Former OPA board member Amy Peck took to public comments at the March Board of Directors meeting to voice her concern over OPA's issuance of numerous violations to homeowners with leaves on their property. Given that Peck lives rent-free in the heads of one or more current board members, the Empire struck back at the recent April board meeting.

Peck's March statement began, "The board packet is filled with leaf violations. For proper drainage, the ditches need to be kept clean – but there is a question regarding leaf maintenance in yards. The primary objective of the ARC Guidelines remains to 'preserve the natural beauty of Ocean Pines.' Please note the words natural beauty.

"The founders of OP never intended to mimic manicured communities like Glen Riddle. The majority of our Board of Directors have yards or condos with very few trees; however, for over a half of a century, Ocean Pines wooded landscape has always been a defining feature, attracting residents who value its natural beauty and wildlife. Again, please note the words natural beauty and how that is the primary objective of the ARC Guidelines."

Fast forward to the April 26th OPA board meeting where a board member added an item to the agenda of "State recommendations on leaf violations - Kevin Middleton." Middleton is a former member and chairman of the ARC Committee, and apparently was instrumental in changing the ARC Guidelines that resulted in Peck's public comments denouncing the idea of issuing violations for the presence of leaves on a lot.

Middleton, no longer even on the ARC Committee, began his presentation saying the new leaf guidelines were to address the "health, safety and good will" reference in the Declarations of Restrictions (DR). For those who follow Ocean Pines political machinations, there seemed little doubt he was most likely there at the request of OPA President Stuart Lakernick to refute prior comments by Amy Peck.

Did Middleton accomplish that goal? Hardly. In fact, Middleton's suggestion that leaves on lots in a forest were a DR violation due to being a fire hazard only served to expose the hypocrisy of the leaf issue.

Middleton spoke at great length about the fire hazard of leaves, leaning on some state language about leaves not being a ground cover, and how the small lots in Ocean Pines make the fire hazard even greater. He never mentioned pine needles, yet pine needles may be more flammable than leaves.

Where does the hypocrisy come in? The Declarations of Restrictions forbids open burning of wood. A recent OPA Board of Directors changed the ARC Guidelines to allow open burning of wood in fire pits.

So, lot owners can start a wood fire ten feet or so from any home but receive a DR violation if there are leaves on properties in a forest.

Is Peck's view correct? Perhaps. However, if not and the Board of Directors is so concerned about health and safety due to fire hazards related to leaves, it should end the hypocrisy by adding a Guideline making pine needles on lots a violation, and remove the Guideline that allows open burning of wood.

Along with these changes, the board should increase the OPA budget to hire a dozen or more new inspectors to write up violations.