OPA, Comcast close to inking right-of-way agreement
August 2019
www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress
Parks says company will have the option of offering full range of services to directly compete with Mediacom for customers By TOM STAUSS Publisher ith a recently concluded agreement in place that allows current cable television and Internet provider Mediacom to continue providing its current range of services in Ocean Pines, using rights of way and easements controlled by the Ocean Pines Association, there’s every indication that the OPA is close to concluding a deal with Comcast to provide similar services in Ocean Pines. “We’re in final negotiations for a contract to allow Comcast to access those very same rights of way and easements to provide their services,” OPA President Doug Parks said during the Aug. 10 OPA annual membership meeting According to Parks, about 18 months ago Comcast offered to provide services in exchange for a guarantee that all 8,452 homeowners sign up for basic cable through the company, “which would’ve increased your assessment by $360.” “I, respectfully, said ‘no thank you,’” Parks said. Now, it appears the Association is nearing a deal with Comcast that’s similar to the agreement with Mediacom. “We’re in lengthy discussions with them right now and hopefully we’ll be able to bring that in,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll get that done real soon.” No deal was in place by the close of business Aug. 16, as this edition of the Progress went to To Page 32
W
THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY
COVER STORY
Trendic presents petitions to force referendums on board spending authority OPA vetting signatures to determine whether there are a sufficient number to require a vote on the golf clubhouse project and a proposed $1 million limit on how much directors can spend on capital improvements without obtaining property owner approval By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer pair of petitions presented at the annual membership meeting of the Ocean Pines Association on Aug. 10 may have met the requirements to force to referendum a reduction in the Board of Directors spending authority and construction of a new clubhouse at the Ocean Pines golf course. During the public comments section of the meeting, Slobodan Trendic, a former OPA director, announced the results of his petition drives to secure the required number of signatures to bring the issues to a vote of the full membership. Consistent with the OPA’s governing documents, Trendic said he had obtained the signatures of 10 percent of the eligible members on each of the petitions. Each member signing the petition must be eligible to vote when the petition is filed, he said, citing OPA bylaws. A successful petition requires signatures representing at least ten percent of the “maximum number of votes” that can be cast. Trendic said he interprets that provision to mean that ten percent of properties in good standing, with no outstanding assessments or covenant violations, is the minimum needed to force a referendum. There were 7,957 ballots sent out in this summer’s board election, reflecting the properties in good stand-
A
BERLIN i.g. Burton www.igburton.com 10419 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin, MD 410.641.0444
Stock # N19-7117. Offer includes all rebates. Plus tax, tags and $300 dealer doc fee. Ends 9/3/19.
ing as of June 1. If that’s the standard, then a successful petition would need 795 valid signatures. Trendic’s petitions exceeded that. But there is another possible interpretation of the bylaws’ reference to the maximum number of votes that can be cast with respect to the number of valid signatures needed. Joe Reynolds of oceanpinesforum. com contended during the Aug. 14 special meeting of the board that the “maximum numbers of votes that can be cast” means a successful petition drive needs at least 845 signatures, or ten percent of the 8,452 lots in Ocean Pines. One of the submitted petitions, callin for a vote on the golf clubhouse, had 810 signatures. OPA President Doug Parks in response to Reynolds’ opinion said “point taken” and later said that OPA General Counsel Jeremy Tucker had been asked to render an opinion on which interpretation of the bylaws should govern. During the annual meeting, Trendic said the OPA’s bylaws section 4.07 allows a petition to be used to propose a specific action requiring a referendum. “I initiated that effort a few months ago,” he said. Two petitions were produced under the aegis of START ( Strategic Planning, Prosperity, Accountability, Respect and Trust), a grassroots advocacy group that Trendic founded several months ago after resigning To Page 31
LABOR DAY SALE
$17,500 OFF
up to
RAM