OCEAN PINES
March 2023 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 17
Contractor registry From Page 15 by the OPA of contractors on the list. “I don’t want to see us have to be involved in people’s personal decisions on what contractor the use for the work that they want done. Period. I want to stay as far away from that as possible,” he said. Parks said the fact that they must pull a county permit and their licensure is verified at that point is good enough for him. “I do not want to the have the Board or OPA involved in personal business decisions for homeowners,” he said, but he added that he might be able to support a free listing that is offered to community members. Director Steve Jacobs said he likes the idea of providing a level of consumer protection, which seems to be the goal of the proposal. But, he agreed that this can be offered by CPI simply providing residents with information on the OPA’s Website or in flyers suggesting things like getting three estimates for any project, asking a contractor about their licensing, and consulting
Viola dealing with staffing shortage in police department General manager drops $50,000 proposed expenditure for independent review of staffing and organizational structure By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association membership is well aware of one key staffing issue at the Ocean Pines Police Department, the absence of Chief Leo Ehrismen, who was placed on paid administrative leave in early January after revelations of missing material in the department’s evidence
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with others for recommendations. “I do have problem with setting up this registry,” he said and cited a lack of redress for property owners and contractors about the quality of work. That is available at the state level through an administrative law judge, he added. He also wondered if a contractor who doesn’t pay the registration fee
storage shed. His duties are being temporarily handled by two lieutenants, one from the Worcester County Sheriff’s office and the other employed by the OPPD. Lt. Brian Caramone of the sheriff’s department had been dispatched to “provide oversight and assistance” to the Ocean Pines department as the investiu
will be squeezed out of the marketplace. “You’re allowing Ocean Pines to engage in that sort of restraint of trade,” he suggested. “I think you invite more potential problems than you’re trying to solve.” Lakernick said he is OK with a free list but not with charging a fee. Parks also said he may support a free listing but not in any form that
indicates the contractors are endorsed by the OPA. He acknowledged that the OPA can’t stop it if a property owner interprets that as a referral. Horn said CPI may still be interested in creating the listing even if it is offered for free and said it will be up to CPI and the general manager to make that decision.
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