Ocean pines progress august early september 2015 by Ocean Pines Progress

August - Early September 2015

www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress

Vol. 11, No. 5

443-359-7527

www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress Board awards Thompson $5,000 performance bonus

THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY COVER STORY

Herrick, Jacobs elected to Ocean Pines board Stevens supporting Collins for OPA president, Renaud also in the running By TOM STAUSS Publisher ewcomers Tom Herrick and Cherl Jacobs will be fresh faces on the Board of Directors this fall as the result of this summer’s Ocean Pines Association elections. Herrick, a former New York State Police investigator, was the top voter in the balloting, results of which were announced at the annual meeting of the OPA Aug. 8. He won 1,669 votes. Jacobs, who is retiring as a prosecuting attorney in Baltimore City this fall, won 1,480 votes. That was good for second in the balloting to fill the vacancies created by the retirements of Marty Clarke and Sharyn O’Hare from the board.

Herrick and Jacobs were elected for three-year terms. Slobodan Trendic, a retired information technology executive, placed third in the balloting with 1,179 votes, 285 votes fewer than Jacobs. His candidacy was no doubt hurt by his arrest on alchohol-related charges just before balloting began in mid-July. Former OPA Director Terri Mohr, one of three former directors unsuccessfully seeking new board terms, placed fourth with 873 votes. Carol Ludwig followed with 651, Bill Zawacki with 620, and Ray Unger with 219. Zawacki and Unger are former directors. Herrick and Jacobs’s elections should result in a board with less factional infighting than has been evident in recent

Sunset on the river

Friends gathered for a late Sunday afternoon cruise in July on the St. Martin’s River. Pictured left to right are Winnie Maher, Cathy Ball, Skip Maher, Susan Reynolds (right front), and Carla Latham. All are Ocean Pines residents. George Ball photo

Tom Herrick

Cheryl Jacobs

years. Both ran independently as candidates and both are replacing retiring directors strongly identified with competing factions. When the board meets later in August to elect a new slate of officers, Dave Stevens probably will not be reelected for a second year as OPA president. He told the Progress that Jack Collins would be a “better choice,” given that he will be serving his third year as a director and for the last year has been been the OPA treasurer. Also expected to be in the running for president is Pat Renaud, who will be entering his second year on the board, this past year serving as board secretary. Renaud reportedly has the support of Director Tom Terry for president. Renaud told the Progress at the conclusion of the annual meeting that he would willingly serve as president if nominated. “The same thing is true for Jack,” Renaud said. If Terry nominates Renaud for president, he presumably would be in a better position than Collins to secure the four votes needed.

The Board of Directors has awarded General Manager Bob Thompson a $5000 bonus as part of a three-year employment contract approved by the board last year, the Ocean Pines Progress has learned. The decision to award the bonus, which was half of what the board could have issued under the contract, was made in closed session July 30 as part of Thompson’s annual performance review. ~ Page 6

Directors debate merits of reserve study, hire contractor Despite hiring a firm to conduct a reserve study of the Ocean Pines Association’s facilities and its ability to fund their maintenance, members of the Board of Directors are still divided about exactly what that study should entail and where it fits into the overall planning process for the future. During a July 30 meeting, the board approved a contract with Design Management Associates Inc. of Richmond, Va., to perform an interactive reserve analysis for an initial project fee of $31,800. ~ Page 15

Clarke, O’Hare spar over lockbox statement

It was the last meeting that directors Marty Clarke and Sharyn O’Hare sat together as colleagues and antagonists on the Board of Directors, as they were concluding three-year terms punctuated by clashes over policy and personal animus. Early in the relationship, O’Hare was among a group that had attempted – unsuccessfully, it turned out – to have Clarke kicked off the board for violating a code of conduct that actually had been abolished by a previous board. So it somehow seemed fitting early in the board meeting of July 30 that the two would clash once again, this time over meeting minutes. ~ Page 39

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August - Early September 2015

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA lists renovated property with local Realtor OCEAN PINES BRIEFS Ott commended

Susan Megargee (left), broker of Re/Max Crossroads in Ocean Pines, gave the Super Nova Award to Ocean Pines Realtor Marlene Ott at the Coastal Association of Realtors awards breakfast held at the White Marlin Club on July 29. Ott also was given the listing for an Ocean Pines Association-owned home on Tail of the Fox Drive that the OPA purchased at foreclosure and then renovated. She won the listing after a competition among local Realtors.

Member calls GM a ‘scab,’ told to sit

Long-time resident Dutch Oovsteen can usually be counted on for some caustic commentary on the state of affairs in Ocean Pines during the public comments segment of the Ocean Pines As-

sociation Board of Directors’ meetings. The July 30 meeting was no exception. Oovsteen began his time at the microphone by telling audience members not to interfere with his speech. Then he launched into what has become a regular lambasting of General Manager Bob Thompson. This time he

called Thompson a “scab.” Oovsteen said after he spoke out against Thompson at a meeting a few months earlier, a board member asked if he had ever actually met with the general manager to discuss his concerns. So, he said, he went to Thompson after a board meeting and told him that he was a “scab.” According to Oovsteen, Thompson questioned him about his ongoing negativity regarding operations at the Yacht Club. “I said yes, you made it a disaster,” Oovsteen said he told the general manager regarding the Yacht Club. He told the board that Thompson is blaming the poor performance of the Yacht Club on residents, who voted to approve rebuilding the amenity. “The same thing he did when he had the coffee house. It was a disaster,” Oovsteen said, referencing a failed attempt by Thompson to operate a coffee shop out of the old Yacht Club. He also took issue with the association’s attempts to sell lifetime memberships at the golf course. “A scab. If he had gone to apprenticeship school. To a union school he would have learned. Union people want to do good work,” Oovsteen said of Thompson. OPA President Dave Stevens then

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property that the Ocean Pines Association bought at a foreclosure sale and renovated has been listed with a local Realtor. The 1,288-square-foot single family home at 37 Tail of the Fox is now listed with Marlene Ott of Re/Max Crossroads with a sale price of $174,900. Based on a staff recommendation, the board agreed last year to purchase the home, anticipating that only minor repairs would be necessary before the OPA could flip the property to a new assessment-paying owner. At that time the board said the association was trying to collect money that is owed to it by the property’s then owners, and there appeared to be an opportunity to do so through the foreclosure process. After buying the property, the OPA discovered that it would cost more than originally anticipated, about $15,000, to get the property in a sellable condition, including replacing new flooring, drywall, painting, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, electrical work and appliances. The OPA did much of the renovation work in house. Originally built in 1993, the 3-bedroom, 2-bath house is on a 14,694 square foot lot close to the South Gate entrance to Ocean Pines.

4 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 3 asked Oovsteen to clarify what word he was using “that started with an S. Did you say Scab?” “I called him a scab,” Oovsteen responded. A somewhat agitated Stevens then called him out of order and told him to “Please sit down.” But Oovsteen kept talking above the OPA president, saying of Thompson “this man has to go.” “Sit down,” Stevens told him again. Eventually Oovsteen complied, telling Stevens that he respects him.

Elections Committee chair rejects open ballot count

Ocean Pines resident and oceanpines-

forum.com founder Joe Reynolds took to the podium during the public comments segment of the July 30 meeting of the Board of Directors to once again ask the board to open the counting of the ballots in the annual Ocean Pines Association election to the candidates or their representatives. Not to open the counting of ballots on the grounds that it constitutes a personnel matter, as that term is used in the Maryland Homeowner Association Act, is a violation of that law, Reynolds said. None of the directors seemed interested in pursuing the matter, and as a result the traditional practice of the Elections Committee opening and counting the ballots on the Friday before the annual meeting of the association remained in place. Committee chair Bill Wentworth followed Reynolds on the podium minutes

later to tell him that OPA bylaws and resolutions give his committee the authority to open ballots in secret. As a practical matter, it would require legal action and a court order to force the OPA to open the ballots in a public session.

Equestrian center manager dies

Only long-time residents of Ocean Pines remember the equestrian center that once occupied the parcel of land on Route 589 in front of the library and post office. The center closed in the 1980s when the facility became run down and the Ocean Pines Association decided to get out of the business of stabling horses. The old riding paths in the wooded area behind the library and post office, and a

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long a portion of Route 90, are now used for biking and hiking. The last manager of the equestrian center, Howard Hall, has died, Ocean Pines Association Director Sharyn O’Hare announced during the July 30 Board of Directors meeting. Hall operated a real estate business in Ocean Pines for many years, with offices in the Manklin Meadows area in south Ocean Pines.

Proposed real estate sign change opposed

Based on a recommendation from the Architectural Review Committee, the Board of Directors is considering revised guidelines that for the first time would allow signs that advertise a real estate agency or contain an agency logo to be posted on properties listed for sale in Ocean Pines. The guidelines would require the property owners to issue written approval for the signs, which must meet all required design specifications, in order for the sign to be posted on a numbered lot. The proposal was withdrawn from board consideration and approval on second reading in July by Director Tom Terry, but it could come back at a later date. One strong opponent of the proposed easing of sign regulations, Marty Clarke, is retiring from the board. The proposed change is not without its detractors, one of whom, Ocean Pines property owner and resident Susan Birch, appeared before the board at its July 30 monthly meeting to object to any change. She said that the current policy of colored stakes and brochure boxes has worked fine over the years and that a proliferation of real estate signs would not be good for property values. Essentially she echoed the objections against a change in policy raised by Clarke.

Puppy photo contest to raise park funds

The Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department is hosting a puppy photo contest through Oct. 1 The winner of the contest will be named “Pup of the Pines” at the Ocean Pines Halloween celebration Oct. 31 and will receive a free 2016 Ocean Pines Dog Park registration. The pup will also be the official face of the dog park and will be featured in the Ocean Pines Activity Guide and other postings throughout the year. The entry fee is $5 per dog. Money raised from the contest will be used for upgrades and improvements to the dog park. Official entry forms are available at the Ocean Pines Community Center at 235 Ocean Parkway or online at OceanPines.org. For more information on the photo contest, contact the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-6417052.

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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On a Saturday morning in mid-July, 63 youths between the ages of 4 to 16 tested their skills at the Ocean Pines South Pond in the 19th Annual Art Hansen Memorial Fishing Contest sponsored by the Ocean Pines Anglers Club. A combined total of 97 fish were caught. Trophies were awarded for largest fish in each age category and special prizes for the top three, including most fish. Thanks to funding support from the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Club and the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association, all registrants received a prize. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources stocked the pond prior to the event. Some of the winners are shown in the photo with first place winners as follows: Ages 12-16, largest fish, Buddy Martin; most fish, Trevor Lawrence. Ages 8-11, largest fish, Kiley Ohrel; most fish, John Healy. Ages 4-7, largest fish, Zachary Dengler; most fish, Jillian Donahue.

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6 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors has awarded General Manager Bob Thompson a $5000 bonus as part of a threeyear employment contract approved by the board last year, the Ocean Pines Progress has learned. The decision to award the bonus, which was half of what the board could have issued under the contract, was made in closed session July 30 as part of Thompson’s annual performance review. The motion to approve the bonus was made on a 5-2 vote, with directors Marty Clarke and Jack Collins in opposition. The vote followed discussion of bonus criteria approved last year by the board and how well Thompson had performed in achieving various non-financial objectives. The objectives apparently were whittled down to four from the six objectives approved last summer, making each worth $2500. Some directors supported awarded Thompson the full $10,000 possible under the contract while the dissenters favored no bonus at all. The board majority settled on the mid-way point, an outcome that was not unexpected. OPA President Dave Stevens in a related development said the board has had discussions among themselves on new criteria to be used to determine how

Board awards Thompson $5,000 performance bonus Directors at work deciding new bonus criteria for the current fiscal year, Stevens says

much of a $10,000 bonus for non-financial performance Thompson could earn in the current fiscal year. He said he believes the criteria should and will be released to the OPA membership once they’re decided. In comments reported in the Progress last month, Stevens said he was prepared to accept a “compromise” between the bonus amounts favored by the two extremes. As part of the performance review, Stevens had said he would ask for votes from the directors on whether Thompson has accomplished each of the objectives. Apparently individual votes were cast, with averages determined, with the results in the middle, effectively forging a compromise. Another $30,000 in incentives under Thompson’s contract tied to meeting certain financial objectives were off the table, because key amenities – golf, the Yacht Club food and beverage operation,

and aquatics – missed their budgets by significant margins in the 2014-15 fiscal year that ended this past April 30. Other amenities, such as Beach Club parking and the Yacht Club marina operations, were excluded from the list of amenities that would be used for the purpose of determining whether the general manager would receive up to $30,000 in bonuses for meeting financial objectives. The first “non-financial” objective approved by directors last summer was for the general manager to deliver to the board an internet technology plan for updating the OPA’s computer network. The success of that objective is to be measured by the project’s completeness and accuracy as of January 2015. Thompson did not deliver an IT plan to the board for consideration this past January, Stevens told the Progress in July. A second task given to Thompson was

to coordinate with Worcester County to represent the association’s interests in the Water and Wastewater Division’s water line replacement program, and to develop and implement an OPA plan for oversight. The county installed the water lines in recent months, in coordination with the OPA. Another objective given to the general manager last summer was to create an updated capital improvement plan for presentation to and consideration by the board, to be measured by the board’s determination that Thompson had completed a plan that would take the OPA through the year 2020. That revised CIP was due to the board by the end of last year. However, after the August election and the subsequent reorganization of the board, the task of updating the CIP was taken out of Thompson’s hands and a new process adopted under the direct supervision of Stevens. The board last officially updated a version of a CIP in June of 2012; it is substantially out of date. As of July 1, the new process has not yielded anything close to what might be considered an updated CIP. Stevens acknowledged that it was probably unfair to include this item as To Page 9

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS quality of a long-term plan of action to address the OPA’s needs. A March 2015 strategic plan was to be delivered to the board by March of 2015. While there has been no indication that a strategic plan was delivered to the board by March, the Public Works Department has been deployed to deal with drainage issues as they occur. The sixth objective directed Thompson to draft a summary of suggested changes to the procedures used in enforcing guidelines and restrictions regulating junk vehicles, overgrown land-

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Thompson bonus From Page 6 an objective for which Thompson would be held accountable for bonus purposes. The fourth objective approved by the board was “successfully operating” the new Ocean Pines Yacht Club, measured by criteria such as the quality and speed of service offered to diners, the quality of the food served and completion of the actual building construction. The facility lost just short of $190,000 in the 2014-15 fiscal year. A recent assessment of Yacht Club performance conducted by the Clubs Advisory Committee did not confer high grades on quality and speed of service for much of last year. There is general agreement that there were marked improvements

after an interim manager assumed dayto-day control over operations later in the fiscal year, but these service and quality improvements did not show up in improved financial performance in the final months of the fiscal year. The facility was substantially completed and opened for business in May of last year, with various punch list items lingering well into this year. Under the fifth approved objective, Thompson was tasked with completing a drainage strategic plan and to continue drainage team operations throughout Ocean Pines. The success of his work is to be measured by responsiveness to drainage complaints in the community and the quality of operation of the work to rectify problems, along with the

scaping and “un-maintained/abandoned homes” no later than December of last year. While it is not clear that Thompson himself proposed substantive changes to these procedures, the board routinely deals with such issues in monthly compliance issues that are brought to the board for review and action. The Progress has been unable to verify which four of the remaining objectives were used to determine the bonus, specifically which one of the five was deleted from the list considered.

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By TOM STAUSS Publisher t’s deja vue all over again. On the recommendation of General Manager Bob Thompson and the concurrence of Aquatics Director Colby Phillips and the Aquatics Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors has agreed to delay the long-awaited resurfacing of the Sports Core swimming pool until next summer, along with other improvements at the indoor facility. Phillips and the advisory commit-

AQUATICS

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at least some of Ocean Pines’ four outdoor pools could remain open to accommodate swimmers. A request for proposals for the project had been posted on the OPA Web site earlier in the summer, with only two bids submitted by the deadline. One bid was significantly higher than the other. On the resurfacing component of the RFP, Thompson’s July 27 written report to the board indicated that the two bids were for $77,544 and $169,456, respectively. “A follow-up to the other potential bidders revealed the lack of participation in the bidding was primarily due to the amount of work they already had scheduled for this season,” the general manager wrote. “Additionally, recent correspondence with the state revealed an unusually slow permitting process right now due to low staffing levels.” Phillips recently told the aquatics committee in email correspondence in late July that the state regulators would

OCEAN PINES be unable to act on a permit request until sometime in the fall, after all the outdoor pools would be closed for the season. As a result of that, she said she had reluctantly concluded that it would be better to wait until next summer to do the Sports Core pool project, giving her and the OPA plenty of time to announce the pool’s closure next summer and budget accordingly, while also leaving more time for the OPA and the state to handle the permitting process. Primarily it was the permitting issue that prompted the committee to drop its push for the project to be completed this year, as committee members don’t want swimmers in Ocean Pines to be without a pool option for any period of time. But the delay is also seen as a way of making sure that other components of an improvement project are budgeted and funded, including a new stepped entryway into the pool and Rubaroc decking. It’s also possible the committee will continue its long-standing advocacy for equipping the Sports Core pool with ultra-violet filtering as a way of improving water and air quality at the indoor pool. Phillips has been researching that topic and has not yet made up her mind on whether to recommend it. Thompson wrote that he was recommending a delay in the project until July/August of next summer in part beq

10 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 10 cause it will allow more time to consider doing more at the pool than simply resurfacing it. “The delay would allow us extra time to make sure appropriate consideration is given to new entry options (the stepped entryway first proposed by Phillips), liner versus Diamond-brite finish, replacement of the (water) slide and some additional experience with the Rubaroc decking solution we recently had installed at two of our facilities,” Thompson told the board. The RFP for the project posted earlier this summer asked bidders to submit bids for two types of resurfacing, a more traditional plaster along with a Diamond-brite finish coat, such as the one applied to the new Yacht Club pool two summers ago. The pool liner option was used at the Mumford’s Landing pool this summer and has been well received by patrons. Its advantages are easy maintenance, a comfortable feel and a ten-year warranty. It’s more costly than traditional plaster. In this summer’s RFP process, only one of the bidders submitted a proposal for a pool liner at the Sports Core pool. Phillips told the aquatics committee in early July that the price differential was roughly $18,000. It was submitted by the Sports Core project’s highest bidder, Pool and Spas of Milford, the company that was awarded the contract to install the pool liner and make other repairs and improvements at Mumford’s Landing earlier this year. Among the other improvements at the Mumford’s Landing pool was Rubaroc decking around the pool’s perimeter. The rubberized matting was also installed at the Swim and Racquet Club’s splash pad this summer. It, too, has been well received by pool patrons, according to Phillips. “We will have a full season of use of the new liner at Mumford’s Landing along with the Rubaroc surround, as well as at the (Swim and Racquet Club) splash pad,” Thompson wrote. He said with the decision to delay the project, “a new RFP can be posted and circulated in late fall with our agreed upon items, such as type of pool finish, entry options and slide. We can finalize decking options. We can apply for our permit during the same time period.” He also said the OPA “can build (the Aquatics) budget (for next year) with the anticipation of closing the Sports Core pool in July and August, when all other pools are in operation, which has a significant impact on personnel and revenue.” Although Thompson didn’t say so in his written remarks to the board, it seems possible if not likely that the $150,000 that has been budgeted every year for the past five years or so for Sports Core improvements won’t be adequate to cover the costs of every component that is now envisioned. Phillips told the aquatics committee that the Pools and Spas bid came in at

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11 $302,000, including optional entrance steps at $85,000. The price included skimmers, coping tile, conventional plaster and a Diamond-brite finish and other items that have been discussed in recent months. Without the entrance steps, the Pools and Spas bid came in at $217,000. She said Pools and Spas submitted an alternative bid for a pool liner that would have added another $18,000 to the cost of the project. According to Phillips, Pearl Plaster’s bid was $130,000 without the entrance steps. Pearl’s price for the steps was $77,000, bringing its bid for conventional resurfacing plus Diamond-brite to $207,000. Pearl Plaster submitted no liner proposal. During discussion at the July 27

board meeting, when Thompson restated his recommendation to delay the project, most of the directors, with the exception of Marty Clarke, agreed to the delay. OPA President Dave Stevens said it would allow the OPA “to broaden its net” in the hopes of obtaining more bids beyond the two that were submitted this summer. In addition, he echoed the concern of Phillips and the advisory committee “that we don’t want to close the pool” when no other pools are open to accommodate swimmers. “We don’t want to give the money back,” he said, in reference to annual pool members who might ask for a refund had no pool been available for use for a month-to-two-month period of Sports Core pool closure.

Clarke, who’s retiring from the board this summer, said he had detected some “mission creep” in the project over and above simple resurfacing, which he implied had added to its complexity and cost. “This is at least the fifth budget year that (the Sports Core upgrades) had been included in the (capital) budget, and it hasn’t happened yet,” Clarke said. He later said that “you can’t get a permit unless you apply for it,” seemingly suggesting that if the OPA had filed for the permit earlier, the state regulators might have acted on it. Director Jack Collins expressed concern about the disparity in the two bids that had been submitted. “I don’t understand the vast differ-

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OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

AQUATICS

Two months into new fiscal year, aquatics on a roll financially Reallocation of Beach Club parking revenue only tells part of the story, as department is $71,438 ahead of last year’s numbers By TOM STAUSS Publisher ong the lagging step-child of the Ocean Pines Association’s big three amenities, all of which lose varying amounts of money requiring subsidies from elsewhere, the Aquatics Department is showing early signs of a financial turn-around. While it’s probably too optimistic to forecast a break-even or surplus in aquatics in the current fiscal year, a loss somewhere south of $100,000 appears realistic. That’s because as of the first two months of 2015-16, Aquatics is already ahead of where it was financially through June of last year by $71,438. According to unaudited results from the April 30 financial statement, aquatics lost $168,614 in the year ending April 30. Should the department in the remaining ten months of the fiscal year do simply as well as it did last year, the loss would drop below $100,000 for the first time since the enclosure of the Sports Core pool in the 2007-2008 timeframe. But there is no reason to think that early successes in controlling the bottom line and beating budget projections will simply vanish, given the efforts of Aquatics Director Colby Phillips and her management team so far. The $18,298 positive variance to budget in June showed revenues that were $11,735 in excess of budget, while expenses were $6,563 under budget. For the year through June 30, revenues were $29,837 over budget, with expenses coming in $6,856 under budget. Some skeptics have suggested that the Aquatics’ improved finances are the result of an accounting gimmick approved by the Board of Directors in the budget review process in January and February of this year, leading up to the adoption of the 2015-16 budget in March. There was an accounting change, but

it was no gimmick. The board approved the diversion of $48,000 in Beach Club parking revenue to the aquatics department in the member dues category. The change was justified by the fact that annual Beach Club parking passes include four pool passes good for use at the Beach Club pool only. While the $48,000 reallocation was somewhat arbitrary – it was not tied to the number of Beach Club pool card swipes, for instance – it was Aquatics management’s best guess as to how much it costs to operate the Beach Club pool during the summer months.

Some Aquatics Department staffers contended that the allocation arguably could have been much more. Last year, according to the April, 2015, unaudited financial statement, Beach Club parking brought in $414,846 in revenue to the OPA. The $48,000 reallocation represents a relatively small percentage of that – 11.57 per cent. Unfortunately, there seem to be no numbers available – at least, none that have been produced thus far – on how many of those Beach Club parking pass purchasers routinely or occasionally use To Page 14

Sports Core pool From Page 11 ence,” he said. Director Pat Renaud, expected to be the aquatics committee’s new board liaison this fall with the retirement from the board of Sharyn O’Hare, expressed support for the stepped entryway. “I have a disability” that would be accommodated by it, he said, later nothing that very young children and older people will be able to enter and exit much more easily with a stepped entry, such as the one at the Yacht Club pool.

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AQUATICS

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Aquatics budget From Page 12 the Beach Club pool on their visits to the Beach Club. No one would deny that many people who park their vehicles on the Beach Club parking are doing so on their way to the beach and ocean. Not everyone who parks at the parking lot use the pool, though everyone who buys an annual pass is entitled to in the form of the four pool access passes.

At least one member of the Aquatics Committee has asked Phillips if there’s any way to obtain exact records from the membership and/or finance departments on the number of actual visits to the Beach Club pool this summer by holders of the Beach Club pool passes. That way, based on typical daily use rates at the facility for holders of the coupon book debit cards, it should be possible to calculate the revenue attributable to the cards, which in turn might

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for pool users, according to Aquatics Director Colby Phillips. If the expanded enclosed sandy beach is well received, it’s possible that the concrete decking expansion included in this year’s OPA capital budget for up to $100,000 won’t need to be spent, she recently told members of the OPA’s Aquatics Advisory Committee. Also expected for later in the year is the installation of two new pool covers for Mumford’s Landing and the Swim and Racquet Club pools once they close for the season. The pool covers, at roughly $5,000 each, were included in the approved capital budget for 2015-16.

become the basis for a budget request member dues had produced $163,406 in next year. revenue for the OPA. Adding $48,000 to Phillips has said that she will try to that comes to $211,406. obtain that information and that she beAccording to the June 30 aquatics’ filieves the revenue linked to the Beach nancial statement, member dues for the Club pool passes will turn out to be in first two months of the fiscal year genexcess of $48,000 this summer. erated $219,918 for the OPA, meaning In the meantime, though, the $48,000 that about $8500 in member dues are https://www.facebook.com/sunsetﬂ oors21842 in reallocated revenue does not appear attributable to memberships that have to explain all of the substantial increase nothing to do with the reallocated parkin aquatics membership revenue year ing pass revenue. over year. Last year, through June 30,

The newly expanded “sandy” deck at the Beach Club as seen behind a new retaining wall and fencing.

ew fencing and other improvements at the Beach Club swimming pool are complete as of the first week of August, about a month later than the Ocean Pines Association’s Aquatics staff had initially anticipated. The improvement include an expanded “sandy beach” deck area and a concrete barrier on the beachside of the pool. The OPA Public Works Department has imported new white sand into what is an expanded area enclosed by fencing on the pool’s southside, along with beach umbrellas, chairs and palm trees. The project has added about 3,930 square feet of enclosed space available

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

Aquatics budget From Page 14 The membership revenue of $219,918 through June 30 is $23,848 ahead of budget. Other revenue line items also are showing healthy positive variances over budget, suggesting a department that seems to be turning a corner financially. For instance, revenue from pool rentals for private parties have generated $1,600 for the OPA through June 30; there was no such revenue last year and there was no money budgeted for this in the current fiscal year. Phillips says this is an example of an aquatics staff taking advantage of opportunities. Coupon revenue – this is the income earned from OPA members purchasing discount debit cards to gain entry at the pools in lieu of annual or seasonal memberships – has generated $21,888

Directors debate merits of reserve study, approve $31,800 contract with DMA Cordwell dissents, says a capital improvement plan should be done before a reserve study; Stevens says the reserve study is a key component of successfully developing a new CIP owner, and Jerry Aveda, the OPA’s project manager, evaluated proposals submitted by three companies and recommended hiring DMA to conduct the study. The OPA is pursuing a threepronged approach to planning for improvements in Ocean Pines that includes developing a reserve study, a comprehensive plan and finally a capital improvement plan. The reserve study, essentially a snapshot of facility conditions, will give the CIP critical in-

through June 30. That’s $3,888 ahead of budget. Swimming lessons have produced $34,722 in revenue through June 30, $2,722 more than budgeted. Cash fees of $40,022 through June 30 are very close to budget, lagging by a modest $1,087. It would appear that some OPA members have come to realize that it’s cheaper to access the pools by purchasing discount cards in the OPA membership office rather than by paying cash at the door. Phillips and her staff are also doing a good job of holding down expenses relative to budget. Through June 30, wages and benefits were $7,319 under budget, and utilities were $1,157 less than budgeted. Services and supplies were over budget by a modest $1600, while maintenance and “other costs” were on budget.

formation while the comprehensive plan is supposed to direct the CIP in the long term. The CIP, which includes immediate and longer-term projections of major projects along with an ongoing maintenance component, or at least that’s the current plan. The OPA hasn’t updated the CIP since a formal vote of the board in June of 2012; it’s for the most part outdated. OPA President Dave Stevens said the reserve study is an important step in the OPA’s planning process and is needed to help develop the capital improvement plan for new and replacement of facilities. “It provides a promising link,” he said. “I’m really anxious to see it.” A typical reserve study focuses on individual components of facilities, but DMA’s study also is supposed to produce an anal-

ysis of the overall condition of certain buildings, such as the Country Club, to help the board decide whether the building should be replaced or renovated. Director Jack Collins offered the motion to direct the general manager to enter into a contract with DMA to conduct a full reserve study of Ocean Pines based on the recommendation of a search team that reviewed and evaluated bids submitted in response to a limited request for proposals circulated by the OPA. Director Marty Clarke gave a second to the motion, which carried in a 6-1 vote with Director Bill Cordwell opposed. The cost of the project is $31,800. “These people put a lot of time and effort and brought their expertise to the table” to review and recommend a consultant to perform the study, Collins said of the group that reviewed the proposals. “I think that they’ve done an exceedingly good job in bringing three qualified members to the community and then picking the best out of that.” Cordwell was concerned about the cost of the study and whether it would result in usable data that will help the OPA plan for future facilities use and improvements. He questioned the potential for cost escalations as well, since the consultant’s proposal included options for follow-up meetings that potentially could continue for years in an ongoing business relationship between DMA and the OPA

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer espite hiring a firm to conduct a reserve study of the Ocean Pines Association’s facilities and its ability to fund their maintenance, members of the Board of Directors are still divided about exactly what that study should entail and where it fits into the overall planning process for the future. During a July 30 meeting, the board approved a contract with Design Management Associates Inc. of Richmond, Va., to perform an interactive reserve analysis for an initial project fee of $31,800. The reserve study will detail how long the components of various facilities will last, where in that life cycle they are and the cost to replace them. “One of our focuses lately has been having a reserve study to figure out if we’re over funded, under-funded, properly funded,” OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said, presumably referring to OPA’s allocated reserve funds. Thompson and a team consisting of Ted Moroney, a builder in the Washington, D.C., and an Ocean Pines home-

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August - Early September 2015

From Page 15 Director Tom Terry also pointed out that the DMA proposal includes add-on costs at an hourly rate for future adjustments to the reserve study. He asked how Thompson for clarification of those costs and what may necessitate the additional expenditures. “They come in and they do a full review out of the gate, everything. Top to bottom. Front to back,” Thompson replied. “The follow up reports, because they will have already been here on site and physically seen everything, is much quicker.” He said the hourly rates will apply if the consultant’s services are used to update the documents as facility conditions change. Always keeping a watchful eye on the association’s expenditures, Clarke wanted to know from where in the budget funding will be made available for the reserve study. Thompson responded that a total of $50,000 was included in the budget, but the board opted to cover the cost of a comprehensive plan study from that pot of money as well. He said there is still adequate funding in that line item for the reserve study. Cordwell, however, wasn’t happy that funding designated for the reserve study

was funneled into the comprehensive plan project. He was even less thrilled with conducting the reserve study at all in its current form. “I want a capital improvement plan first to base this study off of,” he said, adding that this study will only provide estimates of the cost to maintain existing facilities. “I don’t want to waste $35,000 just on maintenance on what we have now. We have too many projects that need to be done and need to be done in the future.” He questioned the use of the term “full reserve study” in DMA’s proposal and wanted to know what that really means. Without a capital improvement plan that details future facilities plans, including major renovations or reconstruction, he said he doesn’t believe the DMA document will be a full reserve study. However, Clarke said a reserve study is only about funding for maintenance of current facilities. “That’s exactly what a reserve study is. It has nothing to do with a new or better anything,” he said. “They’re not going to say replace it. That’s not what a reserve study is.” Clarke might not be accurate, however, with respect to the DMA study. Stevens in particular seemed to think that DMA will go beyond what a traditional reserve study focuses on.

Thompson more or less agrees with Stevens. Still Cordwell said it appears as though some board members just want to push through approval of the reserve study before the annual OPA elections and a new board of directors takes office in August. “It seems like we’re trying to rush this through just to get it through this board and I’m about doing things once and doing it correctly,” he said. Cordwell said the general manager put together a capital improvement plan in 2013-2014 that included a list of upcoming projects and their estimated costs, a CIP that never was acted on by the board. He wanted to know why that wasn’t good enough. “I just don’t understand why we’re not using that,” he said. Thompson responded that as part of the “full reserve study” DMA will provide a cost estimate to replace the facilities but only based on their current construction, size and use. He said the consultants will estimate the life span of the buildings and the cost to maintain them until they meet the end of their useful life. “You’re going to get a component break down as well as a full replacement cost,” Thompson said, adding there will be a breakdown of items that needed to be maintained and elements to be re-

placed based on each facility’s current use. “That’s where the confusion comes in when people ask ‘what are we going to use facility for?’” he said. “That’s not what they are doing.” Collins said he wants to ensure that the consultants are aware that the OPA has several major projects pending in the future and that has to be factored into any reserve study. Director Tom Terry agreed with Cordwell that the OPA has in place a board-approved capital improvement plan. While that document may not be up to date, it should be provided to DMA for consideration during their study. “I’m going to assume the existing CIP plan will at least be made available,” he said. “It’s not pie in the sky stuff that may or may not ever happen.” Stevens said that much of the hard data the OPA has is outdated. But in order to move the hard data from a reserve study into an actual plan of action “you have to know how you’re going to use the facility,” he said, adding that is when a capital improvement plan comes into play. Stevens that if the board is going to complete and approve a new version of a CIP, then having the hard data from the reserve study is necessary prior to the next budget session.

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Comprehensive plan process misses some key deadlines

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer hase I of a community-wide comprehensive planning effort for the Ocean Pines Association should be about 50 percent complete by now, but no one is really sure about the status of that $16,500 project being led by the Comprehensive Plan Committee. But it appears that key deadlines in the process are not being met. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the OPA retained BEACON, the Business Economic and Community Outreach Network at Salisbury University, to develop the comprehensive plan that will strategically assist the capital improvement planning process. The Board of Directors in March agreed to contract with BEACON to design a series of planning analysis models and accompanying decision support tools to assist the OPA in exploring the benefits, consequences and fiscal outcomes of various community planning scenarios. According to the committee’s project

timeline, several steps in the data collection process should already be completed. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. “Evidentially there is nothing going on, which I apologize for,” Pat Renaud, liaison to the committee, told his fellow directors during the July 30 monthly board meeting. The initial phase of the project includes querying key individuals in Ocean Pines using a series of questions developed by the OPA, apparently the comprehensive plan committee. The list of questions included: What is working? What is not working? What should be the 5 year plan for OPA? What should be the 10-year plan for OPA? What can OP/OPA do without? What should be the process of planning for OP/OPA’s future? What are the effectiveness/efficiency issues? Is there any question or issue we did not cover? The phase I timeline called for BEACON to send out a letter to the key informants regarding scheduling of phone calls to get their answers to that series of questions by July 15, and that appears to have been done. However, phone calls were to be conducted on July 29 and a progress report issued by BEACON on July 31. But it wasn’t clear to the board if that

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had happened. Directors Tom Terry and Sharyn O’Hare both said at the July 30 meeting that they had received and responded to the letter with a time for BEACON to contact them, but had not heard back. “I received a letter giving me dates to respond back when they could call me,” O’Hare said, adding “that’s as far as it’s gone.” Terry agreed, saying, “I got it and responded. They haven’t responded back.” “We should be making phone calls. Obviously we haven’t done that,” Renaud said. He said that as liaison he will contact the committee and “find out why haven’t proceeded with what we had agreed to.” By Aug. 5 BEACON and the committee were supposed to be meeting to discuss the findings from the phone calls and to finalize preparations for focus groups, with invitations to focus group participants to be sent on Aug. 7. The focus group portion of the project is supposed to wrap up by Aug. 21, and by Aug. 28 an online survey for access by property owners is to be posted. By Sept. 11 the online survey should be concluded and a phase I progress report issued. “I’m a little bit perplexed myself,” Renaud said regarding the apparent lack

of activity on the project. “We obviously need to catch up on this thing and find out what’s going on.” During the public comments segment of the July 30 meeting, property owner Joe Reynolds took aim at the list of questions being posed as well as the list of those to whom they were being asked. He said BEACON Director Memo Diriker indicated that the most important aspect of the study “would be OPA providing him with five to ten questions that this board and this community wanted answered.” When the board originally made the motion to contract with BEACON, some sample questions were included in the proposal. At the time Renaud said those were not the questions that would be asked of key informants but that the OPA board would be developing a series of questions. But several board members say they never saw the questions submitted by the committee. Reynolds wanted to know if the board had any input on the questions. “I don’t think the board has ever discussed question one on the study that’s going to be our future,” he said. He also took issue with the list of key individuals to be interviewed by BEA-

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Renaud apologizes for apparent lack of progress in conducting surveys

OCEAN PINES Comprehensive plan From Page 18 CON, a list apparently developed by the committee. He said four people on the committee picked 90 people who live in the community that they feel are key people in Ocean Pines. The contact list includes OPA directors and, according to Reynolds, too many OPA staffers. “Almost every employee was picked,” Reynolds said. He wanted to know if anyone had received a phone yet. When there were no affirmative responses, he said the timeline information is useless. “If this plan is so important, I am begging the board to get involved” and not leave in hands of the comprehensive plan committee,” he said/ Director Marty Clarke wanted to know how non-resident property owners are being provided an opportunity for input during the comprehensive planning process. If the group of people is providing answers to questions that will help guide the future of the OPA, non-residents need to be included, he said. He asked what percentage of the key informants to be interviewed by phone were non-resident property owners. Renaud responded that he did not

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Stevens receives survey call in early August

cean Pines Association President Dave Stevens on Aug. 4 received a phone call from an individual conducting a survey that is part of a comprehensive plan data collection process that, as of late July, appeared to be slipping behind schedule. The phone call perhaps is an indication that the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and its partners at Salisbury State University got the message that they need to pick up the pace a bit or run the risk of alienating those

who are paying the tab. The board’s liaison to the committee, Pat Renaud, during the Board of Directors’ meeting July 30 apologized to his board colleagues for the glacial pace of survey follow-up phone calls. Stevens said the questions he was asked during the survey were the ones that had been previous identified. On the question of what’s not working in Ocean Pines, Stevens said he answered it was poor maintenance of assets. As for what’s working, Stevens said

amenities generally are working well, serving up recreation and a good quality of life to a “fair number” of people. The number one problem in Ocean Pines, he told the surveyor, is the lack of consistent maintenance of community assets, followed closely behind by difficulty in dealing with deteriorating or abandoned privately owned homes in Ocean Pines. Both areas need to be improved in order to maintain and improve property values, Stevens said.

know. However he said he did tell the committee that there ought to be a way to include people who do not live in Ocean Pines full time but own property. Reynolds said according to his data only five of the 90 people included on the phone call list were non-residents. Reynolds also chastised the comprehensive plan committee for trying to keep the public from attending its meetings. He said there does not seem to be any set day or time for the meetings, no notice of them is posted by the OPA, and there are no meeting minutes avail-

able for review. He said the committee “doesn’t even follow Maryland law and nobody knows what they’re doing.” Director Tom Terry said the fact that the committee’s meeting are not on the OPA calendar and that there are no meeting minutes since 2013 is a problem. “So that needs to be cleaned up,” he said. Renaud responded that the committee meets on the fourth Friday of every month at 9 a.m. In presenting his proposal to the board several months ago, Diriker provided an overview of the process his

agency would use to assist the OPA in its comprehensive planning efforts, saying a major component of its services is a tool called scenario analysis. He said the survey information gathering will be the basis for comprehensive planning models on which BEACON can then build the different scenarios. The scenario analysis tool is supposed to help the OPA understand its long-term planning vision, decide on certain future scenarios, and determine how each of those scenarios in future would yield results.

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Collins still solidly behind decision to hire Landscapes Unlimited Article gave impression that director was second-guessing decision to replace Casper By TOM STAUSS Publisher cean Pines Association Director Jack Collins has confirmed that an article published in a local newspaper in July mistakenly gave the impression that he had reversed himself in support of the decision earlier this year to replace Billy Casper Golf with Landscapes Unlimited. Collins did not contend that he had been misquoted in the newspaper article, instead saying he had not done a good job of articulating his point of view or making himself understood by the reporter. Some people who read the article told him that they had not understood the point he was trying to make or went even further and said he seemed to be wavering in his support of the LU deci-

sion. A scathing commentary on oceanpinesforum.com took the board majority and Collins to task for seeming to distance themselves from their earlier decision. Collins said in no uncertain terms that he’s as supportive now as he’s everbeen of LU and believes the board majority made the right decision in replacing BCG. He said that early indications are that golf and related food and beverage operations under LU are doing well financially, in actual surpluses recorded in the early months of the fiscal year, when compared to budget, and especially when compared to how the operation is doing year-over-year. The article made none of those points, but instead seemed to focus more

on the flow of golf-related information to the board from General Manager Bob Thompson in the many months prior to the board’s LU decision. Collins seemed to suggest that the decision to replace BCG with LU would not have been necessary had Thompson done a better job of transmitting monthly performance documentation to the board from BCG. That’s not what he meant to say, however. Collins told the Progress that the decision was necessary and the right one. But he said the lack of consistent information flow to the prior board undermined the trust that some directors had in BCG management, leading to a decision last year to begin a process that eventually led to a decision to replace BCG.

Collins said he meant to say that the protracted process that led to BCG’s replacement might never had started under the prior board had monthly reports from BCG been submitted to the directors consistently by the general manager, giving them a more nuanced view of operations. He said such reporting was required under the old BCG contract and continues under the new LU contract. The difference is that the monthly reports are now readily available to the directors, giving the ones who are particularly interested in golf operations more nuanced insight and information, Collins said. The director noted that the Ocean Pines golfing community has for the most part accepted LU’s presence in Ocean Pines as the golf course manager, with some notable hold-outs. There have been a few glitches, to be expected during a transition, he said. [See separate article on a recent Golf Members Council meeting where some of those concerns were addressed.] Landscapes Unlimited made a relatively seamless transition possible by retaining two key BCG managers, Director of Golf John Malinowski and Golf Course Superintendent Rusty McLendon.

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board directs Thompson to shuffle budget funds for golf netting purchase Directors engage in familiar debate over whether spending on unbudgeted projects is proper those companies are located on the East Coast and both submitted bids for the project. Director Marty Clarke supported the project but was opposed to approving an unbudgeted expenditure without knowing where the money was coming from to purchase the netting. “I can’t support it because it’s not it the budget. Not that anybody cares,” he said initially. Clarke asked about $10,000 that was included in the fiscal year 2016 budget for golf maintenance fencing. “Is that going to happen this year?” he asked. Thompson responded that the intent is to install that fencing, which is needed to block access through and the view of the golf maintenance yard. “Why don’t we use that money for this if it’s so important?” Clarke asked.

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“If we can put that off a year we can use the budget money.” Stevens said he is sympathetic to Clarke’s concerns about approving unbudgeted expenditures and couldn’t recall if he had ever voted to spend funds on items that were not included in the OPA’s annual spending plan. But, he said, “this is pretty important.” Director Tom Terry said it is an issue of aesthetics versus safety in comparing the need for the golf maintenance fencing to the golf netting. “Yeah,” Stevens replied. “The netting is functional. There’s no question about that. And the other one is not.” However, he suggested that the board leave the decision up to the general manager regarding from where in the budget he pulls money in order to fund the golf netting purchase.

“I think it is up to the general manager to tell us where the money comes from,” Stevens said. Director Bill Cordwell said the safety of people in the area of the golf driving range when other golfers are hitting balls has to be a priority. When he recently visited the golf course he said there were 50 children on the green where balls were being hit down range toward them. “This is $8,700 worth of insurance to me,” he said. Clarke offered a motion to accept the general manager’s recommendation to purchase the netting for the golf driving range using money that was originally designated for the fencing at the golf maintenance building. Terry gave a second to the motion for discussion purposes. “The fencing that is also in the plan sounds to me that it’s also pretty important,” Director Sharyn O’Hare said. She argued that the board should leave it to the discretion of the general manager to find the $10,000 in the association’s FY16 budget. “To take one from the other, I don’t see it,” she said. Always looking to take a poke at O’Hare, Clarke responded, “I got it. Why don’t we take it out of the swimming pool? We just decided not spend that money,” he said referencing a board consensus earlier in the meeting to postpone resurfacing of the Sports Core swimming pool until next year. q

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By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer iting safety as a concern, the Board of Directors during its July 30 monthly meeting gave the goahead for the purchase of new netting for the driving range at the Ocean Pines Golf Club. Director Jack Collins, board liaison to the Golf Member Council, said the netting will be installed at the practice green not far from the golf maintenance building. “You can’t use it now because you can literally drive the ball into that area and potentially do some bodily harm to somebody who could be chipping around the green. So it’s shut down. It’s closed down,” he said. Installation of the netting is necessary so that golfers can again use that area safely, Collins said. Ocean Pines Association President Dave Stevens said a lot of people typically use that facility. “It’s a beautiful practice area,” he added. General Manager Bob Thompson presented the request for an unbudgeted $8,700 expenditure of funds to buy and install the netting at the far end of the driving range to ensure that no one is injured by golf balls. He said funding for the project was included in the fiscal year 2015 OPA budget, but it was never completed. Thompson said there are only three companies nationwide that typically provide this type of golf netting. Two of

GOLF

August - Early September 2015

From Page 21 O’Hare serves as board liaison to the Aquatics Advisory Committee and supported putting off that project. “Stay on the golf course,” an obviously irritated O’Hare said in response to Clarke. Never one to let go of an issue quickly, Clarke repeated that the board should “take it out of the swimming pool money in the budget. I’m looking for money in the budget we can use.” Stevens again suggested that the board simply direct the general manager to find money within the existing approved FY16 budget that can be reallocated for the golf netting, without specifying from where in the budget to take the funds. “I don’t care as long as it’s from the budget,” Clarke said. Cordwell said it’s not necessary for the budget to constantly restrain unanticipated expenditures that come up during the year. “We have the money,” he said, adding it is a nominal amount for the expenditure. “Budgets are blueprints. They’re not set in stone.” Irked that once again the board was debating how to handle a staff request for an unbudgeted expenditure of funds, Cordwell said the directors have debat-

ed the issue time and time again. “Sometimes thing come up that you just have to spend money on,” he told his colleagues. Director Tom Terry said approving the expenditure, no matter how small, can’t simply be left to Thompson. He reminded his fellow OPA directors that the board is required to authorize the general manager to make any unbudgeted purchase, no matter how small. He is allowed to spend up to $15,000 without board approved for budgeted items. Still O’Hare persisted that the board didn’t need tell Thompson where to find the funds. “I don’t think we need to say specifically take from Peter to pay Paul,” she said. Clarke ultimately agreed to withdraw his motion from consideration by the board. “Restate it,” Terry told him, looking for a motion that approved the purchase but not a specific funding source from within the budget. “No, somebody else do it,” Clarke quipped. Stevens then offered a motion to direct the general manager to purchase the golf netting with funding taken from another area of the budget. Clarke gave a second to the motion, which carried unanimously.

OCEAN PINES

Golf ahead of budget and last year’s results on strength of reduced expenses Gross and net revenues are only slightly ahead of last year’s totals early in fiscal year By TOM STAUSS Publisher t’s way too early to make definitive assessments on the long-term impact of Landscapes Unlimited on golf finances in Ocean Pines, but early indications are that the arrival of the new management company could lead to an elusive goal: an Ocean Pines golf course operation that doesn’t require any or much of an annual subsidy by property owners who don’t play golf. For the first two months of the 201516 fiscal year, May and June, golf revenues are only slightly ahead of where they were at this time a year ago. But that in the end may not matter all that much. Inheriting the two top staffers from former management company Billy Casper Golf, LU appears to be doubling down on controlling expenses, partic-

ularly golf course maintenance, where BCG had begun making significant savings relative to budget last winter. If that pattern holds for the remaining ten months of the fiscal year, golf ’s operating deficit, which last year hit $108,000, might be flirting with breakeven. The budgeted loss for golf this year is $100,000. For the first two months of the fiscal year, LU has recorded a $63,000 positive swing – pun not intended -- in golf ’s net operations over the same period last year. That means that for the remaining ten months in the fiscal year, LU would have to produce a cumulative improvement of only $45,000 over last year’s totals in order to achieve break-even. Doable? Perhaps. By mid-August or so, Ocean Pines Association General

22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Golf netting

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

Golf revenue

ly definitive proof that many months of wrangling over the golf course hurt this important revenue stream. The same is true for cart fees, which increased from $110,527 through June 30 of last year to

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$125,537 this year. year has continued its gradual erosion, One of the primary reasons for the as reflected in actual revenue numbers decision to hire LU was the emphasis through June 30. Historically, most prein its management proposal of theNEW need paid annual1 memberships in golf are 1508 Complete Home Improvement Handout with our type_Layout 2/3/15 1:22 PM Page 1 to build membership, which so far this q

From Page 22 Manager Bob Thompson and Controller Art Carmine are expected to produce a quarterly financial forecast for the remainder of the fiscal year. They will have July numbers to consider and also LU’s executives to call upon to come up with a forecast. On the revenue side, LU has not produced anywhere close to what BCG had projected. In fact, the negative variance to budget on net revenues through June of $47,020 is already probably too far in the hole to be salvageable, absent a huge fall shoulder season for outside package play. There has been a difference of opinion among some of the OPA directors and Thompson for the revenue shortfalls relative to budget so far this year, with Thompson and Director Bill Cordwell blaming it on months of uncertainty leading up to the decision to replace BCG with LU. Other directors, diving deep into the budgetary weeds, say the predicted drop-off in greens fees from non-member play did not materialize. The problem, they say, was that BCG revenue projections were simply too optimistic relative to what’s been achieved in Ocean Pines in recent years. The cumulative numbers through June 30 – when outside package play is largely over for the spring season – indicate an increase in green frees from $138,602 to $142,987 year over year. Not a huge increase by any means, but hard-

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 24 purchased in the April through June timeframe, so it’s doubtful that any sort of meaningful recovery will show up in the numbers this fiscal year. Last year, through June 30, member dues had generated $29,143 in revenue for golf operations, but that has declined to $25,606 this year, suggesting that LU has a challenge ahead of it in rebuilding the golf membership base. Bob Kessler, a long-time golf member in Ocean Pines who keeps detailed statistics about golf, told the Progress recently that it would be unfair to judge LU this early on golf membership. “They will need at least a year to show any real improvement,” he said. The task would appear to be daunting, as the membership base in Ocean Pines seems to be dominated by those in their 70s and 80s. To keep pace with current membership totals, new members have to sign up in significant enough numbers just to offset the attrition. Kessler said he’s aware of many former members who have given up their annual memberships in favor of paying as they play. That doesn’t do much for the membership numbers while it does bolster greens fees. For this fiscal year, the path to breakeven for LU appears to be continued cost control, especially in the area of golf

maintenance. In June, maintenance cost the golf operation $60,659, compared to the budgeted $80,315, a favorable variance of $19,656. For the first two months of the fiscal year, maintenance expenses were $137,309, compared to the budgeted $161,020, a favorable $23,711 variance. Should this trend continue, the bottom line in golf this year could surprise almost everyone. Ocean Pines Director of Golf John Malinowski, who held the same position when Billy Casper Golf managed the golf course, recently told the Progress that BCG managed to produce maintenance savings this past winter primarily by adjusting chemical usage. He said that in prior winters, expenses were higher than last winter because of various improvement projects that were occurring at the time. That explanation would not shed much light on the $19,656 favorable variance to budget in June, however. Kessler suggested that maintenance costs are beating budget forecasts because LU and BCG have figured out how to manage costs in a way that keeps the course playable, but in something less than optimal condition. He said he has noticed more crabgrass growing in places that might not have been evident last summer, but that conditions are such that it’s still very possible to have an enjoyable experience on the course.

GOLF

Golf council concerned about tee time availability, bathroom conditions By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer he Ocean Pines Golf Member Council recently complained about a lack of ability for golfers to get tee times at the Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club because of outside play. Poor conditions in the bathrooms at the Country Club were cited as an area needing improvement. Council members met on July 15 to review a variety of issues but topping the list of concerns was the unavailability of tee times for men who want to play the course on Mondays. The problem stemmed from a conflict with outside play that is booked at the course on that day.

Scott Nissley, regional manager for Landscapes Unlimited, the new golf management firm hired by the Ocean Pines Association to manage the course, addressed the concerns expressed by council member Bob Long in an email to him about the Monday tee times. The council asked for better communications from the pro shop to golfers regarding when the course is booked for outside play. John Malinowski, director of golf, said he would make a change to the language included on responses to member requests for tee times “as soon as possible.”

It’s nothing like the horrific conditions that occurred in the first summer of BCG’s tenure in Ocean Pines, when greens were failing and fairways also were showing a lot of wear and tear.

“That was mostly a bad batch of chemicals on the greens,” he said, adding that conditions now have most golfers enjoying the experience of playing the Ocean Pines course.

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26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

OPA FINANCES

OPA continues strong start to 2015-16 fiscal year Aquatics records another substantial positive variance to budget in June By TOM STAUSS Publisher ajor amenities in Ocean Pines continue to perform well early in the 2015-16 fiscal year, with results in Controller Art Carmine’s June financial report indicating that all major amenities generated surpluses for the month and all but the Yacht Club doing better than budget. The aquatics department took top honors for the month, with an $18,298 positive variance to budget on an operating surplus of $15,707. Golf exceeded its budget by $3,168 on an operating surplus of $12,259. The Yacht Club had a negative variance to budget of $8,224 but generated a $44,927 operating surplus, what outgoing Ocean Pines Association Marty Clarke called the “second best June” for the Yacht Club in the past ten years. According to Carmine’s report, the OPA generated a positive operating fund balance of $26,763 in June, on revenues that missed budget by $58,028 and expenses that beat budget by $84,501. New capital expenditures – those that are funded directly from lot assessments rather than allocated reserves – were under budget by $290. For the first two months of the fiscal year – May and June – the OPA had a positive operating fund variance of $32,589, on revenues that were under budget by $100,380 and expenses under budget by $132,398. New capital was under budget by $582 through June. All three major amenities posted significant improvements for the first two of the current fiscal year over the same time last year. Aquatics had net operations of $146,808 through June compared to $75,370 a year ago, a $71,438 improvement. The Yacht Club’s net operations through June of $83,239 compared to a loss of $43,397 last year, a positive swing of $126,636. Golf and related food and beverage operations were $106,809 in the black through June, compared to $43,282 last year, a $63,527 year-over-year improvement. Other amenities are also doing well so far. The Beach Club recorded a $17,523 surplus for the month, beating its budget by $7,658. Through June, the surplus was $17,983, $14,208 ahead of budget. Last year through June, the surplus was $10,701. That represents a $7,282 year-over-year swing. Marina business at the Yacht Club similarly is off to a good start. In June, operations netted $3,819 against a budgeted loss of $2,242, for a $6,062 positive variance to budget. Through June, the positive variance is $12,224, on net

operations of $164,903, compared to a $139,397 net a year ago. Reflecting lower fuel costs, fuel sales missed budget in June by $29,224, offset by fuel costs that were under budget by $33,449. For the first two months of the fiscal year, the story is the same; sales missed the budget target by $27,711 but fuel costs were under budget by $33,570. Cumulatively, net revenues for marina operations were $190,442, $9,739 better than budget and much better than last year’s cumulative revenue of $166,854. Beach Club parking recorded an $89,174 surplus for June, beating budget by $2,729. For the first two months of the fiscal year, net operations of $326,635 were ahead of budget by $15,539. Last year, through June, the cumulative surplus was $371,939. The difference reflects a reallocation of some Beach Club parking revenue to aquatics, reflecting the fact that four Beach Club swimming passes are issued with annual parking passes and are used by those who park at the Beach Club. All three racquet sports recorded modest losses in June, led by tennis with a negative $4,044, followed by platform tennis (-$838) and pickleball (-$123). But all three racquet sports did better than budget, with positive variances of $1,237, $1,469 and $1,627, respectively. Through June, all three racquet sports

are in the black – tennis in the amount of $18,089, followed by platform tennis ($9,770) and pickleball $7,976. Year to date, however, tennis is $8,226 behind budget and off last

year’s pace of a $26,182 net surplus. Platform tennis’ net operations of $9,770 is behind budget by $1,717 but ahead of last year’s cumulative net To Page 28

Tee times

ties is an ongoing issue and is unacceptable, council members said. They said all bathrooms in the Country Club and on the golf course should be cleaned daily since the public uses these facilities, but that is not being done. Member Chuck Shelton suggested that a full time custodian be hired to perform janitorial services for all golf course buildings. Nissley said Landscaped Unlimited will take that suggestion and the council’s concerns under advisement. Long also questioned the new golf scorecard for its accuracy and asked about the timing for a golf course rating. Malinowski said the course was rated in 2015 and is not scheduled to be rated again for five years. In other golf news, the golf course hosted the annual Taylor Bank Tournament on July 15 and had 60 players registered to participate. Meanwhile Landscapes Unlimited is filling out its staffing at the course by hiring a new assistant pro, Tyler Strickler, and is looking for second assistant pro to join the team. Aeration of the golf course is scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19.

From Page 25

The message had read that the pro shop regretted “to inform you that the following request cannot be fulfilled” when a tee time request is rejected and “Your tee time request MAY be available… to complete the reservation please call the golf shop.” Until the new message is embedded in the system, he suggested that members call the golf shop to secure a tee time. Additionally, Malinowski said he would arrange to add a calendar of course events on the member side of the golf club web site. Council members were also unhappy with what they said was the lack of general janitorial services provided around some of the golf facilities, including the bathrooms. One of the Ocean Pines ladies league members cleaned both the outside and inside of the ladies bathrooms prior to the member guest tournament because it had not been cleaned. Cleanliness of the bathroom facili-

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By TOM STAUSS, Publisher o much for the lonely effort by a member of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee to bring about a slight easing of the Ocean Pines Association’s investment policy as governed by Board Resolution F-01. It’s not going to happen. Instead, the Board of Directors at its July 30 regular meeting opted to pass on first reading a watered down revision of F-01 as recommended by the full committee, one that removes a provision that had required the committee to meet annually with “any” advisors or managers involved in overseeing the OPA’s investment portfolio. That provision titled “OPA oversight” also required the committee to review investment fund performance monthly and annually review established investment guidelines. Because the OPA maintains a very conservative investment policy, investing its reserve funds only in government-backed financial instruments, such as certificates of deposits or Certificates of Deposit Account Registry Services, known as CDARs for short, there is really no need for the committee to oversee these kinds of investments or to meet with bank executives who manage the OPA’s investment funds. That at least is the unanimous view of the committee. One of its members, Gene Ringsdorf, for years has been pushing for a slight easing of that very conservative investment policy, one that would would retain the OPA’s principal goal of capital preservation while adding as a secondary goal preservation of purchasing power. The addition of the secondary goal could have allowed for investments in instruments other than CDs and CDARs. It also would have created a need to hire a financial advisor or managers to help the OPA make investment decisions, something that isn’t considered necessary under the current practice. Back in April, the board passed on first reading a proposed revision of F-01 that would have codified Ringsdorf ’s and the committee’s intent for a somewhat

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

OPA FINANCES

Watered down version of F-01 investment policy passes on first reading Budget and Finance Committee abandons effort for slight easing of OPA’s conservative practice of investing only in government-backed financial instruments less conservative investment policy. The revised F-01 could have been passed on second reading at the board’s May 28 meeting, but the directors instead voted in favor of a motion by Director Jack Collins, the OPA treasurer and board liaison to the committee, to withdraw the resolution from further consideration. The approved motion directed that the resolution be sent back to the committee for further refinement. Committee members had determined that additional information needed to be added to the resolution, Collins said, before it would be ready for passage on second reading. The committee planned to hold a special meeting with three board members to discuss the topic further. “It will be a healthy exercise,” he said. The initial attempt to hold a meeting on the issue failed to produce a quorum. The impression left at the May 28 meeting was that the resolution as passed on first reading in April was in danger of failing to receive approval on second reading. OPA President Dave Stevens said during the meeting that the committee would still recommend revisions to resolution F-01. When that happens, the resolution would be brought before the board again for a first reading, he said. Although a revised investment policy resolution narrowly had passed the Board of Directors on first reading in

late April – the vote was 4-3 in favor -- it was apparent that there was tough sledding ahead for a proposed revised resolution that would change, albeit modestly, the Ocean Pines Association’s very conservative policy of investing its reserve funds in government-backed securities only. On behalf of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, to which he is board liaison, Collins introduced for first reading, at the board’s April 30 monthly meeting, the proposed change in Board Resolution F-01. The resolution governs the OPA investment policy and has been on the committee’s agenda for years, with very little to show for the time and energy expended. A similar change in F-01 was adopted on first reading by the board of directors in November of 2013, only to be pulled for consideration a month later when a board majority, including chief critic Marty Clarke, strenuously objected. The matter hadn’t been addressed formally at the board level since then. Its chief architect and supporter has been Ringsdorf, who has been waging a quixotic effort over the years to convince a majority of OPA directors that a modest easing in the OPA’s investment policy is warranted. Although Collins voted with the 4-3 majority to pass the proposed change in F-01 on first reading in April, it almost

seemed as if he was doing so as a courtesy to the committee and Ringsdorf. After the meeting, he told the Progress he was not at all sure he in the end will be able to vote for any change in policy that would allow the OPA to invest in anything but low-yielding investments backed by the federal government. The earlierF-01 introduced by Collins on behalf of the committee didn’t explicitly address the types of securities in which the OPA would be allowed to invest. It didn’t modify the resolution’s current language that sets out “capital preservation” as the primary goal of the OPA’s investment policy. It added “preservation of purchasing power” as a secondary investment goal, code for allowing higher yielding investments that won’t necessarily be government-backed securities such as CDs or CDARs. In addition to the language change pertaining to a secondary investment goal for OPA reserve funds that are held for longer periods of time, the earlier proposed version of F-01 would have established a procedure for a quarterly performance review of the OPA’s investment portfolio by the OPA treasurer and OPA management. The withdrawn version of F-01 called for an investment policy statement to be developed by the budget and finance committee that would specify allowable fund investments, subject to board approval, that would be recommended by q

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA finances From Page 26 through June of $8,538. Status of the balance sheet: There was no balance sheet included with the June financials, the second month in a row that this document was omitted from the posted materials. Status of reserves: The reserve summary released as part of the June financials indicates that the OPA’s total allocated reserve balance stands at $6,764,407 through June 30, a modest reduction from the May balance of $6,938,118. [See separate story for details.]

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OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

OPA reserves drop to $6.74 million in June By TOM STAUSS Publisher he reserve summary released as part of the June financial report shows that the Ocean Pines Association’s allocated reserve balance dropped modestly in June to $6.76 million, down from the year high of $6.9 million recorded at the end of May, the first month of the 2015-16 fiscal year. May is always the reserves’ high mark because that is the month when annual lot assessments are recorded. As expenditures from the allocated reserves occur throughout the year, the reserve balance declines. At the end of last year, the reserve balance stood at $3.5 million. The OPA

this year is scheduled to collect roughly $2.5 million in assessment dollars that are allocated to the OPA’s major maintenance and replacement reserve. The total balance in this reserve as of June 30 was $4.5 million, a decline of roughly $200,000 from May. There are two funding streams in this reserve. One is the historical, representing funded depreciation, with a $5.7 surplus as of June 30. The other is the legacy, previously known as the five-year plan, with a $1.2 million negative balance as of June 30. Consistent with a board compromise in this year’s budget process, the June reserve summary reflects transfers from the historical (funded depreciation) column to the future projects, roads and

golf drainage reserves, reducing the future projects and golf drainage reserves to zero. The transfer out of the major maintenance and replacement reserve totaled $814,577, with $60,462 allocated to future projects, $110,508 to roads, and $643,607 to golf drainage. The roads reserve was not zeroed out by this action, because casino funds in the amount of $250,000 were transferred into this reserve. Next to the major maintenance and replacement reserve, the bulkheads and waterways reserve is the most flush with cash. Starting the fiscal year with a $912,213 balance, this reserve has grown to $1.7 million on the strength of $822,367 in new money from the socalled waterfront differential, the differ-

ence between the base annual assessment and the waterfront assessment paid by those who live on bulkheaded property in Ocean Pines. The operating recovery reserve, presumably set up to offset losses in previous fiscal years or possible future tax liabilities, increased from a $135,934 balance on April 30 to $271,338 on June 30, reflecting $135,216 in new contributions from assessments. The operating recovery reserve had been zeroed out as of April 30 last year, on the theory that previous year deficits had been sufficiently offset by subsequent surpluses, but the OPA Board of Directors last year authorized $135,100 from last year’s assessment to be allocated to this reserve.

Investment policy From Page 28 an investment advisory professional. These investments would have included nvestments “other than those guaranteed by the U.S. government,” according to a summary provided to the board. No doubt aware that the proposed revision of F-01 as drafted would face resistance from a board majority, OPA Director Tom Terry suggested a revision to the motion of approval offered by Collins. Terry said that his amended motion would allow a sub-committee of board members to work collaboratively with the Budget and Finance Committee to work out yet another revision of F-01 that might be able to attract the votes of a board majority when it is presented for second reading. Although Terry didn’t mention it, it’s possible that the “collaborative effort” might have included development of a specific investment policy statement that could be presented to the board along with a revised F-01 on second reading. Collins accepted Terry’s amendment, and it passed 4-3, with Collins, Terry, Pat Renaud and Sharyn O’Hare voting in favor. Opposed were Clarke, OPA President Dave Stevens and Director Bill Cordwell, the latter of whom was serving as OPA treasurer when amending F-01 was last considered by the board in November and December of 2013. Stevens said he wouldn’t accept any change in investment policy that sets forth the primary and only goal of capital preservation. “We should stick with what we have,” he said. Clarke echoed Stevens’ opposition, adding that as presented by Collins the earlier revision in F-01 did not include a proposed investment policy statement or a list of potential investments that might be included under it. Neither did the latest version of F-01 adopted on first reading July 30. That’s because it envisions no change in the OPA current policy of investing only CDs or CDARs.

thru Oct. 21

10-15-15

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

OPA FINANCES

Audit report shows OPA lost $152,882 in 2014-15 Golf lost $116,967 for the year, but with funded depreciation of $447,939, the real net deficit and cost to property owners was just short of $565,000 By TOM STAUSS Publisher he annual audit report for the Ocean Pines Association posted on the OPA’s Web site Aug. 5 and unveiled at the OPA annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 8, indicates an operating loss of $152,882 for the 2014-15 fiscal

year that ended this past April 30. That’s up sharply from the $29,417 operational loss for the year as reported in the unaudited April financial summary that was posted on the OPA Web site in mid-May and published in the Progress in its June edition. While audited numbers in many

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cases closely track those that were contained in the April 30 unaudited financial report, there were a couple of notable exceptions. The Yacht Club, showing an $189,152 loss in the audited report, actually lost only $181,872. Golf operations, losing $107,649 according to the unaudited report, actually lost $116,967, according to the audit report. That essentially means that Billy Casper Golf, whose contract to operate the Ocean Pines golf course ended April 30, was not faring quite as well as its advocates were saying in the run-up to the decision of the Board of Directors to change management companies. BCG advocates were contending that the company’s financial results would be coming in very close to the budgeted $100,000 loss and therefore the board would have been well advised to retain BCG. As of the April 30 unaudited numbers, that argument at least had some surface plausibility, but the audited numbers that show another $9,000 in golf losses counter that argument to some extent. Some OPA directors began noticing significant improvements in golf maintenance expenses relative to budget and

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previous years this past winter, a trend that has been continuing more or less ever since, including the two months, May and June, when the course was managed by Landscapes Unlimited. There was some behind-the-scenes speculation, never confirmed, that maintenance costs were being suppressed in order to make last year’s numbers look better than they might have otherwise, perhaps as a way of influencing the board debate on whether to change management companies. While the audit report in and of itself does not verify that speculation, it does show that golf operations incurred more cost than had been projected during the period of time when the management issue was being hotly contested by the directors. The audit report includes summaries of various OPA departments with and without depreciation. Throughout the year, monthly summaries issued by the Finance Department exclude depreciation, which is not generally considered an operational expense that should routinely be charged to departmental accounts. But for the OPA, funded depreciation is a significant revenue source, and it costs property owners a sizable percentage of their annual assessments. For instance, while golf lost $116,967 in operations last year, the golf course cost property owners another $447,939 in funded depreciation, resulting in an actual net deficit of $564,906. Funded depreciation may be the least understood component of OPA finances, but its impact on the bottom line and on the assessments people pay can hardly be overstated. Another example is the Yacht Club, with its operational loss of $181,872 last year. Funded depreciation on the new building cost property owners another $168,812, and that was only for a partial year. This year, that number is expected to double because of the amenity’s 12 months of use. With depreciation, the Yacht Club cost property owners $350,684 in actual losses last year. While some with financial backgrounds might be assuming that the OPA depreciates only building components, such as HVAC equipment, or items such as police vehicles that wear out after ten or so years of hard use, that’s not the way it works in reality. The OPA depreciates both components and total construction cost – that is, the entire building, not just key components. It only begins to matter when new, high-priced buildings are brought on line and begin appearing on the OPA’s depreciation schedules. The relatively new Community Center is costing property owners $14 per lot per year in funded depreciation, based on construction costs of roughly $1.75 million. A full year of depreciation of the Yacht Club’s $5 million construction cost will be almost three times that. This policy of funding the depreciation of major buildings that have recently been built by funds supplied by the current generation of property owners are costing them well more than $50 per

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

Yacht Club falling behind budget, but far ahead of last year’s pace

Audit report From Page 30 year in their lot assessments. A component-based policy of funding depreciation would cost OPA property owners substantially less every year. The audit report contains a few other nuggets of interest. According to the report, the OPA last year wrote off more uncollected assessment debt than the previous year. In 2014, the write-offs were $93,849; net charge-offs last year were $239,383. The auditors, TGM Group of Salisbury, seem to be under the impression that the OPA has embarked on a new program of bulkhead replacement, when

No one’s complaining about amenity’s fast start and $127,000 swing in net revenues but management is doing a much better job of controlling expenses. The result? A very solid bottom line so far this fiscal year. Not just solid, according to retiring Ocean Pines Associ-

ation Director Marty Clarke. He called the June results the “second best” June in the past ten years for the Yacht Club. The year-to-date revenue differential between June 30 of last year and this

in fact no such program has been approved by the board or even proposed by General Manager Bob Thompson. Thompson, in fact, has said more than once in public settings that the original 35-year replacement program is winding down, in its final stages, but that there remains a need for the $465 per year waterfront differential paid by owners of most bulkheaded property in Ocean Pines over and above the base lot assessment of $921. He has said that the OPA will need to start a new bulkhead replacement program at some point, but he has offered little rationale for it or quantified the funds needed for it. It would appear the waterfront levy is on autopilot, with the auditors under

the impression something is happening when it’s not. On page 40 of the audit report, at the bottom of Schedule 26, the auditors say in a footnote that the original 35-year program to replace all bulkheads in Ocean Pines “ended in fiscal year 20132014.” The footnote says the program “started over after an extensive survey of the oldest bulkheads” on May 1, 2014. If indeed it did, it received little or no mention in budget review process for the 2014-15 fiscal year, and the same is true for 2015-16. Still, according to the audited reserve summary contained in Schedule 25, it appears there $637,928 in bulkhead and waterways spending between April 30 of 2014 and the year that ended

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year is startling. Net revenues were $266,707 as of June 30 last year, but it was $354,540 on June 30 this year. That’s an $88,000 year over year improvement. At least some of the differential is directly attributable to the fact that the Yacht Club last year did not open for business until the third week of May, ex-

By TOM STAUSS Publisher ast year, the story of the new Ocean Pines Yacht Club financially was sky high revenues, with expenses that ate up the revenues and then some. The result was an operating loss of $189,000 and change. This year, at least so far, the revenue growth year-over-year is substantial,

121 months later. The question is whether the spending that occurred was related to the final throes of the original 35-year program or in fact represents the launch of a new program that was never authorized by the board. At the end of April, the bulkheads/ waterways reserve contained $912,213. That increased by $822,367 on May 1, much of it from the waterfront differential. As of June 30, the balance in this fund is $1.7 million. According to the auditors, bulkhead replacement should be costing the $686,000 per year based on 108,930 linear feet of bulkheading and current replacement costs of $210-225 per linear foot.

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OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

Police report provides update on crimes in Ocean Pines By ROTA KNOTT Contributing Writer he Ocean Pines Police Department’s most recent crime bulletin shows that there is a lot going on in Worcester County’s largest year round residential community, including theft, assaults, fires, drug use and plenty of DWIs. While Ocean Pines has been awarded a “safe city” designation, a fact prominently displayed on the Ocean Pines Association Web site, that’s not to say it’s not without its share of problems. One example cited in the OPPD bulletin: An Ocean Pines couple went on a Caribbean vacation and left their teenage daughter at home. “Of course the daughter had a party at the house without her parent’s permission,” Chief David Massey said in the bulletin. He said one of the party guests located two pistols in a closet and stole them. An extensive police investigation resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old and the recovery of one of the weapons. The suspect will not divulge the location of the second weapon, Massey said. The investigation is continuing. In another case, an Ocean Pines resident was assaulted while walking on one of the community trails, Massey said. The victim was reportedly shot with a BB gun by a resident in an adjoining home. The suspect was identified by police and charged with first degree assault. The victim was unknown to the suspect. In a residential community like Ocean Pines, police are often called to domestic disputes. In a recent case, a 57-year-old resident was charged with second degree assault as the result of a domestic incident. In cases where police view injury, Maryland law requires the police to make an arrest, he said. This is supposed to insure safety of the victim and to prevent a reoccurrence of violence. Police made two recent warrant service arrests. Crimes committed in other jurisdictions often result in warrants being issued for suspects who may have moved to a new residence. When suspects are located in Ocean Pines, the OPPD serves the warrants and take them into custody. With the summer season in full swing, an influx of troubled youths who run away from home to go to Ocean City occurs. At times, the OPPD is able to locate some youths who may be in Ocean Pines. Recently police located two runaways in the community and returned them to their families. “Heroin has unfortunately become the drug of choice for drug users. The efq

Yacht Club

From Page 31 cept for a single wedding that occurred prior to the official opening. This year, the Yacht Club was open every day in May and June. Although OPA directors are not complaining, it appears that once again the OPA budgeted far more optimistically for the Yacht Club than even a robust year to date could justify. Gross revenues of $677,600 recorded through June 30 missed the budget forecast by $168,368. Net revenues, after cost of sales, were similarly under budget. Net

revenues of $437,989 missed the target by $83,449. All revenue line items except for the banquet beverage business had negative variances to budget. Regular food business missed its target by $64,350; banquet food was under budget by $21,842. Banquet business of $35,966 beat its revenue target by $9,566. But it’s the bottom line, not performance relative to budget, that seems to be the more compelling story. Through June 30, the Yacht Club was $83,239 in the black, compared to a loss of $43,397 for the same time last year. That represents a swing of $126,636.

The difference in bottom line results could very well reflect the efforts of new Yacht Club manager Jerry Lewis’ to control last year’s most vexing expense component, wages and benefits. In June, wages and benefits totaled $100,794, with a favorable variance to budget of $31,304. Some other expenses were higher than budget, resulting in total expenses that were less than budgeted in the amount of $26,041. June recorded a $44,927 net operating surplus, missing its budget by $8,224. For the year through June 30, the surplus is $83,239, with a negative variance to budget of $43,305.

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OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA seeks approvals for reconfigured Manklin Meadows recreation complex Expansion plans include new paddle ball, pickleball courts By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer lans for redevelopment of the Manklin Meadows Recreation Complex with additional racquet sports courts a new pickleball courts are under review by several local and state agencies, but it will be several months before permits are issued and construction can get under way. The first review is before the Worcester County Technical Review Committee next week. The Ocean Pines Association is seeking approval of the master plan design approved by the board last year to guide additions and changes to the recreation facilities, including the addition of two paddle ball courts now and two more in the future, relocation of the playground, realignment of the parking lots and the addition of eight pickle ball courts. During a July 30 meeting, General

Manager Bob Thompson said the planning and permitting portion of the project is under way. Plans have been submitted for the TRC meeting to be held Aug. 12, which county staff will address any project concerns prior to passing the application along to the Worcester County Planning Commission in September. Thompson said the plans are also being reviewed by the county for comments and changes prior to submittal to the Maryland Critical Areas Commission. He said that review could take months. As soon as the TRC, planning commission and critical areas issues are addressed, the OPA will submit a notice of intent for storm water drainage to the Maryland Department of the Environment for processing. That will take another two months. “At best, I would estimate that we may receive all final approvals by around the beginning of October. However, that date could move back significantly depending upon the time it takes the state critical area commission to complete their reviews,” Thompson said in his general manager’s report to the

board. He said the approval process is a long one with multiple steps. “It looks like bidding can take place in late fall, with construction in winter and early spring,” he said. Thompson has estimated construction of all of the amenities included in the full master plan at $339,550, while

RACQUET SPORTS

the alternative plan was about half of that cost. The overall master plan cost estimate includes $161,927 for building all eight proposed pickle ball courts, with site preparation and asphalt paving, fencing, lighting, painting, nets and poles. That pricing also incorporates $32,000 for the playground relocation, which will actually be completed regardless of whether or not the rest of the Manklin Meadows project moves forward. Portions of the playground structure are deteriorating and need to be replaced. The platform tennis portion of the master plan is estimated to cost $95,123, including site preparation, as-

Police report

uations. They also may be the first responder on the scene of a heart attack From Page 32 or life threatening event,” Massey said. Since his last crime bulletin, Massey fects of an overdose of heroin can result in death. Our nation, and Maryland, has said police have charged 11 individuseen a dramatic increase in heroin-re- als with driving while intoxicated. A lated deaths,” Massey said in his report. 57-year-old resident was charged with A 23-year-old Ocean Pines resident DWI on four separate occasions within recently died as a result of an apparent a 12-day period. He is now residing in overdose. Police conduct investigations the Worcester County Detention Center. “As the summer progresses, and on all deaths occurring in Ocean Pines. Police were able to pull an individu- beach traffic and partying increases, poal out of a car that had caught fire from lice must deal with problems that arise. mechanical reasons. This is the second Please remember to have a designated driver or call a taxi should you decide to such incident in recent months. “As first responders, police often drink to excess,” Massey reminded resOP-progressmagicad-0615_Layout 1 6/29/15 4:24 PM Page 1 flirt with danger at life-threatening sit- idents.

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OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

Bridge replacement estimates top $514,000 Thompson presents overview to directors, says efforts to fix safety issues have been ‘ramped up’ By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer reliminary cost estimates for the replacement of two major bridges in Ocean Pines total more than $514,000. In the meantime, however, the Ocean Pines Association is making more immediate safety improvements to the aging structures. Bob Thompson, in his July 30 general manager’s report to the Board of Directors, provided an overview of some of the past, present and pending actions necessary to address the problems with bridges in Ocean Pines. The report included a listing of immediate and priority – or longer term – improvements for both structures, a timeline for action items and cost estimates. “There’s a lot of energy around the bridges recently,” Thompson said, referring to public comments at previous board meetings about the poor condition of the structures. Therefore, he said he thought he would provide the board with a “snapshot of where we are” with improvements. Thompson said the OPA ad “ramped up” work on the bridges during the previous 45 days after meeting with county officials and receiving a report of the

structures. He said the OPA is working on a parallel path, pursuing both repairs and replacement of the bridges. Immediate actions items are those repairs the OPA can make now while priority items will be addressed sometime in future. “So we’re trying to run both of them to get the costs, to get the engineering work accomplished so we can do the bridge repairs,” Thompson told directors regarding the two bridges. “In the meantime we’ll also be going down the path of getting pricing and ideas of what to do to replace them.” The total estimated cost of making both immediate repairs and eventual replacement of the Ocean Parkway bridge in $313,900, and for the Clubhouse Drive bridge is $325,350. Immediate repairs at the Ocean Parkway bridge are to remove the existing bridge railings and installing crash tested bridge railings that meet SHA standards for $9,900, to remove the existing approach traffic barriers and install new ones for $10,000, and install object market signs at all four corners of the bridge for $600. The ultimate solution is to replace the bridge at an estimated cost of $244,800. In the meantime, priority recommenda-

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Manklin Meadows From Page 33 phalt and lighted courts. General project costs account for another $82,500 and cover site preparation, engineering and a five percent contingency. As an alternative solution to building the entire master plan now, Thompson also submitted a proposal to only construct four of the pickleball courts at this time. He said the goal is to get the project started even if that means building it in phases, but added that he believes it would be better to move forward with the entire project at one time.

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tions include removing and repairing the delaminated and spalled concrete in channel beams for $25,000, replacing the rotted east time beam supporting the west sidewalk and utility brackets at $12,000, driving new pikes adjacent to the existing rotten ones in the wingwalls and installing hardware at $6,000. Other priority items are to repair the embankment erosion on both sides of the south approach at $2,000 and replacing the deteriorated whaler at both abutments for $3,600. Immediate improvements for the Clubhouse Drive bridge are to remove and replace the bridge railings with SHA approved and crash-tested ones for $4,500, remove the existing approach traffic barriers and install new ones along with end treatments for $10,000, install object market signs on the approaches for $600 and remove and replace the delaminated and spalled concrete in channel beams for $30,000. The recommendation even lists replacing the broken clamps at the utility pipes on the south side of the bridge for $50. While the ultimate priority item is bridge replacement at an estimated cost of $270,000, other priority items include repairing the spall in the back of the

east backwall for $250, diving new piles adjacent to the existing rotted ones in the wingwalls and installing hardware and protective caps for $9,000 and sealing the cracks in the wearing surface at $800. Another priority project is to clean and patch the core hole in the west approach for $50 and to remove unsound concrete, clean the exposed reinforcement and patch spall for $100. Both the Ocean Parkway and Clubhouse Drive bridges over the canal are a single span concrete bridge with an asphalt surface and timber abutments and wingwalls. Thompson said the estimates for bridge replacement do not include any required engineering or other work that

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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From Page 34 may have to be accomplished prior to construction. “So there are other factors that have significant impact and costs that are no included in this document,” he cautioned directors as they reviewed his update on the bridges. He said the OPA should expect a minimum of a 25 percent increase in the estimated costs. Director Jack Collins asked if one type of bridge replacement design will be more costly than another. “It depends on the structure, the type of structure you use, whether it’s a wood structure, a prefab structure, metal structure all of those goes into the determination and final cost of the bridge,” Thompson responded. The bridges could be reconstructed using timber, steel or concrete and they would meet safety requirements, but the costs vary widely. Thompson said timber construction is less expensive initially, but has higher maintenance costs and a shorter life span. Steel construction is more expensive but has a lower maintenance cost d at Price andMarket a longer life than timber. While concrete construction is the most expensive eamed, Fried or Broiled option for bridge replacement, it has the lowest anticipated maintenance costs Steamed Hardlife. Crabs and the longest “Thisor is dozen not a hard number?” Collins y bushel asked of the cost estimates. Thompson Crab Meat responded “no sir.” But he

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS stressed that the most important thing is that the OPA is addressing the items that need immediate action and is working with an engineering firm and the county to prepare for eventual replacement of the structures. He said they are “working to come up with options” and then the board will have weigh those options and determine how to move forward with replacing the bridges. Director Tom Terry said the replacement costs could be either a lot higher or lower than the engineers estimates based on other work that needs to be accomplished in conjunction with the bridge reconstruction. For example, he said temporary roads will need to be built to accommodate traffic while the bridges are demolished and replaced. In his report Thompson lists items to consider when evaluating the bridges for replacement including that any repair made now will more than likely be demolished with bridge replacement, investigating the purchase of used replacement components from the county and determining the salvage value of components prior to demolition of bridge. In a July 16 letter to Thompson, John Tustin, Worcester County director of public works, said the county will work with the OPA to find contractors who can make the immediate safety repairs recommended in the bridge reports. Future funding for replacements of the two bridges will be determined at a lat-

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36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

By TOM STAUSS Publisher eneral Manager Bob Thompson is using opaque, uninformative diplo-speak to describe the status of new discussions with Sandpiper Energy on a new natural gas franchise agreement, calling them “engaging and positive” with a ‘magnitude of issues” on the table. In a brief aside to the Board of Directors in his July 27 General Manager’s report, Thompson said it remains the goal of the two sides to provide “a mutually agreeable solution that a brings a natural gas solution to our community.” In a closed session of the board after the regular open session, Thompson reportedly provided more details on the status of talks with Sandpiper officials. No details were released publicly. As for the status of discussions and the odds of concluding a new agreement, retiring OPA Director Marty Clarke described the state of play as “about where they were last fall,” when he unleashed a firestorm of controversy, and a decision by Thompson to walk away from the role of lead negotiator, by essentially calling some email by Sandpiper as “promising.” Thompson was unhappy that Clarke’s comments about a potential “breakthrough” was reported in the Progress. Back in early June, Thompson was brought back into the fold as lead negotiator. Most of the directors agreed that since no activity in talks had occurred since Thompson had taken himself out of the role, it made sense to see if bringing him into the fold could jumpstart discussions. Clarke, a consistent advocate of a $150,000 per year franchise fee on Sandpiper as part of a new agreement, said he can’t say whether he thinks the OPA will continue to press for such a fee once

Thompson says Sandpiper talks put ‘magnitude of issues’ on the table General manager calls discussions ‘engaging and positive’ while outgoing director Marty Clarke says their status is ‘about where they were last fall’ he’s off the board. “No comment” he responded when asked whether Thompson has raised the issue again with Sandpiper during the new discussions. One director, Jack Collins, told the Progress when asked in June whether he still supported a franchise fee that he was “ambivalent” on the issue. Another director, Tom Terry, told the Progress that he still favored the fee, noting that even if were included as part of an agreement between the OPA and Sandpiper, the Maryland Public Service Commission would have to agree to it. Any progress in discussions between the OPA and Sandpiper from the June board to July is difficult to detect. In his June general manager’s report to the board, Thompson said he had “engaged” Sandpiper executives in two conference calls to date, with the first one a relatively short one limited to opening up “a new dialog” and establishing “future correspondence.” The second, much longer call included a “detailed discussion where we recapped our positions and discussed options for moving forward,” Thompson wrote. Reminiscent of communiques issued by national governments in treaty negotiations, he described the conversations thus far as “fair and open,” which is diplo-speak for saying there’s

no agreement to date. Thompson said a “face-to-face meeting” with Sandpiper executives has been scheduled for “the near future,” but he declined to announced a date. Apparently it did occur in July. In a June 3 special meeting that was closed to the OPA membership, the directors agreed to designate Thompson as the sole OPA representative in talks with Sandpiper, a decision which excludes members of a board working group from attending meetings with Sandpiper. At the same time, Collins told the Progress recently, Thompson is obligated to make timely reports on the substance of any face-to-face meetings with Sandpiper to the working group and board.

OPA not purchasing any property, Stevens confirms

he Board of Directors went into closed session after its regular monthly meeting on July 30 for a number of reasons, including a scheduled performance review of General Manager Bob Thompson. Also cited by Ocean Pines President Dave Stevens was a matter involving property, which had some people wondering whether the

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The reappointment of Thompson as the OPA’s negotiator came about after Director Bill Cordwell, unhappy with the apparent lack of movement in discussions between the OPA and Sandpiper Energy for a new natural gas franchise agreement, suggested that Thompson be given the task of renewing dialog with Sandpiper to see if any agreement is achievable. The directors agreed to allow Thompson to contact Sandpiper representatives to determine the status of issues that previously had divided the two sides, such as a franchise fee and reimbursement for OPA legal fees. Thompson briefly had the role as lead negotiator this past December until a kerfuffle with Director Marty Clarke over quotes about the status of negotiations in the local media led the general manager unilaterally to take himself out of the role. There is no indication that the OPA is prepared to make any concessions about the board’s desire for a reported $150,000 franchise fee as part of a new agreement or its insistence on reimbursement for legal expenses incurred in negotiations thus far, roughly $70,000.

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Ocean Pines Association was planning to purchase property outside of Ocean Pines or perhaps acquire an abandoned home at foreclosure. None of the above, Stevens told the Progress in early August. “No, we’re not buying Pine Shores (the former golf course site on Beauchamp Road) ,” Stevens quipped. In fact, Stevens said it was probably somewhat misleading to characterize the matter discussed in closed session as property-related. A better description would have been to call it a legal matter involving General Counsel Joe Moore but having nothing to do with the Ocean Pines Association, Stevens said. The OPA president said Moore had asked for time with the directors to inform them of a legal matter involving property not related to his role as OPA general counsel. As a courtesy to the board, Moore wanted the directors to know he was planning to represent a property owner outside of Ocean Pines on a proposed development. Had the directors objected to the outside representation, Stevens said Moore probably would have withdrawn. “We had no problems with him representing the client,” Stevens said, declining to identify the client or the potential development. He said it would be known soon enough once the property owner with Moore’s help begins the Worcester County approval process. “It’s up to them to announce their intentions, not ours,” Stevens said.

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Veterans Memorial Foundation pulled into OPA election By ROTA KNOTT Contributing Writer and TOM STAUSS Publisher hen supporters of a pair of candidates in this summer’s Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors’ election used a photo of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines on the front of a postcard mailing to non-resident owners and a statement slamming the general manager on the back, Marie Gilmore got angry. Gilmore, president of the Veterans Memorial Foundation, recently sent a letter to the board clarifying that her organization does not back candidates for political office and highlighting what she called was the inappropriateness of using a photo of the memorial on campaign literature. During the public comments segment of the July 30 board meeting, she asked the directors not to read the letter publicly, although she said some in the community have taken it up as a call to

Clarke confirms he sent out a postcard that included a photo of the memorial while endorsing two board candidates action. Precisely what kind of action she did not say. As a rule, the directors do not read or enter into the record correspondence they receive in the regular course of OPA business. “I just wanted to make a public statement that the veterans memorial foundation never has, never will support any candidate running for any public office,” Gilmore said, adding that since she sent her letter to the board, “I have heard that it has grown legs. I do not like the direction that it’s going.” She said people are very defensive of the veterans’ memorial. And while she appreciates them backing her position on the issue, “I don’t want any negative publicity put on the veterans memorial” by public disclosure of her letter, she told the board. Gilmore said she has spoken at length with the two candidates who were endorsed in the mailing, which

she said contained a “vitriolic statement against the general manager.” She said she was distressed when she learned that the photo of the veterans’ memorial was associated with it. “There is no reason on God’s green earth why the veterans’ memorial should be associated with that,” she said. She said the veterans’ memorial foundation board and volunteers have always had a wonderful relationship with the Ocean Pines Association and with the general managers with whom they’ve worked. She said they have a great relationship with General Manager Bob Thompson, who is a veteran. Apparently bowing to Gilmore’s wish not to stir the pot more than it already had been, none of the directors commented on the points she made. The postcard at issue was mailed to non-resident property owners in early July, endorsing the candidacies of Slo-

bodan Trendic and Tom Herrick. Retiring Director Marty Clarke confirmed in a telephone interview with the Progress that he had sent out the postcard in support of Trendic and Herrick at his personal expense, through an organization he founded years ago called STOP (Stop Taxing Ocean Pines). He said that while Trendic was aware of the postcard before it was sent out, Herrick was not consulted beforehand. Clarke, who noted he is a veteran and donated to the memorial when it created ten years ago, said use of the photograph depicting the memorial in no way implied that the foundation that manages it was endorsing the candidates mentioned on the other side of the postcard. He said he doubted that anyone would reasonably infer or conclude that the foundation was endorsing Trendic and Herrick merely because a photo of the memorial appears on the postcard. Clarke also said that there was no copyright ownership of the photo and that he had every right to use it in the way he did.

O’Hare, Clarke spar over lockbox statement On last meeting of their board terms, two antagonists end on a bitter note

erty with an agent, Clarke suggested an “open listing” for anyone who wanted to list it. An open listing could include a forsale-by-owner tender or a low-flat-fee listing through an out-of-area broker with membership in the local Realtor association and listing privileges on the local multiple listing service. Clarke seemed to be favoring an arrangement that would save the OPA a portion of the normal real estate commission. Previously the board had elected to solicit listing proposals from local real estate agents. Most of the directors wanted to list the property with a local agent who the directors felt would actively market the property to expand the number of potential buyers. During the June 26 meeting, Clarke said that an open listing, with a lockbox on the house, “is going to sell.” Thompson then said there already was a lockbox on the house and Clarke asked the general manager “who the lockbox belonged to.” Thompson responded that O’Hare had provided it to the OPA “to allow Realtors’ access,” not mentioning that access was needed to help the agents prepare their listing proposals, and only that, as opposed to allowing potential buyers access to the house in the company of an agent. Clarke asked Thompson if there was a listing agreement with any local agent, and the general manager said there was not. Obviously concluding that the presence of a lockbox indicated that the house was on the market or soon would

be without a listing agreement, Clarke said “Sharyn must have forgotten it’s illegal to offer a house for sale without a written listing,” according to the minutes. Thompson repeated that the house was not for sale, but available for viewing, still failing to make clear that the viewing would be by Realtors only in anticipation of submitting listing proposals. O’Hare, incensed by Clarke’s comments as recorded in the minutes, provided that clarification during the July 30 meeting. After she asked Clarke whether he had made the statement reported in the June 26 minutes – he responded that he had – O’Hare said she

Marty Clarke

Sharyn O’Hare

had a “problem” with that and wanted to make a public statement about it. She accused Clarke of having accused her of doing something illegal and doing so while she was out of the country “unable to defend” herself. “This is my profession,” she said. After Clarke said he stood by his statement as it appeared in the June 26 minutes, O’Hare said Clarke had mischaracterized the presence of a lockbox on the house as indicating that the house was for sale without a listing

CHARLES A. MICHELSON, 90 Charles A. Michelson, 90, of Ocean Pines, MD passed away peacefully Saturday, July 25, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. “Charlie” was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Iola Wanda Hopkinson Michelson. He is survived by his sister Arlene J. Michelson, of Syracuse, NY; daughter, Nancy L. Michelson and son-in-law, Joel T. Jenne of Berlin, MD; grandson, K. Erik Gill, wife Kendra Gill and sons Connor and Walker; granddaughter Heather L. Colon, husband Carl A. Colon and children Kayla, Kenneth, and Jenaya. He will be missed sorely by his dear friend Doris Stanecki. There will be no services or calling hours. Donations in Charlie’s name can be made to Atlantic General Hospital (9733 Healthway Dr., Berlin, MD 21811) or Berlin Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center (9715 Healthway Dr., Berlin, MD 21811). The family is deeply grateful for the caring service provided by the nursing staffs of these facilities. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com

By TOM STAUSS Publisher t was the last meeting that directors Marty Clarke and Sharyn O’Hare sat together as colleagues and antagonists on the Board of Directors, as they were concluding three year terms punctuated by clashes over policy and personal animus. Early in the relationship, O’Hare was among a group that had attempted – unsuccessfully, it turned out – to have Clarke kicked off the board for violating a code of conduct that had been abolished by a previous board. So it somehow seemed fitting early in the board meeting of July 30 that the two would clash once again, this time over meeting minutes that normally would be rubber stamped after cursory review and minimal debate. The minutes at issue covered the board’s June 26 meeting, concerning a discussion over the pending resale of a home on Tail of the Fox Drive that the Ocean Pines Association acquired in a foreclosure and subsequently renovated. The minutes indicated that Clarke initiated a discussion about the pending sale, which General Manager Bob Thompson said was behind schedule because “our Realtor board member” was out of the country. He said he was awaiting the return of O’Hare to review proposals from local Realtors who were competing to obtain the rights to list the property on behalf of the OPA. O’Hare previously had recused herself from submitting a listing proposal and was serving as an unofficial advisor on the pending listing. As an alternative to listing the prop-

40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

August - Early September 2015

Planned duplex subdivision doesn’t need rezoning

By TOM STAUSS Publisher eveloper Marvin Steen’s planned 30-duplex subdivision adjacent to Section 10 with a total of 60 housing units, originally conceived in a way that seemed to require a change in zoning from R-1 single family residential to R-3 multi-family residential, has been submitted to county planning authorities as a residential planned community, or RPC. RPCs do not need rezoning to obtain county permit approval. County zoning administrator Jennifer Keener in early August confirmed that the county’s Technical Review Committee has reviewed the proposed duplex subdivision as a RPC and, as is typical in Worcester County, sent it back to the site planners for a few changes. She said she believes it will be resubmitted to the county in time to be included on the agenda of the Worcester County Planning Commission in September. When Steen asked for a letter of endorsement for the project from the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors this past spring, it was with the understanding that a rezoning to R-3 would be needed. Rezonings require a two-step process in Worcester County: a favorable or unfavorable recommendation by the planning commission and then an up or down vote by the Worcester County Commission. A planned residential development is a somewhat easier process, requiring site plan approval by the planning commission and the county commissioners. RPC approvals are generally considered to be less potentially controversial than rezoning. Steen told the Progress in

early August that his site engineer, Soule and Associates, determined that the RPC approach was appropriate for the site, which is accessible from within Ocean Pines by extending King Richard Road. Eventually the subdivision will become a part of the Ocean Pines community under the control of the Ocean Pines Association. Keener said there would have been no point to seeking a rezoning to R-3 for the parcel because it can be developed as a RPC under the existing R-1 zoning. “It would have been a waste of time and money (to request a rezoning),” she said. Steen is proposing his 30-duplex subdivision in a small section of a 200-plus acre parcel located just south of Ocean Pines. The duplexes would be arrayed on an extension of King Richard Road, in what is now open field, backing up against a forested area that would remain untouched during the development process. There would be no direct access from Route 589 or nearby Gum Point Road, although there would be an emergency egress from the property possible by an existing dirt road that connects it to Route 589. Back in the early 2000s, Steen had intended to develop a single-family section on the parcel, but in a recent letter to the Ocean Pines Association Steen said the current real estate

market favors low-maintenance duplexes over larger single-family residences that he once envisioned on one-acre estate lots. If all goes as planned, the new subdivision would become an official part of Ocean Pines, with future homeowners paying annual OPA lot assessments. By an agreement negotiated with the OPA as part of a failed effort to develop a Northern Worcester County YMCA in 2002, every home sale in what Steen is now calling Triple Crown Estates will generate a $6,500 payment to the Ocean Pines Association. That payment is compensation to the OPA for equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) reserved to Steen for water and wastewater treatment capacity at the county-owned Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant, EDUs that at one time had been reserved for use by the OPA. At build-out, which Steen has said he hopes will happen three or four years after the first duplex is built and sold, the $6,500 payments will have generated for unrestricted use by the OPA a total of $390,000, in addition to roughly $60,000 per year in new lot assessment revenue. Also, the future homeowners will be eligible to purchase annual amenity memberships or to otherwise pay to use OPA amenities, generating even more revenue for the OPA. In comments to the OPA Board of Directors during its April 30 regular monthly meeting, Steen acknowledged that his planned duplexes are a change from what had been proposed back in the early 2000s, when his plan was for 60 one-acre lot and home packages that would have generated

estate lot assessment revenue for the OPA roughly one-and-a half times that of non-waterfront lots. Economic conditions make the sale of such large lot-large home packages unfeasible, Steen said. Perhaps with the financial impact foremost in mind, the OPA Board of Directors, during its April 30 regular monthly meeting, unanimously endorsed the rezoning proposal needed to facilitate the project. Steen said that without the board endorsement, he would have decided not to proceed with submitting his proposed rezoning to Worcester County for approval. The only significant caveat to the endorsement is that the directors would like Steen and the county, as part of the rezoning process, to require some sort of gated emergency egress from the site via the existing dirt access road to Route 589. Steen has said he will agree to that condition, which means that there will be another way for residents to leave Ocean Pines should it be necessary under major storm conditions. Under normal conditions, the road would be blocked off by some sort of gate that would only be opened during emergency conditions. Roughly 15 acres of the total 200plus acres owned by Steen and his wife Beverly would be developed with the duplexes. In his April 1 letter to the board, Steen said that “current market conditions are much more favorable for multi-family duplexes,” and he reminded the board of his previous experience in building duplexes in Wood Duck Isle II and Salt Grass Cove in Ocean Pines. He told the Progress that duplexes have sold well in River Run, a residential development just north of Ocean Pines. He told the Progress that he intends to sell each duplex unit for roughly $300,000 or more, depending on options, with roughly 2,400 square feet of square footage of living space in addition to a one-car garage. He said at that price

Developer to seek approval of new Ocean Pines section as a residential planned community

Lockbox From Page 39

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agreement. “It (the house) was never offered for sale,” she said, telling Clarke that the lockbox was given to the OPA by her as a way of helping Thompson solicit listing agreements from Realtors. She said “it’s not illegal” to attach a lockbox to a house and that tenants do it occasionally. “You can go to Home Depot to buy one,” she said. She asked Clarke for an apology, apparently not really expecting one, and Clarke declined to give it. Director Tom Terry then suggested that the minutes from the June 25 meeting be amended to include O’Hare’s statement. OPA President Dave Stevens agreed. Clarke did not object.

WORCESTER COUNTY

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Most graduating seniors in Worcester County heading off to college Social media policies aim to promote cyber civility

their own level of digital citizenship. In addition, the use of social media was addressed in the student code of conduct. Led by Ryan Cowder and Matthew Record. social media task force co-chairs and assistant principals, the social media work group developed best practices for students and parents, additions to the student code of conduct, guiding principles for staff usage and a social media posting guide for classroom instruction. Baker, the research and accountability/testing coordinator, and Data Specialist Rebecca Henderson also updated the school board on the new teacher and principal evaluation process. All school districts in Maryland are required to implement a new teacher evaluation system that accounts for both professional practice and student growth in compliance with federal and state mandates. Classroom observations are a tool for growing professional practice and providing evidence around teacher effectiveness. WCPS has selected to use the Center for Educational Leadership’s 5D+ Teacher Evaluation Rubric, a growth-oriented tool for improving instruction, as its framework for observations. The 5D+ Teacher Evaluation Rubric focuses on setting a clear, meaningful course for student learning; encouraging intellectual thinking; ensuring that instruction challenges and supports all students; using ongoing assessment to shape and individualize instruction; and creating classrooms that maximize opportunities for learning and engagement. Student learning is an important measure of the success of a teacher and an instructional leader. A student learning objective is a measurable instructional goal established for a specific group of students over a set period of time. They serve as one of the measures of student growth for the Maryland State Teacher Evaluation Model. Each teacher has two student learning objectives to measure student growth–each comprising 20 percent of their overall evaluation. Worcester County Public School teachers will be evaluated on a yearly basis. For the 2014-2015 and the upcoming 2015-2016 school year teacher evaluations will consist of 60 percent professional practice or observations and 40 percent student growth or student learning objectives. Overall teacher ratings for school year 2014-15 showed that 77 percent of teachers were highly effective and 23 percent were effective based on a com-

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer hree-quarters of Worcester County’s 2015 graduating seniors plan to continue their education at a college or university. Worcester County Public Schools administers a survey for graduating seniors every spring that gathers information such as plans for continuing education, participation in advanced placement courses and Worcester Technical High School programs, applying for admission to colleges and applying for scholarships, and utilization of school counseling services. The survey is administered to all graduating seniors every spring. During a July 21 meeting, the Board of Education received an update on the plans of the 510 seniors who graduated as part of the class of 2015. Karen Baker, research and accountability/testing coordinator, told school board members that 74.9 percent of graduated seniors plan to attend a college or university, 15.6 intend to work full time, 5 percent want to enlist in the military, .6 percent plan to attend a military academy and 3.9 percent had other plans. When asked what type of college or university they plan to attend, 64.2 percent of graduated seniors said they wanted to go to a four-year school while 35.5 percent are headed to a two-year school. More than half of graduating seniors, 56 percent, took classes at Worcester Technical High School, and similarly 52 percent took advanced placement courses. Only half of student used counseling services to help them with their college and scholarship search and applications, registering for SAT or ACT tests and information on financial aid. During the July 21 meeting the school board also received an update from the school system’s social media task force. With the ever present increase in global communication and connectivity with devices through social media platforms, the local school system has developed guidelines for staff and students to increase their cyber civility. Currently, few Maryland School Systems have documented guidelines in relation to this topic, despite its strong presence in society and daily lives. The school system appointed a social media work group to promote the cyber-civility of the students and the staff of Worcester County Public Schools. The workgroup surveyed all levels of the school system and all geographical areas. Staff guidelines were developed, as well as posters for students to increase

Duck teamers

With less less than 4 weeks to go until Race Day on August 28th at Frontier Town, the local Kiwanis Club’s Duck Race Team was spotted selling chances in White Horse Park in Ocean Pines at the Pine’eer Arts and Crafts Show. Pictured left to right are: Ron Graybill, Jim Spicknall and K-Duck. Chances in cash prizes of $1000, $300 and $200 at the race are available by calling 410-208-0479. Winners do not have to be present to win.

Duplex development From Page 40 point new construction is salable, whereas a larger single-family home at a price of $450,000 would be far more difficult to sell in current market conditions. What he didn’t say is that each duplex will yield roughly $600,000 in gross earnings for Steen, as opposed to $450,000 if each lot was sold with a single-family home. It would appear that Steen’s reputation as an astute businessman remains undiminished as he embarks on a rezoning change that, with the OPA board’s endorsement in hand, stands an excellent chance of making it through the approval process. He met with OPA board members individually prior to the April 30 public meeting, and that attention to detail helped produce the result he achieved at the meeting. Director Pat Renaud’s original motion called for a vote to approve Steen’s residential subdivision, but that was amended on the suggestion of Director Tom Terry to explicitly include an endorsement of the rezoning thought to be needed to accomplish Steen’s duplex development.

The approved motion called for OPA President Dave Stevens to draft a letter to Worcester County officials endorsing the proposed rezoning. Steen said that he came up with his idea for duplexes earlier this year. Had he not come up with the change in approach, it’s likely the Steen-owned land that adjoins Section 1 would have remained undeveloped indefinitely, he said. Steen emphasized that he wants his 30-duplex section to become part of Ocean Pines, a concept that has been on the books since the early 2000s. He cited the relatively recent installation of a wastewater collection line from the nearby Ocean Downs casino on Route 589 to the Ocean Pines collection system, with a portion of it running down the center of King Richard Road. That resulted in the repaving of that side street earlier this year. Steen’s plan, assuming he has all his county approvals in place this year, would be to build about ten duplexes per year, for the most part only building when the units are presold. Depending on economic conditions, he hopes to complete build-out in three or four years.

42 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

August - Early September 2015

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WORCESTER COUNTY By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer lthough they and their colleagues originally requested that legislation be drafted to do away with the Shoreline Commission, four members of the Worcester County Commissioners on July 21 changed their minds and decided to keep the long-standing body that reviews applications for construction of water-based structures, including those built in Ocean Pines. Questioning its usefulness in reviewing applications for projects and construction along the waterways, the commissioners asked staff to draft a bill that would amend the section of its code that relates to construction along shorelines, moving it from the zoning code to the natural resources article and doing away with the Shoreline Commission. But based on feedback during a June 16 public hearing, four commissioners opt-

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

County opts to retain Shoreline Commission Public comments sway vote in favor of keeping body that approves shoreline construction permits ed not to support the legislation when it came time for a vote. Adding a twist to the day, the commissioners had unanimously just approved a separate bill that gave the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals the authority to hear appeals of shoreline construction cases that would have gone to the Shoreline Commission. But then they voted down the legislation eliminating the Shoreline Commission and had to retract the vote on the earlier bill. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic offered the

motion to abolish the Sanitary Commission. It was supported by Commissioner President Jim Bunting and Commissioner Ted Elder. Ocean Pines Commissioner Chip Bertino, Bud Church, Merrill Lockfaw and Diana Purnell were in opposition. The seven-member Shoreline Commission was formed in the early 1970s to help manage the rapid development along the county’s shoreline. This commission makes rulings on all work completed channelward of the mean

high water line on all bodies of water in Worcester County, including docks and piers, rip rap, replacement bulkheads, marsh creation or soft shorelines, and boat lifts. In deciding whether or not to approve a construction permit the commission reviews cases for their environmental and navigational impact, recreation potential, commercial benefit to the county, impact to the neighborhood and property values and any other matters it may deem appropriate. During a June public hearing on the legislation, a handful of people, including one Shoreline Commission member, spoke up in opposition to its abolishment. They expressed concern that shifting the responsibilities for review of all shoreline construction projects to staff would result in applicants having little recourse if their permit was denied and that the public would have no opportunity for input on applications. County staff argued that the functions and duties of the Shoreline Commission are no longer necessary for proper issuance of shoreline construction permits, as that process is now mostly handled by the Environmental Programs staff. Bob Mitchell, county director of environmental programs, said many changes in the regulatory environment have occurred over the years since the initial establishment of the Shoreline Commission. He said those changes, along with the creation of county Department of Environmental Programs, have made the continuation of the Shoreline Commission unnecessary. Mitchell said his staff already reviews the applications for consistency with the terms of all other local laws and programs and verifies that the proper state and federal approvals are in place. Therefore there would be no additional workload for staff. In fact, he said that abolishing the commission would save some staff time for his office because employees have to prepare packets for the members to review, develop advertisements for hearings and attend meetings. However a majority of commissioners felt that the benefits of retaining the body to provide oversight and to give neighboring property owners with the opportunity to be heard regarding pending shoreline construction applications outweighed the inconvenience of potentially duplicative permitting efforts.

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From Page 42 bination of professional practice and student learning objectives. In the area of professional practice, 83 percent of teachers were rated as highly effective and 17 percent as effective. Using two different student learning objectives, teachers were rated about 69.6 and 64.8 percent highly effective, 29.6 and 33.9 percent effective, and .1 and 1.2 percent ineffective.

44 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

August - Early September 2015

COUNTY BRIEFS Cost goes up, then down for Ocean Pines force main project

ne change order approved by the Worcester County Commissioners in July increased the cost of a now-completed water line project in the Ocean Pines Service Area while another reduced it. John Tustin, county director of public works, presented the two requests for modifications to previously approved contracts with A-Del Construction Company Inc. for construction of a new water system force main in Ocean Pines, during a July 7 meeting. He said that the two change orders result in a net reduction in construction costs from the $1.66 million bid price to $1.636 million, for a total project savings of $39,390. The first order addressed changes in the work caused by unanticipated conditions in field and changes requested by the county, including the need for additional piping, temporarily re-routing some lines during construction and modifying the line crossing the Ocean Parkway bridge, resulting in a total additional cost of $43,656. The second change order reflected the final adjustments of the bid quantities for the unit price contract based on the as-built condition and resulted in a total reduction in the contract amount of $74,046. The commissioners unanimously approved both change orders.

Human resources director appointed

Stacey Norton has been selected as Worcester County’s new human resources director. Prior to stepping into her new role with Worcester County Government on July 6, she served as human resources manager for Perdue Foods, LLC in Milford, Del. She brings 16 years of generalist and specialist experience in human resources and six years of IT experience to Worcester County. “I am very excited for the opportunity to work with and serve the associates and residents of Worcester County,” Norton said. Norton earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Auburn University in Alabama. Norton resides in Ocean Pines.

County replaces pump at wastewater station

The Worcester County Water and Wastewater Division is continuing to

make pump station improvements in the Ocean Pines Service Area that were funded by a 2014 county bond issue, including the replacement of submersible pumps for one station. The Worcester County Commissioners on July 7 unanimously approved waiving the bid process and accepting a proposal from the local Flygt pump supplier Sherwood-Logan & Associates of Annapolis for the purchase and delivery of two new Xylem Flygt submersible pumps for pump station E. Total cost was $33,800. John Tustin, county director of public works, said that brand of pumps is the standard pump installed in all new and upgraded pump stations and $300,000 in funding for ongoing improvements at the pump stations is available through the 2014 bond issue. Tustin said a series of small improvements are scheduled to be made at pump station E. Instead of contracting the work out as a single large construction project, the county has opted to complete the improvements as a series of small work assignments.

County saves money with new bond loans

Worcester County has obtained a 1.9 percent average interest rate from PNC Capital Markets to refinance $27.3 million in existing debt. This is an outstanding interest rate and will result in interest savings of more than $1.1 million over the life of issue, with approximately $600,000 to be saved in FY2016 alone. “As a result of our finance team’s monitoring of the capital market and through their continued hard work, we were able to realize substantial savings,” Chief Administrative Officer Harold Higgins said. The interest rate from PNC is for the Consolidated Public Improvement Refunding Bonds, 2015 Series B to refinance existing debt for the Worcester Career & Technology Center construction project, Pocomoke High School addition and renovation project, and Ocean Pines Fire Protection System project. The county also obtained a 2.7 percent interest rate from M&T Securities, Inc. for the Consolidated Public Improvement Bonds, 2015 Series A totaling $12,015,000 to finance all or a portion of the costs associated with the following capital projects: 800 MHZ Emergency Services Radio System upgrades; Berlin Rubblefill cap and closure project; Central Landfill Site Cell #5 construction project; and Mystic Harbour water system interconnection project.

Boat parade winners

The Ocean Pines Boat Club Parade held on July 26 featured sunny skies, hot weather and cheerful, supportive fans lining the banks of Ocean Pines’ canals. A mother and daughter team, Kam and Rachel La Brunda, on a jet ski led the parade and navigated the waterways from the Swim and Racquet Club to the official end of the parade, Harbour Village. Packed with young and not so young participants, the colorfully decorated boats reflected the parade theme of Days of Yore. The judges chose for best costumes and best in parade the boat “Flower Power” (upper left). “Glimpse of the ‘50’s” (upper right) won best presentation and “Grease” won best decorations. The event was cochaired by Steve Stein and Fred Heinlen.

County to purchase new tax software

A new system will be generating tax bills for Worcester County property owners in July 2016 Phil Thompson, finance officer, on July 21 asked the Worcester County Commissioners for approval to replace the 20-year-old AS400 system that the Treasurer’s Office uses for billing with a new Munis system. Thompson said the Maryland tax system is “unique and somewhat complex” and any new software must be compatible with the state’s requirements. He said the Munis system is currently being used by 12 counties in Maryland and has a proven track record. Thompson recommended purchasing the new system from the sole supplier of Tyler Technologies – Munis. The project was included in the county’s fiscal year 2016 budget at a cost up to $451,537. The base contract price is $385,615, plus travel and hardware that will bring the total cost to about $448,811.

CAPTAIN’S COVE

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Cove directors deadlock on next year’s lot assessment Board to try again at Aug. 13 meeting By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Captain’s Cove association’s Board of Directors will likely resolve a deadlock on the base lot assessment for fiscal year 2016-16 at a hastily scheduled board meeting in the Marina Club banquet room beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13.

& MD. MD 41-9590

Marish, the alternate, opposed. Kiefer might have voted for the motion, suggesting that Hearn amend the motion to include a definitive statement that the $1200 rate would remain stable for a number of years. Hearn said he couldn’t say for sure that the rate would not go up again next year, and as a result Kiefer joined Hall and Marish in dissent. Hearn, possibly with tongue-in-cheek, advised Kiefer to run for reelection and

work toward keeping the rate constant. Two other directors who were listening in and participating earlier in the meeting, Michael Glick and Roger Holland, had disappeared by the time Hearn was ready to call for a vote. Both of them probably would have been yes votes. The 3-3 tie vote in effect meant that Hearn did not have a majority in favor To Page 47

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Two-Story Contemporary Home Contemporary Home Ranch Style Home hasTwo3Story Bed3 BR / 2.5 BA 1607 Sq Ft. • $163,969 3 BR / 2.5 BA 1818 Sq Ft. • $185,502 rooms, 2 Baths, Living Room, Two-story Contemporary Home Two-story Contemporary Home MODEL OF THE MONTH kitchen, Dining Area, and Rear has 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Living has 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Living Room, Kitchen, Dining Area, Loft, Room, Kitchen, Dining Area, Loft, mporary Deck. Car Garage Rearhome Deck and 2 Car 1 Garage. Family Room. SQFT $155,625 2300 SQFT $224,802 ooms,1696 2 baths, 1349 SQFT n, dining area, Turn Key on Your $126,590 Captain’s

$156,625* Cove Lot

Skipjack

Ranch Style Home 3 BR / 2 BA 1408 Sq Ft. $152, 985

Ranch Style Home 3 BR / 2BA 1525 Sq ft., $183,328

Marlin

Barracuda

The GRAND TARPON

Tarpon

t room, 12x24 The BARRACUDA $152,088

Wahoo

The WAHOO

(Lot Clearing by Owner)

• 100% Stick Built • 1696 Sq. Ft. ACUDA • Quality in Every Detail Tiger Shark Thresher • Two-story Contemporary • Master Suite • 3 Bedrooms, 2.5Home Baths Raised Home on Pilings Raised on Pilings 3 BR / 2 BA 1349 • $168,588 3 BRTop / 2 BA Window 1745 Sq Ft. • $225,495 • Volume Ceilings • Circle • Energy Star Appliance Package • Screened • Loft • -2-Car Garage 2 story Contemporary Home has 4 Porch CINDY WELSH REALTOR

The TARPON

Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Great * Ocean PinesRoom, Prices Higher Due to Worcester County’s Sprinkler System requirement

Two Story Contemporary Home has 3 Two Story Contemporary Home Ranch Style Home Bed3 BR / 2.5 BA 1874 Sq ft. • $187,905 3 BR / 2.5 BA 2050 Sq Ft. • $206,737 rooms, 2 Baths, Kitchen, Dining Area, Great Room, 1FEATURED Car HOME Garage, and Rear Deck. 1408 SQFT $145,644

The GRAND TARPON Mako

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Pen Fed Realty Kitchen, Dinette, Dining Room, mporary home oms,Loft, 2.5 Rear baths,Deck and 2 Car Garage. 4323 Captain’s Corridoravailable • PO Box 28 2050 SQFT $188,559 Home/Lot Packages , dinette, dining Greenbackville, VA. 23356 us about ck and 2-car standards, gaances and builders but do not include cost of lot and Ask are subject to change. 88,559 302-381-6910 (cell) • 757-854-1604 (office)

Raised Home on Pilings 4 BR / 3.5 BA 1940 Sq Ft. • $250.694

2420 Octopus Road • $194,900

3 BR / 2 BA New Construction, Upgrades: Hardwood Floors, Meganite countertops highlighted with cascading cabinets, separate laundry area, oversized 2 Car garage, oversized screen porch (10 X 20), concrete drive and sidewalks.

• 757-854-1606 (fax) Home/Lot packages Email: candhwelsh@aol.com with 100% financing www.captainscoveproperties.com Two-story Contemporary Home Two-story Contemporary Home has 3 LLC. Bedrooms, Baths, has 4HomeServices Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Living ©2015 BHH Afﬁliates, An independently owned 2.5 and operated franchisee ofLiving BHH Afﬁliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. m, Room, Kitchen, Dining Area, Loft, Room, Kitchen, Dining Area, Loft,

ial logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under and operated member of BRER Afﬁliates, Inc. PenFed membership is not required to conduct business with Prudential PenFed Realty ®

46 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

August - Early September 2015

Cindy Welsh 302-381-6910 (cell)

888-241-9590 (office) candhwelsh@aol.com

For A Virtual Tour of Captain’s Cove, Please Visit My Web site at captainscoveproperties.com

4243 Captain’s Corridor, Greenbackville, VA. 23356

Captain’s Cove -- Hidden Treasure on Virginia’s Eastern Shore 2383 Brigantine Blvd. • $94,900 NEW LISTING

3BR/1BA • 1008 sq. ft. • Shed

WATERFRONT LOTS NEW LISTING

$54,900 3/1383 Cleared canal

2247 Smugglers Way • $125,000 REDUCED

3BR/2BA • 1202 sq. ft. • Concrete driveway

37749 Broadside Drive • $314,900 WATERFRONT

2420 Octopus Road • $194,900

37453 Beam Court • $255,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION

GOLF COURSE

3BR 2BA 1496 sq ft., 2 Car garage, Loaded with Extras

3BR/2.5 BA Located on Golf Course

37330 Broadside Drive • $449,900

Your Home

WATERFR0NT

REDUCED

$60,900 1/940 Cleared Canal w100’ Bulkhead

$65,000 3/1439 Cleared canal w/120’ Bulkhead

NEW LISTING

BAY VIEWS

$68,500 1/1268 $72,000 1/921 Mostly cleared canal Cleared canal w/40’ w/60’ Bulkhead Bulkhead

EASY BAY ACCESS

LOCATION

$73,000 1/926 Cleared canal w/50’ Bulkhead

$73,500 3/1408 Cleared canal w/50’ Bulkhead

CANAL VIEW

$75,000 1/1195 Cleared Canal, w/100’ Bulkhead

MARSH VIEW

$75,000 1/1196 Cleared canal w/75’ Bulkhead MARSH VIEWS

$75,000 1/1045 Wooded, canal w/60’ waterfront BAY VIEWS $78,000 1/1021 Cleared canal w/60’ Bulkhead

BAY VIEWS $80,000 3/1290 Cleared canal w/60’ Bulkhead

$75,000 1/1209 Cleared, canal w/75’ bulkhead NEW BULKHEAD

$79,000 1/1200 Cleared canal w/61’ Bulkhead WIDE CANAL

$80,000 4/1414 Cleared canal w/60’ Bulkhead

3BR/2.5 BA 2160 sq ft, oversize garage

3 BR 2.5 BA, 2876 sq ft., canal and bay views

$2500 6/56 Wooded, Septic Approved $2500 7/321 Wooded, Septic Approved $7,000 1/1055 Cleared W & S $3000 4/2130 Wooded, Septic Approved $18,000 3/1623 Cleared W & S $3000 3/1657 Wooded, Septic Approved $3000 5/9 Wooded $3000 5/2465 Wooded, Septic Approved $9,900 2/134 Wooded, Septic Approved $3000 4/2198 Wooded $10,500 2/120 Wooded, Septic Approved $3000 4/2317 Wooded $11,000 2/107 Wooded, Septic Approved $3450 5/2476 Wooded $12,000 2/261 Cleared, Septic Approved $3500 4/2338 Wooded, Septic Approved $15,000 2/184 Cleared, Septic Approved $3500 7/169 Wooded, Septic Approved $15,000 2/206 Cleared, Septic Approved $3600 9/64 Cleared, Corner $15,000 2/221 Cleared, Septic Approved $3750 5/2482 Wooded, Septic Approved $21,000 2/394 Cleared, Septic Approved $4000 6/86 Wooded $4000 9/185 Cleared $4000 7/276 Cleared, Septic Approved $4000 6/24 Wooded, Septic Approved $4000 3/1807 Wooded $200 1/881 Wooded $4000 5/2411 Wooded, Septic Approved $ 200 4/1947 Wooded, Septic Approved $4000 4/2165 Wooded $ 300 10/128 Wooded $4000 4/2162 Wooded $ 500 10/159 Wooded $4021 6/40 Wooded, Septic Approved $2000 10/140 Wooded $4200 6/45 Wooded, Septic Approved $2500 1/467 Wooded, Septic Approved $4400 9/127 Wooded, Septic Approved

WATERVIEW LOTS

GOLF COURSE LOTS

INTERIOR LOTS

Could Be Listed Here $5000 6/17 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 11/101 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 8/48 Cleared $5000 4/2104 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 1/477 Wooded, W & S $5250 1/1252 Wooded, W & S $6000 2/89 Wooded $7000 11/3 Wooded $7000 11/2 Wooded $7000 11/14 Wooded $7000 11/4 Wooded $7000 8/38 Cleared $7000 9/101 Wooded $7000 1/733 Wooded $7950 1/1091 Wooded, W & S $8500 4/2358 Wooded, Septic Approved $9500 9/126 Cleared, Septic Approved $10,000 9/168 Wooded, Septic Approved $10,000 11/32 Wooded, Septic Approved

MEMBERSHIP LOTS $1 16/33 • $1 18/14

©2015 BHH Afﬁliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Afﬁliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

CAPTAIN’S COVE

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 45 of the assessment increase, prompting the subsequent decision to hold another board meeting in August to do what was not accomplished in July. During the July 10 meeting, the directors agreed that the next meeting of the board would not be held until November. One piece of the assessment puzzle was decided during the July 10 session, with all directors voting for a $200 increase in the waterfront assessment. Community room debate – Considerable time was expended during the July 10 meeting on the future use of the community room in the old Cove office in the town center area on Captain’s Corridor, in the context of a broader revision of Town Center use policy. As part of the new policy, free access to the community room by certain community groups will be eliminated, pending a subsequent announcement by Hearn on plans to convert the space for another purpose. The intent seems to be to divert these groups to the grill area, where access would be free of charge. Rosemary Hall was the only dissenting vote on the new policy. After it passed without her support, she offered a motion that would have modified the new use policy so that no charge for use of the community room would be applied to such not-for-profit, non-commercial groups as the Concerned Citizens of Captain’s Cove. “I think it’s unfair to community group who want to meet here to be asked to pay a $200 fee for each meeting they want to run,” she said. “And since it’s not being overused, I don’t see why there’s a problem even letting them use it, because it seems to me there’s plenty of space for them to be using the room.” Hearn opposed the motion because he said “I think we can find a higher value

HAPPENINGS Saturday, Aug. 15 Ocean Pines Kite Day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Ocean Pines. Free kite-making, displays and refreshments for purchase, DJ. Sunday, Aug. 16 Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Classic Car Show, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Ocean Pines. Parade of cars, White Horse Park, beginning at 10 a.m. Trophies awarded at 1 p.m. Also featuring a kids bicycle parade and pin-up girls. 410-641-5306 or visit 11031 Cathell Road. Thursday, Aug. 20 Pine’eer Craft Club, 10 a.m., monthly meeting, Ocean Pines Community Center. Appreciation luncheon to follow. Sharon, 410-208-3032. Monday, Aug. 24 Bowling League meeting, 1 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Bowl-

tain’s Cove, including the old campground site. But the consensus among the directors seemed to be that developer interests would be given the opportunity initially to determine if they had property available that could be converted for use as a post office. Hearn said it did not make sense for the Cove POA to be competing with business interests in working with postal authorities in finding a new post office site. While some directors appeared enamored with the idea of a post office closer to the Cove than Greenbackville, others pointed out that replacing the one in Greenbackville could result in more traffic in and around Captain’s Cove.

Traditional & Cremation Services Available for Pre-Need Arrangements

The Burbage Funeral Home 108 Williams Street, Berlin 208 W. Federal Street, Snow Hill Berlin• Ocean City Ocean Pines • Snow Hill

410-641-2111

Since 1810, we’ve been caringTradition” for people like you “An Eastern Shore

ing will begin Monday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 1 pm. Don Schaefer, 410-641-8898. Wednesday, Aug. 26 Life Line Community Health Screening, Ocean Pines Country Club, hosted by Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems: blocked arteries, abdominal aortic aneurysms, hardening of the arteries in the legs, atrial fibrillation, and bone density screening. For $10 discount off any package, call 1-888-653-6441. Friday, Aug. 28 Kiwanis Annual Duck Race. 6 p.m., Frontier Town. Chances for the Kiwanis Annual Duck Race on sale. Purchase a duck for $5 or three ducks for $10. Chances may be purchased from any Kiwanis member or call 410-2080479. First prize is $1000, second prize is $300 and third prize is $200. All proceeds benefits the club’s College Scholarship Fund. Wednesday, Sept. 9 Brown Box Theatre Project performance of “The Taming of the Shrew”, 7:30 p.m., White Horse Park, free. Thursday, Sept. 17 7th Annual Patriot Day fashion show and luncheon, hosted by Republican Women of Worcester County, Ocean Pines Yacht Club Banquet Room, 10:30 a.m., program begins at 11:30. Honoring POW/MIA Day “You are not forgotten”. Fashions by Chico’s of Salisbury, MD. $33 per person. Reservations, Sandy Fennell, 410-202-8688 or sandyfen57@yahoo.com.

Ongoing

Free platform tennis clinics, Saturdays at noon, Manklin Meadows tennis complex. Bring sneakers, the rest is provided. Annual memberships start at $150. “Ask a Master Gardener” clinic, Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road, Ocean Pines, May to September, every Tuesday afternoon, 1-4 p.m. Sponsored by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. Free. Master Gardeners will be available to help you with your gardening questions. Have bugs or other plant problems? Penny McGrath, master gardener, 41064l-5570, plantladyop@aol.com. Ocean Pines Ping Pong Club, Ocean Pines Community Center, Monday noon to 2 p.m, Wednesday and Friday noon to 3 p.m. All levels of players welcome. Neil Gottesman, 732773-1516. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines – Ocean City every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. in the Ocean

Cove assessment

of use (for the community room) than an infrequent meeting location” for community groups. Kiefer suggested that a temporary closure of the community room would produce savings in utility and other costs, but in the end he supported the Hall motion. After several Cove property owner association members voiced support for it, in some cases contending that Hearn and his board allies were eliminating a benefit enjoyed by residents, Hearn said it’s a benefit that’s only been around for the two years or so that the Marina Club has been open. He then called for a vote. Opposing the Hall motion were Hearn, Holland, Glick, Silfee and Pelino. Favoring it were Hall, Kieffer, and Marish. During discussion later in the meeting, during review of next year’s budget, Hearn said that the community room could be reconfigured to be used as needed for Cove POA board meetings. The banquet hall in the Marina Club has been the venue for board meetings for some time, but that makes Saturday board meetings difficult to schedule because of competing demands for the space. Initially, the Aug. 13 board meeting was slated for the community room, but it was then changed to the Marina Club’s banquet room because of concerns that the community room would be too small to accommodate the expected crowd of people. Captain’s Cove post office – There is the possibility that the post office in nearby Greenbackville, the closest post office to Captain’s Cove, will be relocated closer to Captain’s Cove or, perhaps, could be eliminated entirely. The lease on the Greenbackville facility will soon expire, and postal authorities recently posted a request for proposals (RFP) for an alternative location. During the July 10 board meeting the directors discussed the possibility of submitting a proposal for a post office in Cap-

48 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

August - Early September 2015

COMMENTARY

Funding reserves properly is a pressing task

uring his president’s remarks delivered at the annual meeting of the Ocean Pines Association Aug. 8, OPA President Dave Stevens raised an issue that really ought to occupy OPA policy makers this coming year. While Stevens himself probably won’t be in a position to drive the debate as president, there’s no reason he can’t do so as a director. Other directors with a particular interest in OPA reserves are certainly welcome to join in. Directors Terry and Collins, take

note. This is in your wheelhouse. The issue is the proper level of funding for the OPA’s allocated reserves, particularly the one labeled Major Maintenance and Replacement. During his remarks, Stevens accurately framed the issue: Are the reserves too generously funded, insufficiently funded, or funded roughly as they should be given the OPA’s major capital and more routine maintenance needs over the next ten years?

Funded Depreciation Major Projects

Stevens took no absolutist position on this question. He believes that until a reserve study is completed later this year, along with at least a good first draft of a Capital Improvement Plan, coming to a definitive conclusion on the proper level of funding for the reserves is premature. That position is defensible, but he also mentioned something quite striking during his Aug. 8 presentation. What’s known as historical funding in the “official” OPA reserve summary -- more accurately called “funded depreciation”as shown below in a summary adapted below by the Progress -- has been, according to Stevens, rather dramatically overfunded in the past ten years. That’s the only logicial conclusion from his stated remarks during the annual meeting. According to Stevens, the average yearly disbursement from the historic reserve or “funded depreciation” stream of revenue has been $1.1 million over the past ten years. And yet the balance in collected depreciation at the end of the 2015 fiscal year was a rather substantial $5.4 million. Another $1.5 million in new funded depreciation revenue flowed into this reserve May 1, with $815,000 of that transfered to zero out the inactive future projects and golf drainage reserves. At the end of June, the “funded depreciation” reserve carried a $5.7 million balance, much more than is needed to handle average annual disbursements from this revenue source for routine asset replacement. To Page 49

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Happenings From Page 7 Pines Community Center. Sanctioned duplicate bridge games, Ocean Pines Community Center, Sundays 1 p.m., Mondays noon, Tuesdays 10 a.m. Partners guaranteed. $5, special games $6. Third Sunday of every month is Swiss teams (no partner guaranteed for teams). Felicia Daly, 410-208-1272; Pat Kanz, 410-641-8071 The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-05, meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S.C.G. Station, Ocean City. Visitors and new members are welcome. Dennis Kalinowski, 410-208-4147. Web site http://a0541205.uscgaux.info. Worcester County Democratic Club meeting, fourth Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Marlin Room of Ocean Pines Community Center. No December meeting. Club membership is not required. Beach Singles, every Thursday, 4-6 p.m., Castaways, Coastal Hwy. at 64th Street, Ocean City, 45+ singles for socializing and monthly activities, 302-436-9577. Republican Women of Worcester County, fourth Thursday of each month, 11 a.m. meeting (doors open at 10:30), lunch at noon, local restaurants. For information, call membership chair Barbara Loffler at 410-208-0890. January through June, and again September and October. Dinner meeting in November. No regular meetings July, August and December.

OPINION

LETTERS Another perspective on Ocean Pines golf

I would like to commend Mr. Shepard on his letter to the editor [July-Early August edition]. It was spot on. I own a vacation home in Ocean Pines and have lived here for approximately 10 years. I love the place and may retire here in the future. I do not rent out my home; it is used exclusively by my immediate family. We bought in Ocean Pines because we liked the area and the beach and Delmarva amenities. We did not buy because of the Ocean Pines golf course. I do not play. Never have; never will. If others enjoy the game, more power to them. I am just tired, like Mr. Shepard and many others, of subsidizing a losing operation for the benefit of a few people and their hobby. This community is not benefiting from running a golf operation. The space could be outfitted so that everyone could enjoy it and the cost savings could be put towards lowering association fees and/or fixing the things that need fixing. When is the Board going to wake up and put the interest of the majority over the self-serving interests of the few? Joseph Mazurek Ocean Pines

Resale value of amenities?

Recently I read in a local newspaper that if I ever decide to sell my house I should be glad that Ocean Pines amenities added resale value. It almost sounded as though I should be “thankful” that the amenities are here. I’m not against Ocean Pines amenities, but I am tired of them losing money. I have subsidized these amenities for the past 20 years through Ocean Pines Association yearly fees. If you’re a Realtor, the amenities are a great selling point, but Realtors didn’t put even one dime toward my yearly fees. Yet they reap the profits. They should be the ones who should be glad and thankful that the amenities are here. I pay my annual assessments, some of which offset losses in the amenities. I am not getting anything free. Michael Graves Ocean Pines

Feature Writer Wanted

The Ocean Pines Progress is looking for a free lance writer capable of writing personality profiles, business articles and human interest feature stories. Photography skills a plus. Compensation based on length of articles. For details, call 443-359-7527

August - Early September 2015Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Commentary From Page 48 As for the so-called Heritage reserve, previously called the five-year funding plan but more accurately called the “major projects” reserve and so labeled in the adapted Progress summary, that’s currently in deficit in the amount of $1.2 million. This reflects the fact that as of today, the OPA apparently has not collected enough from the old five-year funding plan to fully pay for the new Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Presumably, by the end of the 201617 fiscal year, this funding stream will be close to zero with the new Yacht Club fully paid for. As the OPA no doubt has some major projects in its future -- the Country Club renovation or replacement comes readily to mind -- there is a case to be made for keeping the Heritage funding

source alive. Presumably a completed reserve study and CIP will make it possible to more precisely calibrate the level of funding needed for this revenue stream. One can only hope. But, please, let’s not go back and call it the five-year plan, as those five years are come and gone. Calling it the Heritage fund, Stevens’ idea from the last budget cycle, isn’t much better but it’s certainly no worse. Why not rename it (again) Major Projects, since everyone agrees that is its intended purpose. The Historical reserve also should renamed in honor of its funding source, funded depreciation, a concept difficult for many to grasp. A little known fact is that OPA property owners are funding depreciation of the new Community Center and Yacht Clubs somewhere between $40 and $50 per year on everyone’s lot assessment, a rather sizable extraction from the current generation

of owners. It really is an inappropriate extraction, given that this same generation of owners has just paid for both facilities (or soon will) out of reserves. Now we’re being taxed yet again, through funded depreciation, for facilities that won’t need to be replaced for another 40 years or more. Buildings can easily last 100 years or more if properly maintained. Granted that’s not the OPA’s strong suit, but it should be. The “funded depreciation” reserve is bloated at $5.7 million partly because the OPA is overcharging its property owners for depreciation of these two new assets at their full construction cost. The same is probably true for assets at the Ocean Pines golf course; that really needs to be nailed down. This situation is insane. And it really needs to stop next year, during the 2016-17 budget review process. -- Tom Stauss

50 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

August - Early September 2015

For some, ‘presumption of innocence’ is an alien concept

t’s not a difficult concept, the presumption of innocence, but letters to the editor published in some of the weekly tabloids recently on the notorious Slobodan Trendic DWI arrest suggest that it is beyond some people’s ability to comprehend and to apply with common sense and dispassion, to say nothing of a smattering of compassion. The Progress’ front page reporting on the matter last month had some folks beside themselves with apoplexy. Granted, the reporting did rely on second hand sources, supporters of Trendic who were relaying to the Progress the “other side of the story” not present in the initial police report. Trendic himself was under instructions from his lawyer not to talk

nance, only to become more self-assured in her third and final year of office. She became increasingly willing to take on An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs Clarke in public forums, not always or of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. even frequently coming out on top in of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. their frequent barbed exchanges. But By TOM STAUSS/ By TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher she was more informed in defense of positions this year than previously. to the media, but he said enough to his port. That upset some people, especially Clarke ended his three years on the campaign supporters that an alterna- those with a vested interest in seeing board in the same way he entered it: tive narrative could be pieced together. Trendic’s Board of Directors’ candidacy opinionated, bombastic, unwilling to That alternative narrative was why Slo- go down in flames. compromise. Had he run for reelection, bodan’s brain trust stood by their candiFor these people, they simply as- he probably would have been a shoo-in, date when it would have been easier to sumed based on the police report that O’Hare hard to say. desert him like rats on a sinking ship. Trendic had done a very bad thing, or Unlike Clarke, who was consistent in The narrative that surfaced was a several bad things, and hence should his advocacy of spending restraint and far different narrative conveyed by the not be elected to serve on the board en- lower assessments, and a healthy skepreporting based on the initial police re- trusted with setting policy for the Ocean ticism towards the management style of Pines Association. That was the extent the general manager, O’Hare was a conof their simple-minded logic. sistent supporter of the general managAS SEEN IN When that comfortable presumption er. She remained that way until the very of guilt was challenged by the Progress’ end. reporting, these supporters of competThe election of Tom Herrick and ing candidates were besides themselves, Cheryl Jacobs probably does not change and so they used the weeklies’ opinion the factional mix on the board all that pages to try to discredit the Progress’ re- much. Herrick is not known as a particporting. That they felt compelled to try ularly strong supporter of Thompson; he conveyed their desperation, their sanc- ran as an independent. Jacobs, too, does timony, and a mean spiritedness that not come across as an ideologue. might come back to bite them one day, in Clarke, it’s said, is not ready to fade the karmic fullness of time. away. He reportedly is ready to submit Because he was running for the an application to serve on the BudOcean Pines Association’s Board of Di- get and Finance Advisory Committee, rectors, a DWI was front page news in where his presence might serve to revive the weekly tabloids, as a gotcha moment a committee that has lost its edge as a like this is simply too much to resist for vigorous watchdog over OPA financial publications striving for relevancy. affairs. His presence is needed. Sad, in a way, that it has come to this. Not too many years ago, a certain OPA department head found herself in some legal difficulty for an incident involving alcohol, losing her driver’s license for a time and depending on friends and famThe Ocean Pines Progress, a journal of news and commentary, is pubily to be taxied out and about to various lished monthly throughout the year. OPA events. The Progress at the time It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Berlin, took the position that this unfortunate Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, Va. episode did not deserve or require news NATHAN BRUNET/BAYSIDE GAZETTE Letters and other editorial submiscoverage, in part because it seemed ir"Speedy," Voss, owner of Country Barn Seafood, poses with one of his "hard sions: Please submit via email only. and fat" Maryland Blue Crabs. Voss individually measures each crab and seprelevant to her job performance and arates them into baskets by size and weight. According to the owner, he is the Letters should be original and exclucould unfairly tarnish the reputation of only seafood place in the area that still does so. sive to the Progress. Include phone a homeowners association that would number for verification. restaurants through his career, was 13. continue to employ her. including Crab Alley, The Crab Little neck clams, jumbo It didn’t take much to imagine the Bag, City Fish Co. and shrimp, scallops, fresh Mary127 Nottingham Lane Torquemadas among us feasting on this Supreme Seafood. land crabmeat, tuna and Ocean Pines, MD 21811 After getting tired of the insalmon accompany Voss’ and demanding her head, in much the creasing population in Ocean crabs, as well as his crab spice same way that the Torquemadas among City, Voss settled into the now that comes from a recipe that PUBLISHER/EDITOR us today insisted on Trendic’s unsuithas been in circulation since 80-year-old barn in the late Tom Stauss 1946. 1980s with Ken Jaworski, who ability for office based on nothing but a Beer and wine is also availis still a co-owner even though tstauss1@mchsi.com police report. able to take home. Voss performs all of the labor. 433-359-7527 Trendic, of course, has been convictCountry Barn Seafood is In the mid-2000s, Country open daily each summer from Barn Seafood was rented out ed of nothing. Presumption of innocence and operated by different famnoon until dusk. There is no set Advertising Sales until and unless he is. For those who ilies at times, but it is now back time of closure, as Voss chooses Frank Bottone to the man who started it all. the closing time depending on still have a problem grasping this con410-430-3660 “I retired five times and I’m how busy the market is that cept, look it up on Wikipedia.

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

BUSINESS

BAYSIDE

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

still working,” said Voss, who is helped every day by his nephew, Marty, who began working at the restaurant in 1998 when he

day. For more information, or to place an order, call 410-6415164.

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