October early november 2014 ocean pines progress by Ocean Pines Progress

October-Early November 2014

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www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress OPA approves “non-lethal” controls for resident geese It may be time for some Ocean Pines residents to think about moving south – not just for the winter but permanently. At least that’s what Ocean Pines Association officials are hoping will happen. The Board of Directors during its Sept. 27 monthly meeting unanimously approved the use of several supposedly non-lethal methods to try to control the resident Canada goose population at the North Gate and Memorial ponds. ~ Page 9

Community groups complain about Yacht Club policies

It didn’t take long for community and civic groups that are accustomed to using the Ocean Pines Association’s facilities for little or no cost to start complaining about the fees being charged for use of “their” new Yacht Club. Some showed up for the Sept. 27 Board of Directors’ meeting just to ask for the fees to be eliminated, arguing that as property owners they have already paid for the new amenities and shouldn’t now be charged more money to hold events there. ~ Page 15

B&F panel seeks change to reporting on waterfront reserve The Ocean Pines Association’s Budget and Finance Committee is asking for a change in the way that revenue flowing into the OPA’s bulkheads and waterways reserve is reported in the reserve summary that is part of the OPA’s monthly financial documents. The request was addressed during the Board of Directors’ regular monthly meeting Sept. 27, but with no motion presented to implement it. The committee’s board liaison, OPA Treasurer Jack Collins, said the committee would simply “like to know how to implement” the proposed change. ~ Page 23

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Stevens to appoint task force to address capital improvements OPA president indicates that general manager will still be involved with plan development but the board will take control of process and final product By TOM STAUSS Publisher hile General Manager Bob Thompson will continue to have a role in developing a new capital improvement plan for the Ocean Pines Association, OPA President Dave Stevens has indicated that the Board of Directors and a task force to be appointed soon will assume direct control over the process. Stevens’ signaled the board’s primary role during the board’s monthly meeting Sept. 27 when advising his colleagues of a special meeting he was calling for Oct. 18, with the primary agenda item to include discussion of the capital improvement plan. Earlier this year, Thompson was told by former OPA President Tom Terry that the board would be expecting a revised CIP from the general manager in November, and Thompson has previously acknowledged that looming deadline. Stevens said during the Sept. 27 that “the board needs to take over (the CIP process) and get people in the community involved,” as well, but at the same time he said the process would be “in conjunction with the GM and staff.” In a follow-up interview, Stevens reiterated that the process that he envisions does not “marginalize” Thompson and that he doesn’t want the board to “get in the way” of the general manager completing a draft CIP for board review in November, consistent with the direc-

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tive from earlier in the year. In November of last year, Thompson also delivered part two of a draft CIP to the board – it contained a socalled rack and stack of proposed capital projects -- but the directors Dave Stevens under Terry took no action on it. Some of its contents influenced the development of the current year’s capital budget, however, so in a sense it became a working planning document for Thompson, even if not officially approved by the board. Stevens said he didn’t want a recurrence of that this year and to help avoid it, he said he would be appointing a task force or ad hoc committee to oversee the fine-tuning and reformatting of whatever it is that Thompson produces in November. Task force meetings would be open to the OPA membership for input, Stevens said. The OPA president said he was not expecting Thompson to deliver a draft CIP that would be in a format and contain all the detailed information that Stevens thinks should be part of a well-crafted plan.

“He’s had more than three years to develop the kind of plan that I think we need and he hasn’t done it,” Stevens said of the general manager. “There’s no reason to think” that the latest draft iteration of the CIP “will be any different, but let’s wait and see,” he added. The OPA president said he foresees that the task force to be appointed will divide the list of future capital projects that he expects Thompson to deliver in November into two broad categories – major and smaller projects. “That’s a reasonable and good way to go,” he said, adding that some projects will be included in a five-year timeframe while others would be projected out further. Last November’s draft plan did include a timeline for projects up to about ten years but did not break them down into major and smaller categories. Stevens said one way to distinguish major from smaller is to define major as projects that cost $1 million or more. Citing examples of each, he said he expected the proposed reconfiguration of the Manklin Meadows tennis complex would be in the smaller category, while a renovation or reconstruction of the Country Club would be major. The OPA president said a primary responsibility of the task force will be to lay out both engineering and use requirements or justifications for each of the projects included in the CIP, someTo Page 20

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Trash collection contract about to end, new vendors sought

ith its current exclusive contract for residential refuse removal set to expire soon, the Ocean Pines Association is preparing a request for proposals to solicit bids for a new agreement. General Manager Bob Thompson during the Sept. 27 Board of Directors meeting said the existing contract with Waste Management for trash collection will expire at the end of December. He said staff is currently crafting an RFP to solicit bids from companies interested in providing residential trash service within Ocean Pines. He said his goal is to have the RFP out to potential bidders in October. Director Marty Clarke asked if the new RFP will continue to include recycling as an option as part of its residential collection. Thompson responded that it will include recycling as an option for residents. He said he is also intending to look at the opportunity for including commercial refuse collection in the RFP process even though the OPA’s current commercial contract does not expire until April.

OPA to solicit bids for boat ramp project

The Ocean Pines Association just wrapped up seeking bids for the replacement of the White Horse Park boat ramp

OCEAN PINES BRIEFS and piers on Oct. 2. This project replaces the existing boat ramps and piers in White Horse Park off Beauchamp Road in Ocean Pines. The work includes the replacement of the two existing boat ramps; replacement of three existing piers with one new pier and a temporary berthing dock for boats waiting to use the ramps, installation of a new vinyl bulkhead and the construction of a concrete pier with a gangway and floating dock. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said four contractors attended a prebid meeting to receive the bid package consisting of instructions, specifications and design drawings. A contract is expected to be awarded within 60 days and work to start immediately. The project is expected to be complete by Feb. 27, 2015. The total project cost including engineering design and support and construction is estimated at $252,500.

Stevens addresses pending resolutions

One of new OPA President Dave Stevens’ latest projects is to clean up the plethora of pending revisions to existing resolutions of the Board of Directors and proposed new resolutions on which no

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action has been taken. During the Sept. 27 board meeting, Stevens said there are a lot of resolutions that have been brought before the board for consideration but have never gone beyond that point. Some of the resolutions have been on the table a long time with no specific action being taken by the board, Stevens said. “I think it’s important to clean up resolutions,” he said. Stevens cited examples of proposed changes to resolution M-02 regarding the amenities and F-01 on investment policy that are just sitting in limbo. “I would suggest that means a lack of interest on the board’s part,” he said, adding that they all need to be brought to the board for action one way or another. Stevens suggested, and fellow board members concurred, asking Jim Trummel, former chairman of the OPA Bylaws and Resolutions Advisory Committee, to “get them to a point where we can act on them.”

Pines rejects installing golf course lightning rods

Although thieves stole the copper lightning rods that were installed on the “twin pines” on the golf course a few

years ago, the Ocean Pines Association has opted not to replace the devices on the towering trees that flank the 14th hole. General Manager Bob Thompson during the Sept. 27 Board of Directors meeting said staff has spoken with four different companies and cannot find a valid reason why the lightning rods should be replaced. He said the rods could potentially attract more lightning to the twin peaks than allowing the trees to remain without the rods. “A lightning strike to the trees has the potential to kill the trees with or without the rods. Since there is no evidence the rods would protect the trees any more than the trees left alone, the OPA does not plan to replace the rods at this time,” Thompson said in his report. Director Jack Collins, liaison to the Golf Member Council, thanked Thompson for doing his “due diligence” on the issue. He said the best recommendation is to not replace lightning rods that were stolen three or four years ago.

Bid awarded for new marina fuel pumps

Based on a staff recommendation, the Board of Directors has opted not to award a contract to the low bidder for To Page 5

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From Page 3 the replacement of the fuel pumps at the Ocean Pines Association’s Yacht Club marina, instead giving the contract to a mid-range bidder. Three bids were received for replacing the fuel dispensers only. Pier fuel lines from the tanks to the dispensers were deemed to be in excellent condition and are not being replaced at this time. Although not providing the cheapest price, Jones and Frank of Raleigh, N.C., had the more complete bid package than the low bidder. The company’s bid came in at $35,218 while the other two bids were in the range of $30,000 in one case and $40,000 in the other. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said Jones and Frank provided the most responsive bid, differentiating between equipment, installation and training costs. The company also identified key equipment like float sensors, micron filters and dispensing pans.

Appointments made to advisory committees

Several new members and other returning members were appointed to Ocean Pines Association advisory committees at a Sept. 27 Board of Directors meeting. OPA President Dave Stevens reap pointed Les Purcell to the Clubs Adviso-

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS ry Committee for a second term and also appointed two new members, Gary Mille and Donna Hickey, to that committee for their first terms. Stevens also reappointed Steven Cohen for a second term on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and Fred Stiehl for a second term on the Marine Activities Advisory Committee. The appointments were ratified by the directors unanimously.

Maintenance violations sent to attorney for action

The Board of Directors during its Sept. 27 meeting agreed to find two property owners in continuing violation of the Ocean Pines Association’s restrictive covenants and send them to legal counsel for action. The first property at 44 Harbor Mist Circle had issues with trash and debris around the rear of the house and a boat on a trailer parked on the property. The property owners also were said to be behind on their annual property assessment payments by three years. Director Sharyn O’Hare said the property seems to be abandoned and may be in the foreclosure process. She said it is “in horrible shape” and has been a location for squatters for years. Director Marty Clarke offered a motion to find the property in continuing violation and send it to the OPA’s attorney, Joe Moore, to file for an injunction

to enter onto the lot and remove debris, clean up the property and bill the homeowner. At 18 Bridgewater Road the house needs to be painted. Clarke said the owners apparently do not live in Ocean Pines, someone in the family is ill and taking care of the house has been low on the priority list. He offered a motion to find the property in continuing violation and to have Moore send a letter to the property owners regarding the issue and demanding corrective action be taken immediately. “This is one that maybe a letter from Joe will help. There’s no other alternative,” Clarke said. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said he will bring the issue back to the board for further consideration if a letter from the attorney doesn’t resolve the problem. He said the only other option is for the OPA to hire a contractor to paint the house and bill the property owner for the associated cost.

and ran for a first full term but was also defeated in the election. Stevens presented thank you gifts to both ousted board members at the beginning of the meeting. “On behalf of the association I want to thank you for your service,” he told Mohr and Knepper. He said both former directors have been very much involved in the community and will continue to be. Mohr will be appointed to the OPA’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee. Still, during that meeting, Mohr didn’t even offer a smile to Stevens, one of the two directors -- along with Pat Renaud -- who unseated her and Knepper. She just grabbed her certificate and walked out of the board room. Knepper, on the other hand, accepted his parting gift and remained for much of the board meeting. He had been a fixture at board meetings for years prior to being appointed to the board to fill the seat vacated by Dan Stachurski when he moved out of the community.

Presentation made to former directors

OPA may seek proposals from auditors, attorneys

In appreciation for their service, Ocean Pines Association President Dave Stevens recognized two former members of the Board of Directors at the Sept. 27 board meeting. Terri Mohr lost her bid for reelection to the board in the August annual election. Jeff Knepper had been appointed to fill a vacancy on the board

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The Board of Directors has instructed staff to develop a request for proposals for both auditing and attorney’s services for the Ocean Pines Association. Directors declined to appoint either an auditor or attorney so far this year. Instead, during their Sept. 27 monthly

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From Page 5 meeting, they discussed soliciting proposals for those services. Director Tom Terry reminded his colleagues that the issue was first discussed during an organizational meeting of the new board following the August election. He suggested tabling the discussion and working with General Manager Bob Thompson to develop the RFPs for review by the board. The board can then determine whether or not to put out the RFPs. Director Bill Cordwell said an RFP for auditors “is going to be extensive.” He said he does not understand why the board would instruct staff to write such an extensive document before it votes on whether or not to actually move forward with the solicitation process. “I don’t know why we would do all that work,” he said. Terry said the OPA will not be asking for any new services in the RFPs but rather just trying to get proposals from other parties interested in working with the OPA. He said the RFPs will be “steady state,” seeking the same services the OPA currently has from its existing auditors and attorney. In the meantime, both attorney Joe Moore and the TGM auditing firm remain in place.

House Raffle winner

The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department has announced the 2014 Annual Raffle winner, Michael Maclasky of Coatesville, Pa., holder of ticket #1918. Dan Healy, president of the OPVFD, presented Mike and his parents Dave and Deneen the keys to the house built by Brunori Homes in early October.

YC to Host dinner theater Murder mystery Oct. 29

The Ocean Pines Yacht Club will be the scene for an evening of murder, mayhem and marinara at “Mafia Murders Mystery,” a murder mystery dinner theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. This interactive performance by Ovation Dinner Theatre of Ocean View, Del., will have audience members trying to solve the murder of the Godfather of the Clamato crime family - possibly becoming suspects themselves – while enjoying an Italian dinner. “Mafia Murders Mystery” begins as the Clamato family gathers to celebrate the 75th birthday of the Godfather, Don. As family members and friends scheme to take over the Clamato family empire, local “law enforcement” will question likely suspects, all with audience participation.

OCEAN PINES The evening’s menu will include a soup and salad bar featuring Italian wedding soup and garden or Caesar salad and an entrée buffet with chicken marsala, vegetable lasagna, pasta Bolognese, garlic bread and breadsticks. Fresh fruit, tiramisu and coffee will be served for dessert. Doors and the bar will open at 5:30 p.m. The performance, which is open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $38 per person, which includes the performance, dinner, dessert and coffee. Tax, gratuity and cash bar are not included. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the Yacht Club at 410-641-7501.

BJ’s membership special benefits veterans memorial

BJ’s Wholesale Club is once again partnering with the Ocean Pines Association to bring a special membership offer, effective Oct. 13 through Nov. 3, to benefit the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines. In addition to offering special benefits for new and renewing members, BJ’s will donate $5 of each membership fee to the memorial. The offer, which is available to new and renewing members, is not available for purchase online or at any BJ’s location.

Other benefits include receiving $10 off BJ’s $50 Inner Circle membership fee or $20 off the $100 Rewards membership fee, an additional free three months of membership and a free second membership card for a household member. With this offer, 15 months will be added to the expiration date of a current BJ’s membership, regardless of when the membership was last renewed. BJ’s membership applications are available at the Ocean Pines Association administration building or online at www.OceanPines.org. Applications must be returned with payment by Nov. 3.

OPA to host two basketball clinics

Young shooters and dribblers can sign up for two youth basketball clinics hosted by the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department beginning Oct. 11 at the Ocean Pines Community Center. Led by Ocean Pines recreation staff, these clinics are created for beginners and experienced players alike. Little Shooters, for children ages 4 to 6, offers an introduction to the basics of basketball. Participants will learn dribbling, passing and shooting as well as the basic rules of the game in a non-compet-

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OCEAN PINES OCEAN PINES BRIEFS From Page 6 itive environment. This program will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with a second session scheduled to begin on Jan. 10. The cost for six classes is $40 for Ocean Pines residents and $50 for non-residents. For children ages 7 to 14, Hoopsters is designed to help beginners and advanced players improve their skills. Participants will learn the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and shooting as well as game strategy and rules. Each session will include skills and drills, progressing to scrimmage games.

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 7

Library donation

This program will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a second session scheduled to begin on Jan. 10. The cost for 6 classes is $40 for Ocean Pines residents and $50 for non-residents. These programs are open to the public, and registration is required. Participants are asked to dress in comfortable clothing and wear athletic shoes. For more information or to register, call the Ocean Pines Recreation & Parks Department at 410-641-7052. Information regarding additional recreational programs, including an online version of the Ocean Pines Fall 2014 Activity Guide, is available at www.OceanPines.org.

The Republican Women of Worcester County recently presented a check for $300 to Showell Elementary School for the “Paper Back Book Library Project” established by the club. Shown in the School’s Courtyard are Principal Diane Shorts, center; Sandy West, left; and Sharon Byerly, RWWC literacy chair.

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8 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer t may be time for some Ocean Pines residents to think about moving south – not just for the winter but permanently. At least that’s what Ocean Pines Association officials are hoping will happen. The Board of Directors during its Sept. 27 monthly meeting unanimously approved the use of several supposedly non-lethal methods to try to control the resident Canada goose population at the North Gate and Memorial ponds. Based on a recommendation from the OPA’s Environmental and Natural Assets Advisory Committee, which has been working in conjunction with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Director Marty Clarke made a motion to implement three methods of goose control. Director Sharyn O’Hare offered a second to Clarke’s motion to move forward with

OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014

OPA approves use of ‘non-lethal’ controls to curb goose population Nest disturbance, monofilament lines, and sprays are designed to encourage waterfowl to relocate the purported non-lethal controls. “We are no longer able to turn a blind eye to the damage being caused by the resident goose population in our community. The situation has become unsafe. This past summer our Memorial Pond was posted by the county after being alerted by Assateague Coastal Trust for unsafe and hazardous water quality,”

Clarke said. OPA President Dave Stevens called it a three-pronged approach. “It’s a positive approach,” he said. Director Tom Terry said the board is simply supporting what the advisory committee and staff has already agreed is the best approach to goose control. He said it is important for the board to do

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so publically given the outcry about the potential elimination of the geese. “If there was ever an issue last year that got out of hand, it was what we are or are not going to do to the geese,” Terry said. “This board needs to provide public support to what’s going on here.” Last year, Terry said one line in a committee’s report to the board “led to a six month saga.” As approved by the board, Clarke’s motion directs the staff to “support and encourage the valuable efforts” of the advisory committee, MCBP and the Ocean Pines Public Works Department to improve the water quality of the ponds. The first and most important steps to doing that are outlined in the committee’s proposal for purported non-lethal control measures for non-migratory Canada geese in Ocean Pines, Clarke said. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson was caught off guard by Clarke’s motion, saying that while staff is aware of the committee’s proposal, it hasn’t had time to determine how to best implement it. “This actually is being put in earlier than I thought,” he told the board. He said from the staff ’s viewpoint the goose control issue should be part of a larger To Page 10

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Goose control From Page 8 look at everything that needs to be done to improve water quality in the ponds. “We wanted to make sure we understood it all before we moved forward,” Thompson said. The committee, Clarke and the board, however, want action sooner rather than later. Clarke’s motion calls for the OPA to enter into an agreement with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to treat, remove and destroy Canada goose nests to help control the resident population. Part of that process involves destroying the goose eggs, effectively killing the ability for the babies to hatch. The eggs can essentially be “scrambled” by shaking them, puncturing the shell, freezing them or smothering them in corn oil. Harassment is also a part of the nest disturbance process; if the geese feel threatened then they will move to another locations to nest, according to the theory. The estimated cost of nest disturbance is $3,400 and would be included in the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget for implementation next spring. The control methods include creating a no-mow area and installing appropriate landscaping around the North Gate and Memorial ponds to help discourage geese from frequenting the ponds, and installing monofilament lines around the perimeter of the ponds to block easy access to the birds. The purpose of the almost invisible monofilament line – essentially a fishing line – is to keep geese from walking into the water or resting along the shoreline, but will also keep other critters from enjoying the same privileges. In public areas line the Ocean Pines ponds, which are frequented by residents and their pets, disturbances in the lines are common and could allow the geese to move through anyway. However, the lines can entangle birds and other animals and become a trip hazard in public areas. Thompson said he is concerned about installing the monofilament line around the heavily used pond around pond, be-

cause it could become a tripping hazard, especially for children. Since geese prefer short green grass to snack on, creating the no-mow zone will disturb their meals and encourage them to feed elsewhere. The estimated cost of the no-mow zone and monofilament line is $1,800. Thompson said staff needs to investigate what types of plantings to install around the ponds in the no-mow zone to discourage geese from congregating there. He said there are other issues to address, too, such as how this will fit in with maintenance and how tall the grass should be kept. “All those things have an impact,” he said. “It’s going to have some impact, no question about it,” Clarke said of the control measures, but he said the alternative is to have the pond posted as being unsafe because of the nutrients from goose droppings making their way into the water. The third approach to non-lethal goose control is to apply a product called “Flight Control” to about two acres of land near the Veterans Memorial to test its effectiveness. The spray will both make the grass taste bad to the geese and give it an unappealing visual appearance to them. The cost of the product if applied by public works should be less than $500. Last year the OPA board asked the advisory committee to develop a non-lethal plan to help control the fast growing population of resident geese. “We now have the results of their efforts in our hands and we need to act to support their efforts. Many of these control methods will need to be reaped yearly,” Clarke said. Stevens said staff will still need to develop a plan for implementing the goose control measures. However, the board didn’t need to wait for the details of that plan before approving the motion to move forward with the multi-level approach to goose control. Whether opponents of what was presented last year will be any more supportive of some of these ideas, and whether they truly will be seen as non-lethal, remains to be seen.

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Aquatics Committee gets its way, pool repairs slated to begin this fall

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer n response to concerns about the ability of contractors to completely resurface the Mumford’s Landing and Swim and Racquet Club swimming pools before the start of the 2015 summer season, the Ocean Pines Association has opted to start some of the work this fall. The OPA has solicited a request for proposals for contracts to repair both pools, with bids due on Oct. 17. During an early September meeting, members of the Aquatics Advisory Committee expressed worry that if the OPA waited until the spring to start the projects that the work might not be done by the annual Memorial Day weekend opening of the pools, especially if additional problems were discovered prior to the completion of the work. The Board of Directors backed those concerns and asked staff to investigate the matter further to determine if some of the preparatory work including removing the existing pool coating could be done this fall. General Manager Bob Thompson initially balked at the idea but relented after the board specifically instructed him to talk with pool contractors and determine whether or not the work could be started in the fall and finished when the weather improves in the spring. During the board’s Sept. 27 monthly meeting, he said an RFP (request for proposals) was being circulated for the pool work that includes starting the first phase as soon as possible this fall. Thompson said that putting out an RFP would allow the contractors to “get everything prepped and ready to go for spring application of Diamond Brite” surface on the pools. He said aquatics, public works and other staff worked collaboratively to agree upon the work process and to craft a suitable RFP for solicitation of contractors to perform the work in a timely fashion. Subsequent to the online posting of the RFP, OPA staffers conducted a walkthrough of the two pools with interested bidders on Oct. 3. From the OPA, the walk-through included Thompson, Facilities Manager Jerry Aveta, Public Works Director Eddie Wells and Public Works staffers Nobie Violente and Clint Parks, as well as aquatics committee members Virginia Reister, the chair, and Gary Miller. Four pool companies were represented during the walk-through, and there could be as many as five companies that submit proposals by the Oct.

17 deadline. Last month the Aquatics Advisory Committee said that it was afraid that the work might not be done in time to have the pools open by Memorial Day weekend if it doesn’t start until next spring. The committee argued that the pool surfaces could be fully abraded down to the concrete and prepped this year, and then in the spring all the contractors will need to do is apply a bond coat and, over that, a Diamond Brite finish.

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From Page 11 The committee also called for the Mumford’s pool to be pressure-tested this fall, to determine whether there are any other previously undiscovered issues that need to be addressed. The Swim and Racquet Club pool was rebuilt several years ago and is believed to be in good condition, without issues other than the failed resurfacing of recent years resulting, in the committee’s opinion, from failure to keep the pool filled over the winter, as well as poor initial application of plaster. Initially, Thompson said it may be better to wait until the spring to do all of the work. He said it might not be a good idea to remove the existing plaster surface while waiting to apply the new surfaces in the spring. He also said he wasn’t sure if the pools could or should be partially filled for the off-season if the surface was fully abraded down to the concrete. But after talking with contractors, the OPA determined that it is OK to complete the pool repairs in two phases. Aveta told members of the aquatics committee at their meeting in early October that both pools would be filled over the winter once the full abrasion of existing surfaces had been completed. Currently, the OPA’s two other outdoor pools, at the Beach Club and Yacht Club, have been winterized and are filled, consistent with an aquatics committee recommendation from last year.

The project RFP specifies that the first phase of the work will begin as soon as possible after the contract is awarded in late October. The initial phase consists of removing the existing pool tiles, lane markers and the entire plaster finish down to the concrete base. The second phase is supposed to be completed in the spring no later than April 1 and includes retiling, repairs to the pools and decking, bond coating and application of the Diamond Brite finish coat. The pools will then be filled and prepared for seasonal operations. At Mumford’s Landing, the repairs involve the family pool, wading pool and deck and include removing the tiles, lane markers and plaster finish. The contactor will identify the existing expansion joint that has been plastered over and believed to be located under a crack that runs across the pool near the transition to the deepest part of the amenity. It will perform a pressure test to determine the source of a leak and will repair all identified leaks in the system including the fill spout to save water and reduce costs. The RFP also says the contractor should repair all cracks in the pool walls including those stemming from the pool skimmers and fixing the pool settlement in the far right corner looking from the shallow end to the deep end, which has dropped about an inch along the pool edge.

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Pool repairs From Page 12 Phase two at the Mumford’s Landing pool involves replacing all of the pool tiles including those required for a transition line on either side of the uncovered expansion joint and applying the bond coat and a new coat of Diamond Brite plaster to both the zero entry baby pool and family pool. At the Swim and Racquet Club, the project includes repairs to the family pool and deck including removing tiles, lane markers and plaster finish. The

RFP called for changing the ladders by installing wall treads and top railings, reinstalling swim blocks so they line up evenly and repairing the expansion joint in the first phase of the work. The second phase involves replacing the handicapped entry chair for a pole that swings either way, replacing all tiles and applying the bond coating and a new coat of Diamond Brite. Once all that repair and resurfacing work is completed at both pools next year, the OPA will solicit bids for covers for them. The board has made the decision that

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covers should be purchased for all pools as they are refurbished in order to protect the new surface. Thompson said staff is “very pleased” with the cover that the association purchased for the new pool at the Yacht Club. Covering the pools will also negate the ongoing debate about whether it is better to drain the pools at the end of each season or to allow water to remain in them. One argument for draining the pools has been safety issues and the potential for people to fall into the pools unnoticed. Covering the pools will allow the OPA to retain water in them on a year round basis and address the safety issues as well. Diamond Brite warranties are voided if pools are not kept filled over the winter months. Thompson said the Mumford’s Landing and Swim and Racquet Club pools will be drained of water this winter for the repair work, but once the new Diamond Brite finish is applied in the spring, the OPA will keep the pools filled and covered. OPA Director Marty Clarke pressed Thompson on whether the two pools would be filled this winter after the completion of the phase one work. Clarke received an answer that he regarded as less than definitive. Aveta said the pools would be filled after phase one this winter when asked about it during the aquatics’ committee

meeting in early October. In other aquatics news, Thompson said the OPA is not pleased with the results of the new splash pad that was constructed at the Swim and Racquet Club this spring. “We are just not satisfied with the work that was accomplished there,” he said, adding that both aquatics and public works department staff have evaluated the site and determined deficiencies that need to be addressed at that site by next spring. While initially the tank that provides water for the splash pad required manual filling by the lifeguards after it ran out of water, adjustments to the tank later in the summer for the most part fixed that problem. But even then, the grade of the splash pad draws water off the deck into the grass surrounding the pad or allows it to pool, rather than channeling it to the drain that refills the tank and then circulates water to the splash pad features. In addition, what was supposed to be a non-slip deck surface has proven not to be. . Thompson indicated that the repairs most likely would be executed by a company other than the one that did the initial installation. The aquatics committee was informed at its meeting in early October that the installer has not received payment for the work performed other than an initial down payment.

OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

Community groups complain about Yacht Club use policies

Stevens gives general manager a little time to work out a solution before the board gets involved the decision of specific groups, which he said had their own reasons for holding their special events at alternate locations. “I will tell you that we have looked very closely at our pricing,” he said, adding that staff is evaluating reducing fees or setting concessions for community groups.

Thompson said staff has completed a comparative analysis of fees charged by other venues and found that the Yacht Club pricing is in line is with that of similar vendors. The problem, he said, is that groups in Ocean Pines are “used to being significantly below” that of other venues. “That’s why we have had financial issues,” he said, adding, “It’s just a hard

pill to swallow …” The $250 fee that irritates community groups is a charge for use of the banquet room, and covers the cost of set-up, break-down and cleaning. Thompson said the cost to turn over the banquet room is expensive because the work to do so is very labor intensive. “That fee is being charged at other venues in one fashion or another,” Thompson said. One potential customer suggested including the fee in the over-

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer t didn’t take long for community and civic groups that are accustomed to using the Ocean Pines Association’s facilities for little or no cost to start complaining about the fees being charged for use of “their” new Yacht Club. Some showed up for the Sept. 27 Board of Directors’ meeting just to ask for the fees to be eliminated, arguing that as property owners they have already paid for the new amenities and shouldn’t now be charged more money to hold events there. “I think it’s morally wrong to charge Ocean Pines Association clubs to use the Yacht Club when we built it,” Doris Lloyd, a former OPA president, said. She said many other venues will not impose a non-profit organization a fee for use of a room and they charge less for meals. Lloyd said the OPA needs to decide soon how it plans to handle the fees for use of the facility because many groups are trying to book events now for next year. “You have got to make a decision on what you’re going to do,” she said. “You’re going to lose a lot of other organizations going other places.” A visibly agitated Anna Foultz told the board, “I’m getting so upset over this.” She said she has been trying to schedule a holiday event for her bridge club and was told she would have to pay $250 just for use of the room. “We live here and we would appreciate if you could do something about it,” Foultz told the board., adding, “We want to use our yacht club and get together and have some fun… because we love this place. But please don’t charge us so much money.” “I feel it was built for and by the people here and should be for their use,” Marion Novack said of the Yacht Club. The primary issue is a $250 fee for use of the banquet room on the second floor of the Yacht Club. But potential customers are going elsewhere for other reasons, too, and directors want to know why. Director Marty Clarke said both the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce and an Ocean Pines golf group opted to have their upcoming events at other venues even though the OPA has a shiny new building. “What’s going on?” he asked. Director Tom Terry had a “very direct message” to the Chamber, saying, “When somebody invests $4 million in your back yard, you don’t go somewhere else to save a couple of dollars per plate. To me that’s utterly ridiculous.” Clarke told Terry that he had not talked with the chamber to find out what happened. “It was a huge difference in cost,” Clarke said, adding, “The Marlin Club isn’t cheap and they don’t cater to cheapskates” and yet that’s where the Chamber chose to have its annual dinner instead of at the Yacht Club. Thompson declined to comment on

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Yacht Club From Page 15 all pricing for hosting an event, he added. Thompson said the Yacht Club has also restructured its price points for offering food to community groups. “Our food costs are higher for community groups to come, which means were making less money,” he said. Yet, the OPA has to charge enough to cover the cost to operate. If the overall revenue generated by an event is “high enough” including the bar bill, the OPA may waive the $250 room fee, Thompson said. But he didn’t elaborate on that revenue benchmark. Despite such adjustments, the OPA clubs, community groups and other OPA organizations are still expressing dissatisfaction with pricing. Thompson said this area will be closely monitored and evaluated to determine if any further pricing concessions should be considered. OPA President Dave Stevens said there are really two issues: pricing of the Yacht Club to have a strong financial performance and providing a service to the community. “This is their facility and want to use it,” he said of the clubs and organiza-

tions. “Management has to be given an opportunity to work that out” before the board becomes involved. The board would only become involved if there is a need for a policy decision, Stevens said. “We have to look at the longer term perspective.” Thompson said the Yacht Club wants the community’s business but it is only still a new operation and everyone is trying to learn the best, most efficient way to function. He said not everyone will be happy with management’s decisions. “That’s business,” but he said he would continue to hear their concerns. Still, he said, if the pricing is the same between alternative venues, residents should use their own venue. Overall, Thompson said Yacht Club revenue has exceeded budget projections for the fourth month in a row while expenses have continued to improve. Bottom line performance for the first four months of operations has been favorable. He said fall event business looks strong and regular dining has started to fall off as expected this time of year. Hours of operations have been scaled back following the Labor Day weekend closing on Monday and Tuesday. New fall menus have been introduced along with weekend football specials.

Harbor Village residents still fed up with lack of pond upkeep by OPA Call for return of fountain and debris, dead tree and phragmites clean-up By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer esidents of Harbor Village want to know why the fountain was removed from their entrance pond by the Ocean Pines Association years ago and never returned or replaced, and why the OPA has been negligent in its upkeep of several stormwater management ponds located in the community. During the Sept. 27 regular monthly meeting of the OPA Board of Directors, a handful of Harbor Village residents spoke up during the public comments segment regarding the apparent lack of interest by the OPA in their stormwater ponds. Christopher and Debra Klau live directly across from one of the ponds. Debra Klau said the pond is in deplorable

condition, filling up with dead trees, debris and trash and no one –other that she and her husband – ever clean it out. “The trash constantly goes through there and out into the river,” she said, adding that the only person who ever responded to their letter to the OPA about the condition of the ponds was Director Jack Collins, also a resident of Harbor Village. “When I sit on my front porch, I gotta’ see a dead tree and I have to look at all of the dead crap that’s floating around in the pond,” Christopher Klau said. Following a severe storm, he said he had to personally remove parts of a broken dock from the pond because the OPA never came to do so. In a series of emails to OPA General

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From Page 16 Manager Bob Thompson, the Klaus and other Harbor Village residents queried him about the status of the fountain, some even offering to help foot the bill for replacing it if cost was a factor in the decision not to install a new one. They also consented to pony up funds to pay for cleanup and landscaping if that would spur the OPA into action. In their August letter, the Klaus said the first pond at the entrance to Harbor Village initially had a fountain when it was developed, similar to the fountain in the pond on Ocean Parkway by the golf course. They said they would like to have it repaired or replaced. “If the pond is too shallow to allow a fountain to function properly, then we respectfully request that the pond be dredged to an adequate depth. If funding is an issue, we would welcome the opportunity to participate in the costs involved,” the couple said. Another Harbor Village pond and the surrounding property at the intersection of Boatswain Drive and Skyline Court is in bad condition, according to the Klaus. “It is extremely unsightly and poorly maintained. We would like to have it properly landscaped, dead trees removed and replaced, signs posted around the

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

From Page 18 pond for pet owners to pick up after their pets, like the signs at the entrance pond, and a “No Dumping” sign posted along the tree line,” the letter said. They argued that the current condition of this area reflects poorly on the community and has a negative effect on home values and the overall impression of Ocean Pines. They volunteered again to help pay any expenses. “We would be more than willing to cover the costs involved with this clean up and landscaping project if Ocean Pines would supply the signs, install them and maintain the property after the project.” Finally, they said there is an area at the end of Skyline Court that looks like that it might have once been some kind of pond. However, in the eight years they have lived in Harbor Village it has never held any water, they said, and is currently just an overgrown mess that should be filled in, landscaped and properly maintained. “We believe these are reasonable requests that will enhance the beauty of our community and, with our financial support, will have a minimal impact on the Ocean Pines budget,” they said. Bill and Evelyn Schaub in a July email to Thompson said they have been residents of Harbor Village for 17 years, and when they first purchased their property there was a “beautiful fountain

at our entrance pond.” Several years ago it was removed by the Ocean Pines Association for repairs, and it has never been returned, they said. “The purpose of the fountain was to keep our pond clean and was a focal point of our development. We feel that the fountain had a positive effect on our property values. We would appreciate your help in getting our fountain back,” they said. Chuck Cross in an August email to Thompson said he and his wife moved into Harbor Village in 1997. “At that time and for many years after, we enjoyed coming into our development and seeing a nice fountain in our pond. Sometime after that our fountain was removed. I have no idea where it went and why it was not returned.” Thompson claims the Harbor Village fountain malfunctioned because the pond isn’t deep enough to support a fountain and should never have had one to begin with. “Obviously, the stormwater management ponds create some challenges for our community as a whole,” he said during the Sept. 27 meeting. He said the fountain in question in Harbor Village was always a problem. “The fountain consistently broke down because the pond is not deep enough for that type of fountain.” He said the problem is the depth – or lack of it – of the pond. Because it is shallow, the fountain

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20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October - Early November 2014 try Club. Capital improvements Although he did not expand on how

From Page 1 thing he said the draft CIP from last November did not do. “Some of that engineering work has already been done, so it’s not reinventing the wheel,” he said, adding that this part of the CIP would settle the question of whether, for example, a new Country Club can be justified given the current structure’s condition. On the use side of the equation, Stevens said the question needs to be asked if, once a facility is remodeled or rebuilt, whether its use will change from its original purpose. “We need to ask whether we have to do something different, given changes in the population or needs,” and that as a result of those kinds of questions a decision is made to add pickleball courts to the tennis complex,” he said. For the new Yacht Club, Stevens said those kinds of questions were not asked and answered to his satisfaction, and he asserted that he did not want the same thing to occur with respect to the Coun-

that concern might affect decisions relative to the Country Club, one question that might be posed is whether the Country Club needs to be rebuilt or remodeled to existing specs or whether a smaller, one-story pro shop/snack bar configuration could replace what’s there now. Stevens said he believes the “use issue” was not properly addressed before the new Yacht Club was built, an opinion to which he acknowledged Thompson would no doubt disagree. “The engineering and use justifications for the new Yacht Club as built was feeble,” Stevens said. “He (Thompson) would probably say that we were building for the future, but we’re not going

OCEAN PINES to have tons of new people coming into Ocean Pines.” Stevens has said that perhaps a one-story Yacht Club would have sufficed, but that was not the prevailing view at the time. The consensus among most decision-makers in Ocean Pines was that to revive the OPA’s banquet business, there needed to be a separate venue for it, and the two-story Yacht Club makes it possible to host banquets at the same time as regular dining. Stevens said that going forward, the Country Club and Beach Club amenities will probably be at the top of the list of amenities that receive much of the CIP planning focus. “Both are in pretty bad shape,” he said, “but neither are in danger of col-

lapse.” He said the OPA historically has not done a good job with general maintenance, and both the Country Club and Beach Club show evidence of it. “Very little maintenance has been done at the Country Club in particular,” he said, while there have been some improvements at the Beach Club in recent years, including new HVAC equipment and flooring on the upper level and some cosmetic upgrades to the lower level bathrooms. Stevens said developing and approving a CIP should be among the highest priorities of the new board and that doing so clearly falls into the policy-making function of the board. “It’s up to us to do this,” he said. “It’s not up to Bob (Thompson) to be making policy determinations. That’s our job.”

Harbor Village From Page 19 couldn’t draw enough water, instead sucking up muck that damaged it, the general manager said. As for the dead tree, debris and general trash, he said he was not aware of those problems. He said the ponds are there to retain stormwater, and when there is a dry season the vegetation can suffer. Thompson said he has already spoken with Worcester County officials about the problem and the depth of the pond cannot be increased, and that is the only way it could support a fountain. “Stormwater holding ponds aren’t required to have any elements to move the water,” he said regarding the fountain. Collins asked what can be done to improve the situation. “What we’re looking for is a resolution to a problem in a very nice community where certain ponds are the responsibility of OPA,” he said. He said residents are asking for a new fountain and a resolution to the growth of invasive phragmites at the three ponds and maintenance of them on regular basis. “What we’re looking for from the general manager is an update to determine what action is going to be taken,” Collins said. The issue of Harbor Village pond maintenance and the missing fountain isn’t a new one. OPA Director Jack Collins tried several months ago to get Thompson to address the problem of maintaining the Harbor Village ponds. Collins at the time said he felt like he was personally attacked by the general manager at the meeting during a discussion of drainage issues in the community. During a meeting he questioned Thompson about the issue, and the general manager snapped back saying he doesn’t give preferential treatment to board members.

25 26

OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

THERE IS NOTHING FAIR ABOUT “FAIR SHARE” Maryland State Senate Bill 264 Gov. O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Brown, with the assistance of their political supporters in the Maryland State House and Maryland State Senate, crafted the so-called “Fair Share” Act (S.B. 264) in order to circumvent an existing Maryland law which prohibits Maryland workers from being compelled to join a union. The result of the “Fair Share” legislation was that state government employees were forced into a union that was selected by Gov. O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Brown, and then forced to pay union dues to that union. The “Fair Share” legislation allowed this to be done without the consent of state employees. After “Fair Share” was imposed, each state employee’s paycheck had a new deduction line listed on it that reads – “Union Dues” – which then shows the amount of money deducted from that state employee’s paycheck which goes directly to the union. Jim Mathias is a supporter of the “Fair Share” legislation. Under “Fair Share,” millions of dollars have been taken from state employees in the form of forced union dues, where this money is then cycled back into the political system by the union in the form of political contributions to favored state legislators. The money taken from state employees as forced union dues could have been used by state employees to pay mortgages, rent, child care, senior care, and other living expenses that we all have. This may seem like only one issue, and only one piece of legislation, but it is representative of the attitude and actions taken by politicians who use the legislative process for their own political gain. Our non-partisan group, Maryland State Employees Opposed To “Fair” Share, consists of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, all united around this one important issue because we believe that it represents a clear abuse and misuse of the legislative process which can affect all Maryland residents. Help bring responsibility and true fairness back to our state government.

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22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014

WANTED

Board eyes reserve study favorably, but for next year’s budget

amended motion passed unanimously. Clarke justified his initial motion by citing what he called one of the board’s primary responsibilities, maintenance of OPA assets. He said contributions from assessments account for more than 40 percent of the OPA’s annual budget. He cited Benny L. Kass, a respected attorney for homeowner associations who writes for the Washington Post and serves on a housing council in the district, as advocating HOA reserve studies every five years, with annual updates. He noted that the OPA last conducted such a study in July of 2008, more than six years ago, and that the previous one was conducted in June of 2002. In both cases, the study was conducted by a firm called Engineering and Technical Consultants. When Director Sharyn O’Hare noted that funding a reserve study is not included in this year’s budget, something she said Clarke usually opposes, Clarke responded that he’d “do it now” despite the lack of funding. OPA President Dave Stevens said that while the Parke sub-association of

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By TOM STAUSS Publisher hile Director Marty Clarke seemed more than willing to authorize an RFP (request for proposals) immediately for a reserve study, something he said is at least a year overdue, in the end the Board of Directors voted unanimously to direct the general manager to include funding for such a study in next year’s budget. Clarke raised the issue of conducting a reserve study -- a budget planning tool which identifies the current status of association reserve funds and the funding plan in place to offset ongoing deterioration – during the Sept. 27 regular monthly meeting of the board. A reserve study normally consists of two parts, a physical analysis of capital assets by competent engineers and a financial analysis by certified number crunchers. Clarke offered a motion that would have had the board instruct the general manager to initiate a reserve study, but it was amended to direct him to include funding for it in the draft budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16 to be delivered to the board for review late this year. The

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Budget and Finance panel asks for change in reporting waterfront reserve revenues General manager pushes back against the proposal, citing certain legal ramifications that he didn’t explain, but the board gives him 30 days to present a convincing case for why it should not be implemented By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association’s Budget and Finance Committee is asking for a change in the way that revenue flowing into the OPA’s bulkheads and waterways reserve is reported in the reserve summary that is part of the OPA’s monthly financial documents. The request was addressed during the Board of Directors’ regular monthly meeting Sept. 27, but with no motion presented to implement it. The committee’s board liaison, OPA Treasurer Jack Collins, said the committee would simply “like to know how to implement” the proposed change. It was initially proposed by committee member Gene Ringsdorf in August and endorsed by the full committee at

its September meeting. OPA President Dave Stevens said the board could vote on the proposal as early as its regular meeting in November, un-

less OPA General Manager Bob Thompson can present the “cons,” or reasons why it shouldn’t be. Thompson attempted to do just that during the Sept. 27 meeting. In a Sept. 22 memo to the board from committee chair Pat Supik, she noted that the bulkhead and waterways reserve had ballooned to $1.4 million, as of Aug. 31. The memo did not address the amount shown in the reserve, which is about $600,000 more than is collected and spent most years as part of the 35year bulkhead replacement program. Her memo noted that there are three

From Page 22 which he once served as president conducts reserve studies every two years, and they are “very valuable,” he could only support one for the OPA if it was funded in next year’s budget. “Nothing will fall down” in Ocean Pines in the meantime, he said. Director Tom Terry then proposed amending the motion to include the reserve study in next year’s budget and for the general manager to initiate it next year. The amendment carried as did the amended motion.

primary purposes for the bulkhead and waterways reserve – maintenance and replacement of member-owned bulkheads, maintenance of OPA-owned waters and canals, and maintenance and replacement of OPA-owned bulkheads. The memo said that the funds collected for the maintenance/replacement of member-owned bulkheads – that’s the so-called waterfront differential, the difference in the annual base lot assessment and the assessment paid by owners of most bulkheaded private-held lots in Ocean Pines -- are not intended to be

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24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

would be divided into two columns, one for activity related to OPA-owned assets and the other for member-owned bulkheads. According to the memo, this proposed change in the reserve summary will provide for greater transparency and “clarifies the adequacy of the reserves” for the two distinct purposes for which revenue is collected. Stevens said he wanted a recommendation on how to implement the proposal from Thompson, who initially seemed

less than enamored with it. He noted that the OPA is at the end of the 35-year bulkhead replacement program, with only two years left of “minor” repairs or replacement, but he didn’t explain why the status of that program is related to the way revenues and expenditures from the bulkhead and waterways reserve are reported on the reserve summary Thompson then said the board needs “legal input” into the issue and suggested that the issue wouldn’t be resolved in 30 days. He said he was researching the rationale for why revenue collected from the base assessment and waterfront differential are essentially combined or blended in the reserve summary. Stevens, however, didn’t seem to buy the notion that Thompson couldn’t complete his research into the matter within 30 days. While conceding he didn’t know all of the potential complications of adopting the committee recommendation, the OPA president advised the general manager to include the results of his research – or as he put, the proposal’s “cons” – in his next general manager’s report to the board. “I don’t see why you can’t have it at the next meeting,” Stevens said, adding that, without objection from other directors, he wanted Thompson to “produce (his) comments” in time for board action on the proposal in November. No director raised an objection to the deadline.

October - Early November 2014

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Members and guests of the Ocean Pines Boat Club enjoyed a beautiful day at their Clam Picnic on Sept. 20, at White Horse Park in Ocean Pines. Pictured are volunteers who helped make the event a success.

Waterfront reserve From Page 23 used to maintain or replace OPA-owned bulkheading or canals in common areas. That specific earmarking is distinguished from other reserve funds, the memo said. In addition, roughly $19 per year is collected from every base lot assessment for use to maintain or replace OPAowned bulkheading or other purposes related to the waterways and canals.

Because of these two separate and distinct revenue flows into the bulkhead and waterways reserves, with specific restricted purposes for each, the committee is suggesting a change in the way these revenues are displayed on the reserve summary. In short, the committee wants both revenue streams to be shown in the reserve summary – contributions from base assessment in one instance and waterfront differential revenue in the other. The bulkhead and waterways reserve

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board approves shift to more inclusive racquet sports committee

chairman of the tennis advisory committee, representatives of both platform tennis and pickleball as well as board and staff members. The motion provides for all three primary racquet sports to help the general manager in the day to day management of those sports in Ocean Pines, and for representatives from all three sports to assist the board in its deliberations on issues related to those amenities. The resolution states that the Racquet Sports Advisory Committee will advise the board of directors on tennis, platform tennis, and pickleball matters and aid in promoting the successful operation of all racquet sport activities. As part of the motion the terms of all current members of the TAC were terminated with creation of the new more inclusive committee. The resolution specifies that the committee, in fulfilling its tasks, will help devise methods of promoting interest in racquet sports at the Racquet Sports Complex at Manklin Meadows and give input on policies and operations. It will also help with the development of budget proposals on programs, activities, facilities, and staff as it pertains to racquet sports activities and recommend rules and regulations including conduct and dress codes. The committee will monitor

the condition, care, and maintenance of the racquet sports facilities and offer advice to the board and racquet sports professional of any specific problems or concerns. Committee members will be appointed by the OPA president, with the consent of the board. The committee will

have between six and nine members and, according to the resolution, should represent an equal balance from the three primary racquet sports of tennis, platform tennis, and pickleball. The committee chairman will be appointed by the board and serve for a two-year

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By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer s a way to incorporate input from members of tennis, platform tennis and pickleball clubs, the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors has created a Racquet Sports Advisory Committee. The committee, a restructured version of the previous Tennis Advisory Committee, will advise the board on racquet sports matters and aid in promoting the successful operation of all racquet sports activities. During the Sept. 27 regular monthly meeting of the board, Director Tom Terry offered a motion that the board accept for second reading and approve a revised OPA resolution C-14, to disband the TAC and form the new committee. Directors approved the motion unanimously. Terry was adamant in saying that the resolution simply shifts the former TAC to become the expanded Racquet Sports Advisory Committee. “It does not create a separate or new committee,” he said. Representatives of the tennis, platform tennis and pickleball clubs have already been working together to develop and support a migration to a racquet sports complex at Manklin Meadows, including the development of more courts. This effort has included the current

26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

October - Early November 2014

OCEAN PINES

Elections Committee suggests changes to ID cards, proxy distribution

the 2014 Elections Committee suggested that the OPA identification cards be changed to contain the name of the OPA member plus the section and lot number on the card. The committee said it was an improvement to have the member’s picture on the card, but unless a scanner is available, the barcode is a useless tool for processing identification. Currently, the committee must request a second form of identification from property

owners in order to verify their identity. The committee also recommended that the OPA replace its paper proxy ballot with an electronic proxy unless otherwise requested by the property owner. The 2014 election had 46 ballots that could not be counted because they were inadvertently placed in a proxy envelope by the member. Another suggestion made by the committee was to revise the letter sent to property owners regarding voting eligibility and payment of annual dues. It recommended including language in the

Racquet sports From Page 25 term. Every effort should be made to rotate the chair position to represent the three primary racquet sports, the resolution states. Proposed members of the new committee are former tennis members Chairman John McNult, three-year term, Leslie Shippee, two-year term, and Bill Rakow, one-year term; platform tennis members Tom Herrix, three-year term, Diane Harris, two-year term, and Scotty Wheatley, one-year term; and pickleball members Frank Cramer, three-year term, Julia Wolf, two-year term, and Bob O’Malley, one-year term.

letter stating that “no member may vote if 35 days prior to the voting deadline the member has failed to pay the annual charge.” Finally the committee asked that the OPA give the chairman of the Elections Committee a copy of the request for proposals for the printing of election materials before it is distributed. The committee said the printer selected to produce the 2014 election materials “overall did an excellent job with the election. He did everything that we requested in the contract.” OPA President Dave Stevens said he intends to review the Elections Committee’s recommendations and consider adopting them. He said he believes that there are a number of issues that the Elections Committee brought up that are valid and should be addressed by the OPA. He said the OPA should “form a small group and address those before the next election.” The committee said it is also aware that often the candidates are not familiar with the many facets of the election process and our responsibilities. It recommended that offering potential candidates a session on very basic information about the election process, including rules and decorum. Also, this session would include the rules and procedures

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By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer aving the section and lot number of each property that the bearer owns printed on Ocean Pines Association-issued property owner identification cards would improve the annual Board of Directors election process, according to a recommendation from the Elections Committee. In a September report to the board,

From Page 26 that govern how the election committee must function. Candidates have traditionally not interacted with the Elections Committee after the June draw and forum. The primary reason for this is to avoid any question of corruption or fraud in the election process by the committee. Elections Committee members for 2014 were Judy Butler, Cheryll Bissell Laura Moon, John Topfer and Bill Wentworth, chairman. Overall, the committee said the 2014 election process went smoothly with two new directors elected to office. All documentation for the 2014 election, notebooks, ballots, envelopes, and listings are stored in the Election Cabinet at the OPA administrative building. All 2013 ballots, envelopes and listings have been destroyed. Record books for the past five years have been retained in storage. The committee report did not address one issue that surfaced during the last election cycle – a request from the committee’s board liaison, Jack Collins, that he be permitted to witness the counting of the ballots. There have been requests from the media and other interested OPA members over the years, especially during election seasons when factional blocs have emerged, to be able to have campaign representatives, similar to poll watchers in general elections, in attendance to verify the accuracy of ballots.

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Engineer begins developing site plan for expansion of racquet sports complex Approval of site plan engineering work does not mean the board agrees with project that could ultimately include eight new pickleball courts, four new paddleball courts and relocated playground equipment By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer lans for the expansion of the Manklin Meadows Recreation Complex to include more platform tennis courts and dedicated pickleball courts are moving forward, with the Ocean Pines Association letting a contract for engineering and design of the project in September. The OPA retained the firm of Soule and Associates at a cost of $11,300 to develop engineering site plans that could include the addition of two new paddleball courts immediately, and the addition of two more courts in the future, as well as the addition of eight new pickleball courts. The project also could include the relocation of the paddleball court building, shifting the location of the existing playground, and realignment of the existing playground parking lot. OPA President Dave Stevens, however, made it clear that authorizing the

Soule firm to develop a Manklin Meadows site plan does not necessarily mean the board is supportive of proposals calling for eight new pickleball courts, four new paddleball courts and relocated playground equipment. The current year’s budget anticipated four pickleball courts and two new paddleball courts. OPA Vice-President Marty Clarke remains opposed to any site plan that relocates the playground equipment, which he has called an unnecessary expense. Since an initial estimate from Soule and Associates for the work exceeded the $5,000 cap for seeking bids for the work, OPA General Manager Bob Thompson asked for board approval of the Soule proposal for the engineering and site design. He received it, but Stevens said the site plan, if configured with eight pickleball courts and four new paddleball courts, along with a relocated playground complex, is “at risk” for later rejection by the board. It was not the

warm embrace of the plan that Thompson seemed to be seeking. While the OPA received two bids and two other bidders opted not to seek the job, Soule and Associates turned out to be the low bidder at $11,300 and was ultimately awarded the work. Only one other bid was received from the firm of Davis, Bowen and Friedel, but this proposal was significantly higher because it involved numerous start-up costs, such as pre-design meetings with county officials and submissions that Soule does not need simply because it has a long-standing relationship with the OPA. Soule has already conducted preliminary coordination with the county at no additional cost and incorporates permitting costs as part of the design process. Thompson during the board’s regular monthly meeting Sept. 18 said the price was within his “realm of spending” for the project, but he wanted the q

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October - Early November 2014

Racquet sports From Page 27 “general feel” of the board members before moving forward with the site plan.

That “general feel” seemed to include a healthy dose of push-back on some of the details. Directors initially were confused about what exactly Thompson was ask-

ing of them, if anything, in his prepared general manager’s report that they had access to several days prior to the meeting. Stevens said the RFP on which the contract with Soule was awarded included items that the board has never approved, such as relocating the community-built playground to make room for the racquet sports courts. “We’re not painting ourselves into a corner, are we?” he asked, wondering aloud if by having the engineers develop plans that include such items, the board will then be forced to move forward with them. He said he wants to see a product from Soule that will tell the board what needs to be accomplished to build the additional courts, and that may or may not include items like moving the playground. Tom Terry, former OPA president, said the board’s previous action was to agree to move forward with developing a plan for use of the Manklin Meadows Recreation Complex based on a request from an advisory committee that included representatives from all racquet sports clubs. He said the board agreed to put together a plan “as to what it would look like to implement this request.” Once an engineering plan is developed, then the OPA can obtain cost estimates to determine what portions of the project it wants to move forward with and when, Terry said. “Without the actual site plan, it becomes a bit of a chicken and egg,” Terry said, adding that until a plan is developed the board has nothing on which to base a decision to either do or not do the project. “This is the ultimate of what the group is telling us Ocean Pines needs,”

he said of the advisory committee’s request for additional paddleball and new pickleball courts. But he added that “even before you take the first step you have to know what the model is going to look like.” That does not mean the board has to vote to make all of the proposed improvements in Manklin Meadows, he said. Once the site plan is developed, then the board can make a decision about how to move forward, he added. Relocating existing playground equipment to make way for the pickleball courts is a concern for some directors. Initial plans for redevelopment of the complex drafted by the advisory committee called for chopping in half the space allocated for the playground. Thompson said the new site plan will keep it essentially the same size but shift its location. Terry said the playground is in declining condition and needs to be rebuilt anyway, an assessment that Clarke previously has said is inaccurate. Clarke has said he asked an expert on playgrounds to assess the OPA equipment for him and that the expert concluded the equipment shows evidence of poor routine maintenance but is not in need of replacement, just some fairly routine upgrades to bring it up to code requirements added since the equipment was originally installed. Terry said that “to do a plan without moving the playground is kind of a waste of time.” Thompson said before the OPA can decide to officially move forward with the master plan as proposed by the advisory committee, it needs to determine if it is feasible to develop the site in that way. He said the engineers need to determine if the site can accommodate the

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

Solid performance by Yacht Club and other amenities produce best monthly results in years August is $160,524, according to Carmine, based on revenues over budget by $177,632 and expenses over budget by a much lower $16,822, with new capital spending over budget by a scant $286. At the end of July, the OPA’s cumulative surplus for the fiscal year was only $12,756. The Yacht Club had another solid month in August, albeit a drop-off from July’s $67,319 surplus. In August, the Yacht Club produced a $46,657 surplus, but that beat its budget by $64,422. According to Carmine’s summary, the Yacht Club had been budgeted to lose $17,765 for the month, which seems incongruous for a summer month in a new building that’s just opened for business. For the fiscal year through August, the Yacht Club has generated a $70,579 surplus, $80,768 better than budget. Golf and related food and beverage operations in the Tern Grille produced a $13,691 surplus for the month, virtually

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the same as July’s, with a $6,234 positive variance to budget. For the year, golf is in the black through August in the amount of $70,871, but it was budgeted for a $131,244 surplus through August. So for the year golf was $60,373 behind budget. In a recent report to the OPA Board of Directors, OPA General Manager Bob Thompson said that golf course manager Billy Casper Golf should be able to chip away at that negative variance going into the shoulder months of the year. Of all the amenity departments, the Beach Club food and beverage operation was the most profitable, with a $60,022

Racquet sports From Page 28 proposed level of development based on issues such as stormwater management and parking requirements. “We have to make sure the land can handle it, and will the county approve it,” he said. In addition to planning for the actual amenities, the engineering work will involve determining whether to use concrete or asphalt paving, a new concrete pad for the building, fencing for the courts, walkways, stormwater management, sediment and erosion control. The consultants will conduct a location and topographic survey of the site to include all areas involving the project and the entire property east of the entrance road up to the woods line. They will also locate and identify all mature trees and wetlands on the site that could be affected. The preliminary and final site development plans for submission to the appropriate county and other agencies will include existing conditions, site

surplus for the month. That exceeded budget by $19,205. Through August, the last full month of operations for this popular OPA-owned beach amenity in Ocean City, the Beach Club has generated a $127,081 operating surplus with a positive variance to budget of $20,425. The amenity closed for the year after Labor Day weekend. Beach Club parking pass revenue continues to be a solid performer, despite missing its budget by $1,899 for the month. Even so, its $38,994 surplus for the month was third behind the Beach Club and Yacht Club’s food and beverage operations for best net performance. For the year through August, Beach Club parking slightly exceeded budgetary expectations and remains the amenities’ most lucrative cash cow, with $419,218 in a net surplus against a $415,548 budget, for a $3,670 positive variance to budget. Marina operations also have done well for the year so far, in net operations and relative to budget. For August, the q

By TOM STAUSS Publisher ed by notable operating surpluses in Yacht Club and Beach Club food and beverage operations, the golf course, marina operations and Beach Club parking, the Ocean Pines Association produced a net operating surplus of $246,193 in August, a result that beat budget expectations by $143,579, the best OPA monthly financial result in years. All amenity departments, with only two exceptions, exceeded budget forecasts for the month, and the two exceptions, tennis and Beach Club parking, missed budget by minor amounts. By almost any definition of the word, the financial result for the month was outstanding, and it left the OPA with a cumulative surplus for the fiscal year of $160,524. Controller Art Carmine’s financial report for the month ending Aug. 31 showed that the actual positive fund variance was $147,769 for the month, on revenues that exceeded budget by $162,957 and expenses over budget by $19,377, offset by new capital expenditures (those funded directly from the lot assessment, rather than reserve funds) under budget by $4,189. The operating surplus dramatically improved the OPA’s financial performance for the year. The surplus through

and grading plans, court designs with lighting and power, reconfiguration and grading of the parking lots, relocation and grading of the playground, stormwater management plans, sediment and erosion control plans, critical area plans including mitigation for trees to be removed, site details and landscaping. The project will involve the removal of a number of mature trees, which will require their replacement as a mitigation measure. The site is in the Atlantic Coastal Bays critical area and all requirements for the program have been met. The plans will require a full review from the Worcester County Technical Review Committee and the planning commission. Finally the consultant will prepare a preliminary construction cost estimate for site preparation, asphalt versus concrete paving costs, court costs, lighting and power, parking lots and playground. The firm will also prepare the request for proposals for project construction and assist in selecting the contractor and overseeing the work.

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OPA finances From Page 29 net surplus was $16,515, which beat budget by a substantial $13,488. Cumulatively through Aug. 31, the net surplus was $164,600 with a positive variance to budget of $7,578. Aquatics had another solid month relative to budget. It had a slight operating loss in August of $3,392 but a positive variance to budget of $3,105. For the year through Aug. 31, aquatics had an operating surplus of $94,868, with a negative variance to budget of $14,613. The racquet sport departments are all are in the black cumulatively through August albeit with negative variances to budget. Tennis had a $20,144 cumulative surplus but a $10,653 negative variance, followed by platform tennis with a $4,780 surplus and a negative variance of $1,951. Pickleball’s $5,429 cumulative surplus through August is behind budget by a scant $728. Drilling down into revenue and expense numbers for the Yacht Club shows impressive revenue streams. Gross revenue for August was $388,719, $252,410 more than had been budgeted. Cumulatively through Aug. 31, the amenity had generated $1,202,904 in revenue, $232,804 more than had been budgeted. Net revenues after cost of food and beverages naturally aren’t quite as impressive but are still well ahead of

OPA Net Financial Operations through August 31, 2014

budget. Through Aug. 31, net revenues of $789,021 beat budget by $155,126. That’s substantially better than 2013’s net surplus of $358,572 recorded at the same time of the year.

The August financials are posted on the OPA Web site in the documents section under the heading monthly financials. Status of reserves – The reserve sum-

mary released as part of the August financial report shows that the OPA’s allocated reserve balance dropped in the month to $5,178,302, compared to

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OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

balance of $4,754,531, reflecting the full annual transfer from lot assessments into this fund. By the end of August, the balance in this reserve had declined to $3,965,983, down from July’s $4,296,457 balance and June’s $4,554,081 balance. Through Aug. 31, capital spending from the Major Maintenance and Replacement Reserve totals $1,098,934, $882,901 from the funded depreciation component of this reserve and $216,033 from the five-year capital plan funding stream (most of which would be related q

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he reserve summary released as part of the August financial report shows that the Ocean Pines Association’s allocated reserve balance dropped during the month to $5,178,302, down from July’s $5,519,149 balance, June’s $5,786,683 balance and May’s $6,003,165 balance. The erosion is typical as the OPA makes expenditures from the reserves through the year. The May reserve summary reflects the annual contribution from assessments that traditionally is recorded in the first month of the fiscal year. Most of the reduction reflected in the August report is attributable to activity in the major maintenance and replacement reserve, which as of May 31 had a

OPA reserves drop to $5.178 million in August

OPA finances From Page 30 $5,519,149 in July, $5,786,683 in June and $6,003,165 in May. The annual contribution from assessments traditionally is recorded in May, the first month of the fiscal year. [See separate story for details] Status of the balance sheet – According to the Aug. 31 OPA balance sheet, the OPA has total assets of $33.57 million matched by total liabilities of $1.84 million and owner equity of $31.73 million. The balance sheet indicates the OPA is flush with operating cash ($2,281,367) and short-term investments ($5,608,858), a modest reduction from the previous month.

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OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014

Casino funds boost Pines’ roads repaving project

Reserve summary From Page 31 to Yacht Club construction costs. All of the other OPA reserve funds – bulkheads, future projects, road, golf drainage, and operating recovery -were unchanged or only insignificantly changed from June. The bulkheads and waterways reserve balance stood at $1,484,205, the future projects reserve had a deficit of $60,212, the roads reserve totaled $293,892, the golf drainage reserve had a deficit of $640,935 and the operating recovery reserve had a surplus of $135,369. The operating recovery reserve had been zeroed out last year, on the theory that previous year deficits had been sufficiently offset by subsequent surpluses, but the OPA Board of Directors earlier this year, perhaps without realizing it, authorized $135,152 from the current year’s assessment to be allocated to this previously zeroed out reserve. The purpose of resurrecting this fund and adding money to it purportedly involves the possibility that funds will be needed to address certain tax liability issues in future years. Last year, according to audited financial reports, the OPA produced a $14,000 operating surplus. This year, the OPA is budgeted to break even. Through Aug.

Clarke, O’Hare spar over whether extra revenue should be spent on this year’s resurfacing By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer ith more money coming into its coffers than anticipated from the Casino at Ocean Downs local impact funds, the Ocean Pines Association is planning to ramp up its roads rehabilitation program this year. The Board of Directors during its Sept. 27 regular monthly meeting awarded a contract for the work to Chesapeake Paving Inc. at a cost of $366,312.50. The project consists of overlay paving of 15 road segments in Ocean Pines and Fire

House Lane, which is the entrance road to the public works department. Separate bids were included for each road segment, plus unit prices for additional paving and base repairs where necessary. General Manager Bob Thompson said the OPA received three bids for the paving work but Chesapeake Paving was the low bidder and has performed well on past paving projects in Ocean Pines. “Chesapeake Paving has performed previous paving projects for the OPA and the company’s performance was excellent,” Thompson said in his report to

the board. Engineers Soule and Associates analyzed the bids and recommended awarding the contract to Chesapeake Paving. In addition to the base price of $366,312.50, the contract includes provisions of additional paving at $70.75 per ton. Director Jack Collins queried Thompson on the source of funds that will cover expenses for the roads work. He pointed out that the funding available in the OPA’s roads reserve is less than the contract amount. Thompson responded that the board

31, the OPA has an operating fund positive variance of $160,524, which suggests that the OPA could be well on its way to a healthy bottom line by the end of the fiscal year on April 30 of next year. Had the directors scrapped the operating recovery reserve after it had been zeroed out, rather than adding $135,152 to it this year, the OPA assessment could have been reduced by about $16 or more than the $5 decrease that actually occurred. The bulkhead and waterways reserve

also appears to contain a balance that is very high by historic standards. The $1,484,205 balance as of Aug. 31 compares to roughly $800,000 or so in annual bulkhead replacement costs which are paid out of this reserve. Controller Art Carmine told members of the OPA’s Budget and Finance Committee in August that the funds could be needed should the OPA resurrect a canal dredging program in future years. No such dredging program has been discussed by the board of directors in

recent years, and no such program has been presented to the board for action. In addition, OPA General Manager Bob Thompson told the directors in August that the 35-year bulkhead replacement program is essentially ended, with only two years of minor repairs and replacement remaining. At the end of the 2014 fiscal year, the bulkhead reserve balance stood at $704,792. It grew by $822,367 in May, reflecting the new fiscal year’s revenue from the waterfront lot differential.

32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA, county weigh options for rebuilding Parkway bridge Sufficiency rating drops below 50, triggering planning process that will lead to replacement 47.2 during a recent rerating of all portions of the surface substructure, superstructure and approaches. In the past the ratings were handled individually and somewhat subjectively by a visual inspection, but now under a new system the inspectors use an objective formula that tabulates the sufficiency number from data points entered into the system. This is supposed to remove subjectivity from the rating. Thompson said when a bridge reaches a rating of 50 or below it is scheduled for replacement by the state. He said

staff has met with Worcester County’s public works department to begin planning for the project, including materials, and to make sure they have a full understanding of a November 2013 bridge inspection report prepared for Worcester County by the firm of Gannett Fleming. Director Jack Collins asked what the OPA’s financial responsibility is for repairing that bridge. Thompson said it depends whether the project is considered maintenance or replacement. The OPA is responsible for all maintenance costs, but when it comes to re-

Road paving

do it.” He said a budget is a budget. In this case, the OPA budgeted to spend $300,000 on roads rehabilitation but is actually spending $368,000, 23 percent more than budgeted, Clarke said. “Either have a budget or why bother?” Clarke asked. He said that in the future the OPA should budget for the entire project and “not for what you may get.” Director Sharyn O’Hare Sharyn argued that a budget is just a “best guestimate” and that if more money comes in to the OPA from the casino local impact funds than anticipated, then the OPA should use it. “We’re getting as much bang as we

can for our buck,” she said. Collins said how to handle that issue is an important discussion that the board should have during the next fiscal year’s budget cycle. Director Tom Terry asked how the OPA will coordinate its paving efforts with a waterline replacement project that Worcester County will be doing in Ocean Pines. Thompson said the county is installing new force mains from Windjammer Road to the wastewater treatment plant, and 200 individual water lines to homes along Ocean Parkway. After those lines are installed the county will do “spot paving” to repair the road.

From Page 32 had made the decision to use the local impact grant funds from the casino to cover expenditures related to roads rehabilitation. He said the OPA applies those funds to the roads reserve as they come to the OPA. When local impact funds above what was budgeted become available, then the OPA expands the roads paving project to use that money, too. “I understand that money keeps coming in,” Director Marty Clarke said, but added that “that’s not the way you

placing the bridge, the county would cover 80 percent of the cost and the OPA would be responsible for 20 percent, he said. Further, Thompson said bridge replacement funding is available from two sources, the state and federal governments. The county and OPA are weighing the options of seeking funding from each source, which will pay for only certain types of construction. He said the cost differential for the project will be in the type of materials used to rebuild the aging bridge. Worcester County typically uses timber construction on its bridges and that is funded at the state level. Federal funding is available for concrete- and metal-based bridge construction. Another option is some combination of timber, concrete and metal construction. Thompson said the county and OPA are trying to determine not only the best method of reconstruction but also how to maximize funding for the project. “The upside with concrete is it’s a lot less maintenance intensive,” he said, but added that it may not be as aesthetically pleasing as timber construction. To help determine the best way to move forward with the bridge project, q

By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer ollowing a downgrading in the “sufficiency” of the bridge over Ocean Parkway near Clubhouse Drive, a tad north of Route 90, the Ocean Pines Association is working closely with Worcester County officials to develop plans for the replacement of the structure. OPA General Manager Bob Thompson during the Board of Directors’ Sept. 27 monthly meeting said that the bridge’s rating dropped from 60-plus to

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By TOM STAUSS Publisher espite some moderately encouraging words from Ocean Pines Association Director Tom Terry on the status of negotiations between the OPA and Sandpiper Energy over a new franchise agreement allowing the company to continue providing propane and natural gas services to Ocean Pines through its underground piping system, one of his colleagues, OPA Vice-president Marty Clarke, is sounding a more pessimistic tone. During the OPA Board of Directors Sept. 27 monthly meeting, Terry reported that there had been “some movement” between the two sides at a recent negotiating session. Terry and Clarke are part of the OPA’s working group on the Sandpiper negotiations along with OPA General Manager Bob Thompson. Pending agreement on a new pact, which Clarke told the Progress Sandpiper prefers not to call a franchise agreement, the old agreement from the 1990s remains in effect. The existing contract has now been temporarily extended five times since last year, the latest a “rolling extension” formally ratified by the board in a meeting Sept. 3. Terry said there has been some “accommodation” by both sides in the talks, and that both sides “owe each other some answers” as the process proceeds. During a brief recap at the Sept. 3 meeting, he declined to specify areas in which the sides have accommodated, but he later confirmed that Sandpiper

OPA, Sandpiper still far apart on franchise fee While OPA Director Tom Terry reports some progress on talks for a new agreement, Director Marty Clarke says the sides differ on the amount of a franchise fee has come to accept in concept that the OPA is seeking compensation from the company in exchange for allowing company pipelines on OPA-owned property. Clarke said for some reason Sandpiper representatives prefer not to call the agreement under discussion a franchise agreement.

“That’s what we have now,” he said. Clarke said the parties are “still very far apart” on the amount of a franchise fee, repeating that he believes it should be set at roughly the same amount that Mediacom pays the OPA for the privilege of being the exclusive cable television provider in Ocean Pines -- $250,000

Bridge replacement

precast concrete sections that are transversely bolted together and an asphalt surface. It currently has timber railings, concrete curbs and timber plank sidewalks along both sides of the bridge. Two timber abutments with concrete caps and timber wing walls support the bridge. Overall the bridge provides spaces for two lanes of traffic and sidewalks on both sides. There is also a timber traffic barrier on all approaches and narrow bridge warning signs. The bridge inspection report showed that the bridge deck’s asphalt surface is in fair condition with a few cracks. The superstructure’s concrete chan-

From Page 33 the county signed an engineering support agreement with the firm of Davis, Bowen and Friedel in August. The firm is tasked with providing engineering support to include evaluating various funding alternatives, life cycle cost evaluation, estimating construction cost and time, evaluating detour and road closure time during construction and selection of bridge type. The Ocean Parkway bridge over the canal is a single span concrete beam structure that was built around 1970. At just over 32 feet long and 36 feet wide, the superstructure consists of ten

annually. The OPA board, according to Clarke, has not asked for a specific franchise fee to be included in a new agreement. Because of the protracted nature of the negotiations, it’s not at all clear when the long anticipated roll-out of natural gas conversions will begin in Ocean Pines. With conversions already having taken place in Berlin and the nearby Glen Riddle development, Ocean Pines under normal conditions might be the next logical target for Sandpiper. But with the OPA and the energy company unable to reach a contract agreement by a previous Sept. 1 deadline, it’s essentially anyone’s guess when conversion work will begin in Ocean Pines. q

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

nel beams are in poor condition with cracks and spalls, in some cases with exposed reinforcements and loss of 15 to 30 percent in bearing depending on the location. The report found the substructure abutments to be in fair condition with some cracking, hollow sounding areas under the beams, and spalls. The wing walls are also in fair condition with severe corrosion of the hardware at the waterline. Even the traffic approach barriers have been assessed as in poor condition with areas of rot in several timber posts. They have insufficient rail height and post spacing to meet state standards.

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OCEAN PINES

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Board implements new meeting procedures, gets materials in advance

Lobster trapping

West Ocean City Captain Sonny Gwin of the Skillegalee (pictured here with Ocean Pines residents Dave and Doris Lloyd) gave a presentation on the art of catching lobsters at the Ocean Pines Boat Club Sept. 17 general meeting. He brought along a large live lobster, some cages and other gear as he demonstrated how he sets traps for the lobsters.

From Page 34 Sandpiper officials have said the company will not begin natural gas conversions in Ocean Pines without an agreement in place. OPA President Dave Stevens said it’s his understanding that lawyers for Sandpiper and the OPA informally agreed to extend the old contract for an indefinite period of time pending formal board approval, which occurred in executive session following a Sept. 3 meeting. This latest approval is for a so-called “rolling extension” that remains in force until such time as the sides agree on a new contract. This is the fifth, and presumably the last, such extension in the protracted discussions between the parties. The rolling extension comes with a caveat that either or both of the parties can decide to declare it null and void with notice to the other party. Stevens said in a recent interview with the Progress that he did not want to paint Sandpiper as “the bad guy” as the sides try to resolve a number of prickly issues. But he also said the OPA, in doing its due diligence in obtaining the best deal possible for OPA property owners and Sandpiper’s gas customers, should not be blamed for blocking a new agreement and “preventing OPA gas customers from obtaining lower cost natural gas.” He said the interests of property owners who do not purchase propane or natural gas from Sandpiper need to be protected in whatever agreement is finally crafted by the parties. Stevens said that under the blended rate structure for propane and natural gas approved for Worcester County by the Maryland Public Service Commission, a multi-year conversion process in Ocean Pines will yield only modest cost savings for Sandpiper customers in Ocean Pines and elsewhere in the county in the near term. Those savings are expected to be more evident as more natural gas customers are signed up and as the company over time depreciates assets associated with

Approved motion requires distribution of full board packet to OPA members, media By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer he Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors conducted its first meeting under a new series of procedures for the conduct of board meetings and associated reporting, including a written general manager’s report, on Sept. 27. The board approved the new meeting procedures, which were initially offered by OPA President Dave Stevens during a special Sept. 3 meeting, via a subsequent 6-1 email vote. Consistent with the new procedures, General Manager Bob Thompson did not deliver his report orally, as has been the custom since he took over as general manager almost four years ago, but instead responded to questions about it from directors. The report is posted online on the OPA Web site as part of the full package of materials given to board members several days prior to the meeting. Only Director Sharyn O’Hare voted in opposition to implementing the new procedures, specifically the decision to drop Thompson’s oral presentation. She argued that Thompson’s oral report, usually accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation, gave property owners, particularly those watching the meetings via the OPA’s live video feed, the

bringing natural gas into Worcester County via pipelines and local distribution systems. The original agreement that dates back to the 1990s used the term franchise in its title and in the test. [The Progress, in a report in the September-October edition, mistakenly said that there was no reference to the term franchise in the agreement.] The agreement essentially granted a predecessor company, Eastern Shore Gas Co., an easement to bury gas lines in Ocean Pines on rights-of-way owned by the OPA, giving the company exclusivity with respect to propane, and eventually natural gas, pipeline delivery. The exclusivity rights did not prohibit competitors from delivering propane to buried or screened storage tanks, however. Sandpiper competitors are active in the Ocean Pines market. There was no franchise or easement fee involved in the original agreement with Eastern Shore Gas.

opportunity to learn more about the issues and projects under discussion by the board. “I personally think that Bob’s presentations were important for the people watching on the video,” O’Hare said. “I think it made it clearer.” In fact, however, the PowerPoint presentations often were not clearly visible online during streaming because of technical issues with lighting and poor resolution. Director Tom Terry said he is willing to give Stevens’ method of conducting meetings a try. As OPA president, Stevens has the right to decide how he wants to conduct meetings, Terry said. But he added that the “jury is out” regarding the need for presentations from the general manager “so folks can have understanding of what’s going on.” He said philosophically he agreed with O’Hare but said the new procedure may have some merit and is worth testing. Director Bill Cordwell also voted in favor of the motion and giving a chance to Stevens’ plan for conducting meetings. However, he said that before he was elected to the board, as an audience member he looked forward to the general manager’s report. “That’s where I got most of my infor-

ELECT ERIC CROPPER WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION District Six • • • • •

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“I am a proud product of Worcester County Public Schools. Currently, I have three children in our school system. I would like to serve on the Board of Education so that we can work together as a community to maintain the quality of Worcester County Public Schools. As a board member, I will always be open to answering your questions and listening to your concerns. I would appreciate your vote on November 4th.” -- Eric Cropper By authority of Friends for Eric Cropper, C. Diane Cropper, Treasurer

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36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

October - Early November 2014

Ocean Downs contributes $2.3 million in local impact funds OPA collects $234,715 in casino money in FY-14 By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer ith even more of the money generated by the Casino at Ocean Downs staying in Worcester County now that a new facility in Baltimore City is open, the Local Development Council during a Sept. 15 meeting reviewed how jurisdictions are spending their windfall of local impact grant funds. The fiscal year 2014 revenue distributions to Ocean Pines, Worcester County, the Town of Ocean City and the Town of Berlin topped $2.347 million. The LDC required local jurisdictions to complete an itemization sheet outlining how they expended FY-14 funds and the intended use for FY-15 funding. Local impact grant funds are designated to be used for improvements in communities in immediate proximity to

Meeting procedures From Page 35 mation,” he said, but added that he also thinks the president “is entitled to his way of conducting meetings.” The motion specifies that whenever possible all motions, discussion topics, reports, presentations and supporting materials should be provided in the board packet at least three days prior to the meeting. Motions may arise from a scheduled agenda discussion but must be written down before the board acts on them. When practical, all of the materials are also to be made available in advance to OPA members and the media. Although the motion did not mention it, Stevens previously has said that motions under Robert’s Rules can be offered during a meeting without pre-notification. For the Sept. 27 board meeting, staff posted an 85-page PDF document on the OPA Web site that included all of the meeting materials reviewed by the board, including the general manager’s report. The new rules state that presentations and reports proposed for inclusion on the agenda must be approved by the board in advance and must generally suggest a specific board action or provide information that is of general interest. Any presentations or reports submitted by a member must have a board sponsor and those from advisory committees should be submitted via the committee’s board liaison. Each board member is assigned to serve as a liaison to one or more committees, a custom that has not changed with the Stevens presidency. All proposed presentations must be accompanied by an estimate of the

the video lottery facilities and may be used for infrastructure improvements, facilities, public safety, sanitation, economic and community development including housing and other public services and improvements. Although not a municipality, the Ocean Pines Association was designated to receive a portion of the local impact grant funding because of the community’s proximity to the Casino at Ocean Downs. The OPA was given a total of $234,715 in slots funding for fiscal year 2014 according to a Maryland Racing Commission report, but did not yet spend any of the money. Plans are to use the funds for road surfacing projects throughout the community. For FY-15 the OPA is expecting to receive about $300,000, already bringing in $27,500 in July, and to continue designating the funds for road work. A summary of revenue and expenditures for the Worcester Country portion

of the fund for fiscal year 2014 shows that the county-received revenue for the period totals $1.408 million. The county anticipates using the casino funds to retire debt on the recently constructed Worcester Technical High School in accordance with its multi-year plan. The Town of Ocean City received the second largest portion of the slots revenue. For FY-14 the town received $469,430 as a result of local impact grants funded by the Ocean Downs video lottery facility. Revenue resulting from local impact grants has been used to fund road repairs in the resort. That’s the plan for its anticipated $514,800 in funding, also. Like Ocean Pines, Berlin received $234,715 of the local impact fund revenue in FY-14. The town has used previous year’s funding to purchase 5.25 acres of property adjacent to Route 113 and Bay

Street extended to develop a new town police station. It plans to use unexpended funds and FY-15 revenue to help cover the cost of development and engineering plans for that facility. The opening of the Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Baltimore Casino in August allows more local impact funding from the Casino at Ocean Downs operation to be distributed to Worcester County, Ocean Pines, Ocean City and Berlin. Since its opening, an 18 percent portion of the impact funding from Ocean Downs was funneled to Baltimore and Prince Georges counties. Now, however, that money will become part of the part that is distributed locally instead. Local impact grant funding is based only on revenue generated from video lottery or slot machines. Table games are not a source of revenue for the local jurisdictions. Ocean Downs is in the process of constructing a new building for table games.

amount of time required for the presentation and a clear statement of its purpose. Under the new procedure, presentations by the general manager requiring visual aids will be listed separately on the agenda from the general manager’s report, which provides an update on ongoing and standard issues in the community, such as compliance, permits and inspections violations and procurement issues. The general manager’s report is to be provided in brief narrative format instead of the lengthy production with visual aids that Thompson had been making to the board at each meeting.

The board will review the report prior to the meeting and then ask questions of the general manager to clarify any information as necessary. The board may also cite topics that it wants covered in the general manager’s report at each meeting during its agenda preparation or as an action item from a previous meeting. A formal presentation from the general manager is no longer required. Monthly and quarterly financial reports are required to be posted on the OPA’s Web site for easy access by both property owners and the media within one day after they are provided to board members.

The meeting rules also emphasize the five-minute restriction on public comments by OPA members as outlined in the board’s resolution B-02. The comments are to be directed to the OPA president and all rules of decorum apply. Board members and the general manager may reply to public comments only if they are requests for information, but generally they will not engage in debate with members. At the end of each meeting, the board secretary, Pat Renaud, will review any actions resulting from the meeting. He will also maintain a pending action list to be used in setting the agenda for future meetings and reporting.

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WORCESTER COUNTY

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

School board approves capital plan with Showell replacement By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer eplacement of Showell Elementary School is the top item listed in the Worcester County Public Schools’ fiscal year 2016 capital improvement plan. The Board of Education reviewed and approved the document at a Sept. 16 meeting. The FY-2016 capital improvement program includes a planning request for the SES replacement and a request for the balance of state funding for the Snow Hill High School renovation and addition project. Future project requests and a summary of previously approved projects are also included in the CIP. In October of each year the school system is required to submit a capital improvement program to the State of Maryland Interagency Committee on School Construction. The CIP is a six-year plan that allows the IAC to identify public school construction needs and establish a reasonable schedule for funding and implementation. This summer the school board reviewed the results of the Showell Elementary School Feasibility Study and accepted the architect’s recommendation to proceed with the design of a re-

placement school at an anticipated cost of about $37 million. An architectural and engineering team led by Becker Morgan Group completed the study, which identified and documented building and instructional space deficiencies, developed options to address those deficiencies and made a recommendation as to which option will best address the deficiencies. The consultant determined that the construction costs were comparable for renovating and expanding the existing school versus building a completely new facility. Because of the extensive nature of the renovations and expansion that would be required, the cost of that option was anticipated at $36.8 million. On the other hand, the consultants said a brand new school could be constructed on the same SES property for slightly more at $37.4 million. Overall after including design and management fees, playground equipment, movable equipment, portable classrooms, phasing of the renovations and additions, technology costs and miscellaneous costs like inspection fees, it will be less expensive by about $4 million to build a new school than renovate and expand the old one.

The cost of keeping the current building but renovating it and adding on was $44.8 million while the total estimated cost of building a new SES was just $40.9 million. A nearly $4 million expenditure for phasing the construction work to expand and renovate the existing building accounts for the difference in cost. A major renovation and addition or replacement school project at SES has been prioritized in both the school system’s educational facilities master plan and the capital improvement program for many years. It is listed for the design phase following the start of the Snow Hill High School renovation and addition project, which has just gotten under way. Also during the meeting, Shirleen Church, coordinator of instruction for professional staff development, presented an overview of the 2014 summer professional learning workshops in the county. Research has shown that teacher effectiveness has the most significant impact on student learning and achievement. Effective professional development deepens teachers’ content knowledge and skills needed to provide effective

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instruction, to assess student progress and to prepare them for college and career. This summer, Worcester County Public Schools offered approximately 223 professional learning opportunities for teachers in grades Prekindergarten through grade 12. This provided over 2,300 teacher slots for professional learning. This presentation highlighted the various workshops and trainings and gave a “snapshot” of the job this county does in offering specific, meaningful, and high quality professional development in best practices, as well as strategies in what works, to increase achievement and student learning. Another presentation to the school board addressed the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Beginning this school year, Maryland is using a new tool to learn more about a child’s early learning experiences that will provide information to parents and their child’s teacher that can be used to help the child learn and grow. The new Kindergarten Readiness Assessment is used by kindergarten teachers to measure what children know and can do when entering kindergarten in To Page 39

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BER 23 O T

mentary, middle, and high school levels, as well as at the undergraduate and graduate collegiate levels. Heher has held positions in Prince George’s, Wicomico, and Worcester counties and taught internationally, starting her teaching career in Guam. Heher’s many successes highlight her passion for collaboration. For example, she participates in a collaborative group called the Eastern Shore Mathematics

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“I have heard your concerns from my door-to-door listening visits. We share the same values. I have the energy and the will to defend our Shore way of life.” Mary Beth Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, Pat Schrawder Treasurer

Supervisors’ Consortium. “We share innovations, provide professional development, and exchange books and materials with each other,” she said. “Collectively, we also qualify for better pricing when we need to make purchases.” Heher and the other 2014 MCTM Excellence in Teaching Award recipients will be recognized on Oct. 16 in Baltimore.

Y L R A E TING VO O

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From Page 38 the early learning areas of social skills, language and literacy, cognitive development, and physical well-being and motor development. This assessment will not determine whether a child can be enrolled in kindergarten. The kindergarten teachers will have from the first day of school until Nov. 1 to complete the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. It will help them to tailor their instruction to the needs of their children. In the past, Maryland’s Readiness Assessment was the Maryland Model for School Readiness using the Work Sampling System indictors. The school board approved the teams that will negotiate the annual contracts with the Worcester County Teachers’ Association and the Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association for fiscal year 2015. Negotiated agreements require that the Board of Education, WCTA and the WCESPA designate negotiating team members prior to Oct. 1. The Worcester County Teachers’ Association negotiating team is Chief Negotiator Louis H. Taylor, John R. Quinn, Vincent E. Tolbert, Velda E. Henry, Aaron D. Dale and Christina D. Welch. The Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association negotiating team is Chief Negotiator Louis H. Taylor, John R. Quinn, Vincent E. Tolbert, Velda E. Henry, H. Stephen Price, Aaron D. Dale, D. Scott Blackburn, and Diane M. Shorts. A presentation on the summer academies for 2014 reviewed participation, demographics, the need for such programs and highlighted the schools’ activities. Worcester County Public Schools summer programs provide additional instruction that supports the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards and curricula in the areas of reading and math, enabling students to advance in levels of proficiency as defined by state and county assessments. They also provide an enriching program in content areas of fine and performing arts, physical education, health and technology requiring students to extend and refine reading and math concepts and skills. The summer academies help to eliminate the achievement gap between Worcester COunty students, support a safe and drug-free environment and encourage continued learning and to avoid the summer slide. Rosemary Heher, coordinator of instruction for mathematics for Worcester County Public Schools, was selected as a 2014 Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, in the Mathematics Educator category. Each year, MCTM recognizes a select group of outstanding math educators in Maryland whose work in mathematics is extraordinary.

“This award is a testimony to Rosemary Heher’s work ethic, commitment, and expertise in the field of mathematics,” Superintendent of Schools Jerry Wilson said. “When one is recognized by their peers, it represents a strong testament to the caliber of the recipient’s dedication and value to others in the profession.” Throughout her career, Heher has taught in every grade band at the ele-

School board

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

October - Early November 2014

Waterline flushing scheduled for October in Ocean Pines

he Water and Wastewater Division of Public Works will begin its semi-annual program for flushing waterlines in Ocean Pines and other areas of the county during October. The purpose of this program is to remove any accumulated sediment from the lines and to ensure the hydrants are operational. Below are the proposed dates for the flushing of the waterlines. These dates are subject to change. The water line flushing schedule is: week of Oct. 6 - Sections 2, 3, 7, River Run, and Showell Elementary; week of Oct. 13 - Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, and Harbor Village; week of Oct. 20 - Sections 12, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and Mumford’s Landing; week of Oct. 27 - Sections 9, 11, 13, Village Square, Manklin Creek area, Pennington Commons, and Cathell Road Extension; and week of November 3 - Sections 10, 15a, 15b, 16, 17 and Bay Point Plantation Even on dates the waterlines in a section are not being flushed it is still possible to experience discolored water. If area residents notice that their water becomes cloudy during these times, allow the water to run for a few minutes until it becomes clear. For more information, call the Water and Wastewater Division at 410-641-5251.

Trick or treating set at White Marlin Mall

Parents in the Ocean City-BerlinOcean Pines areas have many choices when it comes to helping their children celebrate one of the fall season’s most memorable family holidays. For the past 27 years, one happy destination has stood out. “Halloween is truly a ‘fun’ tradition at White Marlin Mall that the whole family can really enjoy. In fact, this is our 27th year of celebrating Halloween here,” said Matt Mittenthal, vice-president and assistant director of asset management at Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, the mall’s leasing and property management firm. “You can expect to see a parade of unusual characters from the world of the real and unreal; so get the kids dressed up and bring them over to White Marlin Mall for Halloween Trick or Treating on Friday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. It’s a fun tradition that the whole family will remember for years to come.” A preview of many of the Halloween activities can be seen on the mall’s website at www.whitemarlinmall.com/ events.asp. Children must be in costume to receive a small token of appreciation from participating merchants. The treats are available only to children 12 years and younger.

Commissioners say thanks to volunteers

The Worcester County Commissioners recognized 12 citizens in August during the annual Volunteer Spirit of

AROUND THE COUNTY Worcester County Awards dinner ceremony at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin. Volunteers were nominated by their peers in one of five categories: youth, individual, lifetime achievement, faithbased and nonprofit volunteer program. Those recognized in the Youth category include Hannah Black of the Jesse Klump Foundation and Zainab Mirza of Stephen Decatur High School was nominated for her leadership on many school organizations. The individual category included nominees Cindi Strawley of Coastal Hospice, Nancy Engelke and Sharon Sorrentino of Star Charities, and Diane Hurney, of the Snow Hill Elementary School Parent Teacher Association. Clayton “Claytie” P. Collins, Jr. of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company was honored in the Lifetime Achievement category. In the Faith-Based category, Emily Scheiber of Temple Bat Yam was recognized. In the Nonprofit Volunteer Program category, Ron Michaels of the Worcester County Arts Council, Cathy Gallagher of the Worcester County Developmental Center, Tommy Mason of the Rotary Club of Snow Hill, and Patty Brasure of Diakonia were honored.

New immunizations required for students

New immunization requirements will take effect for students entering kindergarten and seventh grade this fall. Immunizations are vital to protect children from potentially serious diseases. Students entering kindergarten will need to have proof of two varicella vaccinations, and any students entering the seventh grade will need to have proof of one Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-attenuated pertussis) and one meningococcal (Menactra or Menomune) vaccination in addition to the previously required vaccines. Parents of students entering kindergarten and seventh grade are encouraged to contact their child’s doctor now to make sure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date with these requirements and to schedule an appointment for vaccines if needed. For more information visit the Worcester County Health Department’s website at www.worcesterhealth.org or call 410-632-1100.

Hazardous waste, E-cycling day set

The Recycling Division of Worcester County Public Works, in conjunction with Maryland Environmental Services and the Maryland Department of the Environment, will conduct Household Hazardous Waste and E-Cycling Collection Day on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Showell Elementa-

ry School parking lot. Gather up those old or unusable cans of pesticides, pool chemicals, gas and other fuels, oil-based paints, thinners and everyday hazardous wastes accumulating in and around the home and bring them to the recycling center for safe disposal. Electronic items, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, radios, televisions and VCR’s, will be collected and later recycled. Household hazardous waste and electronics don’t degrade readily, and recycling them saves much-needed landfill space. Many of the items also contain poisonous materials that could seep out of the landfill and contaminate surrounding soil and groundwater. Proper disposal of these items is among the many simple tasks we can practice to help protect the environment and ultimately our own health. This event is open to Worcester County residents only. A representative from MDE will be on-site checking vehicle registration. Clean Ventures of Baltimore will be responsible for the safe disposal of all hazardous waste collected. The electronics will be shipped to an electronics recycler for dismantling. For more information, contact Worcester County Recycling Manager Ron Taylor at 410-632-3177.

Tourism’s Instagram contest winner named

Todd Lester submitted the winning photograph for Worcester County Tourism’s Instagram Photo Contest. Lester’s visit to Ocean City over the summer was his first. “I was actually here for a business trip...” Lester said. “When I came to Ocean City, I thought you had to be kidding me! Your beaches absolutely blew me away.” To familiarize himself with the lay of the land, he trekked to the beach at 5:30 a.m. and captured the winning photo with his trusty Nikon D610 and a neutral density filter. Then he posted the photo with the hash tag @supert24. As the winner Lester will receive an Electra Beach Cruiser from Continental Cycles in Ocean City and a GoProHero 3+, so he can capture plenty of future Worcester County adventures. “The really great part about the contest, aside from getting a lot more Instagram followers, is that we got some really terrific pictures that we’ll be able to use for promotional purposes,” Tourism Director Lisa Challenger said. The photo contest attracted more than 300 high-quality entries, with Lester’s earning the nod as the WCT judge’s favorite summertime picture. Photos submitted for the Instagram Photo Con-

test may be featured in future Tourism brochures and other promotional materials.

Small Business Incubator recognized

Worcester County Economic Development (WCED) has announced that the Worcester County Small Business Incubator has been certified as an official Maryland incubator based on criteria established by the Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA). The Incubator is a public-private partnership in conjunction with Audey LLC, owned by local business leader David Landsberger. This venue is designed to accelerate job growth and the success of companies in the startup or early stages of development. The incubator provides a common location and an array of business support and services, including coaching and networking opportunities. Located in the Pocomoke City Industrial Park, the Incubator currently has three tenants: Planet Found, a poultry biomass energy processing company; Audey, LLC executive offices, a business advisory and manufacturing holding company; and PIPE (Pocomoke Internet Provider Enterprises), a local internet broadband provider. Funding to construct the Incubator was provided by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Economic Development Fund, with support from WCED and Pocomoke City. Office and industrial space is available in the Incubator to emerging growth companies displaying the potential to create quality job opportunities.

County seeks bids for glass replacement

Worcester County’s water and wastewater division is soliciting bids for the replacement of the glass in the sludge drying greenhouse at the Ocean Pines treatment plant. The total construction cost for the project is estimated at between $150,000 and $250,000. Funding for the project was included in a recently completed county bond issue.

Extension office recognized by county

On Oct. the Worcester County Commissioners presented representatives from the University of Maryland Extension of Worcester County with a commendation celebrating the organization’s 100th anniversary this month. UME provides nutrient management plans, pesticide applicators training and licenses, educates beginning farmers, equine and poultry growers, and hosts a range of 4-H projects, all of which enhance the diversity of our farming communities. Their services continue to add to the overall quality of life in Worcester County.

WORCESTER COUNTY

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Fate of Sen. Mathias’ political career at stake in contest against McDermott By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer hen the attention of voters is generally focused on individual candidates seeking to win a seat during the general election, there always seems to be a few ballot questions that slip by relatively unnoticed. On the Nov. 4 election ballot, voters will be asked to decide on two statewide questions, one related to transportation trust funds and the other on special elections to fill a vacancy of a chief executive officer or county executive. Neither question is of particular note for Worcester County voters though. State question 1 would require that funds in the State Transportation Trust Fund be used only for transportation purposes and prohibit transfers from the Transportation Trust Fund unless the Governor declares a fiscal emergency by executive order and the General Assembly passes legislation by a supermajority vote approving a different use or a transfer of the funds. In theory, this could make it more difficult for state officials to do what Ocean Pines officials and others throughout the state have accused them of doing: raiding the highway trust fund to pay for other favored programs, drastically reducing the amount of gas tax revenues that flow to the counties, municipalities and, of particular interest to Ocean Pines residents, the Ocean Pines Association. In recent years, gasoline tax revenue streams to local jurisdictions in the county have slowed to a trickle, and the OPA is now relying on another revenue source, local impact funds from the Ocean Downs casino, to pay for road resurfacing. State question 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize, but not require, Baltimore City and counties that have adopted charter home rule to fill a vacancy in the office of chief executive officer or county executive by special election. It would not apply to Worcester County, which is a code home rule county, since it doesn’t have an elected chief executive officer or county executive. That position is filled locally by appointment of the Worcester County Commissioners. There are no local level ballot questions for this year. With several seats on the Worcester County Commissioners already locked up well before the Nov. 4 General Election, voters are largely focusing their attention on the tight state races, both within their districts and statewide. The contest for governor is tighter in the polls than might be expected in blue-state Maryland, with Republican Larry Hogan behind but perhaps with-

and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City. Incumbent Democratic State Senator Jim Mathias is facing a challenge from Mike McDermott, currently a member of the House of Delegates, in a vigorous District 38 Senate race. This is the election’s marquee contest, with either candidate having a reasonable chance for pulling out Jim Mathias Mike McDermott a win. in striking distance on election day if he Also at the state level, Democratcaptures most of the undecided vote. His ic Judy Davis faces Republican Mary opponent, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Beth Carozza in a contest over the new is favored to win a promotion. If past is District 38C seat in the House of Deleprologue, Hogan will carry Worcester gates. At the south end in District 38A, County and the Eastern Shore and his Republican incumbent Charles Otto is home county of Anne Arundel, while being confronted in the general election falling behind in voter-rich Montgomery by Democrat Percy Purnell, mayor of

Crisfield. In District 5, the only all Ocean Pines District, local newspaper publisher and Republican Chip Bertino is competing against Democrat Tom Wilson in the general election to succeed the retiring Judy Boggs. In paid political advertising in the Progress and in local weekly newspapers, Wilson is touting his position in favor of improvements to Route 589. Incumbent Commissioner Jim Bunting scored an easy win in the primary election to secure a return to his seat in District 6, which includes part of Ocean Pines, Bishopville and Showell. Other contested commissioner races include District 2, a seat vacated by long-time official Jim Purnell. Democrat Diana Purnell is battling Republican Lorraine Purnell-Ayres. In District 3 Republican incumbent Commissioner Bud Church has a competitor in Democrat Michael Maykrantz. District 4 Commissioner Virgil Shockley, a Democrat, faces Republican Ted Elder is a return match. Republican incumbent Merrill Lockfaw has already secured a return to his District 1 commissioner seat in Pocomoke and in Ocean City’s District 7 Republican Joe Mitrecic is locked in. In the non-partisan election for the Board of Education, four seats are open

Voters to decide ballot questions, local races in Nov. 4 general election

Coastal bays earn an average C+ grade, but St. Martin River still stressed By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer report summarizing the findings of a multi-year effort to measure the health of the waterways behind Ocean City and Assateague Island shows there is still a lot of work to be done to clean up the coastal bays. All total, the coastal bays received a grade of C+. But individually the grades range from B- to D+ up and down the bays. The St. Martin River and Newport Bay are at the bottom of the scale with D+ ratings, followed by Assawoman Bay and Isle of Wight Bay with Cs, and finally Sinepuxent Bay and Chincoteague Bay with Bs. The annual Maryland Coastal Bays Program report card showed slight improvements in the Chincoteague Bay, but continued to indicate serious phosphorous problems throughout all of the embayments behind Ocean City and Assateague. Local, state, and federal partners help create the detailed annual assessment on the health of the back bays using rigorous monitoring results to derive a scientifically defensible score. Coastal bays health is defined as the progress of four water quality indicators and two biotic indicators toward ecological goals. The six indicators are combined into one coastal bays health index,

presented as a report card score. Overall, the coastal bays received a C+, the same as in 2012, but with a slight improvement since last year, which was mostly driven by some water quality improvements in Chincoteague Bay which improved from a C+ to a B-. Scores for total nitrogen in Assawoman, Isle of Wight, Sinepuxent, and Chincoteague bays were good to excellent, and were moderate to poor in Newport Bay and St. Martin River. Total phosphorus was generally moderate to poor. Scores for hard clams were moderate to very poor except Isle of Wight Bay which was very good. Clam scores also improved in Sinepuxent Bay. Seagrasses declined in every area. Beginning around 2002, water monitoring stations throughout the Chincoteague Bay began to show increases in nitrogen and especially phosphorous. Since 2002, Chincoteague Bay has lost almost 11,000 acres of its more than 16,000 acres of seagrass due to warmer than normal temperatures and increasing nutrient levels. Grasses now cover only about 5,400 acres of Chincoteague Bay, about 24 percent of the program’s goal. While the northern bays are still in relatively poorer condition than the southern bays, work to remove point

sources and control stormwater has paid off north of Route 50 and in Newport Bay with some sites having improving water quality. However, water quality only passes nitrogen thresholds at 45 percent of sites and phosphorus thresholds at less than 1 percent in the coastal bays. Such poor water quality combined with high temperatures has decreased seagrasses some 75 percent in recent years. To combat the decline, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program recently finished the update to its Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan. The plan details how Worcester County, Ocean City, Berlin and state and federal partners will work together over the next decade to improve water quality and biological diversity in the barrier island system. Included in the effort is an ambitious plan to meet the goals set forth in the federally mandated Total Maximum Daily Load, which caps nitrogen and phosphorous inputs to the Maryland coastal bays. The report card is a scientific collaborative effort between the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Integration and Application Network, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the National Park Service.

42 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

October - Early November 2014

Platform tennis regional tournament

The Ocean Pines Platform tennis club will be hosting its first regional tournament on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex located at 11443 Manklin Creek Road at the South Gate entrance. The over fifty mixed doubles platform tennis tournament will last throughout the day. Seasoned players from Washington, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland will be competing for the championship and prizes. Mike Petito, platform tennis president, first came up with the idea almost two years ago. After playing in the Nationals several years ago, he decided that a regional tournament could bring in potential platform tennis retirees to Ocean Pines. The public is welcome to attend; lawn chairs are recommended. Pictured are Petito and club member Colleen Baker.

General election From Page 41 this year but only three have active races. In the Ocean Pines area District 6, long-time incumbent Bob Hulburd is up against challenger Eric Cropper, while in the Ocean City District 7 incumbent Bob Rothermel faces off against JeriLyn Holston. In District 4, challengers Scott Baker and Bill Gordy will vie for the seat, but in District 1 the position is already locked up by the lone candidate of incumbent Doug Dryden. In other countywide races, Republican candidate Susan Braniecki will face Democrat Valerie Gaskill while trying to secure the Clerk of Court’s job, which is being vacated by the retiring Stephen Hales. The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s race had no primary competition but Republican incumbent State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby is facing Democrat Michael Farlow, a former Worcester County deputy state’s attorney, in the general election to retain that job. Incumbent Charlotte Cathell, a convert from the Democratic party to Republican almost four years ago, is unchallenged in her bid for another term as Register of Wills, as is incumbent Republican Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason. Three Republican candidates, Linda Hess, J. Franklin Knight and Dale Smack, and one Democrat, Bill Shockley, are all hoping to capture one of the three open positions as Judge of the Orphans’ Court. In other state races, Democratic Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and his running mate Ken Ulman are hoping to move up the ladder to governor and lieutenant governor in the November general election but must first defeat Republicans Larry Hogan and Boyd Rutherford. Also joining the fray are Libertarians

Shawn Quinn and running mate Lorenzo Gaztanga, and write-in Democrats Charles U. Smith and Clarence Tucker. Seeking another term in Congress as representative for District 1, Republican incumbent Andy Harris will have to defeat Democratic challenger Bill Tilghman to do so. In the comptroller’s race, Democrat Peter Franchot will square off against

Republican candidate William Campbell and write-in candidate Anjali Reed Phukan. In the race for Attorney General, Democrat Brian Frosh will take on Republican Jeffrey Pritzker and Libertarian Leo Wayne Dymowski. On general election day, Nov. 4, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. District 5 polling places are the Ocean

Pines Country Club and Library. District 6 polling locations are the Ocean Pines Community Center, Showell Elementary School and Bishopville Fire Company. Early voting will take place in the Gull Creek Community Sun Room at 1 Meadow Street in Berlin. Early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 23 and ends on Thursday, Oct. 30. Polls are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Saturday, Oct. 11 Ocean Pines Anglers Club monthly meeting, 9:30 a.m., Ocean Pines Library. Featuring Harrison Jackson, coastal steward supervisor for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, speaking on large predators, sharks and rays and reviewing the recent Maryland Coastal Bays report card. All welcome. Annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m., Ocean Pines Community Center Assateague Room. $5. Pancakes, sausages, fruit cup, doffee or tea and, of course, butter and syrup. Advance tickets Ralph Chinn at 410-208-6719, also available at the door. Carryout available. Crab/chicken feast, Church of the Holy Spirit, 100th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Crabs, fried chicken, corn on the cob, hush puppies, cole slaw, iced tea, lemonade and coffee. Bring your own wine or beer, but no liquor. Bring your own mallets. Tickets $30 for people over 8, and $15 for those younger. Tickets limited. 410-723-1973. Tuesday, Oct. 14 Adult hand dance classes, first of six Tuesday sessions, hosted by the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department, 7-8:15 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Easy swing dancing to rhythm and blues and moves for doo wop, 50s and 60s and beach music. Instructor Mary McCormick. $35 for Ocean Pines residents and $45 for nonresidents. Registration required, 410641-7052. Wednesday, Oct. 15 Monthly meeting of the Retired Nurses of Ocean Pines, 3 p.m., Ocean Pines library. Guest speaker will be Skip Carey, who will demonstrate how to make old fashioned Christmas decorations, using Williamsburg techniques. All welcome. Thursday, Oct. 16 Pine’eer Craft Club monthly meeting, 9:45 a.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. business meeting with Halloween craft to follow. Craft: $5. RSVP 410-208-3032. Sunday, Oct. 19 Worcester County Commission for Women, Gems’ Tea, Ocean Pines Yacht Club, 3-5 p.m. Celebrating the lives of local women who have contributed to the quality of life in Worcester County over the years. The honorees will share their life experiences in personal interviews with a videographer; these contributions become a documentary of women in Worcester County viewable at each Worcester County Library branch. $25 per person. For reservations, mail checks made payable to FWCCW to PO Box 1422, Berlin, MD 21811 by Oct. 14. 410-600-0552. Old container evaluation and talk, Community Room, Mardela Springs fire house, 2 p.m. Featuring Bill Simms, local expert on all kinds

HAPPENINGS of bottles and other similar containers from the 18th through the 20th century. Simms will bring in many items from his own collection but also encourages the audience to bring in any items they have and he will evaluate them. Admission free, charge of $10 for evaluation of up to three items. Refreshments. Sylvia Bradley, Exec Dir. of Westside Historical Society, 410-726-8047. Tuesday, Oct. 21 Worcester County Commission for Women, monthly meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., East Room, Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway. Open to the public and women of all ages are invited to attend. Membership information, L. Eloise Henry-Gordy at 410-6412556. Wednesday, Oct. 22 Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines 8th annual golf tournament, Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club, 11:30 a.m. check-in and putting contest, 11:45 am Group Photo, 1 p.m. shotgun start. $85 per player, $20 dinner only. Entry fee includes greens fees with cart, range balls, grab-and-go lunch, door prize entry, dinner buffet, awards, prizes and goody bag. Captain’s choice, scramble format. Men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams welcome. Contests include hole-in-one, straightest drive, putting and closest to pin. Sponsorship opportunities available. 410-208-6612 or OPMarie@aol.com. Thursday, Oct. 23 Democratic Club of Worcester County, monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Democratic candidates Jim Mathias, Judy Davis, Mike Farlow and Tom Wilson to give updates on their campaigns in the upcoming early voting and Nov. 4 general election. Saturday, Oct. 25 The Parke at Ocean Pines’ fall community yard sale, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the driveways of residents. Clothes, lamps, artwork, household items, electronics, furniture and more. Maps will be available at the main entrance to The Parke, Central Parke West off Ocean Parkway near the south entrance of Ocean Pines. Rain date Saturday, Nov. 8. 410-208-4994. Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club yard sale. 8 a.m., Sav-A-Lot Shopping Center, Route 50, Berlin, in front of Tractor Supply. 10’x10’ vendor spaces are available for $20. The Club is also accepting donations of items for sale. Call Margaret at 410-430-5433 to reserve a space or make arrangements for delivery of pick-up of donated items. Rain date Nov. 1. Tuesday, Oct. 28 Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department open house, 5-7 p.m.,

Fire prevention demonstrations, hand out’s for kids, carnival games and face painting. Fire House bounce house, light snacks and beverages. Saturday, Nov. 1 Holiday craft show, sponsored by the Pine’eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway. All items for sale are handcrafted. Bake Sale with homemade items, lunch items for sale by the local Kiwanis. Free. Darlene, 410641-6521, or Carol, 410-208-4317. Annual fair sponsored by the Parke at Ocean Pines Community Association, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Parke clubhouse, 2 Arcadia Court. Featuring original art by painters and photographers, written works by a novelist and a poet, jewelry, cards, floral arrangements, and unique dried flower plates and cork and organic art. Handmade knitted, crocheted, and sewed items, anything bags and decorated frames, holiday wreaths, ornaments, and special crafts. Open to the public, free admission, door prizes. 410-208-4994. A Beer/Wine tasting party and jewelry show, hosted by OC Ravens Roost #44 Penguin Swim Team, 2-4 p.m., Costa Ventosa Vineyard and Winery, Whaleyville. Jewelry available for pur-

chase. $20 per person, includes a tasting of a selection of wines or beers, a souvenir glass and light snacks. Proceeds benefit Atlantic General Hospitalʼs Penguin Swim. Thursday, Dec. 4 Bus trip, gospel sounds of Christmas at the Pennsylvania Opry, Mercersburg, Pa., sponsored by the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department. $90 per person, includes transportation, show and dinner. Bus leaves the Community Center at 8 a.m. Lunch stop not included in price. Show 2 p.m. Dinner at Keystone Family Restaurant, buffet-style. Estimated return time to Ocean Pines 9 p.m. 410-641-7052 to register. Sunday, Nov. 2 Annual fall dinner, Worcester County Historical Society, 1:30 p.m., social 1 p.m., Holiday Inn, 17th Street, Ocean City. Featuring a talk by local attorney Joseph Moore on the lower Eastern Shore’s participation in the Civil War. Buffet dinner includes rum-roasted chicken, coconut shrimp, salad, mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, rolls, cheesecake, tea and coffee. All welcome. Tickets $25; deadline for reservations Oct. 27. Checks should be mailed to Robert Fisher, WCHS treasurer, 230 South Washington Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863. To Page 47

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44 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

CAPTAIN’S COVE

October - Early November 2014

Captain’s Cove to auction 62 lots whose owners are delinquent in paying lot assessments

By TOM STAUSS issues. The Cove board has indicated Publisher that it wants to acquire as many lots in he fourth in a series of auctions of these sections as possible. When comCaptain’s Cove properties whose bined with lots owned by the declarant/ owners are delinquent in paying developer, CCG Note LLC, the objective annual lot assessments or dues as they of the Cove board is to sell these lots in are sometimes called is scheduled for bulk to a single developer or, perhaps, to Friday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. in the Marina farming interests. Club’s banquet room. If the scheduled auction plays out as There are 62 properties included in the others have, there will be relatively the list to be auctioned by the Cove prop- few bidders other than the Cove POA, erty owner association’s legal counsel, which will then acquire title to the lots Pender and Coward of Virginia Beach. not sold to individual bidders. The list of properties to be sold, less any This process will enable the Cove that have been deleted because the own- POA to continue to assemble lots in ers have worked Adolfo's-Ad out a payment with the Sections through Oasis-Ad_01-03 10/8/2014 11:54 14 AM Page18 1 that will make Cove POA, is published in this edition of a block sale possible. At the same time, the Progress. properties in Sections 1 through 13 More than half of the lots to be sold acquired by the POA will be added to are in sections 14 through 18 that are the inventory of POA-owned lots that now generally believed to be undevel- the POA has been attempting to sell opable because of regulatory and other through its broker, Cindy Welsh, of Pru-

dential Pen Fed Realty. Road engineering approved – After a wait of about a year and a half, the Cove POA has finally received approval from Accomack County on construction drawings for new road construction in Sections 1, 3,6,7,9, 10 and 11, which have roads in some but not all areas, and Sections 13 and 14, where there are no roads at all. Cove Director Jim Silfee announced the receipt of the approval letter during the board’s Aug. 22 meeting. Although the Cove has yet to secure a source of funding for roads construction, the long delay in receiving approval of the construction drawings has been the primary reason the POA has not moved ahead on road construction. The Cove board and its working groups have been looking at road financing options for some time, so far coming

up short as traditional lenders want to see continued improvement in the POA’s balance sheet before offering financing at typical commercial rates. Several months ago, the board approved a solicitation of Cove POA members to see if any among them would be willing to provide some short-term financing, at interest rates commensurate with hard-money lending, or roughly ten per cent. Schedule X revenues, moneys collected from formerly delinquent property owners coming into compliance, are dedicated to Marina Club mortgage payments and financing of road construction, once it begins. Under this formula, the 2400 or so Cove members in good standing can’t be assessed for new road construction. To date, no one has come forward to provide the bridge financing needed to launch a program of building new roads, which Cove President Tim Hearn has said is an important factor in persuading more POA members to stay current with lot assessments. This past summer, CCG Note, the declarant/developer, offered to provide the hard-money financing to the Cove, but board members unaffiliated with developer interests were skeptical. Two of those directors subsequently reTo Page 47

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October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Cindy Welsh 302-381-6910 (cell) 888-241-9590 (Ofﬁce)

4243 Captain’s Corridor, Greenbackville, VA. 23356

candhwelsh@aol.com

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

Captain’s Cove -- Hidden Treasure on Virginia’s Eastern Shore 37113 Saber Court• $115,500

2247 Smugglers Way • $128,700

3BR/2BA • 1456 sq. ft. • Screen porch 24x12

2589 Captain’s Corridor • $169,000

1527 Brigantine Blvd.• $149,999 PENDING

REDUCED

NEW LISTING

2396 Captain’s Corridor • $147,500

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

37129 Wheelhouse Dr. • $189,900

3BR/2BA • 1-car garage • Front & Screen Porch

37453 Beam Court • $274,500

NEW CONSTRUCTION

GOLF COURSE

3BR/2BA • 1395 sq. ft. • 1-car garage

38020 Sailors Court • $479,000 WATERFRONT

PENDING 3BR/2BA • One-car garage & screened porch

NEW LISTING

3BR/2BA loaded with upgrades

DIRECT BAY VIEWS

CANAL VIEW EASY ACCESS TO BAY

$60,000 1/920 Cleared canal w/40’ Bulkhead (492854)

$70,000 3/1439 Cleared canal w/120’ Bulkhead (491660)

$74,500 1/940 Cleared Canal w100’ Bulkhead (482548)

3BR/2.5 BA Located on Golf Course

$75,000 3/1443 Cleared canal w/ 60’ Bulkhead (477567)

3 BR/3 BA Custom Built Home on Canal

NEW LISTING

BAY VIEWS

$75,000 1/1045 Wooded, canal w/60’ water front (490855)

$78,000 1/1021 Cleared canal w/60’ Bulkhead (490064)

$80,000 3/1290 Cleared canal w/60’ Bulkhead (489511)

REDUCED $75,000 1/1195 Cleared Canal, w/100’ Bulkhead (487087)

$75,000 1/1196 Cleared canal w/75’ Bulkhead (487234)

WATERVIEW LOTS

$5500 5/2403 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 11/85 Wooded $3500 1/841 Wooded $6,000 1/1250 Wooded, W & S $5000 11/7 Wooded $3500 4/1886 Wooded $6000 9/127 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 5/19 Wooded $3500 4/1900 Wooded $6500 7/276 Cleared, Septic Approved $5000 4/2092 Wooded $3500 4/1902 Wooded $6500 8/51 Cleared, Septic Approved $5000 6/17 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 5/2383 Wooded $7000 9/64 Cleared $5000 4/2002 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 4/2266 Wooded $7900 4/2177 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 4/1962 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 7/1571 Wooded GOLF COURSE LOTS $8500 11/3 Wooded $5000 11/101 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 7/1754 Wooded $9,000 2/379 Cleared, Alt. Septic $8500 11/2 Wooded $5000 4/2039 Wooded $3500 7/45 Wooded $15,000 2/221 Cleared, Septic Approved $8500 11/14 Wooded $5000 8/48 Cleared $3500 7/ 172 Cleared $15,000 2/206 Cleared, Septic Approved $8500 11/4 Wooded $5000 7/207 Cleared, Septic Approved $3500 7/ 50 Wooded $8500 8/38 Cleared $5000 4/ 2104 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 7/53 Wooded INTERIOR LOTS $8500 9/101 Wooded $5000 1/471 Wooded $3500 7/60 Wooded $500 4/1881 Wooded $8900 3/1723 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 9/43 Cleared, Septic Approved $3500 10/140 Wooded $2200 1/881 Wooded $8900 11/10 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 4/1964 Wooded $3500 7/169 Wooded, Septic Approved $2500 3/1804 Wooded $9000 9/126 Cleared, Septic Approved $5000 5/2473 Wooded, Septic Approved $4000 9/66 Cleared, Septic Approved $2750 5/2455 Wooded, Septic Approved $10,000 3/1640 Cleared, Septic Approved $5000 9/163 Cleared, Septic Approved $4000 3/1657 Wooded, Septic Approved $3000 8/43 Mostly cleared Septic Approved $11,500 1/ 1252 Wooded, W & S $5000 5/2562 Wooded, Septic Approved $4000 6/86 Wooded $3500 7/203 Cleared $5000 11/97 Wooded, Septic Approved $4000 9/185 Cleared $3500 3/1837 Wooded $5 “Investment/Future $5000 1/806 Wooded $4200 6/45 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 3/1840 Wooded Development Lot” $5000 11/27 Wooded $4500 5/41 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 3/1841 Wooded $5000 8/4 Cleared $4900 5/2442 Wooded, Septic Approved $3500 7/200 Cleared Captain’s Cove Golf & Yacht Club Lots ~ $5000 4/2338 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 9/20 Cleared $3500 6/41 Wooded, Alt. Septic CALL FOR LIST $5000 4/2130 Wooded, Septic Approved $5000 7/275 Cleared 2014 BRER Affiliates, Inc. An independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity. Prudential PenFed is an independently owned and operated member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. PenFed membership is not required to conduct business with Prudential PenFed Realty $5,000 1/802 Cleared $18,000 3/1623 Cleared W & S $18,000 3/1629 Cleared W & S New Listing $24,000 3/1628 Cleared W & S New Listing

$2,500-$5,000

46 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

October - Early November 2014

FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL ESTATE IN CAPTAIN’S COVE

October 20, 2014, 10 AM

To be held at the Marina Club in Captain’s Cove Subdivision 3323 Dock Court, Greenbackville, VA 23356 The following properties will be auctioned:

Section/Lot: 1-0550, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A10100055000 Assessed Value: $7,500.00 Minimum Bid: $1,550.00

Section/Lot: 13-0263, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100026300 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 15-0124, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200012400 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0008, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200000800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 1-0568, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A10100056800 Assessed Value: $5,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 13-0328, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100032800 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0125, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200012500 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0040, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200004000 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 2-0350, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A20100035000 Assessed Value: $13,000.00 Minimum Bid: $1,000.00

Section/Lot: 13-0339, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100033900 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0126, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200012600 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0041, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200004100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 3-1480, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A30100148000 Assessed Value: $3,800.00 Minimum Bid: $800.00

Section/Lot: 13-0342, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100034200 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 15-0129, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200012900 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0042, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200004200 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 3-1605, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A30100160500 Assessed Value: $145,500.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 13-0350, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100035000 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0140, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200014000 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0053, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200005300 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 7-0080, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100008000 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 13-0397, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100039700 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0008, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300000800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0057, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200005700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 7-0085, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100008500 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 14-0028, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80100002800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0010, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300001000 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0058, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200005800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 7-0086, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100008600 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 14-0074, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80100007400 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0039, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300003900 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0148, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200014800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 7-0088, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100008800 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 14-0077, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80100007700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0046, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300004600 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 18-0010, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90100001000 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 7-0170, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100017000 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 14-0145, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80100014500 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0101, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300010100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 7-0184, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100018400 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 14-0149, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80100014900 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0116, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300011600 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 7-0215, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100021500 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0011, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200001100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0117, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300011700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 7-0216, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60100021600 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0028, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200002800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 16-0120, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300012000 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 10-0136, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A60200013600 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0052, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200005200 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0121, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300012100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 12-0003, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70200000300 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 15-0067, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200006700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0152, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300015200 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 13-0001, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100000100 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0078, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200007800 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0169, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300016900 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 13-0185, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100018500 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 15-0081, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200008100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 16-0176, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90300017600 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 13-0202, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100020200 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 15-0087, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200008700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0005, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200000500 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 13-0203, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A70100020300 Assessed Value: $4,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

Section/Lot: 15-0101, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A80200010100 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $900.00

Section/Lot: 17-0007, Captain’s Cove Tax Map No. 005A90200000700 Assessed Value: $1,000.00 Minimum Bid: $750.00

TERMS: Announcements made at auction time take precedence over any print, electronic, or verbal information, including but not limited to the Minimum Bid. Successful bidder will be required to deposit with Trustee a deposit (non-refundable) in an amount equal to Minimum Bid or 10% of successful bid (whichever is greater) in cash or certified funds at time of sale, with the closing to occur within thirty days of the date of said sale. Written one-price bids will be accepted for any of the properties pursuant to the terms set forth in Va. Code § 55-516. There is no warranty relating to right, title, interest, or the like in this disposition. Property is being sold pursuant to Va. Code § 55-516, and title will be conveyed pursuant to statute and subject to all liens or encumbrances as provided in said statute. All information for review by appointment only or thirty minutes prior to auction time at auction location. Notwithstanding the Minimum Bids set forth above, the Trustee reserves the right to accept and/or reject all offers. Time is of the essence. Other conditions may be announced at the sale.

TRUSTEE:

Pender & Coward, P.C., 222 Central Park Ave., Virginia Beach, VA

Phone: (757) 490-6261 Email: capcove@pendercoward.com

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Cove lot auction

From Page 44 signed, so it’s at least conceivable that a majority of what is now a six-member board could revisit this possible funding source. Section 14 burn pile – During the Aug. 22 board meeting, Hearn announced that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will no longer allow property owners and builders to dump vegetation and tree stumps at a site in Section 14 that has been used for many years as a burn pile. Only the owner of the site, which happens to be CCG Note LLC, will be allowed to burn waste at the site, Hearn said. Homeowners and builders who have used the site as an alternative to taking stumps and vegetation to the Accomack County dump will no longer have that option. Hearn said a complaint from a homeowner resulted in the change of policy. Multi-family units – Cove director Larry Kiefer, during the Aug. 22 board meeting, led a discussion on an informal inquiry from a local builder on the possibility of acquiring Cove-owned property north of the Marina Club parking lot and possibly along Dock Court for multi-family housing. He noted that there would need to be changes in Cove documents that currently preclude anything but single-family housing in the Cove. He also said selling the property would mean that the parking lot could not be expanded in the future. Hearn expressed skepticism about the idea, calling himself “suspicious and dubious” that a builder would be willing to undertake the myriad issues with the property, including the presence of wetlands. Pumphouse contract – The Cove board is moving ahead with plans to replace and rebuild the pumphouse/bathroom serving the outdoor Marina Club pool in the hopes that it will be ready in time for the pool’s reopening next summer. It’s been included in the budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. The work will require 75 to 90 days to complete. The existing pumphouse/bathroom facility, along with a kiddie pool, has been sagging because they were never built on pilings, Hearn said. The Cove POA was credited for the cost of the defects when it acquired title to the Marina Club several years ago. Board election – The election to fill two seats on the Cove board is under way, with three candidates competing for them. Roger Holland, reportedly affiliated with the Cove declarant/developer, is virtually assured of election because of votes cast by the developer. The other seat will be filled by one of the two other candidates, Rosemary Hall and Brenda Holden. Election results will be announced at the Cove’s annual meeting on Nov. 1, followed by a short meeting of the new board in which officers will be elected.

HAPPENINGS

non-residents. Registration 410-641-7052.

From Page 43410-632-1265. Thursday, Nov. 6 Holiday auction and bake sale, sponsored by the Women’s Club of Ocean Pines, 10 a.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. The club’s largest annual fund-raiser. Baskets, baked goods, raffles, and new or like-new gift items will be available for sale or auction. 410208-0171.

Saturday, Dec. 6 ‘Donnie and Marie Christmas Tour’ bus trip to the National Theatre in Baltimore, sponsored by the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department. $100 per person. Bus leaves Community Center at 8:30 a.m., stops for lunch 11 a.m. to noon, show at 2 p.m., dinner 5:30-6:30 p.m. Lunch and dinner not included in trip price. Estimated return time to Ocean Pines 9 p.m. Pre-registration required, 410-641-7052.

pohanka

Tuesday, Nov. 18 Line Dancing, first of six Tuesday sessions, sponsored by the Ocean Pines Department of Recreation and Parks, 5:30-7 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Instructor Lois Ingram. $45 for Ocean Pines residents and $55 for

required,

Ongoing Beer and wine-making classes, Brews Up, 9028 Worcester Highway, Berlin, Wednesdays and Saturdays and by appointment. 443-513-4744 for information and schedule.

Pine Tappers free adult tap dance classes, Tuesdays, 2-3:30 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Exercise and have fun with choreographed tap dancing routines. From 2-2:30 p.m., brush up on basic techniques, regular class from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Every week or drop-in as convenient. Lori at 410-2512162 or tntandcompany@gmail.com. Ocean Pines Ping Pong Club, Ocean Pines Community Center, Monday noon to 2 p.m, Wednesday and Friday noon to 3 p.m. In the summer schedule changes to evenings. All levels of players welcome. 732-773-1516. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines – Ocean City every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. in the Ocean Pines Community Center, except the third Wednesday of the month when it meets at Hall’s Restaurant in Ocean City from June through September.

full page

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48 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

October - Early November 2014

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OPINION

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

COMMENTARY OPA reserves are over-funded, in the short and long term

ack in early August, during the annual meeting of the Ocean Pines Association, outgoing OPA President Tom Terry in passing suggested that contrary to what some may believe, the OPA reserves are not over-funded. He cited the deficit in one component of the Major Maintenance and Replacement Reserve – the five-year plan funding stream – to support his case. Indeed, if one looks only at that component, with its deficit approaching $1.5 million as of Aug. 31, Terry’s view is not irrational. Of course, his case is not helped by the fact that the other major component of that reserve, funded depreciation, is quite healthy; its balance as of Aug. 31 is a respectable $5.4 million. He also didn’t mention that the bulkheads and waterways reserve has bulked up to almost $1.5 million, when the bulkhead replacement program traditionally has spent about $800,000 per year. It’s now essentially complete, while the funding mechanism established to finance it continues unabated. In addition, the operating recovery reserve, set up more six years ago to allocate resources to offset prior year operating deficits, was zeroed out at the end of the last year, only to resurface again in the current year. Given recent year surpluses, and what may turn out to be a very good year operationally in 2014-15, the better course of action would have been to kill off this reserve once and for all. There is room for legitimate and respectful debate about the reserves and the approximately 40 percent of the annual assessment that currently goes toward them. The Progress perspective is that, at this moment in time, OPA reserves are not excessively funded but that, in the coming budget cycle, the Board of Directors can take measured steps to ensure that this continues. The danger is that at current funding levels, the reserves could balloon unnecessarily to levels that would be unsustainable and unacceptable to a wide swath of property owners. Some observations about the current state of allocated reserves: Bulkheads/Waterways Reserve – With the defacto completion of the 35-year bulkhead replacement program, and no proposal (nor community agitation) for a second round of replacements, the $1,484,205 currently in this reserve already seems unconscionably high. One member of the Budget and Finance Committee, Gene Ringsdorf, recently said much the same thing, although his comments were framed more as a question than a definitive statement. Historically, the $800,000 or so collected in the waterfront differential each year has been spent on bulkhead replacement, but these major replacement projects are behind us. The GM mentioned at the September board meeting that there may be two years left in the current program, consisting of “minor” repair and replacement, but he has said previously that the program has effectively accomplished what was intended those many years ago. Two years of additional waterfront differential collections (and an $18 or $19 portion collected from the base lot assessment levied on all 8400 or so property owners) will bring in roughly $1.6 million in the next two fiscal years, bloating this reserve to about $3 million, less any minor draw-downs. The GM has rationalized the current reserve level, citing the need to have money set aside for canal dredging and future bulkhead replacement. The practice of collecting money through the assessment, including the waterfront differential paid

by most (though not all) owners of bulkheaded property, for a purpose that has not been studied, identified, quantified or debated, either by the directors or the community at large, is inherently objectionable and abhorrent. With the defacto completion of the original 35-year bulkhead program, it’s time for the OPA to draft a RFP for an engineering study of OPA-owned and maintained bulkheads to determine both the need and cost of a replacement program; include the condition of OPA canals. The reserve study that the directors will authorize next year perhaps could include this. Until there is a new bulkhead program in place, the OPA should consider a holiday or reduction in the assessments relative to bulkheads. At minimum, this reserve’s balance should not be increased in the FY 1516 fiscal year budget. Though waterfront owners arguably are better off financially than non-waterfront owners, perception of relative wealth is not a sound or fair basis for extracting assessment dollars from any subset of property owners. The waterfront differential is intended for bulkhead maintenance and replacement, not wealth redistribution. In addition, the board should implement Ringsdorf’s idea for separating the two funding sources for bulkhead replacement in the reserve summary, a proposal endorsed by the full budget and finance committee. Golf Drainage Reserve – This reserve and its $640,935 deficit has been a festering sore in the reserve summary for quite a few years, but it receives little attention. Since golf drainage improvements to date have addressed the most serious conditions on the golf course, and no need or community agitation exists to continue the program, and indeed operations arguably benefit from a course that is not “under construction,” steps should be taken to zero out and then eliminate this reserve altogether. Through super majority action of the board, $640,935 could be transferred out of the “historical” column of the Major Maintenance and Replacement Reserve– more accurately described as funded depreciation – to make this happen. (Maintaining assets is the stated purpose of this reserve. There is no reason why a one-time transfer from the “historical” funding stream can’t be used for this purpose.) Or this deficit could be effectively zeroed out from unallocated funds recorded in the balance sheet but not shown in the reserve summary. The golf course’s hole number nine needs some work in low spots and some golfers refer to hole number eight as “crab-grass alley”. These issues can be addressed through the regular capital improvement funding process. Golf drainage does not need special earmarking in the reserves as the program is largely behind us. Major Maintenance and Replacement Reserve – At $3.9 million as of Aug. 31, this reserve does not seem on the surface to be excessively funded, and indeed one component of it, the five-year plan funding stream, is shown in deficit (-$1,448,930). That’s a temporary condition, however, which presumably will be rectified by collections from assessments in the next two fiscal years. The five-year plan funding stream is the dedicated source of funding for the new Yacht Club; with $1.1 million projected to be collected from this source in each of the next two fiscal years, this deficit condition will be reversed and indeed the five-year funding plan

column will show a surplus in FY 2016-17, absent any draw-downs not related to the Yacht Club. If memory serves, a couple non-Yacht Club related draw-downs were proposed in the current fiscal year’s budget; so much for the sacrosanct nature of this particular reserve. As the next two fiscal years would be bringing in $2.2 million in new five-year funding plan revenue, and the $1,448,930 current deficit should grow only by remaining, unpaid Yacht Club invoices (if any), the five-year funding plan revenue stream will be extracting more than is necessary for the new Yacht Club during this period. This roughly $700,000 excess in potential collections ($2.2 million - $1.449 million) can be avoided by adjusting downward the dollars extracted from the five-year plan funding stream in the next two fiscal years. The board could prudently reduce the projected collection amount by $350,000 in each of the next two fiscal years, action that will result in a zero balance in the five-year funding stream by April of 2017. Beginning in the following fiscal year, 2017-18, this fund can begin to accumulate surpluses that can be used for needed capital improvements. Having a rational, and approved, Capital Improvement Plan in place is crucial for the proper funding of this reserve. Over the next ten years, this reserve will be funded in the amount of $27.45 million, absent any reduction in the current funding streams that finance this reserve, based on current contributions from assessments. The GM’s draft Capital Improvement Plan from this past November, which includes such items as a $3 million natatorium with dubious prospects, included projects totaling roughly $18 million. Can the OPA really spend those kind of dollars on new or replacement facilities in the next ten years? Perhaps, but even the OPA may have trouble spending that kind of money on major and less expensive capital projects in that timeframe. That should be true even if the OPA embarks on projects to deal with two of its major assets that are not in very good condition: both the Country Club/cart barn and the Beach Club require focused attention and funding in the coming years. The OPA, if it continues on the path it is on currently, will be extracting significantly more dollars from assessments than it should to pay for projects, some of which may be of dubious worth. Raising excessive funds will create the incentive to dream up new projects to absorb the revenue – such as a $3 million natatorium or a $4.8 million Country Club (as was floated by the GM a few years ago). As part of the process that results in a new Capital Improvement Funding Plan for the OPA, the soonto-be appointed task force should take care to match and synchronize the amount to be contributed to the Major Maintenance and Replacement Reserve from assessments with the amounts needed to pay for identified projects, both major replacements and the more modest maintenance projects and equipment replacement. Significant assessment reductions can begin as soon as the next fiscal year. Raising significant contributions to reserves from assessments absent a board-approved ten-year capital improvement plan is abhorent; having significant dollars available for projects not yet identified incentivizes a process that results in unnecessary and inflated spending proposals. - Tom Stauss

50 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPINION

October - Early November 2014

Board election a role-changing event for Thompson

or anyone wondering how well Ocean Pines Association General Manager Bob Thompson is working with the newly reorganized Board of Directors, it can be safely said that it’s a work in progress. One symbolic depiction of the new pecking order is how the directors and Thompson are arranged at board meetings. Where the general manager once held center stage with the OPA president, Thompson now sits at the end of the table, far right, as seen from the assembled hordes who attend board meetings in the Assateague Room in the Community Center. There are some early indications that a new majority bloc is moving in the direction of reasserting the board’s primacy in OPA affairs, consistent with what the two victorious candidates ran on this past summer. While Thompson is the defacto chief executive officer of the OPA, that doesn’t mean what did it before August. It means a lot less, in fact. A key element of past board meetings was the oral general manager’s report. Fortified by a PowerPoint presentation, the general manager would update the board on a variety of issues. Very often, these reports would be hijacked by directors intent on discussing the matter at hand and the GM would take a seat while the directors hashed it out. This kind of chaotic theater no longer takes place as the GM report is now delivered in written form several days prior to board meetings. Directors can still question Thompson about the contents of his report – they have not been shy in do-

the Manklin Meadows racquet sport complex to include eight new pickleball courts, four new paddleball courts, An excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs and relocated (and rebuilt) playground of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. equipment. Thompson was clearly hopof Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. ing for a board majority willing to enPublisher By TOM STAUSS/ By TOM STAUSS/Publisher dorse the new site plan conceptually in its particulars, but instead he received a ing so – but the report itself is not in the eral manager is out of synch with some contrary message from Stevens: Authospotlight. motions offered or ideas discussed by rizing a site plan to determine whether Director Sharyn O’Hare complained the directors. certain proposed elements would fit on about that at the September regular For example, OPA Treasurer Jack the reconfigured site does not mean a board meeting, contending that the oral Collins at the September meeting inboard majority endorses those elements GM report was a good way for the OPA cluded on the agenda a proposal by the in advance of seeing a site plan. membership to learn about what’s going Budget and Finance Advisory CommitStevens announced at the meeting on in the community, citing those who tee for a revamping of the OPA’s reserve that it would be the board, not Thompwould watch it on video if they couldn’t summary, particularly as it relates to son, who controls the process of adopting attend a meeting. While the OPA has income flows into the OPA’s bulkheads a new capital improvement plan for the never issued any hard data on the num- and waterways reserve. OPA. ber of people watching board meetings Thompson apparently didn’t much The OPA president later clarified as they’re streamed live or posted on the care for the idea, which he said he was that the general manager would have a OPA Web site, one suspects it’s a relative still researching, and he told the board role, including the preparation of a rehandful. that it had legal implications that would vised draft CIP by the November deadFar more people are likely in the fu- take longer than 30 days to research, line imposed earlier this year. But once ture to read the report online – that can Stevens apparently detected in that that draft is presented to the board for take a few minutes – as opposed to wad- response a bureaucratic slow-walk, and review, Stevens made it clear that he ing through a mostly tedious and pro- he more or less directed the general wants a board-appointed ad hoc committracted video, often with poor audio and manager to complete his research into tee to assume control over next steps. dubious video quality. the committee proposal within 30 days, Thompson will still have a role to After just a handful of meetings with including any compelling reasons why it play, but it will not be the leading role the new board majority, there is some should not be implemented. it would have been had the OPA election evidence to suggest that some of the moHe was told to have the results of not turned out the way it did this sumtions that have made it onto the meeting that research in his general manager’s mer. agenda have not been fully vetted before- report by the October board meeting, hand by the general manager. There’s with the distinct impression given that nothing in any board resolution that if he didn’t make that deadline, the says motions need the pre-clearance and board would accept the committee’s recapproval of the general manager, but in ommendation anyway. recent years typically he would be well Another example: the discussion versed on the subject matter. and board motion approving the develThe Ocean Pines Progress, a journal More recently, it seems that the gen- opment of a site plan for reconfiguring of news and commentary, is published monthly throughout the year. It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Berlin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, Va. Letters and other editorial submissions: Please submit via email only. Letters should be original and exclusive to the Progress. Include phone number for verification.

LIFE IN THE LIFE INPINES THE PINES

127 Nottingham Lane Ocean Pines, MD 21811

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

Advertising Sales Frank Bottone 410-430-3660

ART DIRECTOR Rota Knott

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

Rick Menard

PROOFREADER

October - Early November 2014 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Ocean Pines PROGRESS October - Early November 2014

32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

December 2012

K.C. COLGAN K.C. COLGAN

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