commentary by Joe Reynolds

OPA director and Worcester County Board of Education candidate Tom Terry is intent on pushing through the expenditure of $200,000 or so of your assessment dollars for phase one of the changes for pickleball at Manklin Meadows... with no consideration of the final cost of the entire project that could top $750,000.

Note that last year the board approved $250,000 for the entire project. The GM's only bid on the work came in at around $750,000, three times higher than the estimate he initially provided to the Board of Directors. Pickleball memberships, at less than 100 so far this year, are in decline, as are overall racquet sports memberships. 

Recently the GM decided to try and do the work in two phases. He obtained a bid on what he calls phase one for around $205,000. The board discussed that at last week's meeting, and decided to do nothing. Apparently Terry was not satisfied.

However, after going into the closed session the board continued to discuss the issue, most likely in violation of Maryland law. Reports are the board actually went into closed session, then left the closed session and continued to meet and discuss the project... still likely a violation of Maryland law.

The board decided to hold a special meeting tomorrow, with one day notice, and the only business item on the agenda is a motion by Tom Terry for "Manklin Creek Project." The board does not even have the courtesy to tell association members the exact nature of the motion, but informed sources say it is to ramrod through some sort of phase one of the Manklin Creek project.

Terry wanted the board to vote on his spending motion via email. Disgraceful in this instance and for this purpose, but perfectly legal if all directors agreed. Fortunately Director Dave Stevens objected, and thus the motion and vote will at least be in a public board meeting.

I sent the following email to OPA directors via directors@oceanpines.org:

I understand the board went into closed session at the last meeting. Watching the video I cannot ascertain verbally what were the topics to be discussed and the reason under the HOA Act for discussing them in closed session. The agenda states, “Adjournment to Closed Session- Contractual/Legal Matter- Gillis Offer.” The contractual issue was related to approval of a lease with Seacrets for oceanside parking

I also understand during the regular open meeting the board failed to do anything regarding the Manklin Meadows complex work but then continued to discuss this issue after going into the closed session. If so, in my view this continued discussion of the Manklin Meadows issue into the closed session (or immediately after) was a direct and clear violation of the Maryland HOA Act.

Now the board has scheduled a special meeting tomorrow (3/29/2016) at 9 AM in the board room, with notice of the meeting going up on the OPA web site just today.

Someone seems intent on forcing through this phased approach to the Manklin Meadows work without regard for the final costs; costs that could top $750,000.

All the meeting notice states is “Motion- Manklin Creek Project- Tom Terry.”

What is the motion? The agenda does not say. All board members should be ashamed to allow such shoddy distribution of information relative to a major project in Ocean Pines. All board members should be ashamed to conduct the business of the association in such a manner.

Regards,

Joe Reynolds