functionality • Began renovation of administration building to expand police station • Renovated interior of the Cove Restaurant to improve ambiance and utility • Replaced Community Center gym floor and corrected water problem • Replaced unsafe playgrounds at Huntington Park and Manklin Meadows • Added eight pickleball and two platform tennis courts to Manklin Meadows • Approved an annex to the Sports Core pool to expand Aquatics programs • Renegotiated very unfavorable golf cart leasing contract • Ended LU Contact by mutual agreement and returned to in-house golf management • Formed Technology Working Group and posted an RFP for fiber optic network • Began replacement of antiquated IT equipment in Public Works • Formed Working Group to make corrections to DMA reserve study Statements from certain candidates in the current election would dismiss or minimize these achievements or quarrel over the manner in which they were made to happen. At the same time they overlook the important fact that the approaches used will save the Association millions of dollars well into the future. When maintenance and renovation of existing facilities become our first consideration, our reserve needs suddenly take on a different, more modest perspective. Of the candidates running for election this summer, only two have consistently supported the current board and what it has achieved. They are the only sure way to continue on the path of progress and fiscal responsibility.

Vote to continue the progress of the last year Authority: Keeping Ocean Pines Moving, Victor Burke, treasurer

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 2017

Clarke slams Jacobs, Trendic for attempts to oust Hill as acting general manager

Board to host unusual July 9 special meeting Directors reportedly to meet in closed session to talk with attorney on status of adults-only Yacht Club pool

Candidate says Jacobs had improper contact with department head

mation about Clarke. “Cheryl has put me in a difficult spot,” the department head said, “basically telling me if I don’t speak up about what Marty Clarke said to me, he (Clarke) will get elected (to the Board of Directors.” That, he said, would be regarded as “tragic” by Trendic and Jacobs because, with Clarke unwavering in his support of Hill and the board, “Hill will remain in the picture.” The e-mail did not specify what it was that Clarke had said to the employee that was supposedly so offensive. “I don’t know what it was,” Clarke responded, when asked if he knew. The department head went on to say that “if I go before the board, it will put a large target on my back” because he had done his best to follow Hill’s direction. He told Hill that he (the department head) needed to consult with legal counsel. “Board members should (not) be pressuring employees to get involved in politics,” the employee added, because it would lead to “even more of a hostile environment than I’m currently dealing with.” He told Hill, whom he contacted

By TOM STAUSS Publisher oard of Directors’ candidate Marty Clarke, no stranger to controversy when he last served as an Ocean Pines Association director, has issued a statement criticizing two sitting directors, Cheryl Jacobs and Slobodan Trendic, for what he calls their disruptive activities designed to oust Acting General Manager Brett Hill in recent months. “This board is not dysfunctional, but Cheryl and Slobodan are disruptive,” he said. “They’ve spent the last three months or so contacting employees in the pursuit of trying to unseat Hill. They’ve been relentless,” and “it’s hurting board cohesion and the morale of OPA employees.” He said both directors have actively tried to undermine Hill’s support in the community as a way of diminishing the standing of the Board of Directors, a majority of whose members continue to back Hill despite months of controversy surrounding him. In his campaign for election to the board, Clarke has generally been supportive of the progress that Hill and the board have made in improving OPA facilities this past year. Clarke said that pushing him to make a public statement was evidence he obtained, in the form of an e-mail from an Ocean Pines Association department head, to Hill. Clarke declined to identify the department head out of privacy concerns. The e-mail revealed improper contact with an employee for the purpose of persuading him to make a statement to the board critical of Clarke and Hill, Clarke said. That e-mail, a copy of which was obtained by the Progress with the understanding that the department head could not be identified on the record, details that employee’s struggles with what he regards as an attempt by Jacobs to pressure him to go public with negative infor-

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors, in an unusual if not unprecedented Sunday special meeting, will be meeting July 9 at 1 p.m. to address two issues that Director Slobodan Trendic has been urging his colleagues to resolve faster than they seem prepared to do. According to the published agenda, the board will be discussing the hiring of a food and beverage consultant and a human resources specialist, two areas of particular interest to Trendic. Then the board will be moving into closed session to consult with attorney Jeremy Tucker. Sources tell the Progress that one subject likely to come up for discussion in the closed session is the legal imperative for converting the Yacht Club “Oasis” pool from an adults-only venue to a family pool open seven days a week to family ages of all ages. Tucker has been researching the issue at board request, and is expected to make a recommendation to the board. The problem for the Ocean Pines Association is that as a 501c4 community welfare organization, its amenities must be open to the public, and the Fair Housing Act as amended in 1988 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age. Director Dave Stevens told the Progress in early July that if the attorney tells the board in no uncertain terms that it can’t operate the pool as an adults-only venue, then the choice for the directors will be how soon to make the conversion. One option would be to continue the adults-only operation for the remainder of this year, giving OPA members plenty of notice for next summer in the Oasis pool’s change of status. If the decision is made to proceed immediately with opening the pool to people of all ages, Stevens said that the board has to decide whether to offer refunds to those pool members who bought memberships with the understanding that the Yacht Club pool was adults-only. Stevens seemed to indicate he was considering a refund to those who request it, while other directors have pushed back against that idea, he said. Annual or summer pool memberships entitle their holders to access all five Ocean Pines swimming pools and have never been offered for one pool only.

Family fun night

The Oasis Pool (formerly known as the Yacht Club Pool), located at 1 Mumford’s Landing Road in Ocean Pines, is once again open for families Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. through Aug. 23. Games, contests and music are all part of Family Fun Night, an event jointly hosted by the Ocean Pines Parks and Recreation and Aquatics departments. Food and beverages will be for sale poolside. The cost is $3 for swim members, $5 for Ocean Pines residents and $7 for nonresidents. Only those swimming pay a fee.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

in his capacity as acting general manager rather than an OPA director, that he (the OPA employee) wasn’t sure that Hill “could protect me against Cheryl or Slobodan,” without indicating what sort of action they would be in a position to take against him. “I feel like this was an attempt for Mrs. Jacobs to make me think that you are portraying me in a negative way to the other board members and possibly the new GM,” he told Hill. Clarke said that Jacobs’s contact with the employee was totally improper but was consistent with similar contacts that he said Jacobs and Trendic had made in recent months, designed to dig up unflattering information about Hill. The issue of improper contact almost led to a 5-2 vote to remove Trendic from the board in a closed meeting last month, Clarke said. “One of the directors had in his pocket a motion to remove him,” Clarke said, “but it wasn’t offered because Slobodan said he wouldn’t do that (contact employees) again.” But then he obtained a copy of the e-mail, and Clarke said he couldn’t remain silent any longer. Trendic has made no secret of his desire in recent months to have Hill removed as acting general manager, pending the hiring of a new general manager. The effort has been an exercise in futility, because he never had the votes to make it happen. At most he had Jacobs on his side, two short of the four needed to make a change. In response to Clarke’s comments, Trendic said, “Let me state the obvious, Mr. Clarke is in the campaign mode and trying to get elected. “He is also entitled to his opinion. However, Mr. Clarke is dealing with second-hand information and I am dealing with the facts I was directly exposed to. Our homeowners understand and appreciate the difference between the two,” he said. He told the Progress recently that he had not been personally involved in approaching OPA employees for the purpose of obtaining information undermining Hill. The Progress reached out to Jacobs via e-mail for a comment on Clarke’s claim that she had acted improperly in her contact with the department head. She had not responded before this edition of the Progress had gone to press.

Trendic calls for immediate return of Lynda Huettner to Beach Club Hill says ‘that ship has sailed,’ says public airing of board divisions hurts staff morale By TOM STAUSS Publisher rustrated with a growing number of complaints he’s hearing from Ocean Pines Association members about operations at the Beach Club this summer, Director Slobodan Trendic is calling for the immediate rehiring of the former long-time manager of the amenity, Lynda Huettner. Trendic says he doesn’t know whether Huettner, who resigned this winter because of policy and personal differences with Acting General Brett Hill, is interested in returning to her old job. But he said that he thinks it’s very possible, provided that, upon her return, she would be allowed to report to the board rather than to Hill as acting general manager. Trendic said he sent out an email to all his board colleagues on July 2, but had not heard back from anyone by week’s end. That’s par for the course these days for Trendic, who in late June sent out an email to his colleagues asking for support for a legal opinion on the propriety of surveillance cameras installed on OPA property, without the expressed approval of the board. His email said the OPA attorney should be asked whether OPA policy on the presence of cameras should be included in the OPA’s employee handbook, noting that the latest iteration of the handbook prepared by former Director of Finance Mary Bosack does not include any reference to surveillance cameras. Trendic said he hadn’t heard back from any director on that issue, either. He says only one director, Cheryl Jacobs, is sympathetic to his concerns. She says he believes she’s waiting for other directors to respond before doing so herself. Regarding the Beach Club, Trendic said the number of complaints about service and the attitude of certain employees are becoming intolerable. He said a neighbor of his reported an encounter with one of the bartenders there who refused to give him the 20 percent discount off his drink order to which he was entitled under a current OPA policy implemented by Hill this spring. Trendic said that the bartender used the f-word in rejecting the resident’s demand for a discount. He also said he’s heard complaints from residents who say that drink orders result in drinks that residents didn’t ask for. “So they give up and go across the street to Seacrets,” Trendic said. The director said he was going to the media with his call for Huettner’s return because he doesn’t want property owners to think everyone on the board is indifferent to their concerns or is unwilling to take bold action to remedy problems, OPA President Tom Herrick and other directors

say they are well aware of complaints about operations at the Beach Club and Yacht Club in particular, which is why they recently authorized the hiring of a consultant to review all of the OPA restaurant amenities. By the first week of July, Hill told the Progress that seven applicants had indicated interested in the consulting position and that the board would be making a decision on whom to hire in the very near future. The board had a special meeting scheduled for Sunday afternoon, July 9, in which the subject of a food and beverage consultant was scheduled for discussion. That’s not fast enough for Trendic. “While it’s clear we need a forensic audit of all our food and beverage operations, we can’t wait for that,” he said. “The board should go over the head of the acting general manager and immediately reach out to Lynda to bring her back.” Hill said that won’t be happening. “That ship has sailed,” he said. “She resigned, and we are fully staffed up.” Hill disputed the notion of widespread management and service problems at the Beach Club. “All the negativity is being generated by a small number of people,” he said. “As an HOA-run restaurant, I’d admit we’re not perfect, but most people, if they go in expecting to have a good time and good experience, odds are that they will.” Hill said that if a board member has a particular problem at a particular venue, the better approach is to keep it in-house, rather than air it out in the media. “Doing this in public like we’ve been doing in recent months has a corrosive effect on morale,” he said, adding that directors who hear something negative on the street shouldn’t “assume that it’s gospel or representative of most people’s experiences.” “It’s a shame that the entire board can’t support what we’re trying to do here,” he said. “The second-guessing is pretty disgusting,” because it just discourages employees “who are trying to do a good job.” Trendic told the Progress he felt compelled to go public with his concerns because keeping them inhouse hasn’t been working. He said that with Huettner back on the scene, employees who haven’t been adequately supervised will be in a position to perform better. “Morale will improve,” he predicted.

Board ‘disruption’ From Page 36

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

38 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 2017

Board approves new golf course mowers despite paucity of bids Hill gets contingent OK pending delivery of additional proposals By TOM STAUSS Publisher ossibly in part because Brett Hill is a volunteer general manager, counting down to his last days and weeks in his acting role, he got a pass on the way he presented a proposal at the June 23 Board of Direcors meeting for new golf course mowers replacing those that had outlived their useful lives. Normally, general managers try to obtain three bid proposals for any capital purchase they present to the board, but Hill asked for, and received, board contingent support for the purchase of mowers without the usual three competing bids in place. The approval was subject to Hill subsequently obtaining the required bids and letting the directors know, via email, their dollar amounts. The two separate votes for mowers – a rough mower and a front mower for edging around trees – were held with two bids in place for the rough mower but only one price available for the front mower. The separate 5-0 votes, with Trendic abstaining in both cases and Director Pat Supik absent, gave Hill the authority to select the lowest bid once they were submitted by vendors. Hill only had to inform the board through follow-up e-mail the dollar amount of the bid submissions and which vendor or vendors won the bid. Director Dave Stevens made it clear that the board, once apprised of the contents of the additional bids, would not have another bite at the apple to approve or reject the vendors. He said the board, in the June 23 vote, was in effect voting for the lowest bid for both mowers. Hill said the request for the replacement mowers was made on the recommendation of golf course superintendent Andre Jordan and his lead mechanic. Hill said that both mowers were beyond repair and that their replacements, to be purchased out of replacement reserves, needed to be delivered and available for use going into the Fourth of July week-

ed in the capital budget. He said it would have required an act of “clairvoyance” to know that these particular mowers would break down. But Jacobs said the failure to include these two items in the capital budget underscored for her long-standing concerns that LU was shortchanging maintenance at the golf course. Hill didn’t try to defend the former management company, but said that in-house management means that the OPA can keep a closer eye on the equipment and, for next year’s budget, have a sharper focus on what equipment needs to be replaced. Trendic remained skeptical about the process, wondering whether there would be any other “surprises” presented to the board for emergency funding this fiscal year. Hill gave the board some information on the condition of each mower that he said could not be economically fixed and the replacement equipment proposed by competing vendors. The John Deere rough mower with more than 2500 hours of use has a hydraulic leak that, if not removed from the fleet, could contaminant the grass. He said the mower, purchased for the OPA by Billy Casper Golf, a previous course management company, about six years ago, has about 20 hydraulic hoses, each one costing about $300 to $400

to replace in material cost alone. Hill said one vendor had submitted a bid for a Jacobson AR522 unit costing $31,000 at a special rate good through the end of June, while another vendor produced a bid for a Toro unit costing $35,750. After Parks said he could support the lower cost unit if a third bid didn’t come in for less than $31,000, Trendic asked whether the unit could be leased. Hill said it could be but, even under a lease arrangement, the OPA is responsible for repairs over the life of the lease. Hill said the Toro front mower needing replacement is more than ten years old with more than 3000 hours of use. He said it, too, had a failing hydraulic system and a modest trade-in value of about $800. The one bid received as of the June 23 meeting was for $24,145. OPA President Tom Herrick jumped into the discussion, characterizing his support for the purchases as a way to tell Jordan that he was doing a “great job” keeping the golf course in excellent playing condition. Jacobs was less interested in praising Jordan than she was in criticizing the fact that the two replacement mowers are unbudgeted. “We’re piecemealing it,” she said, adding that she was “curious” why they hadn’t been identified for replacement during the budget process.

end and into the summer months. Trendic did not object so much to the fact that the purchase requests were made without three bids but that Hill was asking for purchase approval without at least considering the possibility that leasing replacement units could save the OPA money over the long term. Trendic alone among the directors wanted Hill to present a comparative cost analysis of purchasing the new mowers versus leasing them. Hill was not particularly defensive about failing to produce such a comparative analysis, contending that the units being replaced had been mostly or fully depreciated, meaning that their replacement dollars for purchase had already been collected from property owners in the form of assessments paid and allocated to the replacement reserve. Previously, he has argued that avoiding lease payments is a way to keep operating costs down. Trendic later expressed frustration at the board’s seeming unwillingness to consider less expensive ways to accomplish the same result. It was not a complete cake walk for Hill, though, as Stevens, Trendic and Cheryl Jacobs all questioned why the failing mowers had not been identified for replacement during the budget process. Hill reminded his colleagues that Jordan had not been working for the golf course when the budget numbers were put together. He said the capital budget for the golf course had been assembled by the former golf course management compa- Junior golf camp ny, Landscapes Unlimited, Over 30 junior golfers putted, chipped and learned how to play the sport of a lifetime during the first session of Ocean Pines Golf Club’s summer junior golf camp June 26-29. which had not identified the Four sessions of the four-day camp, which is open to the public and designed for ages 5-14, two mowers at issue as need- will be offered throughout the summer. Additional sessions will be held July 10-13, July ing replacement. 24-27 and Aug. 7-10 from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The camp provides instruction in swing basics, Director Doug Parks was chipping and putting, rules and etiquette, the use of irons and woods and more. Beginner not inclined to blame either and experienced junior players are encouraged to attend.The cost to attend golf camp is Jordan or Hill for the fact the $125 per golfer per four-day session, which includes lunch and snacks each day and a goody mowers had not been includ- bag. Equipment is provided, or participants may bring their own.

OPA FINANCES

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA behind budget by $99,000 for first month of fiscal year Aquatics jumps out to strong start to fiscal year,

$150,000 ahead of May of last year By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association opened the 2017-17 fiscal year in May $99,449 behind budget but well ahead of last year’s opening month with net operating revenue of $5,268,672. That compares to $5,023,060 in May a year ago. According to the May financial report prepared by Director of Finance John Viola, the OPA in May recorded revenues that were under budget by $129,153 and total expenses under budget by $29,704. Aquatics got off to a strong start compared to budget and especially compared to May of last year. Actual total revenues of $370,439 from all sources, including member dues, swim lessons, cash fees, coupons, and party rentals, exceeded budget by $9,439. Revenues in May of last year were $218,743. That’s a $151,696 year-over-year positive swing. Much of that can be explained by a year-over-year jump in membership dues, from $181,179 last May to $327,470 this May, a $146,291 positive swing. The increase reflects changes in accounting of revenues at the Beach Club approved by the board as part of the 2017-18 budget. It appears that revenues attributed to the sale of $120 debit swipe cards good at all Ocean Pines pools and the $120 photo-ID card good only at the Beach Club pool have been allocated in one lump sum to Aquatics. The original plan had been to set aside revenues from the sales of these cards into some sort of escrow, with the funds then allocated to Aquatics each month based on the actual number of card swipes. Acting General Manager Brett Hill told the Progress in late June that he wasn’t absolutely certain that Aquatics was credited with all the swipe card revenue sold during May but said that conclusion seemed “logical” based on the numbers in the financial report. Beach Club parking passes, probably because of changes in the way

it is sharing revenue with Aquatics, generated $157,470 in net revenue for May, a drop from $250,733 a year ago. That drop was anticipated, but at the same parking passes missed budget by $10,751. The Beach Club food and beverage operation did not get off to a great start for the year, as Ocean Pines residents are still learning about the second floor restaurant operation and much later hours at the beachfront amenity. The loss for the month was $28,990, missing budget by $21,981. A year ago, the loss for the month was only $5,222. The Yacht Club food and beverage operation lost $32,081 for the month, missing its budget by $62,349. A year ago, the Yacht Club lost $17,876 in May. Golf operations have gotten off to a respectable start, generating a $43,130 surplus for the month. Golf fell short of budget projections by $16,520, but beat last May’s $20,424 surplus by $22,706.

That essentially means that golf operations, moved in-house earlier this year, have generated net revenue that has more than doubled year over year. The Tern Grille, which had been buried in the golf department when it had been managed by Landscapes Unlimited, is now broken out as its own department in the monthly financials. Tern Grille net revenues were $2,244 for the month, against a budget of $8,635. That’s a $6,391 negative variance to budget. All three racquet sports generated surpluses in May, with two of three ahead of budget and two of three underperforming compared to May of last year. Tennis with net revenues of $14,132 missed its budget by $2,870. A year ago net revenues for tennis were $19,859. That’s a $5,727 yearover-year decrease. Platform tennis generated $11,498 in net revenues for May, ahead of budget by $425. A year ago net revenues were $9,032. That’s a positive year-over-year swing of $2,466. Pickleball with net revenues of $8,166 exceeded its budget by $915. But a year ago net revenues were $9,165, a drop off about $1,000. Marina net revenues of $162,532 missed budget by $519. A year ago marina revenues were $166,257. That’s a $3,725 decrease year over year.

May financial summary by department. Source: Ocean Pines Association

The Recreation and Parks Department generated a healthy surplus for the month of $24,521, ahead of budget by $1,038. A year ago in May, the department managed only a $6,645 surplus. The year-over-year increase is $17,876. Reserve Summary – The OPA through May 31 had a total of $9,090,592 in reserves, a substantial increase from the April balance of $5,772,309. May is the month when contributions from assessments are allocated to the various reserves. The replacement reserve carried a balance of $5,944,292 as of May 31, up from the April balance of $3,442,337. As the result of board action last February, the replacement reserve balance no longer includes a historical and legacy reserve. Those two reserves have been merged. Roughly $1.6 million of the $2,328,360 contribution from new assessments is attributable to funded depreciation, with another $700,000 or so in supplemental funding The bulkhead reserve has grown from $1,821,240 at the end of April to $2,637,326 as of May 31, reflecting $822,367 in waterfront differential revenues. The roads reserve remained virtually unchanged in May with a balance of $508,974. Balance sheet – There was no balance sheet included with the May financial report.

40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA BOARD ELECTION

July 2017

CANDIDATES’ FORUM Clarke, Crosariol, Horn and Parks respond to Election panel questions The four candidates vying for two open seats on the Board of Directors in this summer’s Ocean Pines Association annual election fielded questions about their positions on a variety of issues during a June 21 candidate forum hosted by the Elections Committee. This year’s candidates are Marty Clarke, Nicole Crosariol, Colette Horn and Doug Parks. They had the opportunity to express their views on topics that included the status of OPA reserves, association finances, amenity use, and infrastructure improvements. be addressed by the reserve fund. Additionally, in this year’s budget there was an allocation of $650,000, I think to the tune of about $77 per homeowner with regard to contributing to that fund, continuing to contribute to that fund. I think we need to take a long hard look at next year’s budget and look at exactly where that fund level should be. I think we have plenty of room and I think we have an opportunity to look at passing on any potential savings to the membership in the form of a reduced assessment. Again, the major things are behind us. Certainly, I’m not trying to emphasize the need for removal of the reserve fund. It’s an absolute necessity. Whether we use the cost method or the allocation method, we need to look at the product life of not only the larger assets, but as Collette mentioned, there are smaller assets that are associated with the operational aspects of Ocean Pines that also are part of the things that would affect the reserve study that would be funded by reserve funding going forward. But again, the emphasis needs to be on looking at the correct levels of that funding for reserves going forward and make sure we are funding it in exactly the right way, to make sure we are not overcharging and taking money from the association and putting it in, what arguably could be called a slush fund, for future use later on. Fiduciary responsibility is important to the reserve fund. Marty Clarke: Reserves can get way complicated because we make them complicated. They’re not. The best example I ever saw was if Ocean Pines buys a beach chair and it costs $100 and its got a 10-year life, every year Ocean Pines should take $10 out of its assessment and put it in a reserve so that at the end of the 10 years we’ve got 100 buck to buy another beach chair. That’s all its sup-

posed to do. Bulkheads, you know, I think that’s sort of a straw man. First off, most of the people in this room don’t pay for the bulkheads. A teeny little amount. Bulkheads are the responsibility of the waterfront property owners. That’s a separate reserve. We have a replacement and maintenance reserve. That money is for the chair, the windows in this building. No new buildings. We pulled it off at the Yacht Club. But legally, in most states, maybe this one, let’s not make too big of a deal about it, that’s new capital. If it’s a new building, it’s new capital. It does not come out of reserves. The reserves are to keep a balance. 100 percent. The windows for this building. The floor for this building. The roof for this building. Not this building. Don’t mean to correct my friend Doug as of today we have over $7 million in the bank for reserves. We need more reserve money like a snake needs a pair of shoes. I think we stop this nonsense. Fund what we need. If worms are the problems – by the way it’s not worms that are the problems it’s undermining of the bulkheads because people did things they shouldn’t have done. Question: Aside from reserves, what are your thoughts on Ocean Pines’ finances? Nicole Crosariol: I believe the finances obviously, once the new GM comes into place we need to be able to keep all of our amenities. I know most of them are doing quite well, but if they make money and we can put them in other places, I think why not? It’s still a business… We’re a nonprofit, if it makes money we can use it in other areas if it happens to lower some assessment then so be it. It’s kinda great for everybody. I think diversifying and having things for, I guess, every, all demographics would help everyone

kinda fund all of those different amenities….Going forward and having an annual budget meeting. You can’t really assess things as they come. You can’t fix things as you go. You just have a whole year come around and then when everyone sits down to talk about it, they’re like ‘oh, what happened?’ We didn’t talk about it the whole time. You need to kinda go along with it throughout the year that way we came make changes as needed. Whether it be employment, staff, managers, and things of that nature. Doug Parks: With regard to finances, I revert back to the budget that we looked at this past year that was prepared. It came from a model that said the current assessment was $921. What can we get for that $921 and base the budget off of that. That’s to me the wrong way to approach the budget. If you look around the area, our assessment dollars based on what we have are pretty reasonable. However, when we start a budget we really need to look at contractual spend, the things we have, new capital, and what it takes to actually operationalize the environment. And if we don’t look at that where we are looking at ways to potentially make more efficient use of the moneys, make more efficient use of the processes, look at the business operation to see where there are efficiencies to be made. One of the fiduciary responsibilities is to hand those savings back over to the constituency, to the membership. Publically, if you’ll go back to the videos, note that I did not vote for the budget this year. There was $791,000 worth of increased labor costs and we didn’t do anything materially different than the operation that we did the year before. I had a very tough time swallowing the idea of that kind of increase. Now, some q

Question: Please give us your thoughts on the OPA reserve fund. Colette Horn: My view of the OPA reserve funds is that they are like an insurance policy for us. They are funds that we need to have in place for catastrophes that come up unexpected. The infestation of the worms in the bulkheads and the sinkholes is a perfect example of something that came up unexpectedly. Fortunately, we have the funds to be able to cover that. If that happens every year, we need to know that those funds are there. The reserve fund study, in my view, needs to be updated so that we sure that we have funds that are going to buy police vehicles, that are going to buy computers, that are going to buy desks, that are going to buy all of the things that our association needs to run its business. I know a lot of people think about the reserve funds as being just about buildings. It’s not just about buildings. It’s about all of the things that support our employees to do the work of running this great organization and making our community great for us. Nicole Crosariol: I believe the reserve fund is obviously using revenues for a catastrophe. Some of the things that I’ve heard with the canals and ditches and maybe sewage, some of those things that have kinda been overlooked, and also supplies needed by the employees, trucks. Looking at a five or 10-year plan and then looking ahead. Knowing what we’re going to be needing in the future. Doug Parks: With regard to reserve funds, number one if you look at the amount that we currently have it’s over $4 million right now. Coupled with the fact that several major renovations have already been done, I think we’re in pretty good shape with regard to major amenities and the things that would

Candidate Q&A From Page 40 of that increase was justified alright, but the full amount of it was not. And I really thought that we missed the boat or could have done a better job. Let’s put it that way. To be very efficient and very responsible with membership money. From a budget perspective we’re fine. We obviously run our environments the way we should. I don’t think the burden is too much. But we shouldn’t get enamored with that and we should absolutely continue to work toward trying to minimize the assessment as much as possible while still providing the amenities that this community needs. Marty Clarke: We touched on reserves. We have $7 million in the bank. I don’t think we need to address reserves. I think we need to fund depreciation. We’ve doing that for 40 years and its worked. We built this building. No special assessment. No 5-year funding plan. We had the money in reserves. The budget. The board is charged….the general manager is charged to present a zero-based budget. What that means is ‘what’s it going to cost next year to run this place?’ Fire, police, public works, etc. Divided by 8,452 members. Equals the assessment. That’s not the way we did it last year, no. I’m not picking on last year’s board. It’s hard to remember the goal is to clean out the sewer when you’re fighting off the alligators. They were all but basically new. They started with the assessment. That’s like going out to buy a car and saying ‘I’m gonna spend $100,000’ and the first place you stop is the Volkswagon dealer. You’re done. We need to stop thinking about tis the board’s job to hold the assessment. It isn’t. The job is to do a good budget, as good as you can, divided by 8,452. That’s your assessment. If it goes up, it goes up. If it goes down, like it should have last year by I believe easily $100 bucks, it goes down. It’s not the board’s job to create a savings account for us. It’s just not. I think we’re doing an alright job. But we need to really do a good budget and if the assessment goes down, God Bless America. Colette Horn: I agree with Doug and Marty that we’re in a pretty healthy position financially overall. I do take exception with the idea of going $270,000 over budget in a given year is ok. If we do that every year, where are we going to make those funds up. Eventually its going to come back in increased assess-

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS ments. So we need to be accountable. We can’t blame somebody else for writing a budget that we’re now willing to live with. If I budgeted in my household budget for a new refrigerator but somewhere in the middle of the year my washer and dryer went up, I need that washer and dryer. I’m not going to buy that refrigerator. I’m going to buy the washer and dryer. We need to make those kind of trade offs here in our budget so that we’re living within the budget that was set. I agree with Marty and Doug that we need to set the best budget possible. We need to be responsible in doing that. But then we need to go forward and make those tough decisions to live within that budget. I want to go back a little bit to the reserve fund because I think there’s a little confusion there yet. There are two ways of looking at the reserve fund. If we’re funding for deprecation, we’re funding for what we paid for that item 10 years ago when we first bought it or 30 years ago when we first put it in place. At the time that we’re replacing it, its not its not going to cost, that $100 chair is not going to cost $100. Now with inflation and changes in the economy, that $100 chair is going to cost $150. So if we only put $100 in the bank for that chair, we’re going to have trouble when it comes time to replace it. So when we do the reserve study, we need to look at not just book deprecation reserve study. We need more of a replacement reserve study. We have kind of out of control payroll costs and we need to look at bringing that into reason and being more responsible overall, and staying within a break even budget. Question: Please tell us your knowledge and thoughts on back [delinquent] assessments. Doug Parks: In the resolutions, there’s a stipulation about the requirement for paying them along with there fact that there are late charges associated with it. There was discussion in the past with regard to the amount of percentage we can charge in overdue or late payments. According to Maryland law I think the average was between 6 and 8 percent. We in Ocean Pines have 20 percent, but we’re well within the legal limits. We actually have addressed that on a number of occasions. You know, it’s hard. You look at some of the reasons people couldn’t pay their assessment. You obviously have to take that into consideration. But again, and this may sound in-

sensitive, we’re not a charity. We are here as a homeowners association. Every one of us that have moved in here have made the commitment to meet the assessments and to ensure that we abide by those rules that require assessments be paid. Now I think there needs to be flexibility especially if you work with parties to ensure that they are trying to make the assessments. If they can’t make the full payment, I’m sure we can be creative and be flexible with regard to allowing for some form of graduated payment or payment plan. But certainly we also have to realize that something’s going to have to give. I heard a statistic that as of now 98 percent of our assessments, I think we’re only 2, 2 and a half percent of our total assessments that are uncollected. And that’s pretty good based on the industry standard that I’m aware of. So, we’re fine but we can’t ignore that and I think we need to do whatever we can to understand those want to pay, we need to be flexible in allowing them to pay, and those that’s can’t pay it will just be debt that we have to write off. Marty Clarke: It’s a lot of money. I haven’t been as close to it as I was when I was on the board, but its well over $1 million bucks. You know, big picture, a millions bucks, a millions bucks, what’s a million bucks. I think that back when I was on the board I pushed and finally got us, under great resistance, to print the names of the homeowners with unpaid assessments in the newspaper. It’s right in our DRs. It’s one of the tools that we’re charged with and given collect this money. There’s something that I find amazing is our unpaid assessment property owners are also the same people whose homes look like pigsties. It’s almost hand in hand. I mean we have some people that have run into financial problems. I think we should bend over backwards to help them. But that doesn’t mean let them off the hook for their assessments. So, I’m sorry I say the minute they go 6 months, I’d take them to small claims court and sue them. That’s what they do in most associations. That’s what they do in a condominium association I serve on the board right here in Ocean Pines, and our accounts receivable – 206 unit condominium – is zero. Because we sue that at whatever the absolute minimum is and then we force foreclosure. Ocean Pines puts a lien on it, or has in the past, and figures the job’s done. It’s not done. These people aren’t paying you, but they’re

watching wide screen TVs and hacking away on their computers. I don’t get it. Colette Horn: I’m not sure these people are looking at their wide screen TVs. I think these are some people who have fallen on some real hard times. We know about soaring costs of health care we know about a lot of the financial difficulties. We do have a very strong collection rate. We are collecting some 97 percent roughly of all the debts owed to us and that is high for the standards of HOAs and other businesses. But our uncollected assessment figures have grown significantly over the past seven years. We do need to be diligent in our collection efforts. We do maintain current figures to be up to date in that process. I received a copy of our current policies from the acting GM and these are aggressive policies that are being pursued. They begin with letters and they go all the way up to filing lawsuits. Securing judgments that allow for garnishing wages and bank accounts and so forth. We need to be realistic about the people’s ability to pay. We can only squeeze so much out of a turnip. Let’s not be in the business of running people in the ground who have real financial difficulties. That 20 percent interest rate that we’re able to put on these past due bills is a pretty high interest rate that offsets some of the cost of the bad debt that we’re going to have to write off. It also offsets some of the cost of the collections themselves. We need to look at the collection measures, the collection company that we’re using. Right now we’re using a law firm. Law firms are pretty expensive as a first measure of addressing collections. I didn’t see any indication of competitive bidding in selecting our collection procedure. I think that we need to make sure we’re doing our due diligence and getting the best value for our collection efforts. Nicole Crosariol: I was thinking about either having some sort of….Obviously people do fall on hard times. And getting in some kind of payment plan obviously the likelihood for doing the collections the 20 percent I think is sufficient enough. And even, I know for myself I know when I pay taxes, I pay quarterly the year before that way when the following year comes it would be something that you can kind of get ahead of. In another sense, we thinking about staffing. A lot of the unemployment rates are pretty high. Maybe donating their time. If they q

OPA BOARD ELECTION

July 2017

Candidate Q&A From Page 41 can’t pay, maybe be able to volunteer and help at some of the events and some of our amenities might be a good option for them. They can donate their time if they’re not able to pay. I think might be a nice option to look into. Question: Focus on your thoughts about The Cove at Mumford’s Landing, also called the Yacht Club. Marty Clarke: In the last six months, the Yacht Club has lost $328,000. If this was our money, just us in the room, we all bought the Yacht Club, I don’t think there’s one of us crazy enough to open up in the off season to lose $328,000. It makes zero business sense. I would shutter that club around the end of September, winterize the pipes, and not reopen it again until April if I was king. It’s the way it was done here until 1988. Guys, if it was our money, yours and mine, would we open up to lose $328,000? No we wouldn’t. If there’s any body that would, cover the loss and we’ll stay open. Asking the 8,400 people that aren’t here to do it is criminal. Colette Horn: If we were to use that logic, we would be looking at the Orioles during the winter season. How much do you think they lose when they’re not playing baseball? Are we going to shut them down because they lose money in the off-season? I don’t think so. We just invested over $5 million into that Yacht Club. I think it would foolhardy and unfair to all of us that contributed that money to shut it down during half of the year. There are a lot of people in this community who rely on that as a meeting place. I’m a girl from Wisconsin and having a meeting place in the winter time when you can’t meet up with your friends outdoors is a very important value. In Wisconsin we met up at a local pub and we met in the wintertime, we had a great time together and we pursued our social life. Our members need that here as well. I think the Yacht Club is unique opportunity to provide a meeting place year round for our members. The real problem is solving the management problem, the quality of service, the quality of product so that the summer months can pay for the winter months just like the Oriole summer months pay for the rest of their year. Nicole Crosariol: I’m going to share a little of my experience with a local business. We open consistent-

ly so that people know that you’re always open is key. It does take some time. I agree with Collette, starting with the GM and coming all the way down from management. Once we get that into place you should make similar money in the wintertime because what else do we have to do? Most of us, we want to go out to eat even driving to Ocean City there’s not much to choose from. So why not have some place right at home? I know the trivia nights, we did some sip and shops, and just little activities we can all still gather and be that community when we don’t have a place outdoors to go to. I like the idea of having meeting spots. If these rooms are full and you want a bunch of ladies to go play bridge, we can open up and have different activities going on and rent it out to small clubs and stuff because that upstairs isn’t really getting much use anyway. But I think the more we advertise and let people know, even doing some weekly night specials like every other restaurant and bar does during the offseason, would help bring people in. And I think that would help sustain them enough over time with the right management. Doug Parks: What I refer back to is the idea of sound business practices. If you look at the performance of the Yacht Club especially in the offseason months, they continue to lose money. What seems to happen is that people say ‘I’m going to do something different. It’s gonna be better. Then it happens the same way. Another group comes along and says we’re gonna do it better and it happens the same way. We’ve got 10 plus year’s worth of that same sorta of cyclical involvement. The idea of making it more of a profit center during the year. Why doesn’t someone have the courage to say we should take a different look at it. We should say based on that experience we have to consider in my opinion different two things. Number one, finding a reasonable timeframe to close it down. That’s an immediate savings on the benefit…I tend to agree with Marty on this one with regard to we understand what the fixed costs are going to be while the building is closed. Somebody was quoting figures of $10,000 to $12,000 a month. But there’s no staffing involved. Certainly we’ll keep staff to run the environment throughout the winter months in other areas. The other thing too is now that the Tern’s Grille is available that could be a potential option

for others to go to with regard to not having the Yacht Club and that is a year round building. Certainly something that we should consider. And I talked about the courage to do something different. At the end of the day, I would agree with Collette is the sense that one of the other areas that needs some attention is the management of the facility. Clearly some marketing, some customer service, some quality needs to be injected into that place in order to turn a profit but I don’t think we’ll get enough to cover it in the non-seasonal months and I would be all for looking at those kinds of solutions going forward. At the very least involving not only consideration for closing, considerations for bring in outside and potentially leasing the whole operation if it made sense. Question: What are your thoughts about other amenities here in Ocean Pines? Collette Horn: I guess another amenity that’s been kind of a contentious issue is the golf club. We had the maintenance and caretaking operations outsourced for quite a while. That’s kind of gone back and forth. Now we have it back in house. There’s talk of outsourcing all the food and beverage for the Pines, which would include the golf club. I think that’s an idea worth looking at but in looking at it, particularly with the golf club, we need to make sure that the outsourcing for the golf operations and the food and beverage work hand in hand with each other because they depend on each other. The parks and recreation over that last seven years has been the biggest financial drain of the community. I think we need to look at that. When I look at those numbers, at salaries and programs that are contributing most of that negative variance I think we need to look at who’s using those, what are we paying for. There’s been a lot of talk about having differential payment of membership costs between residents and non-residents and we need to look at whether or not those differentials are strong enough to support having healthy budget for all of the amenities. One of the amenities that we use a couple of times a year is the boat ramp. There’s been talk about, ‘We show up at the boat ramp, there are no parking places. Are these boaters Ocean Pines people or are the community people?’ I think we need to get better data on who’s using our amenities and what our assessments are paying for with

respect to the support of all of the amenities. So that the best quality at lowest cost amenity experience is available for the residents and the homeowners. Nicole Crosariol: I don’t have a whole lot of experience with the golf and the Tern’s Grill and golfing because I have a really bad slice and I’m not good around the trees. I would say outsourcing that and the Yacht Club would be a good thing to look at. It just depends on the expertise of the new GM. how proficient that person is. I do think that maybe adding food or beverages at some of the pools could help some of the pools …give them more than one purpose in that sense and maybe it could be done by one of the other restaurants. So it could basically have another avenue of revenue there. I agree the dog park, even the pickleball, tennis. I’m not sure how well the security is but how do we know who’s using it and who has a membership and who doesn’t. A lot of part-time people, part-time residents, vacationers, just using it and we’re paying for it, the members that are paying for it and everyone else is wearing and tearing on it. Doug Parks: I’ve spent time talking about all of the amenities, but let’s focus on two of them. One of them. The Beach Club. What a fabulous amenity. What a wonderful thing we have. Let’s not get mired in its success. Let’s not lose focus. That environment is not gonna run itself. Yes, its self sustaining. Yes, it’s a money maker Yes, we’re very lucky to have it. But we as a board and the staff and management cannot lose sight of what it takes to keep that environment in the shape that it’s in in order to attract not only members but other customers outside of OPA. In order to continue drive it as a profit making amenity. The golf course. There’s a lot of focus, a lot of talk has happened that the membership has dwindled to, I wish I had the numbers, its under 100 now I believe. At some point some years ago it was over 800. Where I think some changes need to be made and I would want to consult with folks who are much more aware and talented and have the experience in this area, but marketing to the outside players. How do we market the Ocean Pines golf course outside of Ocean City? We’ve got a wonderful course. I’ve played it. And as bad as I am, I still enjoyed it because it’s a wonderful golf course. What are we doing and what should we be doing q

42 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA BOARD ELECTION Candidate Q&A From Page 42

to market that amenity so that it doesn’t cause the kind of drain that it continues to cause in our environment. So I think those are two focus areas that we really should look at. I think it’s one of the things we should task the new GM with when he or she comes on board. Those are areas that we know one’s clearly a money maker. Let’s make sure it doesn’t fall into disarray. The second one is a potential moneymaker that needs to have more attention paid to it. Marty Clarke: Talking about free meeting space or even charged meeting space in a $5 million facility is not a business like operation. A couple of people that don’t know anything about business, the Phillips family, the Harrison family, people that own Embers, the Harmon’s at Fish Tales, the all close in the winter time. I wonder why? Is that because they’re dumb? No, it’s because we’re dumb. Golf. Every time you talk golf there’s ‘ well, there are this many rounds, there was that rack fee, there was outside play. Here’s the facts. Last year our golf course grossed $1.282 million. Eagle’s Landing, 18 holes, not as nice a golf course, owned by Ocean City, posted online in their audited reports, grossed $2.028 million. Did somebody put up a closed sign in front of our golf course? They don’t even advertise as much as we do. Here’s the sad part. River Run, $1.55 million. We stink. We have one of the nicest golf courses on the Eastern Shore and we’re third out of three in competition. Why? I think it’s because we’re not going after the morning golfers. The people willing to pay the money. Asdk a hotel operator, a lot of them are friends of mine, Berger will not send a golf group to our golf course because slow play, members in the way, we focus on 100 members that paid $188,000 toward $1.2 million. We need to focus on retail play. Question: Would you please tell us your thoughts about the North Gate Bridge? Nicole Crosariol: Palmer Gillis with the cancer center…I was eager to hear the thoughts on what that could possibly bring. I understand it could be an inconvenience to a few homeowners but even if we could give them some kind of compensation and in turn have that be a burden off of our backs and have a really nice entrance of the gate. People pass right by. That’s straight advertising

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS of what our community is. I know many people have hit that bridge, not me, but many people have and there’s proof. Actually, when I moved here I was five. We went and used that North Gate. We fished in that pond. That same bridge. We used to ride our bikes. It needs a fresh look. I like the sign. The sign looks nice. But I think it’s something that we should look into if someone’s offering. I know we need to plan for the double road. I think that’s something we should take into consideration maybe do that all at once, and the roundabout turn trying to improve the flow of traffic. That light’s not very long either. Having an access road could be beneficial to the community as a whole. People getting out for work and lunch hour is pretty busy as well. Doug Parks: The iconic North Gate bridge. I’ve heard some unsubstantiated rumors the state is thinking about putting a circle, a roundabout in that location and replacing the light that currently sits there. I think we need to take a wait and see attitude and see where the state is on this. I’m sure they’re probably having some discussions with Palmer Gillis because I’m sure he is very interested in how that intersection comes to bear going forward. I think it’s prudent for us to clearly maintain what we have but I think it would be presumptuous to start doing something if we didn’t know what the state was going to do with that intersection of Ocean Parkway and 589. So, the idea of getting on the schedule or getting some information from the state on their plan going forward, we can certainly build our plan in lockstep with what they’re going to do. I think the people would probably benefit from a twolane exit road on the North Gate but I think it’s too early to do anything right now. I think it services the environment. Yes, it does get crowded at times. Yes, in the summer people wait at that light for some period of time but putting any kind of association money into that I think it premature at this point until we understand what the state’s going to do at that intersection. Marty Clarke: That bridge fell into a state of deferred repair and maintenance that was only rivaled by our Yacht Club and Our Country Club. In 2009, we were told to fix the guardrails – this was by the state engineers – and to put up some signs, take down some signs, add some lighting. That was just done this year. I think it was the old school

Logo contest winner

Lisa Perez, of Ocean Pines, has been selected as the winner of the 50th Anniversary Committee’s logo contest. The winning logo will be used on a wide range of applications during the marketing of the Ocean Pines 50th Anniversary, including but not limited to exterior signs, clothing, flags, banners and the association’s Web site. For submitting the winning design, Perez will receive a $100 gift certificate to The Cove at Mumford’s in Ocean Pines and some Ocean Pines ‘swag.’ She will also be featured at a number of the anniversary events in 2018.

thought from the old days of “well, if we don’t fix it, it will fall down and then we can build something I’ll really like’. When people talk about the State Highway department and 589 they should know that there was a meeting at Stephen Decatur not six months ago planning for that road isn’t even on their budget radar for 10 years. So anything that we might do – doesn’t anybody know who the Hatfields and McCoys are? – you go out there and tear that bridge down, you best be armed. It’s gonna get mean. I don’t care. I live on the South Side. But there are people that love that bridge. I don’t have a problem with it. Of course, I don’t drive drunk and hit it either. It does happen but it’s going to happen no matter what you put there. The Palmer Gillis option is a non-starter. To me its just a non-starter unless Palmer Gillis buys every house on Dawn Isle and then convinces everybody that live son the North Side they’re getting a traffic light on the Parkway cause you have to have a traffic signal. How else would they get from Dawn Isle on? It’s a two lane bridge that goes to a two-lane highway. In summertime it’s gonna be backed up. I don’t know the answer. Keep it maintained. Keep it pretty. Key t landscaped. Do our job. It’s passed the inspections. Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. Colette Horn: I don’t agree with bringing additional traffic through that intersection. It not just in the summer it’s backed up. It’s backed

up all the time and that’s a big problem. I agree we do need to coordinate any efforts to replace it with whatever the state is going to do. I think that all options need to be on the table. I think that we need to look at what’s going to be the most efficient way to increase traffic flow, make traffic flow more efficiently in anticipation of what the state may do. I don’t think it’s necessarily a problem that needs to be solved immediately but I think fairly soon we do need to address it. We’ve got problems with the aesthetics. The guardhouse has outlived its usefulness and certainly, in the summer we’ve got horrendous backups. So we will need to address it. I don’t think we necessarily have to wait for the state to do – I’m no expert on highway planning – but I do believe we can plan something that would be a flexible solution that would anticipate the options that the state might be reasonably considering. I don’t know that a bridge replacement is going to be the best option, keeping that in mind. I think we may need to look at a road replacement with drainage ditches. I think it can be landscaped to maintain the character of the pond and to allow for continued fishing for the people that want to fish in that pond. But I think overall we need to look at what’s the long-term cost going to be and what’s going to be our longest term value for whatever we invest in improving the problem.

OPA BOARD ELECTION

July 2017

Candidates comment on adults-only Yacht Club (Oasis) pool, pickleball drop-in rates, administration building renovations, funding for Ocean Pines Association replacement reserves The Progress asked the four candidates in this summer’s Board of Directors election to comment on several issues that have emerged since a candidates’ forum June 21. Question: You perhaps are aware that the board has asked the OPA attorney to look into the issue of whether the OPA can legally operate the Yacht Club Oasis pool as adults-only (except for two family carve-outs on Mondays and Wednesdays). If it turns out that the OPA, as a 501 3(c) “community welfare” organization, is subject to open accommodations laws under the federal Fair Housing Act, and our attorney recommends eliminating the adults-only designation of the Oasis pool, would you vote to open the pool at the Yacht Club to family members of all ages? Marty Clarke: Yes. Nicole Crosariol: It’s not a matter of me voting to keep it open or closed, but to do what’s right legally. Not only is it the right thing to do, it prevents the association from a lawsuit. I wonder if it would be possible to have a separate membership/fee for an Adult-Only pool. I am curious to discuss our solutions. Colette Horn: There seems to be an assumption that the new Board attorney will agree with the one person on our Board who has actively promoted elimination of the adult-only designation at the Oasis Pool. Since this same Director is responsible for that attorney’s Bethesda law firm replacing the Eastern Shore firm that represented us for the past 30 years, maybe there is merit to that assumption. We should consider getting a legal opinion that is truly independent and objective. Advocating for elimination of senor adult safe swimming in less than 20% of our community’s swimming capacity does nothing more than fuel conflict between families and seniors. I am opposed to fueling such divisions within our association. If we secure a truly independent legal opinion that identifies a violation, we must look at all possible remedies. I am in favor of remedies that do not include elimination of the adult-only designation for the Oasis Pool. Doug Parks: Based on advice from counsel, if its determined that the Association is violating federal law and the more restrictive Maryland state law, we will need to address the issue immediately.

I would have counsel look into the possibility of some level of relief given the number of pools available to our members and the public. However, if a solution cannot be found, I would vote to comply with the above mentioned laws to ensure the Association avoids any penalties, fines or other potential legal actions. Question -- Members of the Ocean Pines pickleball club, while apparently very appreciative of new outdoor pickleball courts, have said that current rates for outdoor pickleball, along with drop-in rates at the indoor Community Center gymnasium courts, will bring the cost of playing pickleball in Ocean Pines to an amount in excess of $1000 for those who use the indoor courts with any frequency. Unlike Aquatics, which has an annual rate bracket that includes access to the indoor Sports Core pool and the four outdoor pools, there is no annual indoor-outdoor rate in the current structure for pickleball. Could you support the addition of such an annual indoor-outdoor rate for pickleball in time for it to be in place this winter? Marty Clarke: I would support a change to any membership that would improve its bottom line performance to the benefit of our entire membership. Nicole Crosariol: I know the recreation center’s space is in higher demand, as the schedule is jammed packed year round. Offering discounted punch pass for the indoor facility will allow those who use it more frequently may receive a cheaper price, OR giving those with outdoor memberships a discounted rate when visiting the indoor courts. I would be interested to discuss how memberships/drop-ins differ, compared to previous years. Colette Horn: Establishment of rates for racquet memberships and drop-ins should have been informed by input from those most affected by them. Elimination of the Racquet Sports Committee silenced an important voice. I am in favor of ensuring that the Board follow our by-laws by using the committee process to secure representation of

the priorities and needs of specific constituencies when making decisions that affect their access to the amenities that our assessments support. We need to look at whether our current committee structure adequately represents the needs and priorities of racquet sport members. I am open to making changes to the rate structures based on analysis of costs as well as input from the racquet sports community. Any changes to the rates must be also be supported by analysis of budget impact. Doug Parks: The indoor-outdoor rate structure was discussed during the budget preparation meetings for this year’s fiscal budget. At that time the annual fee for Pickleball was reduced to try to offset the changes in the number of courts and the time slots available in the gym. This issue needs to be revisited for next year’s budget. We need to accommodate the membership without the burden of unnecessary cost. Assuming there are available hours in the gym, and based on the number of Pickleball members, the costs should be adjusted accordingly to promote participation. Question: The OPA board has a plan in place to triple the space allocated to the Ocean Pines Police Department within the existing footprint of the Administration Building. OPPD Chief Dave Massey has said he is excited about the prospect of having additional space with which to improve operations and safety in the police station. The expansion project is supposed to begin shortly after the completion of the second floor renovation of the Country Club this summer/early fall. If elected, can you foresee any circumstances under which you would vote to stop this project from commencing? Marty Clarke: No. Nicole Crosariol: With a growing community, can we expect that the police department would need the same space/staff as they did 20 years ago? Of course not. I am eager to see the start of the new facility. Colette Horn: Although Chief Massey’s recent report to the membership shows that community safe-

ty levels have remained very high with little in the way of increases in staffing, I am aware that the Police Department’s space limitations have been a problem for several years. There should be adequate holding cells and spaces to keep the different parties to a crime separated. Also there is need for improvement in spaces for storing police equipment safely. I am in favor of eliciting input from Chief Massey to ensure that the plans for the building’s expansion will adequately address all of the Department’s safety needs. I would not foresee myself voting to stop an expansion that is adequately supported by needs documented by Chief Massey and that is adequately supported by our current budget. Doug Parks: As a sitting board member I’ve already shared my position on the police station and administration building. I have been consistent in my approach to renovate rather than replace, and the police station in the Administration building is a perfect example. With the planned renovation, we can improve the safety and operations in the building as noted by Chief Massey and still accommodate office space for OPA administrative staff. I call that a win-win. Question: A former OPA director (Bill Cordwell) has endorsed Colette and Nicole in a letter published in a local weekly. In this letter, the former director says he opposes Marty and Doug in part because they embrace the concept of less revenue flowing into the replacement reserve. He criticizes the current board for its policy of renovating aging facilities rather than building new buildings. He suggests that the board, if it eliminates or reduces supplemental fiveyear-plan/legacy funding for the replacement reserve, will lack the resources needed to finance new buildings. Please comment on whether you disagree or agree with these contentions/opinions of Mr. Cordwell, indicating (if applicable) where you agree and where you don’t. Please note that the replacement reserve had a balance of $3.4 million as of the end of 2017 fiscal year; it had grown to just under $6 million as of May 30. Marty Clarke: I disagree. Nicole Crosariol: As close as we have been to a hurricane completely destroying our neighborhood, I think it’s smart to have a substantial amount put away for q

44 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA BOARD ELECTION Candidate Q&A From Page 44

planned (and unplanned) projects, while keeping ourselves out of debt. Building new facilities is not only visually appealing to myself has a homeowner, but can prevent continual maitenence/payroll on the older structures. Placing more in the reserve fund for these projects is like putting money in a savings account when you are planning to make any substantial purchase. Colette Horn: I think it is important to keep in mind that none of the candidates choose our supporters. For reasons of their own, our supporters choose us. That said, with respect to Mr. Cordwell’s positions, I will say that I agree with some and disagree with others. I am in favor of renovating over replacement when the structure of the facility supports it. I am in favor of maintaining adequate reserve funds to protect the membership from precipitous increases in assessments due to catastrophic events. The reserve fund is not a slush fund, as some would like to call it. It is an insurance policy for when bad things happen. Let’s keep in mind that we had a professional reserve fund study done. In order to ensure that we don’t either over-shoot or under-shoot the mark, we need to update the reserve study based on current and anticipated needs. I am in favor of maintaining a prudent amount in our reserve fund. The growth in our reserve fund from end of FY 2017 to May 30 represents moneys received from assessments having been paid promptly. The growth in the reserves for this year is likely to slow as the remaining assessments trickle in. Doug Parks: Mr. Cordwell is entitled to his opinion and I have no issue with his comments and suggestions. Quite frankly I would rather have someone bring the issue directly and with purpose rather than by innuendo or a safety in numbers approach. I disagree with Mr. Cordwell based on the recent investment we have made to renovate several of our anchor facilities. What I don’t see on the horizon for the next 2-4 years is a need for any major investments to keep our facilities operational and our assets intact. We should still contribute to reserves, but at a level commensurate with our near and long-term needs. For every person I’ve spoken with on the issue who don’t question the contribution to reserves, there is a person that asks why the Association is taking their

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Hill tenure as acting GM emerges as election issue From Page 1

role as an elected OPA director. That’s going to happen, regardless of which two candidates come out on top in this summer’s contest. That’s the opposite of last summer, when a different election outcome conceivably would have saved Thompson’s job. He had not been eager to leave. Hill serving as acting general manager allowed the OPA to pay Thompson his nine-month severance package without the OPA incurring the overlapping expense of a new general manager at the same time. On two issues, Horn laid claim to positions that arguably takes on the current board in areas where it can be challenged on fiscal grounds. She was critical of the board-approved salary range of $150,000 to $170,000 for a new general manager, and also found fault with Hill’s decision to give every OPA member a 20 percent discount at OPA food and beverage venues. Whereas Parks has not objected to the approved salary range, Clarke at the time said he thought it was too rich for the area and comparable positions on the lower Eastern Shore. On the 20 percent discount policy, Parks said it was an experiment worth trying but that if financial results show that it isn’t working, then Hill, the board or a new general manager should not be afraid to pull the plug on it. Clarke said the discount policy makes sense during the winter months, when his preferred position is to shut down operations at the Yacht Club, but much less so during the prime summer months. Clarke and Parks also are on record as supporting -- or at least actively considering it -- the leasing out the Yacht Club as an alternative to in-house management. If elected, they probably would be aligned with another director, Slobodan Trendic, who consistently has supported leasing and outsourcing more generally as a more fiscally sound way of running the association. Horn and candidate Nicole Crosarioal seemed less keen on this possibility. A late-breaking issue that surfaced in early July, with no mention during the candidates’ forum, involves the purported opinion of the OPA’s Bethesda lawyer, Jeremy Tucker, that the OPA, in order to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act as amended in 1988, has little choice but to end the adults-only policy at the Yacht Club’s Oasis pool that has been in place since it first opened in the mid-1970s. Clarke, Parks and Crosariol all said they would reluctantly go along with the attorney’s purported recommendation to open the Oasis pool to family members of all ages, seven days a week. They also said that the OPA can’t be seen to be violating anti-age discrimination law now that it’s clear what the law is. Horn, in a written response to a question given all the candidates and published elsewhere in this edition of the Progress, seems unwilling to change the designation of the Oasis pool as adults only. She also blames Hill for the chain of events that is likely to end the adults-only policy, sooner or later. “There seems to be an assumption that the new Board attorney will agree with the one person on our Board who has actively promoted elimination of the adult-only designation at the Oasis Pool,” she wrote, apparently referring to Hill. “Since this same Director is responsible for that attorney’s Bethesda law firm replacing the Eastern Shore firm that represented us for the past 30 years, maybe there is merit to that assumption.” She went to say that the OPA “should consider getting a legal opinion that is truly independent and objective. Advocating for elimination of senor adult safe swimming in less than 20 percent of our community’s swimming capacity does nothing more than fuel conflict between families and seniors.” She concluded by saying that she is “opposed to fueling such divisions within our association. If we secure a truly independent legal opinion that identifies a violation, we must look at all possible remedies. I am in favor of remedies that do not include elimination of the adult-only designation for the Oasis Pool.” Hill and OPA Director and Vice President Dave Stevens rebutted Horn’s contentions one by one. Stevens said that it was he, not Hill, who recommended to the board that it hire the Lerch Early law firm of Bethesda. He said the firm has done an excellent job of handling the legal affairs of the Parke active-55 community within Ocean Pines, which is how he said it came to his attention. Stevens said the firm does business with 400 of so homeowner associations throughout the region, with a sterling reputation. Hill denied that he has been actively or otherwise supporting the elimination of the adults-only designation of the Oasis pool. He said that was the unwarranted assumption of some of his most strident critics when, several months ago, he proposed shifting the popular family fun nights from Wednesday to Sunday. “I’ve not been pushing it. No one on the board has,” he said, adding that the board has directed the attorney to see if there is any work-around that would allow the OPA to continue to operate the Oasis as primarily adults-only. “At the end of the day, if the law says it has to be open to families, we have to comply,” Hill said. Some indication of an orchestrated effort to defeat Clarke emerged in early July. A strident and potentially defamatory letter published in a local weekly by a former OPA director, Bill Cordwell, essentially accused Clarke of a consistently lying on a host of issues. Clarke said his attorney has been in contact with the newspaper to warn of possible legal consequences should that level of invective continue. “Does anyone really care what this guy has to say about me?” Clarke said. “By now, I’m a known quantity.” During the candidates’ forum, Clarke self-deprecatingly referred to himself as a bit of a gadly, but one with a proven record of consistently arguing for reductions in spending and assessments. That, and name recognition, might be sufficient to get him elected. money and putting it into the Associ- current level of reserves is adequate ation’s “savings account” with no real for our needs at the moment, howplan for spending. In my opinion our ever, we have a fiduciary responsi-

bility to ensure that as our needs change, the contribution to the reserves changes accordingly.

46 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

July 2017

COMMENTARY Adults-only pool is discriminatory, its days are numbered

hose OPA members who enjoy the serenity of the adult-only Yacht Club and don’t want their “Oasis” to change had best brace themselves for the coming cataclysm. It’s just a matter of time before the Ocean Pines Association’s Bethesda attorney declares an inconvenient truth: A 501c4 “social organization” such as the Ocean Pines Association, in the operations of amenities open to the public, can’t discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender and, of particular relevance to the Yacht Club Oasis pool, familial status. An amendment to the Fair Housing Act in 1988 rendered age discrimination a lawless act. Essentially that means that the OPA, in operating the Yacht Club pool as an 18-and-older amenity, has been engaged in a discriminatory, lawless activity from 1988 to the present time. It’s not that no one was aware of this, all these many years. It’s just that no one was willing to rock the boat and end a lawless practice, thereby enraging the 100 or so diehards who regard that adults-only pool as theirs, not to be polluted by those who, by no fault of their own, have not yet reached the ripe old age of 18 years. This discrimination must end. All Ocean Pines property owners contributed to the cost of building this pool, and all deserve an equal opportunity to use it at times and days of their convenience. If they want to bring their kids or grandkids to enjoy the scenery and the tiki bar and the Yacht Club ambiance – with a visit to the pirate ship if the kids are of a certain age – then so be it. No subset of property owners can tell another what association-owned amenities are open to them and, by extension, which are not. If a board arrogates to itself that right, even in the face of reasoned if inconvenient legal advice, its members need to wake up and smell the chlorine. Sure, there are four other pools in Ocean Pines available for family members of all ages, but to turn that into a reason to discriminate against a certain subset of residents in the

Acting GM’s alternate reality

I just don’t get it. First [Acting General Manager] Brett [Hill] says that by lowering the pickleball amenity 30 percent is a positive for members to join or renew. Well, yes, if you winter elsewhere (although most of us who play are year rounders). But it’s over a 200 percent increase if we play indoors at the community center during colder months. It appears that his alternate reality has done it again! Mr. Hill states that Pickleball membership is surging. Really? I would like to remind Mr. Hill that previous to 2017 with the pickleball amenity membership, the sign-up to join was on a 12-month cycle. You could join anytime during the year and your membership was good for 12 months. As of 2017, membership is now from May to the following May, so many

use of a fifth pool defies logic. The OPA is compliant with the law as it operates four of its pools. Rather than continue to snub its nose at the law at it applies to the fifth pool, it needs to bring the 20 percent of its aquatics operations that break the law into full lawful compliance. There are reports that the OPA’s attorney is looking into ways that might allow the OPA to continue to operate the Oasis pool illegally, but that’s an errand that only serves to pad his legal bills and give the board political “cover” before its members do what they know they have to do. Granted, this isn’t going to be a pleasant task, telling a group of loyal pool members of an advanced age that the Yacht Club pool isn’t theirs exclusively any more, that they’re going to have to learn to share, something they supposedly taught their kids all those decades ago and shouldn’t need to relearn themselves. There’s always the Parke if they want to hang out exclusively with folks closer in age. Directors Dave Stevens and Cheryl Jacobs recently tried to rewrite the OPA resolutuions to give the board the authority to approve any fundamental change in the use of any pool, with the Yacht Club’s adults-only pool clearly the venue whose status they were trying to protect. That effort reportedly failed on advice of counsel once he became aware of the intent behind the change. Amending resolutions so they can be used to obstruct anti-discrimination law is hardly a noble endeavor. As it stands, the OPA’s acting general manager, Brett Hill, might do his colleagues a real favor if he, acting on his authority and his alone, simply would post a sign on the pool gate and an announcement on the OPA Web site declaring the Yacht Club pool an Oasis for all OPA residents, no matter the age. Then the board, if it so desires, could vote to uphold or rescind his unilateral action, despite or because of the clear and convincing legal advice that counsel has given directors.

Odds are that a board majority will do the right thing and allow adults-only to fade into the ashcan of history. Maybe 50 or so households whose occupants have a vested interest will be outraged; they might even organize and fill the Assateague Room with their bile and personal attacks against the miscreants who took away their amenity. Or they might continue to show up early at the pool and grab the best lounge chairs, as they do now. It is conceivable, even with the adults-only discrimination formally ended, that ancient territorial activity will continue much as it has these many years. It has been suggested that perhaps the OPA could carve out the Yacht Club pool as a members-only facility, exempt from the strictures of the Fair Housing Act, or perhaps could change its tax status to something that allows more flexibility to discriminate on the basis of age. These are non-starters. They make as much sense as declaring Ocean Pines a 55-plus retirement community, which actually does give an association greater flexibility in discriminating on the basis of age. This woebegone situation might be construed as just desserts for all that outrage when the acting general manager, a few months ago, announced a shift in family fun night from Wednesday to Sunday. The reaction is some precincts of Ocean Pines, if predictable, nonetheless provided evidence of an entitlement mentality of manifest selfishness. It was as if the earth was shifting on its axis or the anti-Christ had appeared. The board at the time caved, of course, because it often is the case that the loudest voices, organized and determined, prevail in the political arena. That doesn’t make it right, of course, and won battles don’t always win the war. Or, mixing metaphors, opening up a can of worms means that the worm, once freed of its confines, can turn. In this case, it surely has. -- Tom Stauss

LETTERS chose to renew at one time as of May 1 instead of the rolling annual membership. Time will tell but they have lost membership from those who do not live in Ocean Pines due to additional $250 associates’ fee and also from those who take umbrage with the added drop-in cost for inside play. They will also lose money due to the lowering of the cost of membership and the fact that most now will not be playing inside due to the new extra drop-in charge and the limited courts available. What a shame. The great news is that the eight new outside courts are in constant use. While the surrounding places to play Pickleball continue to expand their membership and are bringing in considerable dollars, Ocean Pines

continues to be shortsighted and missing a wonderful opportunity. Neil Gottesman Ocean Pines USA Pickleball Association Ambassador

OPA drops the ball on drainage issues

I have read your publication’s recent issue [June 2017[ with interest. While we do not live in the Pines, we have owned property here since 1996. Over that period, I have tried to follow the ins and outs of the Ocean Pines Association and issues invloving management. I have voted in almost all OPA Board of Directors’ elections during that time. Over time, while Ocean Pines has made progress, the behavior of so many boards have been nothing short of comical. One would be

forced to conclude they are involved in running the country. Yet, it should be remembered and appreciated that we are not paying for directors’ time and efforts, and it must be added that Ocean Pines remains a good place to live and vacation in. I’d say that a fundamental (if not the most fundamental) duty of an Association like ours is to maintain proper drainage of all its owners’ lots, something that the OPA is responsible for in my understanding. Our property is close to the area enclosed by Watertown Rd., Ocean Parkway and Granby Lane. After heavy rains that area floods seriously, sometimes to the overflow point towards Manklin Creek. Why those directly affected are not ‘up in arms’ is hard to figure out. The condition and fundamental design of ditch drains are deplorable to say the least. To Page 48

OPINION

Campaign season kicks into high gear

Trendic’s persistence on this and other issues has most of his board colleagues feeling rather uncharitable towards him, a feeling that would seem to be reciprocated in spades. Trendic differs with his colleagues on a host of issues, none of which rise to the level of the broad areas in which they tend to agree. Trendic sees mismanagement of OPA amenities in abundance, starting with what he regards as the forced resignation of the long-time Beach Club manager this past winter and continuing with the more recent resignation of the director of finance. He reports horror stories of bad customer experiences at both the Yacht Club and Beach Club. He was appalled at Hill’s 20 percent discount idea applied across the board at all OPA food and beverage venues, except when it isn’t.

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. Publisher By TOM STAUSS/ By TOM STAUSS/Publisher Other areas of contention include the installation of surveillance cameras in the administration building without board authorization and reports of a hostile work environment by some former and current staffers. More recently, Trendic has doubled down on surveillance cameras, insisting that OPA policy on them be added to a just released employee handbook. His call for a legal opinion on the issue from the OPA attorney has gone nowhere. Stevens, just as vociferously as Trendic believes the contrary, contends that the presence of surveillance cameras in private or public OPA spaces is not a policy matter at all but operational, well within the acting general manager’s purview to deal with as he sees fit. To the board majority, these resignations were considered unfortunate but nothing that an organization the size of the OPA couldn’t absorb. Management defects at the Yacht Club and Beach Club are more or less recognized by the entire board, including Hill, and all seven directors recently agreed to hire a consultant to recommend improvements, some of which could be implemented this month. The only real difference among them is that Trendic wants faster action and Hill out of the loop. In early July, Trendic called for the immediate rehiring of the former Beach Club manager, Linda Huettner, with no takers among his colleagues, except perhaps for Jacobs. He proposes that Huettner report to the entire board rather than Hill, an idea that the board majority has not found to be compelling. All of this is very sad, because when they all played for the same team the coalition that included Trendic accomplished and continues to accomplish a great deal. The fruits of that collaboration are gifts that will keep on giving to Ocean Pines property owners for years to come, with a significance that dwarfs these lesser controversies. For instance, the historic repair and renovation strategy executed by the board this year – with the notable and praise-worthy exceptions of new amenities at the Manklin

Meadows recreation complex – renders obsolete the totally discredited strategy of tear-down-and-rebuild that resulted in a $5 million Yacht Club that is too large for practical use year round and too expensive to operate. At least Hill moved to fix the deplorable state of the interior, making these spaces far more pleasant than they had been. Because of majority consensus on the current board, including Trendic, plans to tear down and replace the Country Club have been substituted with a far less expensive, but still robust, renovation that will make it a practical and welcoming wintertime dining venue. A multi-million dollar Public Safety building envisioned by former management for somewhere on Route 589 has been abandoned, one hopes for good, by a far less expensive but still functional renovation of the administration building. That renovation, expected to begin in earnest this fall, will triple the space available to the Ocean Pines Police Department, addressing safety and operational concerns by Chief of Police Dave Massey. With all that having been said, it nonetheless is clear that Hill’s stewardship of the OPA these past nine months is very much an issue in this summer’s board election. In some superficial ways, this is similar to last summer, when former General Manager Bob Thompson’s six-year tenure was very much an issue that separated the candidates and provided campaign fodder. As it turned out, two of the three candidates who won last summer – Hill and Trendic – were never fans of Thompson’s management style or his broader policy preferences, such as replace over renovate. It was hardly a surprise, then, that the newly reorganized board moved quickly to terminate Thompson’s contract, with Hill appointed as the unpaid, acting general manager. Given Thompson’s generous severance package, which included roughly nine months of compensation, Hill’s willingness to do the job for free was really quite generous and remarkable, for which he has paid a very high personal price.

Not only has there been a lot of unfavorable press over resignations and surveillance cameras. He’s taken quite a hit from critics who contended he was using his position on the board and acting GM to promote his company’s proposal to bring fiber optic cable to Ocean Pines. It didn’t matter whether it was true or not, or whether there was any evidence to prove some corrupt motive. It was believed by some. There’s no indication that the board is any closer to acting on that proposal, either for or against, than it was on the day Hill was elected to the board or took over as acting GM. So much for getting elected to promote one’s personal business interests. While the general manager’s tenure is an election issue this summer like it was last summer, the difference is clear. The indisputable fact is that Hill’s days are already numbered because the board is eager to hire his replacement. Hill seems ready to give up the reins as well, so long as it doesn’t appear that he is being forced out by the board. Thompson, in contrast, was perfectly willing to continue on. Given his rich compensation package, including bonuses, one q

his year’s campaign season in Ocean Pines is shaping up as fairly typical, with the usual hyped differences between candidates designed to build support or tear it down, as the case may be. Last year’s coalition for change – Brett Hill and Slobodan Trendic taking on the then controlling faction on the board – has long been dead and buried. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that the state of relations between these two former allies is as contentious as any in recent years. The current state of play is Trendic and Cheryl Jacobs in a coalition of two against a solid board majority of Hill, OPA President Tom Herrick, Vice President Dave Stevens and Doug Parks. Parks, appointed to the board last fall, is running for the board this summer. The Cliff Note’s version of this disturbing soap opera is that Trendic and Jacobs would like to see Hill out as acting GM while the majority, and that probably includes Director Pat Supik, sees no compelling reason to do that, especially with the arrival of a new general manager only weeks away. Trendic has been pushing the idea of a working group of directors taking the reins of the OPA in the interim, but other than Jacobs, whose bid for the OPA presidency a year ago was thwarted by the election results and the formulation of a new board majority, the working group idea simply has no traction.

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.

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July 2017Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

Ocean Pines PROGRESS July 2017

Life in the Pines From Page 47

could hardly blame him. As much as one of this summer’s crop of board candidates, Colette Horn, blames Hill and to some extent the current board for a constellation of ills, they become largely moot the day a new general manager assumes office. A new general manager has a clean slate from which to start over. Depending on the outcome of this summer’s voting, it’s even possible that Trendic will rejoin his former colleagues as part of a newly reconfigured coalition. Hope springs eternal. As has been said in other contexts, politics breed no permanent allies but temporary ones, depending on circumstances and the issue at hand. Horn, in contrast to the other three contenders this summer, is throwing the dice on a gamble that her criticism of Hill and the current board majority will catapult her onto the board. In the recent candidates’ forum, she even criticized the board for

having presided over a $250,000plus operating deficit in 2016-17, somewhat of a cheap shot, because it’s doubtful she could have done anything to prevent it had she been a director this past year. Of course, criticizing those in office is a tried and true election strategy, but in this instance she is working against a widespread appreciation of this board’s aggressive program of renovation and the fact that two of her opponents are running on a platform of reduced assessments flowing into replacement reserves. This is being made possible by the fact that, in the relatively near future, most if not all major capital needs will have been addressed by the current board. What this means in practical terms is the next board should be able to deliver on reduced assessments, a point that candidates Marty Clarke and Doug Parks have made in their elections bids. The prospect of reduced assessments is a powerful campaign message, probably more powerful than a message that makes the imperfections of Hill’s unpaid, volunteer ten-

ure as acting general manager a major campaign theme. If what one of her competitors says is true, and there’s no reason to doubt it, then the operating deficit of which she complains isn’t actually a deficit at all, but a surplus. Clarke, a former director with a lot of experience looking at OPA numbers, notes that roughly $430,000 was transferred out of the deficit recovery reserve last year into operating accounts. According to Clarke, he has been assured by OPA number crunchers – and that includes former controller Art Carmine working in a paid consulting role – that the $430,000 transfer into the general fund will be reflected in the official audited financials for 2016-17 that will be released on or just before the annual meeting of the OPA in August. Voila, instance surplus. Recent controversies notwithstanding, this past year has been one of the OPA’s best ever. And that’s going to create a tailwind into the election sails of Clarke and Parks.

LETTERS From Page 46

I surely would like to see the OPA take up this issue in one of its coming sessions. Jose R Alvarez Wilmington, De. Ocean Pines

Yacht Club leasing the best option

I offer this letter as kudos to the Ocean Pines Association’s ability to judiciously oversee the various needs of our community. Our roads, buildings, parks and other facilities are certainly well kept and provide a prominent place for every level of homeowner. You should be proud of the efforts and foresight the Association has for our future! You should also be proud of the fact of the Forbes Magazine mention of one of the best retirement communities in the country. However, it is apparent from both reading monthly financial reports and my own experiences, that the OPA is not in the business of, well, business.

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OPINION

July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

LETTERS

I speak primarily of the Yacht Club. If the primary function of OPA is to safeguard our investments, infra40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS - Early August 2014 standing why such an amenity structure and amenities, thenJuly I see so much angst. I realized it’sinfrom “fresh eyes” a distinct need to causes the performance matters program School board the amenity (which the board re-evaluate OPA’s stance on what not stead. From Page and Henderson brief a spectacular job with),gave it’s the appears to40be a continuous losing doesZanich overview of the program, how it is used, ties and to have a health and wellness business. From interviews with resproposition. and the benefits of an assessment data committee site coordinator who oversees here’s what I have gleaned As a member, or stock-holder, now idents, system. this committee. so far from the OPAmatters reportsplatforms that I of Ocean Pines Association, perhaps The performance In the area of staff wellness, the polsome observations even some link seen: student and educator data. The icy states that the and Worcester County have data used to drive the decisions made Theisoperation loses money. The public school system promote guidance for the boardwill in its queststaff to by teachers, administrators, board memhealth and wellness by providing a vabetter serve the association through operation has employee turn-over bers and parents to improve student riety of organized programs for staff, unproportionate to a “typical’ food the Yacht Club would be met with designed to enrich and improve their learning and educator performance. The establishment. The banquet open minds. system can be used for teacherfacility observanutritional, physical, mental and emoused occasionally. and evaluation. The food seems I owned two restaurants for over istion tional well-being. thatThe in using we can “hitbelieve or miss.” costsdata to operThe Board Education 25 years. I alsoofhave ownedduring a realits to be“We better meet the needs of every student. June 17 meeting also heard an update estate company with 46 agents in ate don’t justify ownership. It is part of our success in helping our on the performance matters program. Problems in the food industry Pennsylvania since 1991. Now that Worcester County Public Schools students be successful for life.” Zanich doesn’t make me better thanto anysaid. from three areas -- location, uses a variety of types of data create come The school board also adopted an upand management. one else, just me instructional more ex- facilities its master plan,makes goals, and dated educational facilities plan, programs.and very busy. Both my For us the location is master fixed but perienced which is required annually to be sub“Over the years we have discovered in a good location – not excelrestaurants performed spectacular- still that this could be an arduous task. It mitted to the Maryland Department of but good. ly.had become an overwhelming burden to lent Planning by July 1. InThe 2014 the Association complete-in I have beenWeinsearched commercial realto 2014-2015 Plan is presented our teachers. for a way sections: goals, and guiderefurbished andstandards rebuilt sections estate since owninmy support our1983, teachers theown use comof this lyfive lines; community analysis; enrollment data,” Coordinator of Instruction Stephpany and, during that time, own- of the property to its current status. projections; inventory and evaluation of anie Zanich andrestaurants. Data Specialist Rebecca ing both these It’s not So what could be the problem? Nice Henderson said in their written report school facilities; and facility needs analthat hard if each is run as a busi- facility! ysis. All five sections have been revised to the board. banquet area is large enough reflect current information, including ness.The Ourschool philosophy “Business is a toThe systemisstarted using updates on the successful bidding phase I understand that it does a fracprogram called Edusoftthe butbusiness. quickly dis- but Business” – no matter and start of construction for the Snow covered it was not robust enough. Using I have a difficult time under- tion of what it could do for the botRace to the Top funding, it purchased

Hill High School renovation and addi-

tom line and that is where the easy money is! tion project and the completion of the Management is the mainfeasibility probShowell Elementary School study. lem, not the on-site manager but The plan the challenges facthe fact that outlines the operation is run by ing the schools system, including popucommittee. lation growth, aging buildings, technolThere isand no changing sense ofprogram comradery ogy needs, needs. among the staff because areor A major renovation and they addition replacement school project at SES has continuously receiving mixed sigbeen prioritized in both the school sysnals form all the “cooks”. tem’s educational facilities master plan Training is lacking, no expediter, and the capital improvement program food is inconsistent and sits too long for many years. under lampsthethus uneven tempsto In May, school board voted move served. forward This with comes planning for the when directly construction of a new Showell Elemenfrom a committee trying to oversee tary School, based on the results of the a Showell businessSchool and in-site managers and feasibility study. The staff getting mixed board accepted the signals. recommendation of Tooarchitectural many conceptions of what the the and engineering team led by Becker Morgan Group to proceed business should be overruns costs, with the staff designand of acertainly replacement school alienates adds to at an anticipated cost of about $37 milcustomer confusion; lion. All in consultant all, the facility is great, the The determined that the construction comparable staff wants tocosts workwere but the manage-for renovating andhas expanding existing ment or Board, no ideathe of how to school versus building a completely new run a business. facility. Because of the extensive nature asand a member andthat a ofMy thesuggestion renovations expansion business for athe board is to would beowner required, cost that of that opwas estimated million. On betion acting on behalfatof$36.8 the members the other hand, the consultants said a as it states in the Bylaws, offering brand new school could be constructed

the facility to an actual business owner (yes you’re probably saying we did that) would satisfy the need WORCESTER to make a profit off theCOUNTY “amenity” and remove some needless cause of on the same SES property for slightly conflict of million. course loss revenues! more atand $37.4 Overall, design and In short, getafter out including of the restaurant management fees, playground equipbusiness. ment, movable equipment, portable Make the facility an investment classrooms, phasing of the renovations asand it was built technology for. Offer costs the properadditions, and mistycellaneous as a retail location for an actual costs like inspection fees, it will be less expensive about $4 milrestauranteur on say by a NNN lease lion to build a new school than renovate basis with a natural break point and expand the old one. percentage lease. It’sthe done all buildthe The cost of keeping current time. It works for the business owning but renovating it and adding on was while the total It estimater$44.8 and million the property owner. will ed cost of building a new SESyou wasout just work here as well and keep $40.9 million. of paying employees, benefits, insurFinally, during the meeting the ance, employment taxes,the scheduling school board approved fiscal year and of course the headaches run2014-2015 operating budget forofWorcester County Public Schools. ning a business. The money OPA Theearn, budget funding salwould theincludes headaches lostfor and ary step increases for eligible employthe consistency of the choices memees, a longevity step, a .5 percent cost bers haveallowance, would allow the board to of living a 3 percent increase focus on the OPA’s long for bus contractors andrange an 8 plans. percent increase in insurance rates. The budBulkheads, roads, police, equipget also includes major expenditures ment and the like would benefitof $354,000 to replace gymnasium floors at from a better, more laser-like focus Berlin Intermediate, Pocomoke Middle onand profits for us $144,000 all. Snowand Hill stability Middle schools, Castner toJan replace gymnasium bleachers at Stephen Decatur High School and $200,000 Lemoyne, Pa. inOcean non-recurring Pines costs for student technology.

Ocean Pines PROGRESS July 2017

Saturday, July 15 Jesse’s Paddle fundraiser, Pocomoke River Canoe Company, 5 p.m., registration 4 p.m.. Paddle the Pocomoke to raise money for the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund. Prizes and live music. Free boats to those who solicit pledges, $30 minimum, 410-632-3971, choosetolivemaryland.org for pledge form. Coffee, Tea and Me at Camp Delmarva, performance by the Delmarva Chorus, 7 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center gymnasium, free homemade desserts and beverages. Door prizes, 50-50 raffle. $10 donation requested. Paws and Whiskers fundraiser and adoption event, White Horse Park, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., to benefit the Worcester County Humane Society. Hosted by the Ocean Pines Farmers Market. Demonstrations, clinics, pet services, raffles and giveaways. The first 75 pet-parents to arrive at the market will receive a free bag full of pet items and coupons donated by Precious Paws Animal Hospital. Thursday, July 20 Free pickleball clinics for beginners, 8 a.m., Manklin Mead-

LIFESTYLES

HAPPENINGS ows recreational complex, 11443 Manklin Creek Road, Ocean Pines. Clinics to be conducted by Pickleball club members on new courts. For more information and to register for the clinic, please contact John Hanberry at Jhanberry@comcast.net or by phone at 703-598-6119. Saturday, July 22 Candidates’ forum, hosted by the Ocean Pines Elections Committee, 10 a.m., Assateague Room, Ocean Pines Community Center. Candidates for the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Elections pose questions to one another. Monday, July 24 Quarter auction, hosted by the Church of the Holy Spirit.100th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City, doors open 6 p.m., games start at 7 p.m. Food available for purchase. Tickets $10 and include a paddle. Additional paddles are $2 each, or three for $5. Friday, July 28 Board of Directors, regular

monthly meeting, Ocean Pines Association, 9:30 a.m., Assateague Room, Ocean Pines Community Center. Agenda and meeting packet posted on OPA Web site several days prior to meeting. Saturday, Aug. 5 Pine’eer Craft Club’s 40th annual craft fair, White Horse Park, Crafters come from neighboring states as well as local areas to display and sell their hand crafted items. Jewelry, decorative items, hand painted décor, stitchery. To reserve space call Lois Schultz, 215888-7147. Cakes, pies, and cookies for sale. Thursday, Aug. 10 Deadline for submission of ballots, Ocean Pines Association, Board of Directors election. Can be submitted in person in ballot box inside front entrance to Administration Building, White Horse Park. No later than 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 Counting of ballots in annual

Ocean Pines Association election by Ocean Pines Association’s Elections Committee. Open to the public. Check OPA Web site for time and place. Saturday, Aug. 12 Annual meeting, Ocean Pines Association, 10 a.m., Assateague Room, Ocean Pines Community Center. Presentation of 2016-17 annual financial report, results of 2017 board election, comments from members. Ongoing

Free platform tennis clinics, Saturdays at noon, Manklin Meadows tennis complex. Bring sneakers, the rest is provided. Free pickleball clinics, Manklin Meadows sports complex, 11443 Manklin Creek Road, Ocean Pines 21811. June 10, 8 a.m.; June 22, 4 p.m.; July 8. 8 a.m., July 20, 4 p.m.; Aug. 12, 8 a.m., Aug. 24, 4 p.m. The clinics will be conducted by Pickleball Club members on the eight brand new courts at the facility. Information or to register contact John Hanberry, Jhanberry@comcast.net or by phone at 703-598-6119. Line dance classes, Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 -10:30 a.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Beginners

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July 2017 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Cove board approves 2018 budget with no lot assessment increase Plan anticipates $5.5 million in revenues and a surplus after capital expenditures of $155,911

By TOM STAUSS Publisher ith little fanfare and no controversy, the Captain’s Cove Board of Directors has approved a 2017-18 fiscal year budget that retains the $1200 annual lot assessment and adds a $200 waterfront assessment for canal lot owners. Cove President Tim Hearn said that for the first time in roughly ten years, the Cove budget or components of it “are not in the red by any measurement.” The draft budget, posted on the Cove Web site, projects $506,518 in net income compared to this year’s

projected net income of $469,057. Net cash flow after capital expenditures and depreciation is projected at $155,911, compared to the current year’s projected $122,522. The 2018 budget anticipates $5,505,198 in revenues, up from this year’s projected $5,226,338. The largest revenue source is lot assessments of $3,027,600, up from the current year’s $2,949,600. Hearn has said this increase in revenue is the result of more property owners staying current with their assessments, a reflection of the Cove association’s vigorous collection efforts.

One area of the budget that will need tweaking is the $17,400 allocated to the volunteer advisory committees, for which placeholder amounts were included in the draft budget, Hearn said, adding that committees will need to submit funding requests as soon as possible if they haven’t already done so. The current year’s budget includes $6,250 in Social Committee spending, for which no dollar amount is included in the 2018 budget. An allocation for that group will be added later, Hearn said. The budget was approved unanimously by the Cove board at its

hAPPEninGS

7-9 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center with caller Dennis O’Neal. Visitors welcome. The group also hosts a dance the fourth Saturday of the month from 7-9:30 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Guest callers lead the dancers with music and choreography. Mainstream/Plus square dancers welcome to join in. President Arlene Hager, 302436-4033. 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 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, Wednesday and Friday, noon to 2 p.m. All levels welcome. Eric Bowers, 410-208-1794. Ocean Pines Plant Clinic, Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road, every Tuesday 1-4 p.m. from the beginning of May until the end of September. Got bugs or other plant problem? Bring your bagged samples by and let our expert Master Gardeners find solutions to your question.

From Page 50 welcome. Betty Daugherty, 410-7261818, or bettydau@aol.com Pinesteppers. Ocean Pines Remote Control Sailboating Association, Monday and Thursday, May-September (weather permitting), 10 a.m. to noon, South Gate Pond, Ocean Pines. No motors or power allowed – only remote-controlled sailboats. Currently all members are sailing “Victoria” model boats. Commodore Ed Ryan, 203-249-7491 or J. David Lee, 240-593-2105, for more information. Square Dance Club, Wednesdays,

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June 29 meeting. House numbers – The agenda item that generated the most heat during the June 29 board involved a request by the Cove’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) organization requesting board permission to go door to door asking residents to allow CERT members to provide homes with house number identifiers. Director Rosemary Hall brought the matter to the board for discussion, telling her colleagues that she was not certain that CERT members needed board permission to contact homeowners in person at their homes. CERT members told the board that emergency response teams have trouble locating homes with emergencies because many lack street address identifiers. While Cove Security at times will meet emergency vehicles at the front entrance and will escort them to the home from which a 911 call was made, CERT members said that’s an imperfect solution. On the face of it, the request would not seem to be all that controversial, but after considerable back and forth with CERT members the board rejected the request, at least for the time being. Hearn and Director John Costello said privacy concerns made it difficult for them to support the CERT request, at least not before CERT members made more of an effort to contact homeowners through other means, using telephone or email contact information that Hearn said could be provided by the Cove’s communications director, Justin Wilder. Once the list of homeowners without street addresses is narrowed down, Hearn said he would be willing to consider voting to allow CERT members to contact homeowners in person by going door to door. CERT members agreed to work with Wilder in their solicitation efforts. Think Big Networks: Sales Manager Judy Morgan told Cove residents at the June 29 board of directors meeting that the date that Think Big’s partner, FTS Fiber, will begin laying fiber optic cable in the Cove is in the hands of residents. As has been previously reported, Think Big needs 350 customer agreements in hand before the two parterning companies can commit financial resources to installing fiber optic cable that makes highspeed Internet access possible. With roughly 1000 potential cus-

CAPTAIN’S COVE

Ocean Pines PROGRESS July 2017

phone service. By adding low-cost service such as a Roku device, she From Page 51 said subscribers will have access tomers, the company only needs a to a lot of free television programlittle more than a third of homes in ming or programming “that you theCove to commit. pay for as you watch.” She said Morgan offered residents three the cost is much less than tradiDentisttional cable television. reasons why they should immediate subscribe to the Think Big Internet The second reason to subscribe service. is to add home value, she told The first is to save money. For residents. High speed Internet $119 a month, subscribers will ac- access to the home adds roughcess to high speed Internet and bun- ly $2600 in value to a home, she Street dled local and long-distance tele-1 Pitts said, more than enough to cover

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July 2017Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 52

homeowners had returned agreement forms, and she was expecting many more over the Fourth of July weekend, when the Cove is at its most densely populated. She said that Think Big Networks had collected 204 “expressions of interest” from residents before it was in a position to execute actual agreements. That became possible once Think Big and its partner firm was able to complete easement agreements with CCG Group Note, and affiliated companies, the Cove developer. Cove President Tim Hearn said the easement agreements did not involve the Cove property owners association, known formally as the Captain’s Cove Yacht and Golf Club. Traffic Group: Representatives of the firm that has been conducting traffic county studies in Captain’s Cove were unable to attend the June 29 board meeting, Hearn announced, but possibly will attend the next one.

The first phase of the study is costing the Cove up to $13,000, and the next phase, to be conducted over the summer months, will “take us up to $28,500,” he said. Enough information has been obtained that Hearn said he was sure that “traffic calming is in our future,” although precisely what that will involve and how much it will cost is yet to be determined. But he said the traffic calming improvements such as traffic circles at key intersections will cost the Cove “in excess of $100,000.” He said the construction and cost could be split into two years to lessen its impact. Cove Director Rosemary Hall noted that as a result of the study “at lease we don’t have to go to the Board of Education” to ask for help on bus stop safety. Indoor pool heater – Hearn announced that the Cove will need to spend about $3600 on a new heater for the indoor pool at the Marina Club. He said the heaters normally last about three years and the cur-

rent one has reached its useful life span. New playground: Director Pat Perino opened a discussion on new amenities needed for the Cove. She suggested that the Cove board plan for a new playground to replace the aging amenity at the Town Center, with funding to be included in the 2018 budget currently being drafted. Hearn said the existing equipment is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. He said the board will need to decide whether to locate a new playground at the existing site or perhaps move it to Cove Commons, a large open space where a campground was located for much of Captain’s Cove existence. Hearn suggested that Perino spearhead a working group of residents who successfully worked together to construct a dog park in Cove Commons. Perino also suggested that, as part of the playground project, a covered pavilion with a concrete or tar and chip pad could be added

nearby. She said it would allow for family picnics and other events. She said she didn’t have anything “excessive” in mind but that there would “appear to be demand” for such a pavilion. While it was not mentioned during the meeting, a similar covered pavilion in Ocean Pines is used during that community’s concert in the park summer series, with performers setting up under cover of the pavilion’s roof. Road construction financing: As he often has on the Cove’s online message board, persistent board critic John Ward took to the floor during the June 29 meeting to question the board’s authority to use association dollars to finance new road construction. Ward said that Cove covenants and restrictions authorize road maintenance only, and that new road construction is the responsibility of the Cove developer. Hearn reminded Ward that he’s asked this question numerous times q

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CAPTAIN’S COVE

July 2017

Roads financing From Page 53

before and the answer is the same. Hearn said that the funding mechanism for new road construction is spelled out in the 2012 settlement agreement between the Cove POA and the developer. He also said the restrictive covenants were amended in 2002 to add street improvements

as a Cove POA responsibility. Hearn said that Ward “ignores” the 2002 amendments when he cites the covenants as authority for his point of view. He also said that Ward and his allies when they served on the Cove board spent $457,000 of Cove reserve funds in litigating the issues that resulted in the 2012 settlement agreement.

“How wasteful and irrational your actions are,” Hearn said. Ward responded that Hearn was “totally wrong” in his characterization of the covenants “and I’m going to court” to challenge the use of Cove funds for road construction. New roads: With Section 1 new road construction close to completion, Hearn said the next phase of construction will shift to Sections 12

and 13, probably beginning with an area that is close to Stateline Road in Section 12. The next “slice” of road investment will cost $256,000, with financing provided by a private investor who continues to wish to remain anonymous. Hearn said there are no permits in hand for Sections 12 and 13, and that applying for them will need to be done as soon as possible.

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