Viola proposing Admin Building renovation
December 2020
General Manager John Viola is propsing some relatively modest renovations and improvements to the Administration Building. The interior improvements include the replacement of HVAC equipment, new flooring, new ceiling tiles, repainting, and office space dividers. Some personnel may be shifted after the upgrades are complete, Viola said recently. ~ Page 6
Board to review B-8 processes A closed meeting of the Board of Directors on Dec. 19 called ostensibly to review Ocean Pines Association President Larry Perrone’s involvement in drawing up a complaint against Director Tom Janasek turned into a discussion on how the OPA’s processes in Board Resolution B-08 for removing a director could be improved. A work group of three directors has been named to review B-08 and recommend changes. ~ Page 16
COVER STORY
Board renews trash pact with Republic Services that raises residents’ rates by 23 percent over 2017 Directors forgo significantly lower bid by Chesapeake Waste Management By TOM STAUSS Publisher
T
he Ocean Pines Association is under no obligation to approve a low bidder in any acquisition or contractual matter, and has on occasion accepted a higher bid because of familiarity and a high comfort level with a particular contractor’s services. But it’s not often that the OPA, through its board of directors, opts to approve the most costly of competing bids in a critical service such as trash collection, especially when the higher bids results in a sharply higher cost to Ocean Pines residents for what many regard as an essential service. The board voted unanimously at its Dec. 19 monthly board meeting to renew a contractual arrangement with Republic Services for trash collection services. The new three-year agreement obligates the OPA to use Republic
for trash pick-up at OPA-owned facilities, but does not mandate that residents use the company. Residents are free to take their trash to the Berlin landfill as an alternative to using Republic for twice-weekly trash pick-up services. The new Republic contract is under review by OPA attorney Jeremy Tucker. Republic’s bid for twice-weekly trash collection and once-a-week recyling pick-up was $24.20 monthly, billed quarterly in the amount of $72.60. The current rate is $20.27, or $60.81 quarterly, with an additional $3.60 charge for an optional 95-gallon container. Three years ago, Republic was the low and successful bidder for trash and recycling collection services for $19.68 a month or $59.04 billed quarterly. The company has availed itself of a provision in the 2017 contract To Page 3
Viola says assessments won’t increase by $121 despite budget draft that suggests they could ~ Page 25
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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY
Viola given bonus, raise for meeting performance goals The Board of Directors is pleased with the job performance of General Manager John Viola, giving him a “four out of five rating” in a recently completed review, the general manager told the Progress recently. That was sufficient to give him both a three percent raise and a $5,000 bonus, he said. The bonus and raise is in addition to a second $5,000 installment of a $15,000 retention bonus he received when he agreed to a two-and-a-half year employment contract a year ago. ~ Page 8
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