Should board attire include body armor?
Commentary by Bob Lassahn

Mike Borland’s attempt to place a motion for removal of six Ocean Pines Association (OPA) board members on the annual meeting agenda didn’t quite make the grade and with the deadline expired he states the matter is over, perhaps except for the shouting. Obviously this is good news for the board members. At least they don’t have another hot button issue added to their already full plate.

But it would be a mistake for any board member to feel smug about dodging a bullet. This attempt to seek their removal is a clear indication that they have allowed things to deteriorate to a dangerous level. Above all else they need to get to work on reestablishing a modicum of credibility with the people they signed on to serve.

To rehash all the past failings serves no purpose since every board member should be acutely aware of the issues that have caused this most current uproar. The hue and cry has been loud and clear: “you’re not listening, and if you are, you certainly haven’t acknowledged the issues raised by the voices of the membership.”

No one expects the board to make everyone happy. That just isn’t going to happen in a community as diverse as Ocean Pines. But each board member should certainly show consideration to issues laid before them in a constructive manner and address them to the greatest extent possible. When people believe they are being ignored it makes them angry. It is more productive to openly acknowledge the issue and diffuse it with logic, reason and good information.

Disagreement isn’t the underlying problem, it is just a reality of life and will always exist, at least to some extent, about everything and anything the board might undertake, right down to the siding that is put on the buildings. When the board’s decision making process shows respect for opposing viewpoints, fully addresses the questions and concerns and is conducted in an open manner, the propensity for suspicion and outright anger is diminished. People will still disagree but on the facts about the issue and not on a personal level.

I believe no one serving on the OPA board is evil. In their hearts and minds they believe in what they are trying to accomplish. It is often referred to as vision and people have a tendency to develop a passion for their vision.

Passion and vision among board members isn’t a bad thing. It is something very necessary in keeping Ocean Pines a vibrant community. But passion and vision must be properly “sold” to others or it becomes the dreaded “personal agenda.” Every step must be carefully measured to allow others the opportunity to interject their own vision into the equation. In the end, the result might be exactly the same, and there will be some disagreement. But the process will have shown respect for opposing views, with nothing done by slight of hand, and the matter is less likely to get personal.

The board needs to work on its relationship with the members. Anger and frustration do not foster productive interaction between people; they muddy the waters. The real issues get lost because no one is looking for solutions, just concentrating at taking potshots. Which begs the question: now that they have dodged one bullet will the board try to get this right or should board attire include body armor?

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