09/25/2007

New Board Reviews Agenda and Goes on Tour
By Bob Lassahn

The Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors (the board) met in open session on August 29 for a limited agenda prior to their annual orientation tour for directors. Only six of the directors were present for the 9 a.m. meeting as Reid Sterrett, now beginning his third year on the board, was absent due to work demands. Ray Unger, beginning his second year as a director, was also required to miss the tour that followed the meeting due to work commitments.

Three business items, including a meeting calendar, a list of committee liaisons and committee appointments were originally published on the abbreviated agenda. President Bill Zawacki requested an amendment adding a motion to rescind a decision of the previous board to send the revised bylaws to referendum on September 5. During a brief discussion Director Bill Rakow noted that this was basically a technicality or housekeeping measure necessary to properly construct a previous decision of the current board, substituting "rescind" for "postpone" to assure adherence to the existing bylaws. The amended agenda was approved unanimously.

Mr. Zawacki distributed a proposed list of board meeting dates, times and locations for the months of September through December 2007. He explained that the schedule utilized the third Wednesday of each month, as have previous board schedules, alternating the time from day (9 a.m.) to evening (6:30 p.m.). Additionally, the schedule provides for a 9 a.m. "workshop" on the Saturdays preceding the regular meetings.

Based upon member input and actual attendance at the meetings the board will later determine if it will continue the two meetings per month format and also will decide the time of day that produces member attendance to the greatest extent. The board could opt to continue to alternate between morning and evening meetings, or switch to a consistent time of day. Of importance to Director Marty Clarke is an attempt to schedule meetings that might accommodate the many non-resident property owners. The proposed meeting schedule was approved by a unanimous vote.

An advisory committee liaison list was the second item introduced for board consideration. This provides each director with responsibility for one or more of the numerous advisory committees in the OPA structure. This too received unanimous approval before Mr. Zawacki announced appointments to the various advisory committees.

James Yates was announced as the new chair of the Clubs Committee, taking over the reins from previous chair Jack Ferry following his resignation for health reasons. New appointments to the Clubs Committee include Bill Wentworth and Sandy Reifsnyder. Newly appointed to the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee was Ted Moroney.  Although he is not a full-time resident, it is believed that advances in communication technology would allow him to fully participate. Finally, in what is a housekeeping measure to assure compliance with procedure, Art Sachs was reappointed to the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Mr. Zawacki interjected congratulatory comments to the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee including Al Bridgman, Gail Kretschmar and Ron Haslam, for their hard work and dedication to the ongoing task of revising and updating the existing bylaws. His comments were echoed by other board members and some discussion ensued regarding the board's responsibility to properly task or focus these hardworking volunteer committees to avoid  sending then off "spinning their wheels." Several directors also commented on the need to revitalize some of the advisory committees and to assure the members that they are listening to the recommendations provided.

The final order of business was the vote to rescind the bylaws referendum. It passed without discussion on a unanimous vote.

 The board then began the orientation portion of the day's business. Mr. Zawacki called attention to several policy issues that directors should review, possibly with an eye toward modification at a future date. General Manager Tom Olson also reviewed the budget development process, answering questions and providing the board with assurances of their involvement at the earliest possible time.

The group then adjourned from the meeting and began the tour of facilities.