commentary by Joe Reynolds

I urge everyone in Ocean Pines to read a letter-to-the editor from outgoing OPA board member Bill Cordwell in the August 18, 2016 edition of the Bayside Gazette. Therein you will discover the heretofore top secret information that I, Joe Reynolds, am one of three people in total control of Ocean Pines.

Cordwell's letter is essentially a series of ad hominem attacks representing the same sort of anger and rage that resulted in Cordwell threatening to punch another director "thru that wall" during a board meeting. One can only wonder why a responsible news publication would print such a letter.

At any rate, Cordwell says I bring up the issue of OPA ballot counting every year. He is correct. I believe election transparency is extremely important. This year was different, however. This year at least two of the candidates filed complaints with the Maryland Attorney General's Office regarding this issue.

Cordwell refers several times to OPA's bylaws with regard to the vote counting process. As a past board member he should know that the bylaws do not stipulate how votes are to be counted. The vote counting process is set forth in a board resolution. It essentially says the count will be done by the Election Committee in closed session. The issue for Hill, Trendic and others is they believe the Maryland HOA Act does not allow the committee to use a closed session for counting votes. Why Cordwell, or anyone, would oppose transparency in ballot counting is a mystery.

Cordwell, at one point in his irrational tirade, states, "The voters have decided to give full control back to Marty Clarke, Dave Stevens, and Joe Reynolds."

Cordwell says of newly elected board member Slobodan Trendic, "He knows nothing other than what Clarke and Reynolds tell him." Then he says Trendic has "low moral character." Cordwell continues his ongoing feud with current board member Dave Stevens and past board member Marty Clarke.

Cordwell also says of me, "He has never volunteered a minute of his time to make this community a better place, just all negative from him."

Perhaps Cordwell forgot my court case that recovered about $1 million as a refund to association members on their water and sewer bills; perhaps Cordwell forgot that I designed a new web site for OPA, a $10,000 or so value, free of charge; perhaps Cordwell forgot that I helped lead the successful effort to obtain a percentage of the Casino local impact funds for OPA, in the face of board opposition. That successful effort now brings OPA nearly $300,000 each and every year. Perhaps Cordwell forgot that I designed and host the Ocean Pines Veterans Memorial web site free of charge for over 10 years.

Perhaps Cordwell forgot that I was nominated for Citizen of the Year by the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce; perhaps Cordwell forgot that my OceanPinesForum.com web site was given the prestigious Business of the Year award by the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Cordwell is certainly welcome to his opinions. I will continue to voice mine while hopefully avoiding the ad hominem attack approach Cordwell seems to favor.