01/24/2007

OPA agenda addresses petition and budget

By Bob Lassahn

The January 17 meeting of the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors was both lightly attended and brief. Preceded by a photo opportunity the 9 a.m. gathering at the Country Club was over by 10:30.

Director Glenn Duffy read a prepared press release announcing that OPA had completed a review of the petition for referendum submitted by S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Ocean Pines) to halt the construction of the new Community Center pending a referendum on cost overruns exceeding the board's spending limit. By OPA's count the petition fell short of the required 842 valid signatures by 10 after 83 were disqualified for various reasons.

County Commissioner Linda Busick (District 6) made her first appearance before the board, providing an overview of how she, as a new commissioner, prepares for county meetings and to brief the board on various county matters.

General Manager Tom Olson provided his report, noting a change in staff that now places the Compliance, Permits & Inspections (CPI) section under OPA Public Works Director Kerry Nelson. Two positions within CPI have been eliminated due to a reduction in the workload, a move that will save OPA about $42,000 in salaries and benefits.

For the benefit of the board Mr. Olson also conducted a brief presentation on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. The most significant topic of discussion regarding the budget was the proposed $150 increase in the annual assessment and the reasons for the increase. In his breakdown he cited only minor increases in most areas, with the bulk of the amount going to reserves. Mr. Olson noted that many of the facilities are in need of repair and rehabilitation and the increase will provide the funds necessary for numerous projects over the coming years.

Public comments produced four speakers. Al Risley of Sundial Circle addressed the board to protest the directional signs that he described as "ugly, unnecessary and not in the style or tradition of Ocean Pines." Mr. Risley closed paraphrasing Ronald Reagan's demand to tear down the Berlin Wall with "tear down these signs."

One speaker offered a suggestion that the board might consider prepayment of assessments for multiple years, one speaker objected to the proposed increase in slip fees at the Ocean Pines Marina and one noted that the budget information compares budget to budget, not actual numbers. The comments were very civil and lacked any of the venom that has from time-to-time flowed from the OPA podium.

Director Dan Stachurski provided an update on the new Community Center; noting that the schedule seems ever changing and commenting that he would be using projects from SPN, Inc. the construction management firm for the project, henceforth. The latest estimate has site preparation work beginning at the end of January and construction of the actual building beginning around mid April. Completion is projected sometime in April 2008.

Under new business the board accepted bids for two pieces of equipment. They also considered a motion from Director Stachurski to rescind policies regarding rental of OPA club facilities by outside food service companies. The motion was seconded by Director Ray Unger and failed to generate any discussion before being passed unanimously.


Send an Email Letter to Courier Editor - be sure to include your telephone number.