Do the Right Thing!
Commentary by Joe Reynolds

Now that the OPA Board of Directors has accepted a $691,324 bid for the Community Center site work, all the major costs associated with the building are in place. Lot owners can feel comfortable the final price tag on the complete structure will be very close to the $5.4 million figure recently announced by board president Glenn Duffy.

It is time for S.T.O.P to stop its obstructionist role with an attempt to force the project to a second costly referendum via the petition process. S.T.O.P. organizer Marty Clarke should be ignored, along with his constant mantra about no "free meeting space for freeloaders." Any lot owner who signed the S.T.O.P. petition should reconsider, and ask to have their signature withdrawn.

S.T.O.P. and Clarke should also reconsider their position and give serious thought to the potential harm they are doing to the Ocean Pines Community with emotional appeals representing little more than a rehash of the original referendum. Keep in mind the many vocal detractors of the library and post office; had lot owners listened to them we would not have these fine facilities in our community.

While Clarke makes much ado about the approximate $1.5 million increase of the Community Center cost over the anticipated cost of $3.9 million, he refuses to acknowledge what most people know and accept -- the cost of construction has gone up. Examples abound, including the cost of the new Ocean City library.

Lot owners should also keep some perspective, and not fall prey to those who speculate OPA assessments will go through the roof due to the Community Center project. Duffy, and the board, appear confident the project will be totally funded through the sale of OPA property, as stipulated in the Community Center referendum. However, if the property sale proceeds were to fall short by $1.5 million, the amount could be covered by a $15 per year assessment increase, or a one-time assessment of about $180 per lot.

On the other hand, S.T.O.P isn't telling lot owners that stopping the project in the near future might well cost the community more than the increased cost of the project. OPA Board member and Treasurer Bill Zawacki estimates it could cost OPA over $2 million if the S.T.O.P group is somehow successful in shutting down the project shortly after the first of the year. Zawacki's numbers are certainly open to debate, but it is certain OPA would sustain consequential financial losses, possible legal entanglements and end up with nothing.

Has the journey since lot owners approved the Community Center referendum been a smooth one? Hardly. The process has been rife with spin from the board-appointed point man, a lack of experienced leadership from the board, and Sterrett's Folly -- a $1 million un-budgeted cover on the Sports Core pool. One positive note is the arrival of new General Manager Tom Olson, an experienced, hands-on guy who will hopefully be taking charge of the Community Center project and returning proper focus to maintaining our amenities within the budget process.

The important thing for lot owners at this juncture, however, is to look beyond meaningless "personality" politics and concentrate on an important goal -- construction of a new Community Center that will make all of us proud, help maintain property values, and provide adequate meeting space for our many groups and organizations, as well as a gymnasium for the young people of Ocean Pines.

The bottom line is Ocean Pines needs a new Community Center, and costs will not be less expensive in the future. Now is the time to put a positive face on Ocean Pines, end petty bickering, and do the right thing; now is the time to come together and support the new Community Center.