OPA, at the specific direction of the Board of Directors, is soliciting proposals for a new contract to manage food and beverage services. The proposals are due on October 18. With that as a backdrop, Doug Parks' comments at a recent Budget & Finance Committee meeting about Matt Ortt Companies were stunning and potentially threatened the integrity of the entire process.

During a discussion of OPA's August financial report, as some committee members raised questions about financial results at the Yacht Club, Parks blurted out, "I'll go on record saying I want to see Matt Ortt stay as our food and beverage operator."

Incredibly, Parks also seemed to suggest Yacht Club  banquet numbers will be down because the request for proposals is "out there on the street." The request was not even made public until September 13th. 

Barely were the words out of Parks' mouth when OPA General Manager John Viola's face popped up on the committee video feed. Viola said something like - "Doug, I gotta step in here." Parks seemed surprised. Another committee member said, "He wants to step in." Parks ignored Viola.

Viola instinctively knew what Parks said could undermine the Board of Directors' decision to seek proposals for food and beverage management, at several levels.

If Parks intended to help his friend, Matt Ortt, he did not. Instead, his comment may make some association members view the board's decision to seek proposals for food and beverage operations as a bit of a charade. Unfortunately, management companies that are considering submitting proposals might come to the same conclusion.

Later, Parks would say he is only one person out of 8,500 and the board decides on any new food and beverage contract.

Factually correct. However, it would be foolish to think any opinion expressed by Parks has no more influence on board members than that of any other association member. Also, given his close personal friendship with at least six of the seven sitting board members, it would also be foolish to discount any deeper significance to his statement.

Parks is the Parliamentarian for the Board of Directors; Chairman of the powerful Budget & Finance Committee; served as a member of the Board of Directors for seven years, at least three as president. He was a member of the board that originally voted to hire Matt Ortt Companies some years ago.

During the committee meeting, Parks clearly acted as a bit of a cheerleader for Matt Ortt Companies. He mentions having private discussions with Ortt.

Some sitting board members have previously expressed a desire to renew the food and beverage contract with Matt Ortt. For example, the September 2024 issue of the Ocean Pines Progress contains an article by Cindy Hoffman where she quotes OPA president Stuart Lakernick saying, "We have heard nothing but rave reviews of his [Matt Ortt] management of all three of our food outlets. We want to continue that process and that relationship."

The issue of relationships between Matt Ortt Companies and members of the OPA Board of Directors goes back almost five years.

During a board meeting in October 2020, a bit of a public bombshell took place when directors began discussing whether board members could accept free booze and food from Matt Ortt Companies. Unsurprisingly, the board quickly decided to move further discussion of this obviously sensitive issue to a closed session.

As is often the case, word was leaked about that closed-door discussion - board members could not accept free booze and food at Ortt facilities in Ocean Pines but could do so at Ortt restaurants outside Ocean Pines. The board never officially made any such decision public.

Director Frank Daly later publicly confirmed the closed-door discussion resulted in a "compromise" allowing Directors to accept free booze and food at Matt Ortt restaurants outside Ocean Pines. Daly wrote, "That is my understanding of our policy."

Several directors voting at that closed session in 2020 have confirmed the "compromise" allowing Directors to accept free booze and food from Matt Ortt establishments outside Ocean Pines took place.

Daly told OceanPinesForum.com that those in favor of the Daly proposed "compromise" were Frank Daly, Camilla Rogers, Tom Janasek, Doug Parks, and Steve Tuttle. Those opposing were Colette Horn and Larry Perrone.

Rick Farr was not involved in OPA politics at the time. Asked recently what he thought about such a policy or "compromise," as Daly put it, Farr replied, "That would be crazy." A succinct and accurate observation. Another good description would be "unbelievable."

Former Bylaws & Resolutions Committee Chairman Jim Trummel wrote, "A director accepting gifts and gratuities from a company doing business with OPA can be perceived to be compromising the best interests of the Association in favor of his interests in actions regarding the business relationship."

Rest assured, OPA General Manager John Viola and his staff will handle this request for proposals and any recommendations resulting from those proposals with the utmost professionalism. Then it will be up to seven board members to make an unbiased judgment on any staff recommendation.