July 2019 Ocean Pines Progress by Ocean Pines Progress

OPA, Ortt Companies reach agreement on contract extension

July 2019

www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress

443-359-7527

he Ocean Pines Association and Matt Ortt Companies on July 19 agreed to terms of a three -year contract extension to continue to manage the Association’s Yacht Club and Beach Club. OPA General Manager John Viola announced that MOC will also manage the Tern Grille bar and grill operation when the new golf clubhouse opens next year. “This agreement is win-win,” Viola told the Progress. The Matt Ortt Companies originally signed an agreement to manage the Yacht Club and Beach Club last year. MOC is in the second year of the original two-year agreement. Viola said that the terms agreed to will need to be put into contract language by OPA and MOC attorneys. OPA board approval is also part of the process. “I’m not expecting any issues. We have a handshake deal,” Viola said. Viola said the agreement: • Specifies a three-year extension of MOC’s management contract, with fourth- and fifth-year extensions “if they meet certain profit goals,” Viola said. • Establishes a fixed annual fee of $200,000 to manage the Yacht Club, Beach Club and Tern Grille. • Specifes that MOC will receive 5 percent of banquet revenue, as occurs now • Spells out that expenses related to operations at these venues will be “fully loaded” or included for profit-sharing purposes, except for marketing. “There will be no ‘backing out’ of certain expenses that has occurred in the first two years. • The OPA and MOC will split profits 50-50 after targets are met. For the first year, the target is $130,000; the second year it’s $160,000. In the third year it’s $190,000. To Page 6

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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY

COVER STORY

Comcast interested in providing Internet, cable and telephone services to Ocean Pines Company approaches the OPA and says a change in corporate philosophy makes it willing to invest millions of dollars to install fiber optic cable throughout the community By TOM STAUSS Publisher he days of monopoly cable television and Internet services in Ocean Pines may be coming to end. Ocean Pines Association Director Frank Daly recently disclosed that Comcast Corporation, cable television, Internet and telephone provider in nearby Ocean City, Berlin and Salisbury, has expressed an interest in providing the same services to Ocean Pines. The company would directly compete with Mediacom, Ocean Pines’ long-time cable television provider, for customers in Ocean Pines. Mediacom and the OPA have just agreed to a new contract that allows the company to operate its systems on OPA-owned and controlled rights-of-way, in exchange for a 1.6 percent cut of gross revenues that constitutes a non-exclusive franchise fee. Mediacom also provides commercial Internet services to the OPA and its various amenities and facilities. Daly said Comcast recently has had a “change in corporate philosophy,” which apparently means it is now willing to invest millions of dollars in fiber optic cable and related infrastructure in a community that already has a dominant provider of cable televison, Internet and telephone services. As late as last October, OPA officials said that despite inquiries by the association, Comcast had indicated it was not interested in making the sizable investment in Ocean Pines needed to serve the community. Daly said that if Comcast is willing to live with the same terms offered to Mediacom in its new right-of-way or access contract, particularly the 1.6 percent of revenues for all services as part of a franchise, then he sus-

pected that the Board of Directors would quickly agree to a deal. “This group has proven it is willing to make decisions,” Daly said. If a contract with Comcast can be quickly agreed to using the Mediacom contract as a template, then Daly said he personally would not be surprised to see Comcast beginning to lay fiber optic cable as soon as August, with roughly a year build-out needed. Daly said he did not anticipate the OPA dropping Mediacom as its primary high-speed Internet provider. But he said he believed there would be interest in contracting with Comcast for back-up Internet service, to be activiated in the event of a Mediacom outage. “A year ago on Memorial Day weekend at the Yacht Club, there was a serious Mediacom outage that caused all sorts of problems,” Daly said. With back-up available, the OPA would be covered in most instances of a Mediacom outage, Daly said. At the July 6 meeting of the OPA Board of Directors, OPA President Doug Parks said that Mediacom currently controls the “crux” of cable television and Internet service in Ocean Pines. But with Comcast coming in as a serious and well-capitalized competitor, Mediacom’s dominance might be challenged. A quick perusal of the Comcast Web site for its operations in Salisbury indicates a rate structure for bundled services that offers more flexibility than currently offered by Mediacom in Ocean Pines and lower prices. Comcast, for instance, offers a stripped down option of To Page 3

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July 2019

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ten-plus channels for cable television separately or in a bundled package. In addition, Comcast offers packages for cable and Internet with or without phone service. There is no guarantee that the rate structure currently in place in Salisbury would be the same one offered in Ocean Pines, but Salisbury rates -- as well as those in place in nearby Berlin and Ocean City -- could be a good indication of what pricing might be in Ocean Pines. Like Mediacom, Comcast offers an Internet-only option. Concast’s basic Internet-cable TV of ten-plus channels is $44.99 per month, with no contract needed. A standard “double play” bundle of 125 cable channels and Internet costs $64.99 per month for the first year and $84.99 per month in the second year of a two-year service contract. A “double play” bundle of 210 channels and Internet costs $79.99 per month the first year, and $99.99 per month in the second year. Triple play bundles range in price for 125 channels at $79.99 per month and 210 channels at $119.99 per month, with download Internet speeds up to 150 Mps. For its Xfinity Internet service only, at download speeds up to 60 Mps., Comcast in Salisbury charges only $29.99 per month, considerably less than what Mediacom in Ocean Pines charges in Ocean Pines, albeit at faster download speeds. With the advent of new streaming services offering cable-television-like programming on-line, Daly said he would not be surprised if many Ocean Pines consumers become cord-cutters, only buying Internet services without cable television. Daly also said that in his opinion “for the forseeable future” only two companies will be competing for cable and Internet business in Ocean Pines, but that neither the Mediacom contract nor one that could be executed with Comcst preclude additional players from entering the Ocean Pines market. “We would be open to offering our rights-of-way to anyone interested in

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July 2019

OCEAN PINES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board approves Mediacom contract after months of delay OPA still expects to receive about $150,000 per yea in franchise fees in new multi-year agreement By TOM STAUSS Publisher fter at least months of protracted negotitations and changes in the text, a contract between the Ocean Pines Association and Mediacom, Ocean Pines’ primary cable television and Internet provider, has been completed and approved by the Board of Directors. It was recently signed by OPA President Doug Parks on behalf of the OPA and forwarded to Mediacom for signatures. The new contract replaces the month-to-month extensions of the old agreement that governed the relationship between the OPA and the cable television-Internet provider. Mediacom also provides phone service to its customer base in Ocean Pines. The most salient feature of the new contract is that it replaces a provision in the old agreement in which the OPA receives 3 percent of q

Comcast From Page 3

providing these services to Ocean Pines,” but as a practical matter he doubted any third party would be able to justify coming into Ocean Pines to compete against Comcast and Mediacom for customers. Daly is part of a working group of Ocean Pines residents appointed by General Manager John Viola to handle the Comcast proposal. Members in addition to Daly and Viola include Parks, Director Jeff Knepper and former OPA President and Director Tom Terry.

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From Page 5 of cable television gross revenues in the form of an annual franchise fee. The new agreement says that the OPA will now collect 1.6 percent of all Mediacom revenue from services provided to the community, including cable television, Internet and telephone. Mediacom collects the revenue paid to the OPA from its Ocean Pines customers in a monthly add-on fee. The board during its July 6 monthly meeting voted 6-0 to “accept the current version of the Mediacom contract that was submitted for review and approval.”

The motion was offered under the assumption that Mediacom officials had also agreed to the contract in its latest draft. Parks said during the July meeting that he expects that the OPA will receive in the range of $150,000 to $160,000 from Mediacom in franchise fees, the same amount that the OPA received annually under the old contract. Parks said the contract would allow the association to move forward from the current month-to-month agreement, adding the document was reviewed and negotiated by an Ocean Pines work group, as well as attorneys for both parties. “The new contract provides the

same standard services, but also addresses several important issues, including compliance with federal law regarding the removal of exclusive use of easements and rights of way,” Parks said in a formal motion. He added it was important for the community to understand the new contract was “not a retail agreement,” but rather “a right-of-way” agreement. He said the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] forbids exclusive rights for easements and rights of way; therefore, the agreement could open to the door for other vendors. “I hope it will generate some interest by other service providers,”

Parks said. “However, that being said, the incumbent certainly has the crux of the market.” Indeed, when Parks made that statement, Internet provider Comcast Corporation had already indicated interest in building a fiber optic network in Ocean Pines to compete in the Internet-telephone arena. [See Cover story in this edition of the Progress for details.] Why it took so long to get a final draft of a new Mediacom contract into the hands of OPA directors isn’t exactly clear. In October of last year, Parks acknowledged that vacations by lawyers involved in the negotiations and word-smithing added some delay to the process. Details of the new contract have not been provided to the OPA membership during the drafting process because of a non-disclosure agreement. Viola told the Progress that he was delaying release of the approved contract to the membership pending receipt of a copy signed by Mediacom executives. “That makes it official,” he said.

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• Includes what Viola calls a “clawback provision” in the “unlikely” event that the venues lose money. MOC will forfeit a portion of its $200,000 annual fee if that occurs. The general manager said he fully expects that the Yacht Club and Beach Club will both be profitable for the OPA and that MOC will turn the Tern Grille into a popular and surplus-producing venue. Since the MOC began managing the two restaurant venues last year, each has experienced a significant financial turnaround and earned rave reviews for improved food quality and service. Under the leadership of Matt Ortt, Ralph DeAngelus and Executive Chef Stuart Diepold, the Ocean Pines Yacht Club has set new sales standards several times this season, including a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend. In July, the Yacht Club facility set a single-day record with a $53,000 total revenue haul, including a $25,000 banquet. On July 5 the restaurant by itself set a single-day record with more than $40,700 in net revenues.

OCEAN PINES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Viola, Colby Phillips detail progress on ongoing projects, initiatives Guest Wi-fi at Yacht Club under consideration

uring the July 6 meeting of the Board of Directors, General Manager John Viola and Operations Director Colby Phillips offered updates on nearly two dozen ongoing projects and initiatives. “There’s a lot going on,” Viola said, attributing forward movement on many of them to the presence of working groups assembled for that purpose. He said implementation of the new NorthStar software was on track thanks to the leadership of IT Manager Steve Grabowski and Finance Director Steve Phillips, as well as the efforts of several workgroups. Grabowski is also looking into adding guest Wi-Fi at the Yacht Club, a frequent request of regular patrons there. Workgroups, for Viola, have been a favorite method of tackling big issues and projects. “Without those workgroups and

without the team effort, I don’t think we can get this done. But, we are getting it done and we’re on track,” Viola said, adding the NorthStar project alone “would normally be a (primary) initiative for a year.” Viola said construction of the new Golf clubhouse remains on track and on budget, as does the expansion of the Ocean Pines Police headquarters. He added the new Golf cart barn was likely to come in under budget. “We’ll know more within the next month, but I like what I’m seeing on that,” he said. There is a ongoing question about whether the foundation of the demolished Country Club can be salvaged, with the latest indication suggesting that it can be, Viola said. A definitive answer should be provided later this month. Work groups are also assisting with the Matt Ortt Companies contract negotiations to manage food

and beverage operations, and Viola credited Executive Secretary Michelle Bennett for leading a compensation study workgroup. Viola said construction of the new Craft Club building was likely to begin later this month. He recognized Recreation and Parks Program Supervisor Debbie Donahue for her work on that project, as well as on the installation of the new White Horse Park playground in June. The latter project finished $600 under budget. The crabbing pier demolition is also likely to occur in July, Viola said, with Public Works Operations Manager Nobie Violante helping to lead that effort. At the Ocean Pines Golf Course, Viola praised Course Superintendent Andre Jordan and Golf Director John Malinowski for successful upkeep and operations that, in the first month of the fiscal year, are in

the black. Viola said Steve Phillips and Accounts Payable supervisor Geraldine Tate are working on the annual audit, while Phillips is leading workgroups and teams of employees in the areas of bulkhead maintenance, dredging and drainage. Four companies are currently working on bulkhead repairs, with projects on East Mallard Drive finished and Ebb Tide about halfway done. Work will move next to the Pintail Isle area, with Fisher Marine Construction expected to finish bulkhead repairs along West Mallard by the third week of July, Phillips said. All four projects are currently under budget. Going forward, Phillips said, Ocean Pines “will not be doing bulkhead [work] … during the summertime.” “Right now, we’re just trying to complete contracts that were already in place, so we can get those done,” she said. “Going forward, we will not have that issue.” On drainage, Phillips said one bid was received for planned pipe replacement on Watertown Road. The

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ABI’S APPETIZER COMBO 2pc Chicken tenders, 2pc mozzarella sticks, 3 pc broccoli bites, onion rings, french fries $9.99

Homemade Soups Fresh Salads

SIDE SALAD ..........................................................................................................................................................................$3.99 GARDEN SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers, egg & cheese blend ..........................................$6.99 CHEF SALAD Turkey, ham, swiss cheese, iceberg, green peppers, croutons, tomato, cucumber, onions, egg, green peppers & cheese blend ..$9.99 ANTIPASTO SALAD with Ham, salami, capicola, provolone cheese, iceberg, tomato, green pepper, red onion and cucumber with hard boiled egg ..$9.99 CAESAR SALAD Romaine, croutons, cheese blend & tomato.................................................................................................. $6.99 COBB SALAD Romaine, tomato, pecan, onions, bacon, hard boiled egg & bleu cheese crumbles ................................................$7.99 SPINACH SALAD Spinach, mushroom, pecan, red onions & feta cheese ..................................................................................$7.99 CHICKEN OR TUNA SALAD Iceberg, green peppersm red onions, tomato, shredded cheddar cheese, cucumber, croutons & hard boiled egg ..$8.99 STUFFED TOMATO chicken or tuna salad, greens and garnish ................................................................................................$8.99 GRILLED SEAFOOD SALAD Shrimp and scallops over iceberg, green peppersm red onions, cucumbers, tomato and cheddar cheese ..$11.99 GREEK SALAD Romaine, feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, onions, green peppers & egg ............................................................$7.99 TURKEY & BACON SALAD ................................................................................................................................................$8.99 PHILLY STEAK SALAD Iceberg, croutons, tomato, gr. peppers, cucumber, onions, mushroom, egg & cheese blend ......................$9.99 MONTREAL STEAK SALAD Steak, iceberg, tomato, onion, cucumber, hard boiled egg ..........................................................$9.99 ABI’S SALAD Ham, turkey, roast beef, bacon, provolone cheese....................................................................................................$10.99 COLD SALAD PLATTER Chicken or tuna salad with potato salad, cole slaw over mixed greens and garnish ........................$10.99 ADD THE FOLLOWING: Grilled or Chispy Chicken $3.99 Grilled Shrimp $4.99 Grilled Scallops $5.99 Lamp Gyro Meat $3.99 CHOICE OF DRESSINGS: Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Caesar, Greek, French, 1000 Island, Honey Mustard, Creamy Italian, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Oil & Vinegar, Extra dressing 50¢

Served with fries, soup or salad on wrap CHEESE STEAK Steak, American cheese lettuce, tomato, mayo CHICKEN CHEESE STEAK Grilled chicken yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo CHICKEN CAESAR Grilled chicken, pizza cheese, romaine lettuce & Caesar dressing VEGGIE Onion, mushrooms, green peppers, lettuce, black olives, tomato, spinach CHEESEBURGER Yellow American cheese, lettuce and tomato

Melts

CRAB MELT Fried crab cakes, tomato & provolone cheese on English muffin $9.99 REUBEN MELT Corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing & Swiss cheese on grilled rye TUNA MELT Tuna salad, tomato & Swiss on grilled rye CHICKEN CORDON BLEU Grilled chicken breast, ham & swiss on a hamburger roll ROAST BEEF MELT Roast beef, cole slaw, thousand island & Swiss cheese on grilled rye

$8.99

TURKEY MELT Turkey, cole slaw, thousand island & Swiss cheese on grilled rye PATTY MELT Hamburger, mushroom, onion & Swiss cheese on grilled rye CRAB CAKE SANDWICH (FRIED) Crab cake, lettuce, tomato on hamburger roll FRENCH DIP Tender roast beef on garlic bread with Swiss cheese & side cup of au jus MONTE CRISTO Ham, turkey, provolone on french toast

Cold Subs

Served with fries or soup ROAST BEEF Roast beef, lettuce, tomato & mayo HAM & CHEESE Ham, American cheese, tomato, mayo CHEF’S COLD CUT Ham, turkey, yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo DELI LAND CUT Roast beef, turkey, lettuce, tomato, mayo & provolone TURKEY SUB Turkey, lettuce, tomato & mayo

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REUBEN Corned beef, sauerkraut, 1000 island and Swiss cheese EGG SALAD Lettuce, tomato, mayo ITALIAN Ham, capicola, genoa salami, lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone cheese & Italian dressing TURKEY BLT Turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato & mayo CHICKEN SALAD Chicken salad, lettuce, tomato & mayo TUNA SALAD Tuna salad, lettuce, tomato & mayo SHRIMP SALAD Lettuce & tomato

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$8.99

ITALIAN COLD CUT Ham, capicola, genoa salami, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato & onion CHICKEN SALAD lettuce & tomato TUNA SALAD lettuce & tomato SHRIMP SALAD lettuce & tomato VEGGIE SUB Lettuce, tomato, onions, sweet peppers, olives & Swiss cheese

Hand Crafted ½ lb. Fresh Burgers Served with fries or soup

HAMBURGER Lettuce & tomato ............................................................................................................................................$6.99 CHEESEBURGER Yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato ..................................................................................................$7.99 BACON CHEESEBURGER Bacon, yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato ........................................................................$8.99 DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER Yellow American cheese, lettuce & tomato ................................................................................$9.99 REUBEN BURGER Sauerkraut, Russian dressing & Swiss cheese ............................................................................................$8.99 PIZZA BURGER Marainara sauce and mozzarella cheese ........................................................................................................$8.99 DELUXE CHEESE BURGER Sauteéd mushrooms, onions, green peppers, bacon and swiss cheese ..........................................$9.99 CHESAPEAKE BURGER Broiled crabcake and cheddar cheese ..........................................................................................$11.99 ALPINE BURGER Sauteed onions, mushrooms & provolone cheese ........................................................................................$8.99 TEXAS BURGER Sauteed onions, mushrooms, BBQ sauce, bacon and shredded cheddar cheese ..............................................$8.99 ABI’S CHEESE BURGER Sauteéd onions, mushrooms, sweet peppers & provolone cheese ....................................................$8.99

Clubs

Baskets

Clubs made with lettuce, tomato, mayo & bacon on All baskets served with French fries and one side three pieces of toast. Includes soup or fries FRIED CHICKEN BASKET breast, thigh, wing and leg CHEF’S CLUB Turkey, ham & yellow American cheese CHEESEBURGER CLUB GRILLED CHICKEN CLUB CHEESE STEAK CLUB TURKEY CLUB ROAST BEEF CLUB HAM CLUB DELI LAND CLUB Roast beef, turkey & provolone THREE MEAT CLUB Roast beef, turkey, ham CHICKEN SALAD CLUB TUNA SALAD CLUB BLT CLUB

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EGGPLANT PARMESAN Breaded eggplant, marinara sauce & pizza cheese STEAK PARMESAN Steak, marinara sauce & pizza cheese SHRIMP PARMESAN Breaded butterfly shrimp, marinara sauce & pizza cheese FRIED FLOUNDER Fried flounder lettuce & tomato

Italian Platters

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Wraps

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CLAM STRIP BASKET FRIED SHRIMP BASKET CHICKEN TENDER BASKET FISH & CHIP BASKET (Pollock)

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MICKEY MOUSE Grilled cheese sandwich with fries BARNYARD BURGER Hamburger or cheeseburger with fries DIEGO’S SPAGHETTI Served with meatballs SPONGEBOB Chicken tenders (3) with fries ELMO’S SPECIAL Mozzarella sticks (3) with fries

CHICKEN PARMESAN Marinara, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti ........................................................................................$13.99 VEAL PARMESAN Marinara, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti ..............................................................................................$14.99 EGGPLANT PARMESAN Marinara, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti ..................................................................................$12.99 SHRIMP PARMESAN Marinara, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti ..........................................................................................$15.99 BAKED ZITI Marinara & mozzarella cheese ..........................................................................................................................$10.99 SPAGHETTI WITH MARINARA ........................................................................................................................................$8.99 STUFFED SHELLS PARMESAN Marinara & mozzarella cheese ..........................................................................................$10.99 MANICOTTI PARMESAN Marinara & mozzarella cheese ....................................................................................................$10.99 CHEESE RAVIOLI Marinara & mozzarella cheese ..................................................................................................................$10.99 HOMEMADE MEAT LASAGNA ........................................................................................................................................$12.99 SAUSAGE PEPPER PARMESAN Hot italian sausage, sweet peppers, marinara, spaghetti mozzarella cheese ..........................$12.99 ITALIAN PASTA COMBO cheese ravioli, stuffed shells, manicotti & meatball ......................................................................$12.99 ADDITIONS: Sauteéd Mushrooms $1.00 • Meatsauce, Meatball or Hot Italian Sausage $2.99

Dinner Entrees

Served with your choice of 2 sides FRESH 4PC FRIED CHICKEN Breast, thigh, wing & leg .$11.99 STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST Stuffed with homemade crab stuffing & covered in Alfredo sauce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17.99 MEATLOAF Swith brown gravy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12.99 HOT ROAST BEEF with brown gravy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12.99 HOT FRESH ROASTED TURKEY with turkey gravy . .$12.99 STUFFED PORK CHOPS (2pc) with bread stuffing & turkey gravy $14.99

FRESH ROASTED TURKEY with bread stuffing and turkey gravy . .$12.99 COUNTRY FRIED STEAK with brown or white gravy .$13.99 VEAL CUTLET with marainara sauce or chicken gravy . .$13.99 CHICKEN CUTLET with marainara sauce or chicken gravy .$13.99 LIVER WITH ONIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12.99 LIVER WITH BACON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13.99

Steaks And Chops

All Steaks and Chops are Charbroiled & Served with Choice of 2 Sides

HAMBURGER STEAK (12oz) w/ fried onions &brown gravy ................................................................................................$12.99 PRIME RIB (12oz) w/Au jus ....................................................................................................................................................$17.99 BROILED OR FRIED CHOPS (2) ......................................................................................................................................$13.99 BROILED OR FRIED PORK LOIN (2)................................................................................................................................$12.99 HAM STEAK w/pineapple rings ............................................................................................................................................$13.99 RIG EYES STEAK (12oz) w/Au jus ........................................................................................................................................$18.99 8OZ. NEW YORK STRIP ....................................................................................................................................................$14.99

Chicken Sautees

All Sautees come with Soup or Salad and Garlic Bread

CHICKEN ALFREDO served over linguini ............................................................................................................................$14.99 CHICKEN ALA BROCCOLI w/Alfredo Sauce over linguini ..................................................................................................$15.49 CHICKEN MARYLAND w/Crabmeat, lemon butter, garlic wine sauce over linguini ................................................................$16.99 CHICKEN FLORENTINE w/ Spinach, Feta Cheese, Lemon butter garlic wine sauce over linguini ..........................................$15.99 CHICKEN MARSALA with Sautéed mushrooms & marsala wine sauce over linguini ..............................................................$14.99 CHICKEN SCAMPI w/Lemon butter garlic wine sauce over linguini ......................................................................................$14.99 CHICKEN STIR FRY w/Fresh Vegetables & stir fry sauce over rice ........................................................................................$14.99 CHICKEN TERIYAKI w/Sweet pepper ..................................................................................................................................$14.99 CHICKEN FRANÇOISE dipped in egg, sautéed w/white wine lemon butter garlic sauce over linguini ....................................$15.99 CHICKEN MARINARA w/Marinara sauce over linguini ........................................................................................................$14.99 ABI’S CHICKEN w/Tomato cream sauce &cherry tomatoes over ziti......................................................................................$14.99 ADDITIONS: Shrimp $3.99 • Scallops $4.99 • Chicken $2.99

Seafood Sautees

SEAFOOD PARADISE w/Shrimp, scallops & crabmeat in Alfredo sauce over ziti ....................................................................$18.99 ABI’S SEAFOOD w/Shrimp, scallops, cherry tomatoes in tomato cream sauce over ziti ..........................................................$17.99 SEAFOOD ALFREDO w/ Shrimp & scallops over linguini ......................................................................................................$17.99 SEAFOOD FRA DIAVOLO w/Shrimp, scallops, cherry tomatoes cooked in spicy sauce over linguini ......................................$17.99 SHRIMP OR SCALLOPS ALFREDO w/Alfredo sauce over linguini ....................................................................................$17.99 SHRIMP OR SCALLOPS STIR FRY w/Fresh vegetables & stir fry sauce over rice ................................................................$17.99 SHRIMP OR SCALLOP MARSALA w/ Sautéed mushrooms cooked in Marsala wine sauce over linguini ..............................$17.99 SHRIMP OR SCALLOP TERIYAKI w/Sweet peppers, onions, mushrooms, teriyaki sauce over rice ......................................$17.99 SEAFOOD MARINARA w/Shrimp &scallops cooked in marinara sauce ................................................................................$17.99 FLOUNDER FRANÇOISE Dipped in egg, sautéed with white wine lemon butter garlic sauce over linguini ............................$16.99 SHRIMP OR SCALLOP SCAMPI w/white wine lemon butter garlic sauce over linguini ......................................................$17.99 SEAFOOD SCAMPI w/ Shrimp & Scallops cooked in white wine lemon butter garlic sauce over linguini ................................$17.99

Seafood

With Your Choice of 2 Sides & Cocktail or Tartar Sauce

BROILED SEAFOOD COMBO Flounder, shrimp, scallops, crabmeat ....................................................................................$23.99 FRIED SEAFOOD COMBO Flounder, shrimp, scallops, clam strips ........................................................................................$22.99 BROILED OR FRIED SEA TRIO Flounder, shrimp, scallops ..................................................................................................$19.99 BROILED OR FRIED FLOUNDER (2)................................................................................................................................$15.99 BROILED OR FRIED JUMBO SHRIMP (8) ........................................................................................................................$17.99 BROILED OR FRIED SCALLOPS (8) ................................................................................................................................$18.99 STUFFED FLOUNDER Stuffed w/homemade crab stuffing & topped with imperial sauce ......................................................$18.99 STUFFED SHRIMP (3) Stuffed w/homemade crab stuffing ....................................................................................................$19.99 STUFFED SCALLOPS (3) Stuffed w/homemade crab stuffing................................................................................................$19.99 STUFFED SEAFOOD COMBO Flounder, shrimp & scallops w/homemade crab stuffing ......................................................$25.99 BROILED OR FRIED CRAB CAKE (1) ..............................................................................................................................$13.99 BROILED OR FRIED CRAB CAKES (2) ............................................................................................................................$18.99 FRIED OYSTERS PLATTER ..............................................................................................................................................$14.99 FRIED SOFTSHELL CRABS (2)..........................................................................................................................................$16.99 SEAFOOD DREAM Broiled Shrimp, scallops, crabmeat with provolone cheese & imperial sauce..............................................$19.99 CRAB IMPERIAL homemade crabcake topped with imperial sauce ........................................................................................$17.99 BROILED OR FRIED CRAB BALLS (3) ............................................................................................................................$19.99 BROILED SALMON ............................................................................................................................................................$17.99 STUFFED SALMON stuffed w/homemade crabmeat stuffing & topped w/ imperial sauce ......................................................$19.99

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OCEAN PINES Projects update From Page 8 OPA will seek additional bids before bringing the project to Viola and the board. She added pipe replacement on Boston Road had been completed. “While we have the dry weather now, this is the best time to get the ditches cleared out,” Phillips said.

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS “We have Atlantic Stone Wall coming in to help us with some of our larger ditches that have to be done by hand, and [the company] will be starting on Burr Hill this coming week.” She said that the OPA has submitted an application for a dredging permit, as well as a permit to fence in the new White Horse Park play-

ground, and a new shade structure at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex is close to completion. Phillips said Public Works finished 14 of 34 drainage work orders during June. The department fielded 142 total work orders during the month, with 107 being completed. Public Works crews are also mow-

APPETIZERS

Crab Balls (1/4 lb.) ..………....................…….. $14 5 Maryland Crab Balls fried to crispy perfection Crab Dip (1/2 lb.) …….....……....................... $13 Topped with Melted Cheddar & served with Crackers Crab Pretzel ....................………........……… $11 Braided Soft Pretzel topped with Crab Dip & melted Cheddar Smoked Salmon ….......…………………………… Mkt. Served with crackers Matt’s Buffalo Shrimp (6) (Spicy!) ...…….…….. $11 Hand-breaded Jumbo Shrimp drenched in home made Buffalo Sauce served with Bleu Cheese & Celery Smoked Salmon Dip (1/2 pound) ……..………… $10 Served with crackers Coconut Shrimp (6) .......………………..………… $11 Jumbo Shrimp, hand-breaded with Coconut & Served with Sweet & Sour Sauce Crab Fries ……………….......…..........…………… $11 French Fries Topped with Crab Dip & Melted Cheddar Cheese Deviled Eggs ………………....................…………. $5 Crabmeat & Shrimp stuffed! Just try ‘em!

BASKETS

Served with French Fries

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

SPECIALITY

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

$17

SIDES

Onion Rings ………..........................………....……. $5 Hush Puppies ……………...............................…….. $4 Old Bay Fries …………...........................………. $4.50 French Fries ……….............................…………….. $4 Steamed Corn (In Season) …………………. $1.25 each Corn Bread ………………………..................……… $2 Broccoli ..........................................................$2.50 Seasonal Veggie ............................................... Mkt. Mac & Cheese 8 oz. ……………….................………. $4 Cole Slaw ....... 4 oz. - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4 Potato Salad .. 4 oz - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4 Macaroni Salad 4 oz - $1.50, 8 oz. $2.50, 16 oz. - $4

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SANDWICHES & WRAPS

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

Substitute Macaroni Salad or Potato Salad Add French Fries for $2 Maryland Crab Cake (Fried or Broiled) .......... $14 Maryland Backﬁn Lump Crab Cake served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Fresh Rockﬁsh (Fried or Broiled).................... $14 Served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Fresh Flounder (Fried or Broiled).........………...$14 Served with our homemade Tartar Sauce Soft Crab ………...........………..........……………. $14 Lightly battered Soft Crab deep fried to perfection Shrimp Salad (Sandwich or Wrap) ……….……. $14 Steamed Shrimp lightly tossed in Crabs-To-Go’s Signature Spice mixture, light Mayo & Celery Tuna Salad (Sandwich or Wrap) ……...………… $14 Fresh Tuna paired with our signature Spice mix & light Mayo (feel free to ask for a melt)

ing the grass at Ocean Pines’ facilities, easements and parks. Phillips credited Donahue and a partnership between Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks, Public Works and Police – as well as numerous other local and neighboring public safety agencies – with a successful slate of Fourth of July events, including a carnival and fireworks.

Fried Oyster (1/2 pint) ……………….………………. $22

$15

$13

Oyster ………………………....................………… $12 Fresh Maryland Oysters tossed in seafood breading & lightly fried & served with homemade Cocktail Sauce Grilled Chicken …………………………………….. $10 Grilled Chicken breast topped with BBQ Sauce, crispy Bacon & melted Mozzarella Cheese Chicken Chesapeake ……………………….....….. $16 Grilled Chicken breast topped with our Crabs-To-Go Crab Dip & melted Mozzarella Cheese

PLATTERS

Served with your choice of 2 Sides

Crab Cake (2) …………….............………………… $28 Maryland Backﬁn Lump Crab Cake (Fried or Broiled) Crab Fluff (2) Fried ………….....…………………... $29 ¼ lb. Crab Cake covered in Tempura Batter Soft Crab (2 Whales) Fried ………..……………… $28 Our Famous “Fried”Combo ……....……………... $37 Flounder, Crab Cake, Shrimp, Scallops, Clam Strips Over 1 lb. of fresh seafood! Fresh Flounder (2/3 lb.) Fried or Broiled ….… $28 Fresh Rockﬁsh (2/3 lb.) Fried or Broiled ...... $28 Fresh Salmon (2/3 lb.) Broiled .................……… $23 Fried Shrimp (9) Jumbo hand-breaded …….....… $22 Scallops (1/2 lb.) Fried or Broiled ........… $26 Shrimp & Scallops Fried or Broiled ……......……. $25 5 Jumbo Shrimp & ¼ lb. of Scallops

Maryland Crab Soup 1/2 Pint $4, Pint $7, Quart $14 Homemade vegetable base soup chocked full of fresh vegetables & Maryland Crabmeat Cream of Crab Soup 1/2 Pint $5.50, Pint $10, Quart $20 Cream base soup ﬁlled with fresh Maryland Crabmeat Garden Salad ……………........................…………… $5 Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Honey Mustard, Balsamic or Italian Dressing Add Shrimp Salad, Tuna Salad or Grilled Chicken: $5 Ceasar Salad ....................................................... $7 Add Salmon, Scallops or Grilled Shrimp $8 Add Grilled Chicken: $5

KIDS MENU

Served with French Fries

Crabby Patty ………...................................………. $8 Chicken Tenders ….................................………… $5

FROM THE STEAMER Sold at Market Price

Steamed Shrimp Medium, Large, Jumbo, U-12 Steamed Clams Little Neck, Top Neck (dozen, 50 or 100) Steamed King Crab Legs (by lb.) Steamed Snow Crab Legs (by lb.) Steamed Lobster Tails 4 oz., 8-10 oz.

FRESH SEAFOOD Sold at Market Price

Live & Steamed Hard Crabs by Bushel or Dozen Crab Meat (by the pound) Backﬁn, Backﬁn Lump, Jumbo Lump Soft Crabs (each or dozen) Primes, Jumbos, Whales Stone Crab Claws (by the pound) Scallops (by the pound) Oysters (dozen or pint) Mussels (by the pound – seasonal)

DESSERTS

Smith Island Cakes by the slice ............ $5.99 Chocolate Chip Cookies ............................ $2

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10 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN OCEAN PINES PINES

July 2019

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OCEAN PINES BRIEFS Ballots for OPA election mailed, due date Aug. 7

Ballots for the annual Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors election were dropped in the mail July 12, according to Elections Committee Chairman Steve Habeger. More than 7,600 ballots for the 2019 Ocean Pines Board election were sent out to eligible voters. Additionally, 768 notices of the annual meeting were sent to ineligible voters. Eligible voters, in Ocean Pines, refers to homeowners in good standing, meaning they do not have outstanding violations or unpaid assessments as of July 3. For questions about voter eligibility, contact Membership and Assessment Supervisor Ruth Ann Meyer at 410-641-7717 ext. 3031, or email rmeyer@oceanpines.org. Completed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7. They may be returned either to the ballot box inside the police department office in the Ocean Pines Administration Building on 239 Ocean Parkway or mailed to the Ocean Pines post office box in Berlin. Ballot counting will occur on Friday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. in the East Room of the Ocean Pines Community Center. The counting is open to the OPA membership. Election results will be announced immediately after the count. Results will then be validated during the annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. in the Assateague Room of the Community Center. Lot owners are asked to bring their ID in order to be verified. A quorum of at least 100 lots is required in order to hold the annual meeting.

Mediacom outages apparently resolved

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Damage to Mediacom infrastructure the second week of July caused regional outages for several days, but the issue has now been resolved, according to Mediacom officials. Pat Hynes, Mediacom area operations director, in an OPA press release dated July 11 said several issues contributed to the outages. “A telecom partner who we lease our fiber from had a fiber cut by a tree trimmer, and that happened in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania,” Hynes said. “We had four total cir-

cuits and two were cut. As we performed the diagnostics, we also discovered packet loss in one of the two good circuits.” “Network traffic doesn’t go directly from one user to another,” Howard Webb, IT specialist for Ocean Pines, said. “It gets trafficked through several sources before reaching its destination, and one of those sources might have been in Pennsylvania.” Data was rerouted while Mediacom worked to repair its circuits, Hynes said, while the telecom provider simultaneously addressed the cut lines, which he said were fixed.

Security detail added to Yacht Club marina

Heavy boating traffic at the Ocean Pines Marina recently led to the hiring of a security detail to work on weekends and holidays. Because of the increased success at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, the marina started experiencing some issues last year, including those without boat slips occasionally docking in spots reserved for those with a paid boat slip. Some other boaters have taken to parking at the gas docks. Security was included in the fiscal 2020 budget in the form of additional staff hours. As the marina became busier, Marina Manager Ron Fisher suggested a security service, which was supported by Operations Director Colby Phillips and General Manager John Viola. The additional security began near the end of June and reports directly to Fisher. Signs are posted at the marina instructing boaters where they can and cannot dock. Additionally, the security detail starting July 4 began handing out diagrams to those who do not have a boat slip, showing them where the available spots are, although there is no guarantee of one being available. Security guards are instructed to ask boaters who dock at the gas docks and at paid boat slips belonging to others to move. There are currently areas for nine or ten boaters without slips to dock at the marina. “The security detail is there to ensure that those who paid for boat slips will have their place to dock, and to instruct those without slips on where they can dock their boats,” Fisher said.

March 3, 2017

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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OCEAN PINES

July 2019

CANDIDATE PROFILE: LARRY PERRONE

Budget and Finance committee chair seeks seat on OPA board

Calls for the establishment of a New Capital reserve, funding it by allocating a percentage of replacement reserve collections By TOM STAUSS Publisher

Paula Gray

Tom Janasek

Shawn Kotwica

Larry Perrone

Candidates spar over merits of outside management Kotwica, Turner opt for outsourcing GM position; Perrone takes opposite tack By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer andidates in this summer’s Board of Directors’ contest debated how to best manage the Ocean Pines Association during a second forum hosted by the Elections Committee on June 22. One of the first questions posed to the seven candidates present for the forum asked them to discuss their Camilla Rogers Edward Solum thoughts on securing a general manager for the OPA after John Viola leaves the position. Camilla Rogers said interim general manager John Viola is doing a great job. “I think we have some alternatives at this point,” she said, adding that if Viola wants to stay on and continue in his management style that would be a great blessing rather that turn management over to yet another individual. Having Viola in place under a six-month contract gives the board a chance to assess his abilities. “Right now it seems that this is a very effective course of action,” she said. Gregory Turner Tom Janasek said he appreciates everything Viola is doing to management the association, including spreading out some of the general manager’s traditional responsibilities to others like an operations manager. “So the general manager doesn’t have to be responsible for everything.” However, he said having Viola wear the hats of both general manager and treasurer may be too much and the duties of the general manager need to be revisited. “I really believe that it’s too much for one guy. I think that to have a general manager like we used to have just won’t work,” he said. Shawn Kotwica said the board needs to exercise caution in appointing a general manager and cited the fiscal problems that arose after former director Brett Hill took over as acting general manager previously. He said Viola and operations manager Colby Phillips just moved into those positions and to have someone with experience and knowledge about how to run an operation objectively is important. “We need somebody from an outside source with experience and knowledge in how to run this operation with an objective view ... The OPA can’t have somebody that already has hand in cookie jar as far as making those decisions,” he said. Ed Solum said the board may have to review how the position is defined q

embers of the influential Budget and Finance Advisory Committee over the years have sought promotions to the Board of Directors in annual Ocean Pines Association elections. The latest to do so is Larry Perrone, a member of the committee who recently took over as chairman when former chairman John Viola became interim general mananger of the OPA. If elected, Perrone told the Progress in an email response to questions that he would: • support the four construction projects currently under contract [golf clubhouse, cart barn, police department expansion, and craft buidling]. • support the deficit reduction plan approved by the board. • try to accomplish the establishment of a New Capital Reserve fund. “Currently any new capital expenditures are budgeted and paid for from the operational funds. By using operational funds there is a direct impact on the overall assessments,” he said. “I will propose with input from the budget and finance committee and CFO and assistant Treasurer that a percentage of our replacement reserves collected each year be placed in a new capital reserve fund. By applying a percentage of our replacement reserves to a new capital reserve fund we would not be adding to the assessment each year to cover new capital. While the details of such a reserve fund would need to be negotiated, I would propose no more than 10 percent of the yearly replacement reserves be moved to the new capital reserve. “I would also want to see a maximum limit in the new capital reserve fund of no more than $1 million, with a maximum yearly spend of $500,000. These numbers are for example only and would be negotiated. I have already looked at what impact this proposal would have on our current reserve projections and it would delay OPA by 1 year getting our replacement reserve fund back to the targeted 22 percent of assets.” • push for the restarting the OPA’s roads maintenance program. • advocate for getting the OPA’s replacement reserve funds back to the goal of 22 to 26 percent of assets. “Based on the DMA study we are projecting reaching that goal by budget year 2023-24. I believe it is appropriate for the Association to take a financial breath and focus on smaller projects and overall maintenance issues. I don’t see any major initiatives in the near future.” Perrone has been a member of the budget and finance committee for about three years and chairman for about four months. He has been involved in several work groups and currently is the committee’s liaison with the Ocean Pines Fire Department. Perrone was or is: • part of the work group that evaluated out-sourcing the finance department and installing the Northstar software system. • part of the work group that evaluated OPA insurance brokers leading to a change in broker to Deeley Insurance and a three percent reduction in overall premiums excluding workers compensation. • a member of the work group that evaluated the bids regarding the outsourcing of the management of Ocean Pines. • a member of the work group reviewing the salary and compensation package for Ocean Pines employees, the GM’s audit work group, and the work group looking into the upcoming contract negotiation with the Matt Ortt Companies • involved in some of the meetings regarding the country club and cart barn reconstruction. Perrone has owned property in Ocean Pines for 37 years. He retired four years ago and has been living in Ocean Pines for three years fulltime.

OCEAN PINES From Page 12 in the association’s governing documents. “Maybe it needs to be redefined,” he said. Once that is clarified the board can better craft a job description for one or multiple people, he suggested. “My approach would be to reevaluate the entire general management structure. Redefine the parameters of the position. And adequately compensate the individual or individuals for the work that they are expected to perform,” he said. Paula Gray said Viola was a fine man who stepped up to bring the OPA’s finances into the black and it has benefitted the members. She said the culture of the community affects the ability to attract someone from outside of Ocean Pines as general manager. In order to change the structure of the general manager’s position, she suggested, the association will have to change its bylaws. She said it will be easier to find a treasurer than to find a general manager who is as successful as Viola has been. Larry Perrone, who said he is personal friends with Viola, told Kotwica that he takes offense to

comments that he’s got his fingers in the cookie jar. “John goes out of way to make sure he never touches money here,” he said, adding that Viola understands that he does not know everything about everything and goes out of his way to bring in subject matter experts. “I don’t see any need to redefine the role of the general manager.” He said outsourcing the position was cost prohibitive. “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.” Perrone’s position essentially is the same taken by the Board of Directors this past year, after the outside management option was thoroughly explored. Greg Turner echoed Kotwica’s comments about the need to bring in someone from outside of Ocean Pines to manage the OPA. He said he has seen a lot of “cronies and backslapping” over the years. Instead, the board should hire someone who “doesn’t have an axe to grind. Doesn’t have a back to slap. Doesn’t have cronyism.” Whether Viola is doing a good job or not, Turner said it would be best to outsource management of the association. When it comes to stormwater management, the candidates were unable to offer concrete solutions to 

Candidates forum

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OCEAN PINES

July 2019

Candidates forum

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From Page 13 the drainage problems that plague Ocean Pines. Perrone said “we’re built on a swamp.” He said the OPA needs to do everything it can to keep the ditches and roads clear and operational so water flows as best it can. Kotwica said something “more invasive” and on a larger scale is needed to attack the problem rather than dealing with it on a houseby-house basis. Turner said “the homes that are here were just built too low. He said the OPA should reach out to the

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LUNCH OPTIONS Homemade soup ~ Small $3.25 ~ Large $5.49 Pot pie .............................................… $5.49 Quiche .............................................… $3.75 Pizza bagel ~ Plain $3.25 - Pepperoni $5.49 Bagel Dog ............................................. $3.35

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state for support in addressing the issue of stormwater management. Rogers said the place to start addressing the issue is when new homes are built. The OPA should make sure proper drainage is addressed at that time, she said. Solum said the OPA should reevaluate areas that were previously backfilled to determine if any improvements can be made in those areas to improve drainage. “The problem is much larger than a board can handle,” Janasek said. The Environment and Natural Assets Committee, which he chairs, is working with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program to issue a request for proposals to help address drainage in Ocean Pines. he added. Gray said property owners need to be more proactive to ensure proper drainage on their own lots. She also said finding grants to cover the cost of drainage improvements will be key to resolving the issue. When asked how to address staffing shortages at the fire department, Kotwica said that “maybe it’s time to actually pay a few people to man up the service.” Rogers suggested holding open houses and recruiting volunteers from areas other than Ocean Pines. Turner, past chief of the fire department, said Ocean Pines has problems with recruitment because there simply are not many young people interested in joining, especially after they find out how much training is involved. Additionally, volunteers sometimes leave because they feel they are treated poorly because the fire department is a quasi-military organization, he said. Gray agreed with Turner and said she saw the same thing at another fire department. “The younger people did not want to volunteer” so that department had to begin hiring some paid staff, she said. Perrone said there are already some paid employees and added the OPA has an obligation to fund the fire department under a memorandum of understanding with the organization. He said the fire department has asked for additional money for salaries and benefits for paramedics. Solum said its harder to recruit young volunteers because there are a lot of distractions for millennials. He said there may be a way to incentivize fire department volunteers by offering something like funding for college credits.

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Residents push back against North Gate round-about proposal

State highway officials ask for open minds, say initial fears often give way to later acceptance

t appears that state highway officials won’t try to force a North Gate round-about solution on Ocean Pines residents if a sufficient number register their opposition, but at the same time they’re hoping that enough of them will keep an open mind instead of reflexively opposing the idea. Maryland Department of Transportation and State Highway Administration officials on July 11 held an informational meeting for Ocean Pines homeowners on the proposed North Gate roundabout at Ocean Parkway and Route 589. The meeting, at the Ocean Pines Community Center, drew a large crowd and included nearly a dozen state officials and several information kiosks. Officials answered questions and concerns for roughly two hours. District Engineer James W. Mere-

dith asked residents and homeowners to “try to keep an open mind instead of automatically saying, ‘It’s a roundabout and I don’t want it.’” “We have a lot of information and we’ll talk with anybody,” he said. “We have a lot of statistics that support the idea of a roundabout, but I also want to say that we’re not here to ram anything down anybody’s throat. We believe that it’s a good solution for a congestion problem and that’s why we’re offering it up.” Meredith said the roundabout proposal stems from mobility and traffic congestion issues, rather than safety concerns. “We’ve built several roundabouts,” he said. “I have an example of one in Dorchester County. We had a meeting [and] nobody liked the roundabout. I couldn’t get one person to say, ‘Yes, I think it’s a good idea.’”

Meredith added, in that instance, “the difference [was] … people were getting killed at that intersection.” “We were interested in the public input, but we had a serious safety issue and a roundabout really was

a solution,” he said. “We went and built that roundabout and I can honestly say … I have not had one person come to me and say, ‘I still think that was a bad idea. “Just about every place we put a roundabout, you have people that are scared to death and they don’t want it, and just in every case that I know personally – and I’ve been in this business 42 years -- people have always come back and said, ‘I

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Round-about From Page 15

was wrong,’” he added. Again, Meredith said, the situation in Ocean Pines is different, because the primary concern is not safety. “We’re not here to tell people ‘we’re building a roundabout.’ That’s not our purpose,” he said. “We’re here to present an idea, a solution to problem that we feel exists on [Route] 589 … we’re just here to throw it out and try to get some input. “If we get a lot of negative feedback, which it appears that we are,

then we’re going to go back and look at it and say, ‘Hey, do we have to do this now? Can it wait until 20 years when 589 is dualized?’” Meredith added. A letter sent by the department to the OPA after the meeting suggests that the answer to that may be yes. Comment cards were available to those to who attended the meeting and Meredith said Department of Transportation officials would review each one. Those who could not attend the meeting can weigh in by calling the Department of Transportation’s Salisbury District Office at 410-6774006.

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Trendic launches petition to require state to hold formal public hearing on round-about proposal More than 100 people sign during SHA’s July 11 information meeting By TOM STAUSS Publisher

hile not taking a position pro or con on the proposed North Gate round-about, former Ocean Pines Association Director Slobodan Trendic and his START organization havelaunched a petition drive that would ask the State Highway Administration to conduct a formal public hearing on the proposal before acting on it. The petition is also asking the SHA to halt all activities related to the round-about pending a formal public hearing on the proposal. The July 11 informational meeting on the proposal fell well short of what a public hearing should be, Trendic said. He said there was no presentation on alternatives to a round-about, including lane additions to Route 589 and a U-turn option for motorists turning right onto Route 589 from the nearby medical complex. In addition, he said an overhead electronic sensor to help move traffic at the North Gate/Route 589 interesection could ease the conditions that led the SHA to consider the round-about in the first place, Trendic said. “All of the other intersections on Route 589 have this overhead sensors.” he said, suggesting a possible reason for not having one at the North Gate intersection was to exacerbate congestion as a way of creating support for a round-about option. Trendic said during the July 11 informational meeting, he collected more than a 100 signatures in a petition asking for a formal public hearing to be convened on the round-about proposal. He is expecting that more residents and property owners will sign the petition once they become aware of it. The petition is in the name of Trendic’s START organization. Anyone wanting to sign the petition or additional information on it can call Trendic at 410-973-1574 or email him at strendic@yahoo.com.

OCEAN PINES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

General manager forms working group to examine enforcement options By TOM STAUSS diting enforcement efforts at a lower hourly rate, it’s possible that a loPublisher cost to the OPA could be to return to cal attorney would fare better in a cean Pines Director Frank the practice of using local attorneys local courtroom than someone from

Daly is willing to consider meaningful alternatives to his proposal last month that would give the Ocean Pines Association new authority to enforce its Declarations of Restrictions by levying fines against members who fail to properly maintain their homes or are repeat offenders. Daly’s willingness to consider alternatives to fines emerged from his appointment to a working group formed by General Manager John Viola recently to consider the problem of how to enforce the DRs more expeditiously. Daly told the Progress earlier this month that one possibility for expe-

for collection actions in local courts and to routinely ask to recover OPA legal expenses when action is taken against repeat offenders, those few property owners that Daly said “game the system” to avoid complying with the DRs. Daly acknowledged that the issue of which law firm to use when going to court can be a sensitive one. The OPA used to use the law firm of longtime local attorney Joseph Moore for most of its collection efforts, but more recently has been using Bethesda lawyer Jermey Tucker’s law firm, Lerch Early. While Daly said that both law firms charge roughly the same

across the bay. OPA President Doug Parks and Viola met with Moore July 18 to explore the option of Moore’s law firm handling local court cases. “It went well,” Viola said of the meeting. Daly said he was not abandoning his interest in the possibility of imposing fines for the most egregious cases of DR violations. Effective alternative approaches will need to be adopted to satisy him, he said. Last month, the Board of Directors approved a twice-modified motion offered by Daly designed to begin the lengthy process of pursuing a referendum to amend the re-

strictive covenants in each of Ocean Pines’ 26 residential section to allow the OPA to issue fines for certain specified violations. Daly also wanted to give the OPA the explicit authority to collect legal fees associated with having to go to court to enforce the DRs, which he hopes will give the OPA more leverage in dealing with the small number of property owners who he said have figured out how to “game the system.” Daly said the intent was to enhance the ability of the association to improve and maintain homeowner value and safety by levying fines for certain but not all violations of the Declaration of Restrictions. The motion Daly made at the meeting, which differed from one included in the board packet for the day, called for initiating a twostep process to place a referendum question to all homeowners to permit the OPA to levy fines for violation of the DRs. Phase one of the motion was to authorize the board and general manager to work with legal counsel to develop a referendum question

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From Page 17 that incorporates the violations that will be subject to fines, a violation correction period, the fine schedule, the collection of legal fees, due process and appeal requirements and to move to referendum on the approval with a positive vote in

phase two. Phase two of the process was the formal approval of the referendum question at the July board meeting. Daly said the association is limited in its ability to enforce the Declaration of Restrictions. The OPA’s existing enforcement existing process is time-consuming, expensive and ineffective, he said.

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Recycling guidelines

Ocean Pines and Republic Services, as part of a new educational campaign, are asking residents to be aware of recycling guidelines for local trash collection. Republic Services will only accept the following items in marked recycling bins: flattened cardboard, paper, metal cans, and plastic bottles and jugs. Food, trash and other waste contaminates recycling and will cause containers to not be collected. Any contaminated material will have to be removed from the recycle container and placed into the curbside trash. All recyclables should be kept empty, clean and dry, and free of any food or liquid. Items should also be kept loose, rather than in separate containers or bags. Items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags and wrappers, soiled paper, Styrofoam, clothing and shoes, greasy pizza boxes, tools, food, toys, electronics and batteries, construction waste, medical items, yard waste, diapers, and scrap metal. On Thursday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 9, recycling containers that are contaminated will be marked with a sticker as part of the educational campaign.

OCEAN PINES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Parks says NorthStar will provide software support Country Club foundation to be retained in new clubhouse By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer roperty owners questioned the Board of Directors during a July 6 meeting about two current Ocean Pines Association projects, installation of the NorthStar management software package and construction of a new golf clubhouse. During the public comments segment of the meeting, William Bishop asked if Ocean Pines will own the NorthStar software and queried the board about the $200,000 budget item for software support for the package. He wanted to know if anyone who works for Ocean Pines will be trained as manager of the product. Or are we going to continue to drop $200,000 a year for maintenance?” Bishop said an annual support line item was never mentioned when the board debated purchasing the software package for use in managing the OPA’s operations. The only thing mentioned was “just that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread,” he said. During his OPA President’s report, Doug Parks said installation of the software is on track and is a team effort with staff working collaboratively to ensure timely and accurate completion of the project. Additionally, he said work groups have been assembled based on area of specialty area of the OPA’s operations. Without those work groups, he said he doesn’t think the OPA “could get this done, but we are getting it done.” Typically, he said installation of a new software package like NorthStar would be an initiative for a whole year for a team. Usually, the board does not respond to public comments, but Parks took the opportunity during the meeting to answer Bishop’s questions. He said the $200,000 fee for professional services support is part of the initial project to facilitate the transition from the existing software systems used by the OPA to the NorthStar system. The cost of the software includes a subscription for support services from Northstar. “As part of their software assurances we know that we can actually

go to them as part of the contractual agreement we have with them to support their software when problems come up and so on and so forth,” Parks said. The $200,000 figure cited by Bishop will not be an ongoing cost, according to Parks. “We own a license to use the software and we have an annual subscription for the technical services associated with the license,” he said. He said he didn’t want to speak

on behalf of General Manager John Viola, but it is good business practice to make sure the association has a subject matter expert on staff that understands all the inner working of the Northstar environment both at the departmental level and technical level. “I think those issues are certainly being addressed,” he said. “It’s certainly our intent to have our manager of IT be an expert in that software,” Viola responded. With regard to the County Club project, during public comments property owner Tom Janasek, a candidate for the OPA board, asked if the foundation from the old building can be reused for the new structure.

At that point, Parks said staff andcontractors were evaluating the foundation to determine if it could be reused. Overall, Parks said the Country Club project is on track so far. Viola concurred and said he believes it will be possible to use the existing foundation. Engineers are evaluating the foundation and he should know more soon. Viola told the Progress in a July 18 telephone interview that the foundation is usable as a subbase for the new building. New concrete will be pored over the existing foundation to cover cracks and as a way of raising the new clubhouse’s elevation, he said.

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Non-resident use of OPA pools limited in early season, Colby Phillips says By TOM STAUSS Publisher ometimes crowded conditions at Ocean Pines Association’s four outdoor swimming pools, especially the Yacht Club and nearby Mumford’s Landings pools, have some veteran Aqautics members

and pool users questioning the wisdom of the policy that allows those who don’t live or own property in Ocean Pines to use the pools. The usual answer to this complaint is that the OPA really doesn’t have much choice in the matter. As a 401(c)4 not-for-profit Social Wel-

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fare organization under the Internal Revenue code, the OPA was on the losing end of a protracted court battle years ago that determined that, to retain its tax exempt status, the OPA has to allow the public, not just OPA members, to use its various amenities, including pools. Another reason cited for allowing outsiders access to OPA amenities is that, both in the case of golf and Aquatics operations, revenues generated from outsiders is important to those departments making or coming close to making their operational budgets for the year. That’s especially true for golf, in which play on the Ocean Pines golf course is close to 50-50 between member and resident play versus outsider play, defined as rounds played by those who aren’t OPA golf club members or members of the OPA. In the case of Aquatics, the reliance on outsiders for revenue is less. Addressing a resident concern about outside use of the pools, Director of Operations Colby Phillips

recently said that 1,803 guests used the Yacht Club pool between July 1-5, with only 132 being nonresidents. At the Mumford’s Landing pool, 1,492 guests used the pools, 127 of which were nonresidents. The numbers suggested a relatively light impact of outsiders on these pools during a period of peak pool usage. “Our residents [and pool members] are using the pools, which is great,” she said. She made her comments at the July 6 meeting of the Board of the Directors. In response to a follow-up question from the Progress, she provided stats for Ocean Pines’ other pools. At the Sports Core indoor pool, which on average is the pool with the highest percentage of outsider use, according to Phillips, the July 1-5 period recorded 651 resident guests compared to 260 non-residents. At the Swim and Racquet pool, there were 1,410 resident guests compared to 99 non-residents. At the Beach Club pool, there were 1,639 resident guests compared to 319 non-residents. Phillips said that non-resident participation in various Aquatics classes is about 30 percent.

OCEAN PINES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Close to meeting signature requirement on lowering threshold for board capital spending By TOM STAUSS Publisher ormer Ocean Pines Association Director Slobodan Trendic, who resigned from the Board of Directors in March in opposition to a board decision approving up to $1.6 million in replacement reserve funds to pay for a new golf clubhouse, is planning to present petitions for two referendums at the OPA annual meeting Aug. 10. It’s possible only one will actually make it to the finish line by the annual meeting. One petition would force the board to conduct a referendum on the golf clubhouse project before construction begins this fall. The second one would force the board to conduct a referendum to change OPA bylaws to reduce board spending authority to $1 million, down from the $1.8 million allowed under current bylaws language. As of July 14, Trendic said he and his supporters with the organization he founded, START, were 25 signatures short of the number needed to force a referendum on reducing board spending authority. They were roughly 80 signatures short on the clubhouse referendum. As of July 19, the spending petition had 825 names and the clubhouse petition had 768. Under community bylaws, owners of ten percent of the 8,452 lots in Ocean Pines must sign a petition for a referendum. Trendic has said he hopes his campaign will generate more signatures than needed to present during the annual meeting. Trendic said he intially had set an arbitary deadline of about June 1 to collect the signatures but decided to make the effort open-ended because the board resisted his request not to proceed with signing a construction contract for the new clubhouse. But he has acknowledged that the petition effort has not gone as quickly as he had hoped, with many residents requiring detailed explanations of the petitioners’ intentions before they sign on the dotted line. In addition to placing ads containing the petition in the May edition of the Progress, Trendic sent out 2,000 direct mail pieces with copies of the

petition to non-resident owners. He has also launched a new organization, called START, to serve as an umbrella organization that is sponsoring these petition drives. Volunteers are continuing the effort to collect signatures, and Trendic believes an additional 200 or more can be obtained. The acronym START stands for strategic planning, transparency,

accountability, respect and trust, all of which Trendic says are lacking in the board’s recent decision to approve up to $1.6 million in reserve spending for a new golf clubhouse. Trendic told a group of roughly 100 residents at an April 22 town meeting that he was not opposed per se to the golf clubhouse project. But he said a decision of such magnitude should be approved by all property owners in a referenall

property owners in a referendum, preferably after the project was vetted and justified in a community strategic plan. No such plan exists, Trendic said. He also assured OPA members that the purpose of petitioning for and then holding a community referendum on the golf clubhouse was not “about getting out of the golf business.” At the same time, he said one of his purposes is to educate the community on the costs of being in the golf business, which he said over the past ten year amount to $2.2 million before depreciation in golf operating losses and $6.4 million if depreciaq

Trendic plans to present petitions at OPA annual meeting

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July 2019

Ortt hires second Yacht Club chef to deal with food quality ‘slippage’

Record business causes challenges in the kitchen

ecord crowds at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club have led to some slippage in food quality, according to the management company hired by the Ocean Pines Association more than a year ago to run the place.

Because of that, the Yacht Club leadership recently took proactive steps to improve, most notably by hiring local Chef Michael Rendell to assist Head Chef John Chiusano. Ralph DeAngelus, co-founder of the Matt Ortt Companies that runs

Ocean Pines Yacht Club Chef Michael Rendell, right, has been hired to assist Head Chef John Chiusano in leading the kitchen staff. Record business at the amenity has created challenges in the kitchen that the Matt Ortt Companies are determined to address.

the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, said Rendell would not only help bring the restaurant back up to par, but also take it to the next level. “Because the kitchen has been so insane, our Head Chef John Chiusano has been trying to keep up with daytime pool business and nighttime dinners – the whole nine yards. It’s overwhelming and it’s more than a one-man job,” DeAngelus said. The Ocean Pines Yacht Club has set new sales standards several times this season. First, the Ortt Companies broke their own records during Memorial Day weekend. Then, in July the Yacht Club facility set a single-day record with a $53,000 total revenue haul – including a $25,000 banquet – and on July 5 the restaurant by itself set a single-day record with more than $40,700 in net revenues. “The truth of the matter is, we’ve been so overwhelmed by this massive business that our food quality has slipped just a little bit,” DeAngelus said. “We brought this guy in to make sure, not only that stuff doesn’t fall through the cracks, but that we immediately address our issues and even bring our quality up a

little bit higher.” According to DeAngelus, Rendell will function as a second head chef that reports directly to Chiusano. “[Rendell] is a qualified head chef and has been in Ocean City for years,” DeAngelus said. “He was the head chef at Ky West, so he’s super talented.” DeAngelus said Rendell would enhance daily featured specials and, through his strong ties with local farmers, improve the freshness and quality of ingredients at the Yacht Club. “The guy can make the best Veal Osso Bucco on the planet,” DeAngelus said, adding the dish would become a regular on the featured specials menu. “We brought this guy here to raise the bar of what we can produce. He’ll also help to free up Chef Chiusano to work more on the banquets and overall food quality,” DeAngelus added. Rendell will also assist with teaching and developing some of the younger kitchen talent. “Because of the massive success that we’ve had this year, our kitchen was overtaxed and we weren’t putting out the product that we’re accustomed to, but we immediately addressed it,” DeAngelus said. “We recognized the problem, we’re being proactive about it and, not only do we want to get it back to where it was, but we want to raise the bar even higher. We want Ocean Pines to be as proud of us as they have been in the past.” For his part, Rendell said he’s thrilled to come onboard. “I’m very excited to have joined the Matt Ortt Companies at the Yacht Club,” he said. “Helping Chef John get things to the next level is why I’m here and I have no intentions whatsoever of letting him down.”

Petitions From Page 23 tion is included. But Trendic said that over the past ten years, the OPA has spent $6.2 million in golf-related capital projects, a number he has been able to extract from monthly financial reports. rather than audited financial statements, which he suggested is a real defect in the OPA’s reporting of financial results. The total of $12.6 million in golf-related costs equates to $1,490 per property, Trendic said.

OPA FINANCES

July

Carrie Dupuie, AAMS University Md Sys Auxiliary (Financial Advisor Name) 07/15/2036 Maturity Date: (00/00/00) Title) Prince Georges Cnty Md (Name of Muni Bond) Fac &(Approved Tuition Rev 07/15/2028 (Address) Callable Date: or N/A) 98.500 Price: (00/00/00 (00.00) (City, ST 00000) 3.375% Coupon: (00/00/00) 3.25 (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: 800-000-0000) 100 Call Price: (000) (000-000-0000) 4/01/2039 MaturityDue Date:Fax:07/15/2036 (00/00/00) (E-mail Address) / AAA 07/15/2028 Rating: (XXX/XXX) Callable Date: Aaa (00/00/00 (Website) or N/A) Callable 04/2029 Call Price: 100 (000) Other: (Obligor) / AAA 100 Rating: (XXX/XXX) CallAaa Price Financial Advisor

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Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FNRA/SIPC. Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the security (c) 2015 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC 15-MFI-0113 ICD BS 8/15 revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely est. No representation is made as to any insurer’s ability to meet its financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not rem not guarantee the market value of the bond.

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Subject to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally exempt from federal taxation and may also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. However, Raymondbonds James Inc.,minimum member FINRA/SIPC ICD BSbonds 8/15 may Financial be subject to Services, federal alternative tax (AMT), and profits15-MFI-0113 and losses on tax-exempt may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment of principal and interest. No representation is made as to any insurer’s ability to meet its financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not remove market risk since they do not guarantee the market value of the bond. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

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on property owners. Such a settlement transfer fee, that is used in the Parke section of Ocean Pines, has been determined to be inoperable because it would create disOther:%(Obligor) (0.00%) TAX-FREE* 3.25 TAX-FREE* parity in the way one set of property owners, those who Rating Aa1/AA+ *As 06/07/2018 As ofof 00/00/00. are buying and selling homes, are assessed relative to*Subject Prince Georges Cnty Md (Name ofThe Muni Bond) to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may apply. yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally e from federal taxation and may also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. How those who are not. AAMS bonds may be subject to federal alternative minimum Carrie tax (AMT), and Dupuie, profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treat (00.00) Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A creditCarrie ratingPrice: of a security 98.500 isDupuie, not a recommendation toAAMS buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to r (Financial Advisor Name) suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the Financial assigning RatingAdvisor Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment of principal and In his discussion of the issue, Daly said funding forrevision, (00/00/00) est. No representation is made as to(Financial any insurer’sCoupon: ability to meet its3.25 financial commitments. Ratings andName) insurance do not remove market risk since th Advisor (Approved Title) Financial Advisor not guarantee the market value of the bond. 215 North Main Street Maturity Date: 07/15/2036 (00/00/00) any new capital projects currently goes directly againstSecurities offered through member FINRA/SIPC. Berlin, MD 21811 (Approved Title) (Address) or N/A) Callable Date: 07/15/2028 (00/00/00 215 North Main Street 410-208-1704 the OPA’s operating budget and, therefore, the annual ST 00000) 100 Call Price:(City, (000) Carrie.Dupuie@RaymondJames.com (000-000-0000) I(XXX/XXX) (Toll-Free: 800-000-0000) Berlin, Aaa /MD AAA 21811 Rating: assessment. He suggested the board review potential (Address) Fax: (Obligor) (000-000-0000) Other: 410-208-1704 methods of funding new capital that overcomes the is(E-mailST Address) (City, 00000) (Website) Carrie.Dupuie@RaymondJames.com sue. Directors agreed and sent the issue to the Budget (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: Carrie Dupuie, AAMS 800-000-0000) (Financial Advisor Name) and Finance Advisory Committee for review and recom(Approved Title) Fax: (000-000-0000) mendation. (Address) (E-mail (City, STAddress) 00000) Committee chair Larry Perrone, a candidate for the (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: 800-000-0000) 06/07/2018 (Website) **As As ofof 00/00/00. Fax: (000-000-0000) OPA board this summer, has suggested transfering aSubject to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may (E-mail Address) apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally e federal taxation and may also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. How (Website) bonds may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT), and profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treat portion of the money collected each year for the replace-from Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to r suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment of principal and ment reserve into a New Capital reserve, an idea he saysrevision, est. No representation is made as to any insurer’s ability to meet its financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not remove market risk since th not guarantee the market value of the bond. would not result in an increase in the lot assessment. Securities offeredSubject through member FINRA/SIPC. to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally exempt from federal taxation and may Daly said every $8,452 of new capital expenditures also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. However, bonds may be subject to federal alternative tax (AMT), and increases the annual assessment by $1, creating an isprofits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to 06/07/2018 buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or sue for each and every home owner. He said every sug**As As ofof00/00/00. withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment of principal and interest. No representation is made to any insurer’s ability to meet its Subject to availability Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to ca gestion for a project or purchase that is not already in-and price change. financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not remove risk since they do not guarantee from federal taxation and may alsothebemarket free ofvalue stateof and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the the bond. cluded in the OPA’s reserve study goes to the operating bonds may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT), and profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject q

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Daly calls for creation of New Capital reserve alling for removal of new capital purchases and projects from the Ocean Pines Association’s annual operating budget, a practice that exerts upward pressure on the annual lot assessment, Director Frank Daly is asking fellow members of the Board of Directors to consider alternative methods of generating revenue to cover those expenditures. Daly essentially was proposing the creation of a New Capital Reserve fund, an idea that has been supported by the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee. Once such a reserve fund is created, it would be possible to fund new capital expenditures and projects from this reserve, rather than treating such expenditures essentially as operating expenses. One option to fund a new capital reserved suggested by Daly and Director Tom Piatti during a July 6 meeting was the creation of a transfer fee to be collected at settlement every time a property in Ocean Pines changes hands. That’s an idea that has been considered over the years by OPA boards, eventually rejected because of a legal interpretation of OPA governing documents that require uniformity in the way assessments are imposed

(Name of Muni Bond)

Price: (00.00)

Directors debate funding source of new capital improvements By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer

Callable Date: 07/15/2028 (00/00/00 or N/A) Prince Cnty Md 100 Call Price: Georges (000) 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS / AAA Rating: Aaa (XXX/XXX) Other: 98.500 (Obligor)

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26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

July 2019

New capital From Page 25 budget as new capital and directly to the assessment. When community members approach the board for improvements, like street lighting, additions to a pool or covered mailboxes, that is considered new rather than replacement capital, he said. “So as a result of that, new capital spending is very low. But new things to enhance the community are also passed by or forgone because of the impact on the assessment,” Daly said. He said he wanted to discuss the issue on July 6 because that was the last meeting for Piatti, who was appointed to fill a temporary vacancy on the board. Piatti is a resident of the Parke section of Ocean Pines, which Daly said has a unique way of collecting funds to cover the cost of new capital that does not directly affect the assessment. The second reason the issue needs to be addressed this year is because the board has included nearly $1 million in the budget for drainage improvements, Daly said. “There are at least conceptually some issues being discussed that address drainage that would fall un-

der new capital and I think one of the things that we find is that when you replace existing pipes under an existing road it gets very expensive,” he added. Replacement of existing pipes most likely would be funded out of replacement reserves, but new solutions to address drainage problems in Ocean Pines not previously addressed would most likely would be considered new capital expenditures, In past the OPA has attempted to fund new capital in various ways and each way has pros and each way has cons, Daly said. However, he pointed out the association doesn’t have a capital plan. Previously, the OPA collected money from homeowners for new capital but didn’t really have a plan for how to spend it. He probably was referring to a future projects reserve, which still appears as an authorized but deactivated reserve in OPA governing documents. “When we collect something, it should be for a board approved plan that’s approved by the community. And without that that’s a problem,” he said. Essentially, collecting money without a plan creates a “slush fund ... And we certainly don’t want that to happen,” he said.

Piatti agreed and said the association can’t take people’s money without a purpose and that purpose must be clearly delineated. When the Parke was created,the developer specified that property owners would made a capital contribution of $450 at the time of settlement. The fee is now $1,000 and is paid by the buyer to the Parke’s association every time a property is sold. “This is something that we’ve been doing and it works,” Piatti said, adding that it works in other communities, too. He said if the OPA charged a $300 fee for new capital every time a house changes hands and 300 homes sold during the year, it would put $90,000 in the coffers. However, he said there needs to be community buy-in. Some members may be opposed to paying a fee for something to be purchased 20 years in the future, but that forward thinking helps to protect property values for everyone, Piatti said. OPA President Doug Parks was concerned about how the board would control disbursements of funds collected for future new capital purchases and projects. “How do we protect that funding so that it remains earmarked for its originally intended purpose?” he asked, when

any four directors constitute a majority of the board and can change something. “I’m not against this,” Parks said, but added, “what I want is to make sure that if we start going in this direction that we protect the investment.” He said controls would have to be put in place to do so. Gene Ringsdorf, retiring OPA assistant treasurer, suggested Piatti’s proposal along with other options for funding new capital be vetted by the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee. He said he too had submitted to the committee a different proposal for how to fund new capital. “This is something that I believe eventually should fall into the hands of the Budget and Finance Committee to review all of these proposals,” Ringsdorf said. He did not provide any details about his option. Director Collette Horn also favored asking the Budget and Finance Committee to research potential options and make some recommendations to the board regarding funding of new capital. “I think you bring up a lot of great points, Frank. And I think we need a systematic way to look at all of the things that have been discussed,” she said.

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July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board passes motion to fund compensation study up to $100,000 Horn calls for elimination of longevity-based pay By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer mployees who have worked for the Ocean Pines Association for many years don’t necessarily deserve to make more money than new employees hired to do the same job, Director Collette Horn said regarding her motion to conduct a compensation study at a price tag of up to $100,000. The Board of Directors unanimously approved Horn’s motion July 6 with the caveat that staff and a working group negotiate with the firm that submitted the lone proposal for the project to scale back the cost. The budget for the study called for an expenditure of $25,000, but it turned out that the firm that provided that estimate did not submit a bid, Director Frank Daly told the Progress in a July 16 telephone interview. He added that he and his colleagues were reluctant to spend

more than budgeted and also to award a contract when only one firm submitted a proposal. But Daly said there is a reasonable expectation that the cost can be scaled back considerably because the working group has already done some of the work that the consultants were preparing to do. Daly said he hopes the consultants will focus on what the OPA really needs, solid data from area homeowner associations and governments on the Eastern Shore on how much they pay their employees and what their benefits are. “We have had two studies done in recent years, and we still don’t have a good handle on what the comparables are,” Daly said. “One study (5L) excluded the police department and said many of our employees are overpaid.” The other, by a former OPA human resources manager, said many

employees are underpaid but “failed to take into account that Worcester County” has a very high unemployment rate for the cooler months of the years, Daly said. He also said the second study relied on government data to the exclusion of HOAs. During the July 6 meeting, Horn offered a motion to authorize the general manager to negotiate a contract not to exceed $100,000 for a full compensation study, including benefits. One of the reasons she cited for the study is that compensation is currently based largely on how long the employee has worked for the association and not necessarily the quality of their work. Additionally, she said some position are only worth so much in salary regardless of how long an employee has been in the position. “We need it because current system favors compensation based on longevity independent of perfor-

mance quality,” Horn said, adding “we need to move from the step and grade plan that we currently use that favors longevity ...” Horn said the OPA has a stable work force so it doesn’t need a compensation study in order to attract employees. Moving to a minimum and maximum pay system feeds the priority of the board to have performance review and compensation linked to achievement of specific performance objectives within each department, she said. “This year we asked all of our departments to give us business plans that have specific goals and objectives with the intention that employees from top to bottom will be held accountable for those performance objectives,” she said. Horn said the purpose of her motion is to provide OPA with a current and comprehensive review of its compensation policies, approach, and philosophy, and a plan for implementation of needed compensation adjustments. The project will include analysis of all OPA employee positions and salaries, an external salary study, a benefits study, development of a compensation phiq

OPA FINANCES

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

July 2019

Compensation study From Page 27 losophy, and development of an implementation plan for any proposed changes. In the last two budget cycles, she said the board has made decisions that have an impact on benefits and compensation for employees with a promise to employees and OPA members that a professional compensation study would be conducted to guide present and future decisions. The OPA circulated a request for proposals for the compensation study but only one bid was received. Staff and the working group reviewed the bid and determined it would provide a product with an enduring benefit and guidance for compensation policy decisions. Horn said the bidder has extensive experience in doing similar work for Eastern Shore municipalities and homeowners associations. “I realize that there was sticker shock associated with this motion. And I think we need to reflect on what has been done in the past. We’ve had two efforts at a pay study,

one that was conducted by an outside entity at fairly low cost. It didn’t look at compensation as a whole. It looked at pay only. And we also had a salary survey that was conducted internally,” Horn said. “There was no implementation of an adjustment plan based on either of those studies. And a problem arose from questions of credibility regarding the numbers that were obtained in those surveys,” she said. Horn said the board owes it to the members and to OPA employees to get this done in time for the next budget cycle. Last year the board agreed to “soften the blow” of the change from the 100 percent employer paid health insurance policy to a 20 percent employee paid cost of the policy premium by giving a kind of a bonus back to employees. At the same time, it agreed not to give any raises this past year but the gather the information needed to make rational decisions about pay increases and pay adjustments based on the belief that there are some employees that are overpaid and there are some employees that are under paid. Directors were surprised by the

Viola negotiates $50,000 compensation study contract

eneral Manager John Viola has negotiated a $50,000 contract with Sibson Consultants of Washington, D.C., to complete a compensation study for the Ocean Pines Association consistent with a Board of Directors motion earlier this month that authorized up to $100,000 for the work. The contract had not been signed as of July 19. Viola told the Progress that OPA President Doug Parks said it’s “not yet a done deal.” Viola said the work of obtaining comparable salary, wage and benefit information from area homeowner associations and governments would be conducted out of Sibson’s D.C., office, using Webanars and telephone contacts. Site visits either to Ocean Pines or area HOAs and governments are not likely to occur, Viola said. “They’re also not flying anyone in from Hawaii or California for this,” he added. Viola said what is now a $25,000 budget overrun will be addressed, perhaps by using part of what is now a $120,000 surplus in 2018-19 as a funding source.

$100,000 price tag for the compensations study and encouraged trimming of the work and the cost. Daly said he experienced a “bit of sticker shock” when he saw the price and “wrestled with it” but decided he is in favor. “It’s a complex, contentious issue. Okay? For now, three years running we have dealt

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OPA FINANCES

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA records $202,000 positive variance to budget in first month of fiscal year Yacht Club shows dramatic year-over-year revenue improvement By TOM STAUSS Publisher

he Ocean Pines Association began its fiscal year in May by posting a net operating profit of $202,272 over budget, with revenues $175,341 higher than budgeted and expenses $26,931 lower than budgeted. Amenities and departments that beat budget estimates included the Yacht Club ($67,000), Beach Parking ($49,000), Recreation and Parks ($31,000), Public Works ($18,000), Beach Club ($17,000), Golf operations and maintenance ($14,000), General Manager’s office ($13,000), Marinas ($8,000) and Police ($6,000). Viola said construction at the golf course did not appear to have a noticeable negative impact on operations. “When you take into account everything that’s going on ... what I’m reporting is very favorable,” he said. “I understood the concerns. We have done everything possible to ensure a pleasant experience for the golfers and the feedback I’m getting ... is that it’s positive.” Viola also praised the Matt Ortt Companies for their handling of food and beverage operations. The Yacht Club, finished May with a positive net operating balance of $5,025. In May 2018, the Yacht Club finished the month with a negative operating balance of $64,466. The Yacht Club generated $267,039 in total revenues, which was $121,249 better than budget. In May of last year, the Yacht Club produced $148,942 in total revenue. That’s a $118,097 year-over-year improvement. Net revenues of $184,964 after food and beverage costs were also significantly higher year over year. Net revenues exceeded budget by $90,796. In May of last year, net revenues were $91,809, less than half of this May’s total. Golf operations for May yearover-year also showed a dramatic increase in revenues and bottom line performance, while exceeding budget by $13,582. Net revenues were $352,733, including the bulk of membership dues, which in recent years had been pro-rated equally over 12 months, a change in report-

May 2019 OPA financial summary by department. Source: OPA Finance Department; results exclude New Capital expenditures

ing introduced by Billy Casper Golf years ago when it operated the golf course for the OPA. Returning to the historical methodology of allocating membership revenues in the months it is generated has made comparing golf results year-over-year more challenging. Golf operations netted $219,502, compared to the budgeted $205,920. A year ago, with only one twelfth of membership revenue allocated, the bottom line for golf was only $48,935. With the Country Club having been demolished earlier this year, the Tern Grille is not operating, but there are limited food and beverage sales occurring at the golf course from a food trailer. These operations are still recorded under the Tern Grille name in the monthly financials. Net revenues of $11,387 in May missed budget by $6,613, but management also curbed expenses, beating the budget by $6,214. The result was a net operating surplus of $1,265, only $399 under budget. In May of last year, the Tern Grille generated a $1,297 surplus. Both marina operations and Beach Club parking got off to excellent starts in May, with parking revenues generating a $237,258 surplus. In May of last year, the surplus was $190,855. Marina operations netted $182,323 in May, compared to $174,705 in May of last year. Of the three racket sports, pickleball was the top performer, generating $18,677 in net revenues and

exceeding budget by $3,973. In May of last year, the net revenues were $14,221. Both tennis and platform tennis missed their budgets in May, by $3,113 and $1,645 respectively. Tennis’ net of $14,857 compares unfavorably to last May’s net of $17,373. Platform tennis’ net of $13,017 is a slight drop from last May’s $14,400. On net revenue of $207,364, Aquatics missed its budget by $18,540 in May. This year’s results also lagged behind May of last year, when net revenue was $223,280. While Aquatics’ total expenses were right in line with budget, revenues were not. Member dues of $253,455 missed budget by $26,206 and coupons were under budget by $7,080. These negative variances

Source: OPA Finance Department

were partially offset by cash fees better than budget by $2,619, swim lesson revenue over budget by $8,755 and miscellaneous revenue over budget by $3,379. Some of the lagging membership revenue could potentially show up in the June financials. The amenity membership report included with the May financials indicates that the problem lies not with memberships purchased by residents, which show modest year-over-year increases in family summer, individual summer and individual yearly memberships. The most significant drop occurred in Beach Club access card memberships, which were 793 as of May 31 last year compared to 544 this year. The budget is for 976 Beach Club access card memberships, and a lot of that could be made up in June. The 12-week Realtor bundle shows a similar year-over-year drop, from 24 recorded in May of last year compared to 15 this year. Since these bundles sell for $1,125, meeting the budgeted 25 12week Realtor bundles could make a significant difference in the membership bottom line. Reserve summary -- As of May 31, the OPA had $11.52 million in reserve accounts, comprised of $6.98 million in the replacement reserve, $3.11 million in the bulkhead and waterways reserve, and $1.43 million in the roads reserve. Balance sheet -- There was no balance sheet included in the May financials.

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

LIFESTYLES

July 2019

Team effort pulls off Fourth of July events in Ocean Pines event also included a live deejay and food and drink vendors. A half-hour firework display over the South Gate pond, begun just after 9:15 p.m., capped off the busy day. Previously, the fireworks were held at Showell Park. All three events were made possible thanks to a collaboration between Ocean Pines’ Police, Public Works and Recreation and Parks departments, with several neighboring agencies providing additional assistance. From workers and volunteers operating rides and games for children, to public safety agencies guiding traffic and public works crews helping to oversee the activities, the Fourth of July happenings took more than 100 people to pull off. “Thank you to everybody that was involved in making this a really very successful event, from our staff at the recreation department, to

A carnival preceded the fireworks at the Ocean Pines Association’s Fourth of July event in Veterans Memorial Park.

public works and the police department, and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department and neighborhood watch, because they all played their part,” Recreation and Parks Program Supervisor Debbie Donahue said. “For our first event it was tremendous, and I think everyone really enjoyed it, from the Freedom 5K to the end of the night,” she continued. “The whole day was really successful. It was an awesome day

and it took a lot of people to get it done.” Ocean Pines Public Works Director Eddie Wells singled out Shaefer Fireworks for putting on a dazzling display, as well as the Ocean Pines and Worcester County fire departments for their help. “Everyone worked great together. Debbie’s dream came true of having the fireworks at the pond as a great way to end the day of events,” Wells q

lose to 2,000 people attended Ocean Pines’ Fourth of July events, including a morning 5K race, afternoon carnival and evening fireworks show, all for the first time held at a single location in Veterans Memorial Park. As the day began, nearly 300 people took part in the eighth annual Freedom 5K race, hosted by Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks. Proceeds from the race netted a $750 donation for the Maryland chapter of Achilles International, an organization formed “to empower people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.” For more information, visit www.achillesinternational.org. Starting at 4 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park hosted a family friendly carnival that included games, pony rides, and several jumbo bounce houses and slides for children. The

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said. “All of our departments – police, the rec dept, public works and fire department, along with other organizations from the Pines – made this event enjoyable for all. “A special thanks to the Sheriff’s Department, state police and state highway for helping us pull this off,” Wells continued. “Everyone worked very hard in the brutal heat to make it a success. They all contributed to help make this successful.” Ocean Pines Operations Director Colby Phillips also credited Donahue for her part in planning and overseeing the Fourth of July events. “Debbie mentioned to me about trying to baring the fireworks over to the pond to join the day events with the evening show,” Phillips said. “Working with the Fire Marshall’s office, local police and fire and the county, we were able to make that happen and it was a wonderful event. The team did such a fabulous job!”

Pines to host second National Night Out Aug. 6; sponsors, organizations wanted

cean Pines will join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 36th annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event, Tuesday, Aug. 6. In Ocean Pines, the event will be held for the second year in White Horse Park on 235 Ocean Parkway, from 5-7 p.m. The event, designed to promote crime and drug prevention awareness, will include free food and live entertainment geared to children and families. Ocean Pines is seeking community partners to help with activities and programs during National Night Out. Last year, local, county and state police and neighborhood watch groups came out, along with a few other community groups and nonprofits. There was free food – hotdogs, chips, soda and water – and some light live entertainment geared toward children and families. This year, Ocean Pines is hoping to build on the community aspect of the event and include more local groups, with a focus on highlighting the people and organizations that make our community so special. By participating, an organization can set up a small table with general information for the public, bring a craft or another small project to engage children and young people, bring information or a project to engage Ocean Pines’ senior population, donate an item to be given out as a raffle or door prize, provide music, or give away school supplies ahead of the new school year. New and creative ideas for the event are encouraged and monetary donations to help offset costs associated with the event are also needed. Participants are asked to refrain from promoting any social or political issues in order to keep the focus on community fun. There is space for about 40 groups. For questions or more information about participating, contact the Ocean Pines Marketing Department at 410-641-7717 or email info@oceanpines.org. Donations will be accepted through Thursday, Aug. 1.

Platform Tennis event to raise money for vets

he Ocean Pines Platform Tennis Association will host its second annual Fun-Raising Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28. Tournament proceeds will benefit the Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care “We Honor Veterans” program. Platform tennis clubs in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are invited to compete and the first 64 applicants will reserve a spot. The cost is $40, and the entry deadline is Sept. 21. The tournament will again be held at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex on 11443 Manklin Creek Road, in Ocean Pines. Players should check in no later than 7:45 a.m. and a welcome ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Play generally begins at 8:30 a.m. and, last year, the final match was over by about 4 p.m. The inaugural tournament raised $8,500 for the Catch a Lift foundation, which helps post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans recover and rehabilitate, both physically and mentally, through physical fitness, motivation and support. The foundation was started by David and Toni Coffland, both Ocean Pines residents, in honor of their son, U.S. Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Event co-chair Susan Walter said the tournament this year would benefit •Wildlife Inspections, Exclusion and Prevention •Wildlife Humane Live Trapping •Bat Inspection, Exclusion and Prevention •Mole and Vole Control •BedBug Heat Treatment Specialist •BedBug Monitoring and Prevention •Crawlspace Encapsulations •Aprilaire Dehumidifiers

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LIFESTYLES

July 2019

Mary Mac golf tournanment seeking sponsors, donations

Buzzy the new Ocean Pines Farmers and Artisans Market mascot.

Pines Farmers Market unveils new mascot he Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market recently intro-

duced Buzzy, its new honeybee mascot. Buzzy is the newest addition to the market’s family friendly atmosphere. The huggable bee strolls the marketplace and engages with shoppers. “Buzzy will also take part in activities at the Kids’ Market Zone and sometimes join resident chef Maggie Hearn in the market’s openair kitchen,” Janice Curtis, director of marketplace features, said. Portraying Buzzy is Jaya Shaub, a ninth-grade student at Sussex Tech High School in Georgetown, Delaware. Shaub received the English Language Department’s award for the 2018/2019 school year and inspires to be an author and physical therapist. The oversized yellow and black striped bee costume was gifted to the Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market by Stag Run Farm, a year-round merchant at the market also based in Georgetown. With an extensive apiary, Stag Run Farm has hives that pollinate all its various crops. They also offer their Chrissy Bee’s Honey at the market. “Buzzy and his friends are very important to the pollination of all our crops, including our apple and peach tree orchards,” Craig Brady, beekeeper and co-owner of Stag Run Farm, said. Bees like Buzzy are members of the genus Apis, the classification for the honeybee. There are more than 20,000 known species of bees, worldwide. “By introducing Buzzy, we are hoping to encourage conversations between our youngest shoppers and their parents about the importance of pollinators to the foods we eat,” Market Manager David Bean said. The Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market runs Wednesdays, through Aug. 28, and Saturdays, year-round, at White Horse Park on 235 Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines. Market hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ole sponsors and silent auctions items are needed for the eighth annual Mary Mac Foundation Memorial Golf Tournament, scheduled Aug. 2 at the Ocean Pines Golf Club. The tournament each year raises funds for local and regional youth programs to honor Mary McMullen (1948-2012), a special education instructor at Severna Park High School and Ruth Eason School in Millersville, Maryland. During the 1970s, she also helped established the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department. Tim McMullen, a youth sports coach at Worcester Preparatory School and member of the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Committee, started the nonprofit Mary Mac Foundation, Inc. to honor his late wife. This year, money raised during the sold-out tournament will benefit summer youth recreation programs in Ocean Pines. Funds will also assist Camp Barnes, a residential camp in Frankford, De., for low-income children, and Camp St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore, an organization offering eight-week summer camps for homeless children. Last year, the tournament and the Mary Mac Foundation’s second annual Camden Yards Night helped raise more than $24,000 for youth recreation programs. “The recreation budget in Ocean Pines is just a small percentage of your annual assessment, but it’s some of the best dollars that we spend,” McMullen said. “Our mission this year – and every year – is to support those programs and to send as many low-income kids to summer camps as possible. We think that every child deserves a good summer, and the more money we raise the more we can do to support those types of programs.” Hole sponsorships for the 2019 Mary Mac Foundation Memorial Golf Tournament cost $100. Tournament organizers are also seeking merchandise and gift certifications for a silent auction during the tournament. For information about sponsorships, making a charitable donation, or donating an item for the silent auction, contact Tim McMullen at 443-8272091 or email marymacfoundation2@gmail.com. Donations to the Mary Mac Foundation can be made online, or by check payable to Mary Mac Foundation, 174 Nottingham Lane, Ocean Pines, Md, 21811. For more information, visit www.marymac.org.

Mary Mac Foundation Memorial Golf Tournament founder Tim McMullen, left, and brother Don McMullen. This year’s tournament is scheduled Aug. 2.

Paddleball tournament From Page 31

the “We Honor Veterans” program. Michael Petito will chair the event. To download a tournament entry form, visit https://www. oceanpines.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-TOURNEY-entry-form-and-donation-request.pdf. Registration checks should be

made out to “Ocean Pines Platform Tennis Association” and mailed to Susan Walter, 36 Capetown Road, Ocean Pines, Maryland 21811. Donation checks may be made out to “Coastal Hospice – We Honor Veterans program” and mailed to Susan Walter. For questions about the event, contact Walter at cbreeze601@verizon.net or Petito at map11946@yahoo.com.

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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Movie fans have new alternative to Salisbury, Ocean City theaters to see the latest blockbuster

Seven-auditorium Flagship Premium Cinemas opens in West Ocean City’s White Marlin Mall

cean Pines movie fans no longer have to travel to Salisbury or brave Ocean City traffic to see the latest blockbuster. The days of often uncomfortable movie theater seats with the choice of just soda, popcorn and candy are over, at least at the new Flagship Premium Cinemas in West Ocean City. After a 10-year hiatus, a new seven-auditorium, state-of-the-art movie theater is now open at White Marlin Mall, West Ocean City’s premier shopping destination. According to Flagship President Paul. Wenger, “the new Flagship Premium Cinemas are modern, state of the art theaters unrivaled by any other in the greater Ocean City market. Our movie guests will find plush, power reclining chairs with ottomans and the latest in digital sound and projection. Our Flagship Premium Cinemas provide the latest in upscale amenities. These include reserved seating, ample free parking and an expanded menu that includes hot food and self-serve soda with free refills.” “Adding a high quality movie experience to West Ocean City is

a top priority for us,” Wenger said. “We understand that our audiences who reside in and visit Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Berlin, Pocomoke, Princess Anne, Southern Delaware and Salisbury marketplaces, all are demanding a higher-end movie going experience. This is our answer to their demands.” “I also think being a part of White Marlin Mall definitely has a number of great advantages for our guests by making us a complete destination for entertainment and dining as well as shopping,” Wengeer said. White Marlin Mall is located at 12641 Ocean Gateway, 1/2 mile west of Ocean City on Route 50 at Route 611 next to Outlets Ocean City. The 200,000 square foot open-air shopping destination is considered an iconic West Ocean City shopping and dining institution. “Paul’s vision and Flagship’s state-of-the-art concept are exactly what we have been missing in West Ocean City,” said Matt Mittenthal, vice president and assistant director of asset management of Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, which opened White Marlin Mall in 1986. “We are

excited to bring a cinema back to the community and we anticipate that this one will be a regional draw for our year-round residents and summer guests.” When customers enter Flagship Premium Cinemas, they receive a premium experience upon their arrival, Wenger said. The lobby area features a bar, named the “Pig and Whistle,” where moviegoers can enjoy up to two beer or wine drinks per person. Alcoholic beverages can only be enjoyed in the lobby area. Wenger said this beer and wine rule has been proven to please customers in another location. “We find that most people are perfectly content with that,” he said. Customers can also order light fare and hot foods at the bar or the concession stand with the other movie theater staple items. Food items can be enjoyed in the lobby or while watching a movie at their assigned seats, he said. Moviegoers can order Angus burgers, pizzas, chicken tenders, Mozzarella sticks, waffle fries, churros and premium hot dogs. There are also special promotions for pails

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of popcorn. Flagship Cinemas and its sister company, Triton Entertainment Services, own and operate five movie theaters in Maryland, including three on the Eastern Shore in Easton, Cambridge and Chincoteague. They are pleased to be a part of West Ocean City. The new movie theatre is located in the space previously occupied by Michaels that opened at a nearby site earlier this year. Michaels had occupied the space occupied by a theater that closed about ten years ago. A slight delay in the theater’s opening was due to the complexity of the project that now features seven auditoriums with seating capacity ranging from 40 to 125. Wenger attributed delays to the planning and designing phase. “None of it had to do with construction,” he said. “It had to do with getting the architectural plans and permitting in place. The county has been great to work with, but it’s a process that you have to wait for. We believe our guests will find it well worth the wait.” The most important element, according to Wenger, is his guests’ satisfaction and comfort. “Basically what we’re trying to do is give you the same intimacy you have in your living room if you were sitting with your loved one watching a movie,” Wenger explained. “We want to replicate that space and that environment, but in a shared space.” “Once movie-goers recline their seats, nobody can see you,” he said. “You can’t see anybody else. It’s almost like watching a movie in the privacy of your own home.” The new theater features a red carpet screening and private party room. This is an event space dedicated to birthday parties, corporate parties, holiday parties and all other types of private events. “We built our theatres to be really more of a cultural destination,” Wenger said. There are special red carpet package plans available. Those interested are encouraged to contact the theatre manager at 443664-8483. Those who visit Flagship Premium Cinemas will notice the massive posters that adorn the hallways. Keeping fresh art in the theatre is their way to entertain and inform patrons of upcoming movies. “We have built a space where we’re adding a lot of really cool art q

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

CAPTAIN’S COVE

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Launch of new Cove Web site hits snags; Wilder says he’s looking for new content provider

By TOM STAUSS Publisher

he launch of the new Captain’s Cove Web site in recent weeks has had its challenges, and not all members of the Captain’s Cove community are happy with the result. While reluctant to directly criticize the site designer, Cove General Manager Justin Wilder told the Progress in a July 17 telephone interview that he is among those less than enthused with the design and content of the new site. “I’m willing to say on the record that I’m looking for other content providers,” he said. Another content provider could be asked to revamp the site from scratch or, probably not too likely, tweak it to provide the features that Wilder said the current vendor, FrontSteps, is unable to provide at the present time. “They’ve said that some of the features we’re asking for will be added in the future,” he said, but there appears to be no timetable for when that might happen. One feature from the old site that he would like added to the new site is a messaging function, in which an email is generated to someone who has posted a comment on the mes-

sage board whenever a response is posted. It’s a feature that can help keep a dialog going. Another feature he would like to see restored are contact links to board members and committees, a function that allows for more user-friendly member contacts with Cove officials. Wilder also said he would very much like to recreate a public document site that is more distinct from the member-only section accessible to property owners through a user name and password. The public-accessible home page would contain links to the Cove calendar, which he said is now hidden. There is a oddly positioned calendar icon on the home page with no functionality. By clicking the link to the Marina Club at the top of the home page, however, a calendar is accessible, but it’s a calendar for the Marina Club only. There appears to be no calendar on the site that includes non-golf activities in Captain’s Cove. The new site has no search function, as one member mentioned on the message board. The message board feature from the old site appears on the new site as well, although without the same

degree of topic categorization. A quick tour of the new site reveals no easy way to access minutes from previous board meetings or to see agendas or informational attachments for future meetings. A section on the site that describes each of the holes of the Cove golf course contains a number of typos, misspellings or grammatical errors. Perhaps the most egregious is a reference to slopped, rather than sloped, greens in the descriptions of holes number five and six. The hole nine description references “you ball” instead of “your ball.” The second sentence of the hole eight description is a run-on; it needs a semi-colon or a period to separate two independent clauses. The hole three description says “there is bunkers and O.B.” but should read “there are bunkers and O.B.” O.B. is an abbreviation for outof-bounds. The hole five description suffers from some subject-verb disagreement; it should read “two sets of tees offer ...” rather than ”two sets of tee offers...” Wilder referenced previous comments he has made about the Web site regarding the buy-out of the previous vendor by FrontSteps, which offered a no-cost upgrade of

thru Oct. 21

10-15-19

the old site. Wilder said he wanted to give that option a try because a complete redesign of a Web site can be costly and he said he wanted to spare the Cove association that expense. He now seems more willing to entertain the possibility of an additional expenditure to create a site that is more user-friendly. Any significant cost to rebuild a Web site would require Board of Directors approval. To Page 34

New theater opens From Page 34 images that’s going to be inspiring as you walk through it,” Wenger said. First-class amenities aside, “we still maintain that cinematic feel,” Wenger said. For one thing, “nostalgic” bus-shelter sized posters are recreated in-house for display across the lobby and walkway areas. “In all our theatres, we receive positive comments about the décor and how it makes people feel. There is certain warmth to our lobby designs, where people come in and feel very comfortable. The word we hear the most is ‘cozy.’ Hearing that makes us feel like we have achieved our goals,” he said. At the same time, there is no more paper one-sheets for current and coming attractions. “All of our systems have been digital for quite some time now. On average, there are some 40 monitors located throughout our lobbies and concession areas to keep people constantly entertained,” Wenger says. While utilizing integration from their RTS Solutions point-of-sale systems, “all of our signage is done internally. We call them ‘Feature Walls.’ They run trailers and posters and our own promotions.” To make this all happen, Flagship has its own printing facility that can turn out oversized classic movie posters. The theater has a special entrance and parking for those who choose to join the new Admirals Club. For a nominal yearly fee, theatregoers receive special benefits on an on-going basis. A dedicated Admiral’s Club brochure is available on site and on line. The new facility has electronic ticket machines, but customers can also reserve seats online before they arrive at the theater.

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

July 2019

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July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 37

CAPTAIN’S COVE Cove Web site From Page 32 Proposed 2019-budget -- A draft budget for the Cove property owner association has been posted on the member section of the Web site. It’s accessible by clicking a link in a post by Wilder on the message board. If a visitor to the site overlooks Wilder’s post, there is no obvious way to access the draft budget.

The draft budget, still subject to cuts and additions by the Board of Directors, calls for revenues of $5,682,814, a modest increase over the current year’s estimated revenues of $5,593,492. After expenses, the net surplus before capital expenditures (CAPX in budget parlance) is projected at $428,517. After CAPX, the deficit is projected at $328,944.

There is no indication that assessments would have to be increased to fund the additional revenue. The budget is likely to be discussed by the board at its next scheduled meeting, set for the Marina Club at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. Fiber contract -- Wilder has indicated that as of the week of July 14, there is as yet no signed contract

to provide high-speed, fiber-optic Internet service in Captain’s Cove. The board previously authorized negotiations to complete a contract, but that has not yet been finalized, Wilder said. “It should happen in the near future,” he said. Details of the contract and the roll-out of fiber optic installation will be announced in coming weeks, he added.

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38 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

July 2019

Encouraging signs in Ocean Pines

he current management of the Ocean Pines Association is the best in decades, probably ever. One needn’t be in mindless cheerleader mode to notice what’s right with Ocean Pines right now. There’s the excellent start to the fiscal year at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. There’s the $200,000 operating fund surplus in May, the best financial showing in the first month of the fiscal year ever. Golf is showing signs of vigor, aided by decent weather; if only another summer of biblical downpours can be avoided this year. Golfers seem tolerant of the construction zone in the space once occupied by the demolished Country Club, pending construction of a new clubhouse beginning in a month or two. That new clubhouse will be large enough to provide additional meeting space for community groups, not just golfers; but it also will be a venue for tournament banquets that would be catered by the Yacht Club, adding to the bottom line. Capital improvement projects are well under way, ranging from that new golf clubhouse, cart barn, and an expanded police station, even a replacement shop for the Pine’eer Craft Club’s weekend crafts business in White Horse Park. Work is under way to improve drainage and replace bulkheads. Staff appears to be getting a handle on these issues after years of slow or no progress. There’s the steady leadership of General Manager John Viola, and the in-house general-manager in waiting, Colby Phillips, whose current title is Director of Operations. She is the defacto assistant general manager, with indicatios that she is being groomed for the top job when Viola decides he’s ready to retire and she’s ready to step up. Viola has made good use of working groups to take advantage of expertise in the community and on staff to deal with pressing issues. Both the professionals who run the place and the volunteers who provide policy guidance, the Board of Directors, seem to be rowing in the same direction. Both Vio;a and Phillips seem to be willing to share the credit and use the available staff in ways previous management has not always had success in doing. The new marketing and public re-

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

Finance Committee chair Larry Perrone, a candidate for the board An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs this summer, has proposed taking of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. a share of the Replacement Reserve By TOM STAUSS/ By TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher revenue stream -- funded depreciation of OPA assets -- and diverting it vehicles to accumulate in driveways. lations director, Josh Davis, is both each year into the New Capital ReSome offenders have learned that prolific, detailed and coherent in his serve. Once present in the New Capthe system can be gamed by removpress releases; some of his predecesital Reserce, it could be used to pay ing the vehicles when enforcement sors had little mastery over the Enfor deferred new capital improveaction commences, only to bring glish language and communication ments, such as fitness equipment them back when the dust has setwith the membership was not what on the South Pond walking trail or tled. If there is reasonable expectait could have been. a new party-training room at the tion that these offenders might have The Board of Directors has left Sports Core pool. For other examto pay the OPA’s legal expenses if behind the dysfunction of recent ples of projects that could be fundthe alleged violation goes to court, years. Disagreements such as they ed by this reserve, without causing such gaming might diminish or disare -- and there aren’t many -- are an increase in the lot assessment in appear. That, at least, is Daly’s curdealt with civilly. Discussions of new any given year, check the published rent thinking. initiatives, from how to fund an enOPA budget on its Web site and look Of course, what’s good for the visioned new capital reserve fund to for the schedule of unfunded projgoose should also be good for the targeted efforts to reduce or elimiects. gander. Any bylaws change should nate eyesore properties, are reasonThere are a lot of good ideas there also allow property owners to collect ably intelligent and could lead to that have languished for years befrom the OPA should they prevail in some desirable outcomes. cause of a lack of funding. A dynaman enforcement action. Director Frank Daly has been imic community adds to its amenity Amending the bylaws requires pressive with his recent policy sugbase, doesn’t just focus on replacing a referendum vote but in theory gestions and has shown flexibility existing facilities when they wear should be easier than conducting as the conversations continue. Beout. Or maintaining them as they section-by-section referendums ginning with what seemed to some age, which hasn’t been OPA’s strong to amend restrictive covenants. to be an overly aggressive plan to suit over the years. There’s indicaAmending the bylaws can be accomimpose fines on miscreant property tion that that, too, is changing for plished by majority vote of those owners, Daly is now on board with the better. participating in the referendum. exploring less draconian alternaThese unfunded projects are just tives, using tools the OPA already Amending restrictive covenants reideas at this point because there quires the affirmative approval of has to eliminate eyesore properties is little appetite at the board level a majority of the property owners from Ocean Pines. to raise the assessment to pay for in each residential section, a highThere appear to be options availthem. Solve that problem, and some er hurdle to clear, with a possible able for expediting enforcement of these previously unfunded and result that some sections might apactions, including bypassing the desirable projects could be approved. prove the proposed amendments; board of directors entirely in many others might not. instances. There’s also talk of bringAnother recent policy discussion ing back long-time OPA attorney at the board level involves the creJoe Moore and his LOCAL law firm ation of a New Capital Reserve. to handle cases to be filed in the loThe Ocean Pines Progress, a journal The Ocean Pines Association cal court system. There seems to be of news and commentary, is pubhas long been stymied from adding a new appreciation for the potential lished monthly throughout the year. desirable capital improvments bebenefits of using local talent for enIt is circulated in Ocean Pines, Bercause “new capital” is treated as an forcement purposes -- less expense, lin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, operating expense for budgeting and quicker turn-around, and, perhaps, Va. financial reporting purposes. Any better outcomes. new capital projects therefore exert Daly has not totally abandoned 127 Nottingham Lane his original idea, but his current upward pressure on the lot assessOcean Pines, MD 21811 thinking is that if some sort of ref- ment in any year they’re proposed. erendum is needed to give the OPA Board members are often relucPUBLISHER/EDITOR additional “teeth” in its enforcement tant to take any action that exerts Tom Stauss efforts, it may not involve the levy- upward pressure on the lot assessstausstom@gmail.com ing of fines but explicit language in ment. 443-359-7527 There has to be a better way, one the bylaws that would authorize the OPA to collect legal costs incurred in that doesn’t result in higher lot asAdvertising Sales sessments. That better way should enforcing the DRs and guidelines. Frank Bottone This new authorizing language also include imposing controls and 410-430-3660 could be cited by the OPA in asking impediments to prevent a newly a judge to impose the costs of litiga- created New Capital Reserve from CONTRIBUTING WRITER tion to repeat offenders, those few becoming a slush fund to be abused Rota Knott property owners who allow eyesore by future boards. InkwellMedia@comcast.net As a funding source, Budget and properties to persist or abandoned 443-880-3953

July 2019 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 39

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