June 2019
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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY
COVER STORY
Board approves controlled release of forensic audit report
Board considering DR change to allow levying of fines Egregious violations of the Ocean Pines Association’s restrictive covenants are the target of a proposal to levy fines against members who fail to properly maintain their home or property. A twice-modified motion posed by Frank Daly designed to begin the lengthy process of pursuing a referendum to amend the restrictive covenants in each of Ocean Pines’ 26 residential sections to allow the OPA to issue fines for certain specified violations made it through a vote of the Board of Directors on June 1. ~Page 8
No email release authorized; hard copies only to property owners By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer roperty owners who want to read all of the details of a forensic audit that investigated allegations of financial misdoings at the Ocean Pines Association’s food and beverage operations and Public Works department will have to submit a written request for a hard copy of the document. The forensic audit report will not be widely distributed via posting on the OPA’s website or via e-mail. Director Frank Daly made the motion during a June 1 Board of Directors’ meeting authorizing a controlled release of the complete forensic audit without redactions to all assessment-paying members of the OPA beginning on June 10. His goal was to ensure all homeowners have complete and easy access to the forensic audit in compliance with the Maryland Homeowners Association Act. However, his proposal would have required a mass mailing to all property owners listed in the OPA’s assessment database with a “bounce back” or reply card they would need to complete and return to the OPA in order to secure a copy of the document. That idea didn’t win the support of his Daly’s colleagues. The reply card would have given them three choices for receiving the report: pick up a printed copy at the OPA administration building after showing identification, have a printed copy mailed to them at an address specified on the return card, or have a PDF copy sent to them at an email address specified on their reply card. After Aug. 30, the motion stated that copies of the forensic audit report would only be available to members by written request to the association. In the end, the board didn’t support sending email copies of PDF versions of the report. “This audit costing the association in the range of $200,000, has been completed, reviewed, accepted and is now ready for distribution. Given the extreme seriousness of the allegations, the findings of this audit should be
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To Page 27
FORENSIC AUDIT REPORT
Auditors clear Finance Dept. employees of theft ~ Page 24
Auditors hit Public Works hiring, purchasing practices ~ Page 25
OPA far along in implementing report recommendations ~ Page 26
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Viola, Board agree on six-month GM contract The Board of Directors on June 6 entered into a sixmonth agreement to employ John Viola as the Ocean Pines Association’s general manager. Approval of the contract took place in a closed session of the board. The Progress has learned that the position pays Viola $70,000 over the six-month term, but does not include health insurance or retirement benefits.
~ Page 8
Petition drive close to collecting needed signatures As of June 14, former OPA Director Slobodan Trendic and his supporters were close to meeting their referendum petition goals. They had collected 750 signatures on a reduction of spending authority petition and 700 signatures on the petition to force a referendum on the the new golf clubhouse.
~ Page 16
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