9/20/2005
OPA Board considers broad range of items
By Bob Lassahn
On September 14 at 9 a.m. the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors convened the body’s first regular monthly business meeting following election of two new board members. Newly installed Director Janet Kelley was administered the oath of office since she was not present at the previous organizational meeting where the ceremonial oath was administered.
The items considered by the board included presentation of the Environmental Control Committee (ECC)/Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Ad Hoc Group report, the result of some 20 weeks of meetings headed by former board member Skip Carey. The document presented is an item-by-item review of guidelines used by the ECC/ARC regarding rules and restrictions on properties within the Ocean Pines community. The resulting revisions suggested by the ad hoc group could represent far ranging changes on many limitations and restrictions on properties including architectural details and size of homes, sheds, trailer parking and numerous other issues.
Board member George Coleburn raised the issue that the board did not have oversight of the guidelines of the ECC, an argument apparently shared by at least a few OPA members. They argue that the Declaration of Restrictions, the governing document for each section of Ocean Pines, apparently vests the responsibility for the rules governing properties in the community solely with the ECC, a board of three members appointed by the board of directors.
On a motion from board member Dan Stachurski and modified by Heather Cook the document was referred to legal counsel Joe Moore, General Manager Dave Ferguson and to the ECC for opinion and comment.
Mr. Stachurski introduced a motion that would facilitate the process of building the new community center, laying some elements of the process, including the official name designation of Ocean Pines Community Center, naming him as project manager and authorizing a bid process to select a construction management company. It further called for guidelines for a sealed bid process to sell the OPA properties to raise the funds for the facility and called for a target date of spring 2007, or before, for completion. A town meeting will be held in early October for community input and groundbreaking is anticipated by late October.
Mr. Coleburn and Ms. Kelley had problems with some elements of the motion. Ms. Kelley believed a committee should be established, including possibly a builder and an architect, to work with Mr. Stachurski while Mr. Coleburn feared the motion gave Mr. Stachurski virtual carte blanche and preferred some further controls. The final vote carried Mr. Stachurski’s motion with Mr. Coleburn and Ms. Kelley dissenting.
A Ditch/Storm Water Improvement Program will be considered for inclusion in the 2006-2007 budget process. The measure was handed to Mr. Ferguson for research and to facilitate inclusion of an ongoing program, including hiring an outside professional, to survey and make recommendations to better manage the ditches in Ocean Pines.
Mr. Ferguson noted that a simple survey of the ditches to determine elevations might cost from $20 to $30 thousand, while a broader management approach could cost up to $300,000. A report is due from Mr. Ferguson at the December board meeting.
A resolution relative to the National Incident Management System (NIMS), that is a requirement for OPA to be eligible for any grant funding, and a code of ethics for OPA board members drafted by board member Glenn Duffy were both referred to legal counsel for review. In relatively routine matters the board approved bids for construction of a new golf maintenance facility and a new shower/bathhouse for the Yacht Club Pool.
Five items listed on the agenda for consideration at the request of Mark Venit were put on hold until the next board meeting due to Mr. Venit’s early departure.
The OPA Board meeting lasted for three hours and 55 minutes, with one brief 10-minute break and included a number of prolonged and involved discussions. In his first meeting as OPA board president, Mr. Duffy played host to one of the most extensive public comment periods that association members present could ever recall.
Uploaded: 9/20/2005
