Based on reporting in the most recent edition of the Ocean Pines Progress, relationships among board members and between board members and OPA General Manager John Viola may not be as happy-happy a team effort as some board members would have association members believe.

Apparently the election of Larry Perrone by a four to three vote over fellow contender Steve Tuttle brought out the long knives. The vote saw Directors Horn, Rogers, Daly and Perrone voting for Perrone; and Janasek, Parks and Tuttle voting for Tuttle.

So what is the big deal? It seems as though, as is typically the case, there were discussions among board members, prior to the annual organization meeting when officers are selected, to more or less agree in advance as to who would be OPA's president for the coming year. The bruhaha now is over a claim by Director Tom Janasek that Director Camilla Rogers reneged on a committment to support Steve Tuttle as a way to gain her support for electing Colette Horn vice-president. Janasek further says GM Viola interfered in the election process by convincing Rogers to change her mind and vote for Perrone.

Janasek has obtained a special board meeting to discuss Viola's possible interference in the board officers election process. Rogers denies having been told who to vote for by Viola and also that she had no prior agreement with Janasek to vote for Tuttle. She does admit talking to Viola about the vote for president.

Complicating the issue is someone provided the Progress with a text message exchange between Camilla Rogers and one of her supporters, association member Debbie Bloom. Bloom apparently wanted Rogers to vote for Tuttle, as part of Rogers' text message said, "I am so sorry I disappointed you." Bloom then responded to Rogers that her vote was not for the person Rogers told her she would vote for. According to Bloom, Rogers told her she based her decision to change her mind and vote for Perrone was "based on her conversation with Viola."

Bloom also claimed the election of Perrone would not be welcomed by OPA staff.

According to Bloom, Rogers is a friend she helped get elected to the board last year. Perhaps, but one must wonder how a private text message exchange between Bloom and Rogers ended up in a local paper, or in the hands of a board member other than Rogers. Does anyone believe Rogers provided the texts?

The speccial meeting to discuss possible board officer interference by Viola will be at 1:00 PM on 8/17/2020 in the East Room of the Community center. Association members may attend and give public comments but the board will then likely vote to go into closed session. There is no expectation the board would vote to remove Viola or even to publicly castigate him.

Regardless, Steve Tuttle would have been the better choice for OPA president.