So, the board approves the money. Then at a meeting Stevens arranged with Jerry Aveta and various committee chairs, the chair of the Comp Plan committee says OPA really does not have to come up with the questions. The chair then goes on to say the next step is to speak with "important" people in the community, and also important stakeholders, like real estate agents. I asked if plumbing contractors would also be important stakeholders. The chair said yes.

There are no "stakeholders" in this HOA except association members as far as I'm concerned. I don't care what some plumber in Snow Hill or some real estate agent in Ocean City thinks about these possible "x" actions.

Can anyone point me to another HOA where this Salisbury fellow did a study? If so, are the results public? He is a part of the Perdue Business School at Salisbury. What is his real experience with HOAs?

As for him telling us what will happen if we take "x" action, what are some examples of these "x" actions and who will decide what actions we want him to study?

I became completely dubious after reading a local newspaper account of some study this Salisbury University fellow did that could adversely impact farmers, and he would not allow the farmers to see it.

Do you think the $14,000 or so is well spent and will produce meaningful answers? Afraid I see it as money thrown down a sewer. Same category as the $8000 thrown down a sewer in a ridiculous attempt to control goose populations. Same category as the $35,000  thrown down a sewer on a golf study back around 2006. Same category as the super kitchen expert who designed our $500,000 YC kitchen and bar.

I'm beginning to think we run some sort of a consultant's welfare service. I guess you can see I don't think much of the Salisbury guy or his study.  

Then there is the other side. I think Ted Moroney said something to the effect this Salisbury guy is the key to our entire future and all decisions for all our major projects will rest on the results he provides.

Here's a small bet. I bet he comes back with a positive for becoming a municipality. He mentioned it might be something his mother was interested in.