Ocean Pines Progress

OPA solicits bids for replacement of crabbing pier General Manager John Bailey posted a request for proposals on the Ocean Pines Association Web site in early October for the replacement of the existing floating crabbing pier in the Whitetail Sanctuary of South Ocean Pines. The replacement pier would be located on the same site as the current one, which was closed for use earlier this year because of its poor condition. ~ Page 6

Residents lawyer up to fight S&R Club bulkhead staging area The Ocean Pines Association on Sept. 21 issued a request for proposals from marine contractors for bulkhead replacement, with bids due back Oct. 9.

Residents in that neighborhood have organized in opposition to the continued use of the Swim and Racquet Club as a staging area, and have hired an Ocean City law firm in an effort to persuade the Board of Directors not to allow use of that property for that purpose.

Letters from that law firm to the OPA argue that use of that site for commercial purposes violates the R-3 residential zoning in place for the Swim and Racquet Club campus. ~ Page 12

Border collie pilot program expected to begin this month General Manager John Bailey’s experiment to control Ocean Pines’ Canadian geese population was expected to begin this month.

Using money set aside in the current fiscal year’s budget for wildfowl control, he’s hired a company called Maryland Geese Control of Columbia,Md., that uses border collies trained to make an area less hospitable ~ Page 21 for geese.

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Ocean Pines Yacht Club: ‘Bringing the pride back’ Exceeding expectations, the Ortt Companies are looking ahead to even better results when the wedding and banquet business fully recovers

By TOM STAUSS Publisher here was a time in the distant past when the Ocean Pines Yacht Club was a destination of choice -- a well appointed and well executed fine dining experience. Ocean Pines residents didn’t hesitate to bring friends and family to the Yacht Club.

But that really was a long time ago. Not many are still around who remember those days. Until the arrival of the Matt Ortt Companies in Ocean Pines this spring, the result of a grand experiment in outsourcing management of two key Ocean Pines restaurant amenities, the Yacht Club did not spring to mind as a first choice for dining out, or even a choice at all, for too many Ocean Pines residents.

As Ralph DeAngelus, with Matt Ortt one of the managing partners of the Matt Ortt Companies, explains it, he heard far too many Ocean Pines

T

Ralph DeAngelus

Matt Ortt

residents tell him they actually “hated” to come to the Yacht Club, afraid the experience would be both unpleasant and embarrassing if they were in the company of friends.

So it comes with great relief and exhilaration that DeAngelus and Ortt report that they continue to hear lots of compliments from Yacht Club patrons.

“In every way we’ve exceeded our expectations,” DeAngelus said

during a recent sit-down interview, in which the two partners took turns expounding on what both say is the best experience they’ve ever had in the restaurant business. They cited the level of service to customers, the quality of the food, the ambiance of the Yacht Club after a cosmetic redesign, and, not to be minimized, financial results as reasons they’re very pleased with their first summer running the Yacht Club, with relatively little oversight and no interference from the Ocean Pines Association.

“People tell us they can’t wait to come back with their friends,” DeAngelus said. “They tell us they have pride in the Yacht Club, something many say they never had before.”

He says that the metamorphosis in the culture of the Yacht Club has undermined the reputation of the To Page 40

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October 2018

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Nov. 10 gala to celebrate Ocean Pines’ 50th birthday Cocktail reception, dinner and dancing are event highlights

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he Ocean Pines 50th Anniversary Committee will be hosting, as the largest residential community in Worcester County celebrates 50 years of resort and residential living at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club with a gala on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

A cocktail reception begins at 5:30, followed by dinner, live entertainment by the hit show band 10 Spot from Virginia Beach, a champagne toast and elements of surprise throughout the evening.

“For dinner, guests will enjoy a gourmet salad, filet mignon with lobster thermidor, fresh rockfish imperial, a premium open bar, and other tasty treats,” said Denise Sawyer, marketing and public relations director for the Ocean Pines Association. “Award-winning culinary wizard Stuart Diepold will amaze gala-goers with an array of delicious dishes.”

To commemorate the nostalgic anniversary, the cocktail reception will showcase signature appetizers that best reflect the 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s along with a raw bar and beef wellingtons, chorizo puff pastry and tomato/mozzarella skewers.

“After the cocktail reception, the party heads upstairs to the ballroom where an electric performance takes guests through a foot-tapping trip along memory lane with the best rendition of some of the most-talked-about dance songs in the last 50 years,” Sawyer said. “I, along with many others, will not be a wall-flower on Nov. 10.”

Individual tickets are $160 and can be purchased at the Ocean Pines Administration Building, located 239 Ocean Parkway.

The gala, which is open to the public, is sponsored by Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Steen Homes, Worcester County Tourism, First Home Mortgage, Compass Investment Advisors, City Florist, Chesapeake Utilities/ Sandpiper, Exit Realty at The Beach, and Real Estate Title and Escrow.

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OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Rt. 589 road closure, detours could extend into December But SHA expects work will be done faster if the weather cooperates and there are no unexpected snags

By TOM STAUSS Publisher oute 589 at Turville Creek, just south of Gum Point Road, closed to traffic Oct. 8 and will remain closed for up to eight weeks as crews with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) work to complete “significant slope repair, which require a complete closure and detour of Route 589,” according to SHA District Community Liaison Bob Rager.

Signage is directing motorists to use Routes 50, 113 and 90 as alternatives. Access to businesses within the project area are being maintained during construction, but “delays should be expected,” according to Rager.

In an email to the Progress, Rager added more detail to the project, which he said might take only “several weeks” depending on the weather and any complications that might occur as the work continues.

R

“Two months really is a worse case scenario,” he said.

Rager said that Ocean Pines residents “have undoubtedly noticed the orange barriers on the MD 589 shoulder. They’ve been there for years.

“SHA placed these barriers after recognizing significant erosion of the stream embankment. We placed stone over the slope as a temporary measure to slow the rate of deterioration from heavy and frequent rains. This has worked very well but it was always a temporary measure,” he said.

The project under way is designed to construct a more permanent solution.

“After clearing the slope and setting silt fence we’ll drive sheet pile to create a wall at the toe of the slope.

These steel sheets will go about 40 feet into the ground and will provide support for the reconstructed slope, which will be a stair-step embank-

ment (called “benching”), covered with different sizes of stone to interlock and provide a solid, stable barrier to weather,” Rager said.

He suggested that motorists “probably don’t think much about what’s alongside roads and bridges, but slope maintenance and repair is a significant part of SHA operations.

Maintaining stable, well-covered slopes is critical to ensuring roads aren’t undercut by water,” he added.

Rager said that when the SHA estimates the length of time needed to complete a project, weather and site conditions are factored in.

“We’re still in hurricane season and while a little rain won’t hinder progress, a major storm could set us back. Regarding unknown site conditions, we have a good idea going into the project what to expect but with any slope erosion area, there’s always the possibility that we’ll find voids or areas that were undercut to a greater degree than anticipated,”

he said.

He described the first few days on the job as “good.” The weather cooperated, at least early in the week of Oct. 8. Later in the week the area was projected to be potentially to be in the path of the remnants of Hurricane Michael, which was supposed to hit landfall somewhere in the Gulf states Oct. 11.

“We haven’t seen any major issues (so far) and are optimistic that this project can be completed in just a few weeks,” he said.

Rager added that it’s “worth noting that this project will not widen Route 589. We’re just here to fix the slope right now. Still, I’m sure a lot of people will be glad to see those orange barriers gone and the northbound Route 589 shoulder restored in this area.”

Rager said the SHA is asking motorists to stay on the desinated detour route using US 50, US 113 and MD 90.

“These highways can handle the extra volume. While it’s tempting to use the smaller, local roads, we’d like to keep those as clear as possible to ensure emergency responders have the access they need to address public safety needs,” he said.

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ears. Motorists have already noticeably begun using Cathell Road and Adkins Road as ways to connect with Route 50, perhaps somewhat quicker than Routes 90 and 113.

Both Cathell Road and Adkins Road, small roads that intersect Route 589 north and west of Gum Point Road, connect up with Friendship Road, which in turns connects with Route 50 across from Stephen Decatur High School.

Although access to the businesses located on Route 589 between the Ocean Pines South Gate and Gum Point Road is unimpaired from Ocean Pines, residents who want to visit the Ocean Downs Casino or businesses on Route 50 south or east of Route 589 have to take the detours.

Abi’s Diner located on Route 589 just before Gum Point Road has noticed a drop-off in business since Oct. 8, despite the fact that access to the restaurant from Ocean Pines is not affected by the project.

Customers from Berlin, Glen Riddle or West Ocean City no longer have a quick and easy way of getting to Abi’s or other Rt. 589 businesses located between the Ocean Pines South Gate and Gum Point Road.

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State Highway Administration crews began work Oct. 8 reinforcing the steep slope on Route 589 just south of Gum Point Road.

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OCEAN PINES

October 2018

OPA solicits proposals to replace crabbing amenity in South Ocean Pines RFP for wildlife observation isn’t posted on OPA Web site at same time

By TOM STAUSS Publisher eneral Manager John Bailey posted a request for proposals on the Ocean Pines Association Web site in early October for the replacement of the existing floating crabbing pier in the Whitetail Sanctuary of South Ocean Pines. The replacement pier would be located on the same site as the current one, which was closed for use earlier this year because of its poor condition.

Deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, Oct. 19, the day before the scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Directors meeting. Although no contract award is guaranteed, if it is the award date is listed as Nov. 13. The anticipated completion date for a new crabbing pier is Feb. 28 next year.

An RFP for the demolition of the existing pier was issued in September.

There was no RFP issued to replace the existing crabbing pier

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with a nature observation platform, as advocated by a sizable number of homeowners in the Whitetail Sanctuary. Other Sanctuary residents and OPA residents who live in other sections south of Manklin Creek Road have advocated for preservation of the crabbing pier amenity, placing the board in a political quandary.

The initial posting of the replacement RFP to the exclusion of an observation platform RFP seems at odds with a motion offered by OPA Director Ted Moroney at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Board of Directors.

Bailey told the Progress in an Oct. 12 telephone interview that it was still his intent to release an RFP for an observation platform.

He blamed the delay on all the moving parts, RFPs, that have been released in recent weeks.

Moroney’s motion at the Sept. 8 board meeting included a directive to continue work to complete a site survey and issue a request for proposals for removal of the existing

crab pier, officially closed to public access for several months because of safety concerns.

The motion also instructed Bailey to issue an RFP to replace the existing pier with an observation platform, which would be the main feature of a wildlife conservation area advocated by a significant number of homeowners in Whitetail Sanctuary.

Finally, the motion instructed Bailey to issue a third RFP, this one to replace the existing crab pier at its current location, although the motion actually said “in the Whitetail Sanctuary.” No other site has been identified as a suitable location for a crabbing pier in Whitetail Sanctuary.

So the effect of this provision in Moroney’s motion essentially preserved the option of replacing the existing amenity with a new one at the same location.

And that the was first, and perhaps only, RFP to be issued in early October.

Moroney’s motion directed Bailey to report to the board no later than Oct. 15 with “options, issues, and recommendations for relocating the existing crab pier elsewhere in Ocean Pines.”

In an explanation of his motion, Moroney said it would allow the demolition of the existing pier “while retaining the right to replace the existing pier (at its existing location). In addition, the OPA will have pricing of options of Whitetail Sanctuay and options for potential relocation.”

The director said the crabbing pier issue is “a continuing subject that the board needs to move forward, so a decision can be made and implemented.”

Moroney apparently hopes that the competing RFPs will produce pricing information that will help the board make a decision on which option to choose. He also appears hopeful that Bailey will have recommendations to the board that will make it possible for the directors to come to a consensus.

In addition to rebuilding the crabbing pier at its present location, the directors will be considering the possibility of relocating the pier to

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6 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

A request for proposals to replace the crabbing pier in the Whitetail Sanctuary was issued in early October.

Crabbing pier

�0 80 120 struct Bailey to share copies of the pending RFPs with the board before SCALE: 1" � �0� other sites, such as the Swim and they’re sent out. Moroney accepted Racquet Club campus or even the the amendment, but some direcOPA’s White Horse Park boat ramp tors, including OPA President Doug area.

Parks and Frank Daly, said that as PIEDMONT COURT EXISTING ISTA During discussion at the Sept.

8 CRABBING PIER CONDITIONS D E S I G N, I NC. a rule they don’t want directors inPLAN board meeting, Director Slobodan volved in the RFP-drafting business.

OCEAN PINES 2 of 3 Trendic offered a friendly amend- Even with that skepticism about ment to Moroney’s motion to in- the merits of board involvement in 0

drafting or tweaking GM-drafted RFPs, the board accepted Trendic’s friendly amendment and went on to unanimously approve the amended motion.

Trendic in a recent response to a Progress email was the first director to forthrightly declare his support for rebuilding the pier at its current location, with improvements such as ADA (Americans with Disability Act) features.

Other directors who responded to the email said they were awaiting cost information on the various op-

tions before deciding.

Trendic said the OPA has an obligation to maintain existing assets, in their current locations. In agreement with Southside residents who enjoy using the crabbing pier, Trendic said it would be a step backward for the OPA to be eliminating or relocating an amenity used by residents who live throughout Ocean Pines.

He noted the OPA had accepted the crabbing pier on behalf of the entire Ocean Pines community more than 15 years ago.

20

From Page 6

NOTE: This drawing, specifications, and work produced by Vista Design, Inc. (VDI) for this project are instruments of service for this project only, and remains the copyrighted property of VDI. Reuse or reproduction of any of the instruments of service of VDI by the Client or assignees without the written permission of VDI will be at the Clients risk and be a violation of the copyright laws of the United States of America and the respective state within which the work was completed.

NOTE: This Drawing does not include necessary components for construction safety. All construction must be done in compliance with the occupational safety and health act of 1970 and all rules and regulations thereto appurtenant.

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Candidate Worcester County Comm ELECT JUDY BUTLER,

8 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

October 2018

Our District Advocate 5, forRepresenting Ocean Pines Ocean

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Ocean Pines is my home. It is a beautiful community, and my husband Tom and I have enjoyed the blessing of living here for the past 10 years. I have always believed that community action and responsibility are lifetime priorities. That has been my commitment. In addition to my 35 year career as a scientist and health care professional, I have served countless charitable organizations and causes. I am currently an active volunteer at Diakonia, Rackliffe House, and Holy Savior Catholic Church, where I mentor young people. And, for over a decade, I served the local, state, and national levels of the Parent Teacher Association, and I now have the honor of being a PTA Lifetime Member.

I recognize the privileges and lifestyle I've enjoyed have not been the reality for many. While many are lucky enough to watch their children perform in school plays, and participate in school and county sports programs, too many families in our community are forced to watch their children, or their relatives, succumb to opioid and alcohol addiction. We have to not only recognize this, but be forceful in addressing remedies.

I want to see our young people have the opportunities to pursue meaningful and lucrative careers right here at home. They shouldn't have to leave the area to make a decent living. Whether it be training our youth in sustainPines was not meant for shut-ins. able careers associated with emerging alternative energy Recognizing that fiscal responsibility should always • or Expert managerial skills care professional • Quality Public Schoo sources, in medical technology, our goal should -beHealth to be factored in and balanced with our initiatives, county provide bright and successfulfor careers that match 21st cengovernment must be the catalyst developingof resilience responsible directing a multi-layered profession• for Creation 21st Cent tury needs … right here in our county. to protect our citizens. The gifts of this beautiful staff , insidea ofhighly complex medicalplans laboratory, ser- • Protect the Arts in Co I wantal to be on the advocating for the safety community, and this wonderful county, should not be and health vicing needs of our community.

We needprofessionals. to protect for just some. I want to represent all of us. over 50 medical our bays and rivers from toxic pollutants. Plus, many in I will appreciate your support on November 6.

• Fiscal Responsibility - Comprehensive understandour community are seniors, and I want to advocate for Thank you. them. I want have a chance to utilizeinherent in securing • Protect the St. Martin ingto see of our theneighbors financial protocols Judy Butler, Your Advocate, and Candidate a community wide public transportation system so they needed funding, and profi cient in creating, • No Offshore Drilling WorcestermanagCounty Commissioner can get to their doctor appointments, take care of their Pines Resilience Pl shopping needs, getbeing to all their outings safely. Ocean ing, and and accountable to budgets.District 5, Representing• Ocean Develop

Judy Butler – an intelligent alternative to the status quo!

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OCEAN PINES

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Beach Club parking, pickleball top amenities for meeting 2018-19 membership goals OCEAN PINES

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each Club parking and pickleball among the Ocean Pines Association’s fee-based amenities have already exceeded their membership goals for the 2018-19 fiscal year, according to a report contained within the August financial results released last month.

Golf and aquatics are both lagging behind their membership goals for the year, with Aquatics behind the most in both percentage and revenue generated.

Tennis and platform tennis are also lagging behind their goals, but in dollar terms the shortfall is relatively modest.

Because memberships for the year in both aquatics and golf are generally sold in the April through June quarter, it’s unlikely that either amenity will achieve its membership goals for the year.

Membership is only one revenue stream in each department, however, and shortages in membership can be offset by increases elsewhere.

Pickleball, with membership stimulated this year by a reversion to a fee structure that includes both outdoor and indoor play in base rates, achieved 133 percent of its membership goal for the year through Aug. 30.

Its membership stood at 90 households, 22 more than budgeted and 20 more than had been sold as of Aug. 30 last year.

Pickleball generated $13,360 through Aug. 30, $4,445 more than budgeted.

Pickleball still has room for membership growth, because it is just as popular indoors as it is outdoors.

The gymnasium at the Ocean Pines Community schedules drop-in clinics for those interested in learning the sport.

Beach Club parking exceeded its budget goal by 119 percent as of Aug. 30, generating $243,195 in revenue.

That exceeded its budgetary goal by $38,425.

There were 2,576 parking permits in various iterations sold during the first four months of the fiscal year, compared to 2,555 for the same period last year.

Of particular note were the 528 parking-only permits sold this year.

There were none sold last year, because all parking permits were sold bundled with pool parking passes, with revenue shared by the two departments.

Although the budget was not changed to reflect the new parking-only option this year, the q

By TOM STAUSS Publisher

9

381 Westcott car mags.qxp_Layout 1 3/28/18 10:38 AM Page 1

Vote for Experience!

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11304 Manklin Creek Road, South Gate Ocean Pines (Manklin Creek & Ocean Parkway) BREAKFAST SANDWICHES Served on Bagel, Roll or Bread Egg & Cheese ..................................… $3.75 Meat*, Egg & Cheese …..................... $4.95 *Your choice of bacon, sausage ham, Taylor ham or turkey sausage

PLATTERS & OMELETS Eggs any Way with Bagel, Roll or Toast ... .............................................................. $3.75 Eggs any Way and Meat with Bagel, Roll or Toast …..........................................$4.95 Egg Cheese Omelet ............................ $4.25 Egg Veggie Omelet …........................ $4.75 Western Omelet …............................. $5.75

BAGEL SANDWICHES Served on Bagel, Roll or Bread Bagel with Butter ….. $2.05 Bagel with Cream Cheese …. $2.85* Your choice of plain, light, veggie, veggie light, strawberry, walnut raisin, almond, scallion, scallion and tomato, chive or olive cream cheese Bagel with Nova or Crab Spread …... $5.95 Bagel with Smoked Sliced Salmon … $9.95

LUNCH OPTIONS Homemade soup ~ Small $3.25 ~ Large $5.49 Pot pie .............................................… $5.49 Quiche .............................................… $3.75 Pizza bagel ~ Plain $3.25 - Pepperoni $5.49 Bagel Dog ............................................. $3.35

Fruit Cup ............................................... $3.99 Yogurt Parfait …................................... $3.99

Black and White ~ Small $1.20 / Large $2.45

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BAGELS AND BREADS

Served on Bagel, Roll or Bread • Includes a side of macaroni salad and a pickle Ham …………............................………. $7.45 Taylor Ham ……...........................…….. $7.45 Turkey ………...................................….. $7.95 Roast Beef …..................................…… $7.95 Cappicola …….................................….. $7.45 Genoa Salami …................................… $7.45 Italian Combo …...........................……. $7.95 (Roast Beef, Cappicola, Salami and Provolone) Roast Beef & Turkey ……................….. $7.95 Liverwurst …...............................……… $6.85 Bologna ……................................…….. $6.85 Egg Salad …............................………… $6.95 Tuna Salad ………..........................……. $7.75 Whitefish Salad …..................…………. $7.45 PB&J ……………….........................……. $3.75 Grilled Cheese …….......................……. $4.95 Add cheese to any sandwich for only 60 cents

Plain • Cinnamon Raisin • Sesame Onion • French Toast • Garlic Honey Wheat • Asiago • 7-Grain Berry • Poppy • Almond Everything • Everything Wheat • Rye Marble • Egg • Pumpernickel Sundried Tomato 1 Bagel ………...........................…. $1.25 Half Dozen Bagels …...............……… $7 Dozen Bagels ………............…… $13.50 Cinnamon Crunch Bagel ….....….. $1.75 N.Y. Kaiser Roll ……............….. 65 cents Portuguese Roll ……........…….. 65 cents *Irish Soda Bread Loaf $6.50 • Slice $1.50 * Special Order

FRESH PASTRIES Lemon bar ……..............................…… $2.25 Linzer Tart ................. Small $1.25 - Large $2 Muffin …….........................……………. $2.75 Brownie ….................................……….. $2.25 Turnover ………..........................……… $2.80 Croissant .............……….............. $2.80 Cinnamon buns .................………. $2.80 Minicheesecake...........……………. $3.50 Éclair ………..............................….. $2.90

WHIPPED CREAM CHEESES Plain • Light • Veggie • Light Veggie Strawberry • Walnut Raisin • Almond Scallion • Scallion & Tomato Chive • Olive Plain Cream Cheese ½ lb. …......… $3.20 Flavored Cream Cheese ½ lb. ...... $3.95 Nova Cream Cheese 1 lb …………$10.90 Crab Cream Cheese 1 lb. ……...…$10.90

All prices subject to change

11304 Manklin Creek Road, South Gate Ocean Pines (Manklin Creek Road & Ocean Parkway)

10 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Membership From Page 9

$79,200 in revenue generated clearly indicates a market demand for this option.

Aquatics membership has taken a hit, however, because of the change.

Through August, Aquatics membership has dropped from 1,112 units sold a year ago to 963 this year, generating $396,390 in revenue against a budgeted $486,000 in revenue.

That’s an $87,610 revenue shortfall in Aquatics membership, essentially the price the OPA paid for giving purchasers of Beach Club passes the option of parking-only.

The increase in Beach Club parking revenue was roughly $50,000 less than the Aquatics’ shortfall.

Aquatics through August is at 82 percent of budget.

Golf memberships have declined slightly year-over-year through August, at 94 percent of budget.

There were 119 households in Ocean Pines with golf memberships last year, but that had declined by seven to 112 this year.

In dollar terms, golf membership

revenue of $137,784 through August is only behind budget by $9,501.

Golf is not likely to draw new memberships during the cooler months of the year.

Lifetime memberships, which generated no new revenue, have declined year-over year by three, down to 16 from 19 a year ago.

Also included in golf membership data are riding cart packages for families and individuals, at 87 percent of budget through Aug. 30.

With $185,354 in cart package revenue, this line item is $7,130 under budget.

When membership and cart packages are combined, total golf reached 92 percent of budget through August.

Tennis and platform tennis were 75 percent and 79 percent of budget through August.

When combined with top performing pickleball, racquet sports including tennis and platform tennis reached 105 percent of budget.

When all amenities are combined, membership is 93 percent of budget through August, $63,410 less than budgeted for the fiscal year.

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October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11

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Jim’s leadership has accomplished for Ocean Pines residents:

Respectfully asking for your continued trust, confidence, and your vote

By Authority: Donna Richardson West, Treasurer

By Authority: Donna Richardson West, Treasurer

• Securing much needed monies annually for Ocean Pines from the Ocean Downs Casino • Successfully protecting our Coastal Bays and recreational fishing • Creating tax savings and opportunity for our veterans, police,fire,and EMS • Establishing lowering prescription drug prices as a top priority for our Senior Citizens and families Vastly improving rural health care and access throughout the Shore

12 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October 2018

OPA issues bulkhead bid solicitation Request for proposals preserves option for continuing to use Swim and Racquet Club as a staging area

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association on Sept. 21 issued a request for proposals from marine contractors for bulkhead replacement, with bids due back Oct. 9. After vetting of proposals by staff, perhaps with an assist from certain OPA directors with a keen interest in bulkheads, it’s possible that General Manager John Bailey will be ready with a recommendation on which contractor to hire in time for the Board of Directors meeting Oct. 20.

The RFP for bulkhead replacement on bayfront property in the Pintail Isle and Wood Duck Isle sections of Ocean Pines solicits a base bid from contractors under a prohibition of using any area within Ocean Pines as a staging area for materials and equipment.

As an option, however, contractors were invited to submit a proposal for continuing to use an area in the Swim and Racquet Club campus on Seabreeze Road in North Ocean Pines as a staging area.

Residents in that neighborhood have organized in opposition to the continued use of S&R as a staging area, and have hired an Ocean City law firm, Ayres, Jenkins and Gordy, in an effort to persuade the Board of Directors not to allow use

T

of that property for that purpose.

Letters from that law firm to the OPA argue that use of that site for commercial purposes violates the R-3 residential zoning in place for the Swim and Racquet Club campus. Efforts are also under way to involve Worcester County in the enforcement of its zoning regulations.

In addition to the two options for staging areas in the RFP, the bid specifications identify Pintail Park, a canal-front area that adjoins Ocean Parkway, as an area where sanitary services for workers will be provided.

Section 8 of the RFP titled Sanitary Provisions says that “Porta-Potties for the use of all persons employed by the contractor for the project are provided and located a(t) Pintail Park.”

This provision also says that the “contractor shall vigorously prohibit the committing of nuisances at the site of the work. Any employee found violating these provisions shall be discharged and not again employed. ... The work area must be kept in an orderly fashion at any time that worksite is not active. At the end of each day the site shall be free of trash and debris from construction activity.”

This section goes on to say that in the “event of severe inclement weather, the contractor shall be responsible for removing all loose materials

and equipment from the site to prevent damage to personal property.”

This section of the RFP does not appear to contemplate Pintail Park as an alternative staging area with overnight storage of equipment and materials, but it would seem plausible to expect that the porta-potties will be left overnight.

Work is supposed to commence within 30 days of a contract award. But if the Swim and Racquet Club site is used as a staging area, it’s likely that area residents will file suit against both the OPA and Worcester County to enjoin any bulkhead replacement activity, the Progress has learned.

Properties included in the scope of work include 26, 28, and 30 East Mallard Drive and 21, 22, 23, and 24 Ebb Tide Court in Wood Duck II, as well as 51, 52, 53 and 54 Pintail Drive in Pintail Drive.

The RFP calls for the installation of new vinyl bulkheading, with old wood bulkheading to be cut off and disposed of off-site by the contractor. The scope of work requires the contractor to grade and stabilize disturbed areas and return work areas to “existing conditions” as required by the OPA. “Sod shall be placed three rows wide from the edge of the new bulkhead and running parallel with bulkhead. Disturbed areas beyond the sod will be stabilized with seed and straw unless otherwise separately contracted with homeowner.

Stone yards will be handled on a case by case basis,” according to the RFP. The board of directors, if it’s ready to vote on a To Page 14

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Bulkhead RFP From Page 12

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contract award Oct. 20, would be doing so under pressure from residents in the neighborhood of the Swim and Racquet Club to remove the bulkhead repair and replacement staging area located in a dock area adjacent to the club pool. Opponents cite safety, aesthetic and environmental reasons for their continuing push to have the staging area relocated.

Opponents say the staging area hurts their property values and the enjoyment of their waterfront properties that are within view of the site. They want the area restored to its original condition as a park and recreational area. In addition to an outdoor swimming pool, the Swim and Racquet Club campus includes a spray park amenity for toddlers, a basketball court and four “free” tennis courts.

It appears that a board majority has emerged that supports the staging area’s removal, but the board so far hasn’t directed General Manager John Bailey to order Hi-Tide Marine Construction, the contractor that is using the site in its current bulkhead repair and replacement work in Wood Duck Isle.

At the board’s Sept. 8 monthly meeting, directors voted unanimously to direct Bailey, in a request for repair and replacement bulkhead proposals to be issued no later than Sept. 30, to include in the RFP an option for a material and equipment staging area outside the confines of Ocean Pines “so that all location choices can be properly priced and benchmarked.”

That’s exactly what the RFP issued later that month did.

The motion for that option, offered by Director Ted Moroney, seems to at least preserve the possibility that the board will retain the existing site.

A second component of the approved motion orders the removal of the staging area if, “upon completion of the bulkhead bidding process” and execution of a new contract, the “off-site staging and storage option” is selected.

The current contract with Hi-tide would also be terminated if and when another contractor is selected, according to Moroney’s motion. Hi-Tide currently is working on a one-year contract, mostly for emergency repairs and To Page 16

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October 2018

Designated bulkhead replacement areas on East Mallard Drive and Ebb Tide Court, in Wood Duck Isle in Ocean Pines.

Bulkhead RFP From Page 14 replacement.

One of the issues the directors are contending with is how and whether to allocate additional costs associated with removing the staging area from anywhere in Ocean Pines. Moroney raised the possibility that, since removing the staging area benefits the entire community, not just waterfront owners, any costs associated with that should be shared among all property owners.

Citing information from a marine contractor, presumably Hi-Tide, Bailey repeated during the board’s Sept. 8 monthly meeting, as he has said during other recent meetings, that repair and re-

Designated bulkhead replacement area on Pintail Drive in the Pintail Isle section of Ocean Pines.

placement costs could increase by as much as 25 percent if the contractor has to transport materials and equipment across the bay from a staging area in West Ocean City. The board has not acted on a Bailey recommendation for an additional $25,000 to finance the removal of the staging area for work that is currently in the pipeline.

But the 25 percent number is an estimate, and it’s by no means certain that other marine contractors or even Hi-Tide would have to transport material and equipment from West Ocean City.

Alternatives closer to Ocean Pines have been mentioned. One possible site reportedly is a dock area with road access in nearby White Horse Campground, located at the end of Beauchamp Road adjacent to Ocean Pines.

The site is controlled by the homeowners association that manages the campground. It use presumably would involve some sort of fee imposed on contractors, who then would embed the cost in their proposals to the OPA. Another site that has been suggested is county-owed bayfront property just north of Route 90 that is the site of the Ocean Pines wastewater treatment plant. OPA Facilities Manager Kevin Layfield told the board during a Sept. 1 work session that this site appears unsuitable as a shortterm alternative. The site lacks a dock and a road access, and is located in the 100-foot critical area.

To be converted into a staging area, a dock and road access would have to be added within the 100-foot critical area, Layfield said

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October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

New Country Club RFP delayed, much later than Moroney timeline General manager acknowledges that consolidating certain options in the base bid will result in higher prices

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he revised request for proposals from builders for the renovation of the second floor of the Country Club is designed to encourage them to do something they didn’t do last month, actually submit bids which can then be vetted and, from among them, a contractor selected.

A second RFP had been scheduled for release by Oct. 12, past an informal timetable suggested by Ocean Pines Association Director Ted Mo-

T

roney last month. General Manager John Bailey told the Progress in a telephone interview Oct. 12 that the new anticipated release date is Wednesday, Oct. 17.

“It’s taking a longer to finish the new (design) drawings,” he said.

Moroney had suggested that a new revised RFP should be issued as “soon as possible” after a board meeting Sept. 8, with the objective of allowing contractors time to submit proposals by a new deadline of Oct. 5. No new RFP was issued in September. Indeed, no RFP had been is-

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sued by Oct. 5, Moroney’s deadline for contractors to respond.

Bailey had told the Progress in early October that release of the RFP would occur no later than Oct. 12, and perhaps earlier, depending on how soon revised specifications can be produced by the Salisbury firm that has been working on engineering and floor plans for the renovation.

Vacation schedules have delayed the process, Bailey said.

The changes from the earlier RFP are significant, and were de-

17

tailed by Bailey in his Sept. 8 general manager’s report.

The new RFP eliminates liability provisions that would have kicked in if the successful contractor had failed to complete the work by the date spelled out in the construction contract. A completion date would also be eliminated, although contractors would be asked to submit a date when they believe the work can be completed.

The new RFP also reduces the number of moving parts in the RFP, 11 options over and above the base project.

At the Sept. 5 meeting, he suggested eliminating four options that covered deck railings (cable or vinyl), and replacement exterior siding (vinyl or shingles), from the base bid.

But in comments to the Progress, Bailey said that exterior siding options will remain in the base bid.

Contractors will be asked to price out vinyl siding or Hardie-plank, he said.

He said that replacing existing siding is part of a major objective of

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OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Country Club From Page 17

the Country Club project that goes beyond renovating the second floor interior. He said that OPA directors agree that “securing the envelope” is a top priority and that replacing siding is part of that. So is making sure the roof and windows don’t leak.

Bailey said that the building ”envelope” hasn’t sprung any new leaks of late and that as far as he knows, there are none currently.

But the problem is that “new ones can occur at any time.” To prevent that from happening, the project will address siding, windows and the roof in the base bid.

As he indicated in the Sept. 8 meeting, roof changes will be reconfigured to reduce cost and complexity.

To solve leak issues, he suggested replacing all roof shingles with new ones and new flashing in a raised roof area over the main meeting room.

The flat roof portion of the building over the Tern Grill, repaired in

2017, would remain as is, Bailey said. It turns out those repairs were covered by a 20-year warranty.

Bailey said plans “to raise the roof” over the main meeting room and the old dining room/dance floor room remain in the base bid, constituting a change in the roof line from the existing building.

Six items that had been options in the earlier RFP are now part of the base bid, including an outside wood deck, replacement windows, new gable windows, conduits for future work, interior blinds, and an elevator.

Bailey said the likely result of consolidating options into the base bid would likely result in higher bids from contractors than otherwise would have occurred. But as the earlier RFP produced no bidders, a comparison really isn’t possible.

An earlier iteration of the project without some of the options now included in the base RFP was estimated to cost in the $1.2 million range.

So if what Bailey’s says about prospective higher costs are borne out, then it’s possible that $1.2 million is

no longer realistic.

Whatever bids turn out to be, and that assumes that contractors will be willing to submit bids even with a revised RFP, a project that exceeds $1.2 million to any degree could meet heavy resistance among some directors.

Board debate during the Sept. 8 regular meeting was foreshadowed by a lengthy discussion of escalating costs of the Country Club project during a Sept. 1 work session.

Directors Slobodan Trendic, Esther Diller, Steve Tuttle and Frank Daly critiqued rising cost estimates, expressing hope that the board would trim them once bids were submitted and vetted by OPA management.

At the time, no one was suggesting that area contractors wouldn’t submit proposals by the Sept. 7 filing deadline of the earlier RFP. That apparently caught everyone by surprise.

In the work session, Trendic said that $510,000 had been expended so far on the Country Club, with another $1.3 million or more estimated for

the second floor.

By the time the project is completed, he said the cost could be “borderline” $2 million.

After telling his colleagues he was “struggling” with escalating costs, he said the project should be scaled back to “what is reasonable to all members, not just golf members.”

Daly questioned the need for several items, including replacement siding, replacement windows and interior blinds among them. It appears that replacement siding and windows remain in the base bid.

Diller said she had a problem with spending so much money for a new roof line, later adding that she also had a problem with spending “this much money for a small number of people,” alluding to golfers.

OPA Treasurer John Viola, who chairs the OPA’s Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, pushed back against the idea that the second floor is primarily a golf amenity.

Acknowledging that it will be used for golf banquets, Viola said it will also be used by other organizations for meetings.

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October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Bailey discounts prospects for FEMA aid should ‘Big One’ hit Ocean Pines

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T

he Ocean Pines Association is not likely to receive direct assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) should a major hurricane or other natural disaster devastate Ocean Pines, OPA General Manager John Bailey said during the Sept. 9 meeting of the Board of Directors. Individuals may fare better should they need recovery assistance, Bailey said, by applying for low interest loans offered by the Small Business Administration.

“As an HOA, we do not qualify (for most FEMA assistance),” he said. “We are not a municipality. Furthermore, FEMA has very strict limits on PNP’s (private non-profits) receiving direct federal funding.” That shouldn’t deter the OPA from applying for assistance, he said.

“Each instance where FEMA’s help could be requested has to be dealt with on a case by case basis. Any application must go through Worcester County Emergency Services, and there can be no guarantee as to how FEMA would respond. FEMA is not going to provide a blanket answer on eligibility in advance of a precipitating event,” Bailey advised.

He added that the OPA applied for FEMA assistance in 2012 as a result of a hurricane. “Our request was denied. We did file an appeal to FEMA over the initial denial. The appeal was also denied,” he said.

Bailey described the process of obtaining FEMA funding as “cumbersome at best. Before FEMA even considers providing assistance, a state of emergency must be declared by Worcester County, and then by the Governor. “ According to Bailey, a rapid needs assessment and initial damage assessment is conducted by Worcester County disaster assessment teams. These initial assessments are followed by a joint preliminary damage assessment.

“If the total damage in the state meets that particular year’s threshold damage for Maryland, as established annually by FEMA, then the Governor can request FEMA assistance. FEMA reviews and responds accordingly. Of further note, FEMA funding is provided as a grant,” Bailey said.

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-Carolyn Dryzga I have had the opportunity to interface with Commissioner Bertino on multiple occasions during the past four years. I have been very impressed with his knowledge and skills in resolving complex Worcester County issues. One such issue that impressed me was the reduction by millions of taxpayers dollars in the cost to build the new Showell Elementary School.

-Bob Gilmore What has impressed me most about Commissioner Bertino is his willingnes to get out of the office and into the field to investigate issues that are important to his constituents. This “involved” approach to his leadership role in Worcester County has not only contributed to more efficient government but, as in the case of the new school construction, has saved the taxpayers millions of dollars.

-Jack Barnes Commissioner Bertino works very hard for our district. He budgets and spends our tax dollars in a fair and transparent way and is always available to listen to our concerns.

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20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Latest Mediacom contract draft to be delivered to directors shortly

By TOM STAUSS Publisher hy it’s been taking so long to get a “final” draft of a new Mediacom contract into the hands of the Board of Directors isn’t exactly clear, but Ocean Pines Association President Doug

W

Parks acknowledged that vacations by lawyers involved in the negotiations and word-smithing probably have added some delay to the process.

But no matter, he told the Progress in early October.

A “final” draft should be in the

hands of directors shortly, with a vote of approval possible, but not guaranteed, at the board’s scheduled meeting Oct. 20.

Details of the new contract have not been provided to the OPA membership during the drafting process because of a non-disclosure agreement.

Parks said the process has taken longer than it might have because both parties want to get it right.

What’s been clear for some time is that Mediacom no longer will have its long-standing exclusivity agreement to provide cable television programming to Ocean Pines households.

Exclusivity was banned years ago by a ruling of the Federal Communications Commission.

Parks said that while the agreement with Mediacom will contain elements that might be incorporated into similar agreements with Mediacom competitors in the future, he wouldn’t describe the new pact as a “template” for future agreements.

There is no indication yet when

the OPA will issue a request for proposals from others in the high speed Internet marketplace.

Parks said that the board will take that issue up once the Mediacom contract is in place.

Acknowledging that there is a lot of technological advances occurring in the way high speed Internet is being delivered, he was not particularly optimistic about the much-heralded 5G technologies that Verizon just announced for roll-out in four American cities.

Parks said that 5G is a mostly wireless technology that requires densely packed transmission towers to be effective, and he’s not sure that Ocean Pines residents would be receptive to a lot of cell-like towers throughout the community.

“I don’t think that will go over well,” he said.

He said it’s no accident that Verizon is rolling out its 5G technology in an urban environment.

He said it would be “years” before such technology would be available in more rural areas like Worcester County.

“5G isn’t going to be the solution in Ocean Pines like some people might think or hope that it will be,” Parks said.

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October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Border collie pilot program to control geese begins this month

of the association’s Environment and Natural Assets Committee, the OPA staff, the Board of Directors, nor this general manager. However sometimes things of this world simply do not match up with our desires. Be that as it may we all have a role to play in trying to prevent such an action from becoming necessary again,” Bailey said.

He told the assembled residents at the meeting, some of whom protested the goose kill outside the

By TOM STAUSS to goose over-population at the asso- hopes it won’t have to be done again. eneral Manager John Bai- ciation’s ponds.

Publisher “No one, and I repeat no one, ley’s experiment to control Back in July, Bailey addressed wants to euthanize geese including Ocean Pines’ Canadian geese the controversy about the euthaniz- the employees of the Unites States population was expected to begin ing of hundreds of geese who called Department of Agriculture, Wildthis month.

Ocean Pines their home, and said he life Services Agency, the members Using money set aside in the current fiscal year’s budget for wildfowl control, he’s hired a company called Maryland Geese Control of Columbia,Md., that uses border collies trained to make an area less hospitable for geese.

Bailey told the Progress early this month that the program would last seven weeks “or so,” depending on how effective it turns out to be.

The service will provide border collies five days a week, on a somewhat random basis, not the same days or hours in any week.

Of the $9000 in the budget for controlling geese, Bailey said that roughly half will be spent on the border collie pilot program, with the remainder available for clean-up services or other methods of warding off geese.

Options include use of drones, blinking lights or perhaps some sort of audio device.

He’s been looking for a drone fashioned in the guise of an eagle, but so far has come up empty on his Internet searches.

Bailey says he’s open to ideas Each Unit is 2543 Sq. Ft. Plus 256 Sq. Ft. Patio from residents.

30 Feet Open Space - Between Buildings He repeated the often-heard mantra of OPA officials that “no one Enjoy all the Ocean Pines Amenities! wants to kill the geese,” a reference The Yacht Club & Marina • Golf & Country Club • Tennis Courts to the much criticized euthanasia of roughly 250 to 300 geese by the OPA Beach Club • Four Outdoor Swimming Pools • Indoor Pool in cooperation with an agency of the Parks • Community Center and Special Events U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Food Bank.

Shopping Center • Medical Center • Post Office • Library Bailey has come under withering Woods in back of Townhomes criticism from residents in Ocean r Pines incensed about a program iniStop In and Ask crk You Site i P u o tiated to euthanize anywhere from Stop In and Ask Pick Y rede H ee About Our Newest Project Siotm m r 250 to 300 geese back in July. o e f H About Our Newest Project e edr PreferrP ow! Now! A group of Ocean Pines residents N Like us on Like us on is meeting regularly at the Ocean Pines library and other locations in an effort to keep what they called a geese massacre alive as an issue in us on Like Associates, Inc. Ocean Pines.

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October 2018

Border collies From Page 21 Community Center before the July 27 meeting began, that the association has tried a number of methods over the years to prevent the geese population from growing too large and thus having a negative impact on the community’s amenities and the water quality.

So far, none of those efforts, including growing tall grass and stringing

fishing line around the ponds, have made a difference, he said, adding, “now, it’s time to try something new” Bailey has said one method that holds promise is the use of forder collies.

He met with a company called Maryland Geese Control and received a proposal from the firm for managing the waterfowl population at the association’s ponds.

The company reportedly has had some success in regulating geese

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populations in Columbia, Md., near its home base.

It’s that company that will given an opportunity to test its effectiveness in the Ocean Pines pilot program set to begin this month.

The presence of the collies on site will disturb the geese and prompt

them to move elsewhere, according to Bailey. That, at least, is what he hopes will happen.

“We will be able to begin seeing them on site once a day within a matter of weeks,” Bailey said of the dogs.

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OPA FINANCES

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

23

OPA issues financial outsourcing RFP Vendors given opportunity to go beyond financial management if they believe such services ‘will add additional value’ to their proposals

By TOM STAUSS Publisher eneral Manager John Bailey met a deadline imposed on him by the Board of Directors and issued a detailed request for proposals from financial management companies to take over functions currently done in house by the Finance Department or, in the case of payroll, farmed out to an outside contractor.

Information technology services are also included in the set of services that the Ocean Pines Association would expect respondents to provide.

The RFP, posted on the OPA Web site Sept. 26, calls for vendors to respond with detailed proposals no later than 4 p.m. on Oct. 19.

The OPA will interview companies submitting proposals beginning in November, with negotiations to follow and a board contract award anticipated in December.

The effective date of a contract with a financial management firm would be Jan. 1. The contract would be for a three-year term.

Companies submitting proposals are being asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the OPA as part of their submissions.

The RFP was a joint effort of Bailey and OPA Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer John Viola, the latter of whom is on record as favoring the outsourcing of financial management.

Viola has said that he believes it could produce substantial operational and software savings.

Bailey, on the other hand, has been much less supportive of the idea, but in this instance marching orders from the board in a Sept. 8 motion were explicit.

There is no guarantee that the board in the end will approve any outsourcing proposal.

Proposals submitted by leading financial management firms will be compared with a software-only solution developed by the Technology Working Group this past year.

The TWG favored a proposal for software upgrades by NorthStar Technologies, but that company and its software solution has met resistance on the board.

Even so, it’s still in the running

G

as an alternative to outsourcing all of the OPA’s financial management functions.

Since this summer’s board election, the center of gravity has shifted on the board in the direction of

favoring outsourcing, at least for financial management and IT services.

Only one director, Colette Horn, opposes outsourcing in concept, believing that a software solution is

adequate to address weaknesses in OPA financial management. She has said that these weaknesses are not personnel-based.

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October 2018

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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OPA FINANCES

October 2018

Two separate power outages planned for OP

Outsourcing RFP From Page 23 to respondents to offer “additional services if they view such services will add additional value” to their proposals.

This invitation could include proposals to take over day-to-day management of the OPA, though that would be a somewhat awkward leap because Bailey is the designated recipient of submissions by respondents.

But Viola, as the OPA’s CFO and chair of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, will be intimately involved in vetting the proposals.

Members of the B&F committee also are also likely candidates to be involved in the vetting process.

Outsourcing doesn’t necessarily mean that individuals currently employed by the OPA will lose their jobs.; rebadging -- a term roughly defined as OPA employees becoming employees of an outsourced entity -- could become a reality if the OPA opts for outsourcing financial managemengt.

Or, the OPA could decide to retain in-house employees as a check on the outside contractor.

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hoptank Electric Cooperative has two planned power outages scheduled for certain areas in Ocean Pines.

The first outage is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This outage will affect 422 members who are located on Customs Way, Teal Circle, Lookout Point, Park Place, Moonshell Drive, Beach Court, Waters Edge Court, Portside Court, and Windward Court.

The second outage is set for Friday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Veterans Memorial donation

BJ’s Wholesale Club is once again partnering with the Ocean Pines Association to bring a special membership offer, effective Oct. 12-26, to benefit the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines Foundation. In addition to offering special membership benefits, BJ’s will donate $5 of each membership fee to the foundation. Pictured is Julie Malinowski, marketing coordinator for the Ocean Pines Association, presenting a check to Marie Gilmore, president of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation. BJ’s membership applications are available at the Ocean Pines Association administration building at 239 Ocean Parkway and online at OceanPines.org. Applications must be returned with payment by Oct. 26.

This outage will affect 265 members who are located along Ocean Parkway, Port Arthur Court, Fosse Grange, Knight Terrace, Pine Forrest Drive, Parkside Circle, Robin Hood Trail, Abbey Circle, Blue Water Court, Points Reach, Sunrise Court, Breezy Creek Court, and Tidewater Cove.

These outages are planned so crews can perform routine maintenance and repairs.

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OPA FINANCES

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

Technology Working Group has been disbanded: Parks

O

cean Pines Association President Doug Parks has confirmed that the Technology Working Group, an ad hoc committee set up to explore alternatives to poor connectivity among OPA departments and aging and poorly functioning financial software, is no longer functioning.

He told the Progress recently that the group believes its work is done, especially in light of the Board of Directors’ recent decision to pursue outsourcing financial and information technology management through the issuance of a request for proposals from financial management companies.

The TWG, which Parks initially chaired when it was created almost two years ago, recommended a software-only solution offered by NorthStar Technologies as a way of improving interconnectivity among various OPA departments while upgrading financial management functionality.

More recently the group was chaired by Tom Terry, a former OPA president and board member.

The Board of Directors did not act on the TWG’s recommendation this past summer, and new directors were elected to the board this past August who were in favor of exploring the outsourcing model.

Two directors support exploring outsourcing beyond financial and IT services. The TWG opposed outsourcing in a number of public statements by its members.

Parks also said that Len Smith, a consultant to the TWG initially hired by former Acting General Manager Brett Hill, is no longer providing such services to the OPA now that the TWG is out of business.

Parks was an early and staunch proponent of the TWG’s approach to the financial management issue, but more recently he has joined with the board majority in support of soliciting proposals from financial management companies.

27

Board OKs next phase of forensic audit; no results reported yet on probe of food and beverage operations

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he Ocean Pines Board of Directors announced on Tuesday, Oct. 9, that it unanimously voted to approve the second phase of a forensic audit.

Gross, Mendelsohn & Associates, a firm that includes experienced certified public accountants and certified fraud examiners, will continue its review of financial transactions, with the focus now being on those associated with the Ocean Pines Public Works Department.

In February of this year, the board approved the first phase of the forensic audit that focused on the operations of the Food and Beverage Department.

The firm has produced interim reports on its work to date. Those reports are made available online at oceanpines.org/forms-docs-cat/audits/. The Association will continue to provide the public with similar reports as the forensic auditors move forward with the second phase of the engagement.

The board conducted the vote on this motion via email. In accordance with Association bylaws, the board may vote by email if the Directors unanimously agree to allow such a vote to occur. The vote to address this issue via email and the vote for the motion itself was passed via unanimous consent from the directors.

The outcome of the first phase of the forensic had not been released as of Oct. 9. The last update posted on the OPA Web site as of Oct. 9 was from this past August.

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October 2018

B&F committee forwards 40 revised budget advice School board to board of directors Ocean Pines PROGRESS July - Early August 2014

the performance matters program in- tion project and the completion of the stead.

Showell Elementary School feasibility From Page 40 Zanich and Henderson gave brief study.

The plan outlines the challenges facties and to have a health and wellness overview of the program, how it is used, and the benefits of an assessment data ing the schools system, including popucommitteeSecond site coordinator who oversees draft of budget recommendations differs little from the first one, but panel says support for funding system. lation growth, aging buildings, technolthis committee. road depreciation depends on emergence of an approved road improvement plan The performance matters platforms ogy needs, and changing program needs.

In the area of staff wellness, the polA major renovation and addition or icy states that the Worcester County link student and educator data. The

By TOM STAUSS The committee is still supporting the base lot assessment next year. public school system will promote staff data is used to drive the decisions made replacement school project at SES has Publisher As it did in itsinrecommendations funding road depreciation,board but only administrators, mem- been prioritized both the school syshealth and wellness by providing a va- by teachers, and parents to improve student forwarded tem’s educational facilities master plan Board of Directors and ifbers riety ofheorganized programs for staff, to the board in early SepGeneral Manager John Bailey learning and educator performance.

The tember, and thethe capital improvement program designed to enrich and improve their produces Budget and Finance Advisory committee in its revised an approved road improvenutritional, physical, mental and emo- system can be used for teacher observa- for many years.

Committee went through the ment “prior board year voted lossesto program by the time the 2019- draft tion and evaluation.

In said May, that the school tional well-being. committee’s recommended budget need to be addressed with a plan 20 budget cycle begins this coming “We believe that in using data we can move forward with planning for to the The Board of Education during its better meet the needs of every student. fund.” construction of a new Showell Elemenguidance line by line in a special January.

June 17 meeting also heard an update is partcommittee of our successrecommended in helping our tary School, based on the of the on the performance program. meeting held aftermatters the board’s regu- It The While there was no results suggestion students be successful for life.” Zanich Showell School feasibility study. The County larWorcester meeting Sept.

8. Public Schools that that losses of $1.2 million last year the board issue its own budboard accepted the recommendation of uses a variety of types of data to create said. couple of weeks later, based on getThe theand year prior to that guidance to Bailey the end of and school board also by adopted an upthe $360,000 architectural engineering team its A master plan, goals, and instructional that discussion, the committee sent would need to be offset in ato single September, but that deadline came dated educational facilities master plan, led by Becker Morgan Group proceed programs. which is required annually to be sub- year, with the replacement school “Over the years have discovered and a revised draft of we those recommenanydesign plan oftoa fund the losses went with no board action. to the Maryland Department of at an anticipated cost of about $37 milthat thistocould be an arduous task. It mitted dations the board.

Bailey anticipates board action at even over a period of years probably lion. had become an overwhelming burden to Planning by July 1.

It differed little from the first its regular the lot monthly meeting Oct. 20.in would The 2014-2015 Plan is presented Thenegatively consultant affect determined thatasthe our teachers. We searched for a way to draft.

Perhaps the most notable difsessment.

The committee’s revised set of support our teachers in the use of this five sections: goals, standards and guide- construction costs were comparable for lines; community analysis; enrollment renovating and expanding the existing ference had to doofwith the commitIn addition, the committee has like the initial data,” Coordinator Instruction Steph- recommendations, projections; inventory and evaluation school versus building a completely anie and Data Specialist Rebecca tee’sZanich traditional recommendation in draft, its call for the funding new of continues to include two sug-of renewed school facilities; and facility needs anal- facility. Because of the extensive nature Henderson in their written report gestions support ofsaid funding road depreciaroad depreciation, a perennial recthat, if fully implemented ysis. All five sections have been revised of the renovations and expansion that to the board. tion, a change if implemented woulda by that the fallscost to the waythe board, could make it more dif- ommendation to reflect current information, including would be required, of that opThe school system started using updates on the successful bidding phase tion was estimated at $36.8 million.

On cost property owners roughly $26.50 side during the protracted annual ficult for newly elected directors to program called Edusoft but quickly disand start of construction Snow budget the other hand, the consultants said a covered was not robust enough. Using fulfill per yearit in higher lot assessments. campaign promisesfortothe reduce process.

Race to the Top funding, it purchased Hill High School renovation and addi- brand new school could be constructed

T

OPA FINANCES “The funding of roads is now only from casino funds, (the state depleted the state road reserve account), and the casino source is unpredictable,” the committee saysCOUNTY in its reWORCESTER vised draft, which was the same as on the same SES property for slightly inmore the earlier at $37.4draft. million.

Overall, afterthat including design and Why it makes claim is not exmanagement fees, playground equipactly clear. Since the introduction of ment, movable equipment, portable slot machines at the nearby Ocean classrooms, phasing of the renovations Downs casino about ten costs yearsand ago, and additions, technology misthe fundingcosts stream the OPA in it cellaneous like to inspection fees, willform be less expensive by about milthe of local impact funds$4 has lion to build a new school than renovate been steady. and expand the old one.

OPA’s status as an authorized reThe cost of keeping the current buildcipient those local impact funds ing butof renovating it and adding on was $44.8 million total isestimatgenerated fromwhile video the gaming coded cost of building a new SES was just ified in state law. $40.9 million.

There has been no interruption in Finally, during the meeting the the receipts those funds, school boardof approved the roughly fiscal year $250,000 year, in all of 2014-2015per operating budget for those Worcester County Public Schools. years.

The budget includes funding for salary step increases for eligiblefor employTwo victorious candidates the ees, athis longevity step, a .5 percent cost board past summer, Frank Daly of living allowance, a 3 percent increase and Esther Diller, and explicitly said for bus contractors an 8 percent that the board should work toward increase in insurance rates. The budalso includes major a get reduction in the baseexpenditures lot assess- of $354,000 replace gymnasium floors at ment nexttoyear, with Steve Tuttle, Berlin Intermediate, Pocomoke Middle the summer’s top vote-getter, also and Snow Hill Middle schools, $144,000 indicating that a reduction was a to replace gymnasium bleachers at Steworthwhile goal. phen Decatur High School and $200,000 in non-recurring costs for student technology.

q

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES Budget guidance From Page 28

Among carry-over directors, Slobodan Trendic has been closely identified with proposals to reduce OPA expenses and the desirability of reducing lot assessments.

It remains to be seen whether these identified assessment hawks will press their opinions on their colleagues during board discussion Oct. 20. There would appear to be a board majority favoring a reduction.

Other committee recommendations are relatively straight-forward and non-controversial. The committee suggests that: •Any departmental revenue or expense increase or decrease of 5 percent or $5,000 whichever is less requires justification.

•Relevant “objective performance metrics” should be used in documenting expenses and revenues.

Items should be properly documented or not included in the budget at all. Prior years revenues and expenses by category should be included for reference.

•A membership schedule should be presented with detailed explana-

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS tions. Revenue projections should be reflected for each category of membership.

•The OPA’s human resources specialist should present to B&F Committee a current payroll study.

The study should contain metrics, comparable salaries for positions in the Budget. There should be an FTE [full time equivilency) schedule by department.

“Any changes to staff will need to have complete substantiation.

The study should evaluate our salary structure and determine what Quartile classification. There should be a review of benefits and fees,” according to the committee.

•Salaries, overtime and FTE’S need to be broken out by time period.

•Food and beverage budgets should be in line with prior year margins and should be calculated and explained.

“The contract with Matt Ortt should be presented and explained.

There should be a Banquet detailed plan explanation. The Beach Club should be in line with years prior to FY 2016/2017. There should be a budget for Tern’s Grill reflecting

the Country Club build. If there will be special banquets or “bashes”, the committee asks for separate detail.

•Legal expenses should be broken out by type of spend (i.e. contracts, litigation, etc.) Consultants need to be explained, reason, timeframe, cost per hour.

•Aquatics should include detail to separate beach parking from all other revenue streams. “An explanation of revenue recognition needs to be presented with all programs. Rec & Parks, Racquet Sports and Marina should provide budgets consistent with other amenities,” the committee suggests.

•Golf Operations “need to reflect the Country Club renovation’s effect. A detail of the inventory for maintenance should be presented.

The Golf Pro Shop should have a separate plan presented.”

•The OPA’s custodial account for Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department capital exp[enses “should be closed.”

•The police department, general administration, and finance departments “should provide detail of expenses and any revenue. All consultants must be substantiated.”

29

•The capital expenditure budget “should be presented separate from operating budget and be structured in a rolling, multi-year format that includes budgeted but unexpended capital items from prior year(s).

Requests for new or replacement capital expenditures should include dollars and rationale.

•Variances should have proper explanations and supporting detail.

No item should be a part of the Capital budget that does not meet the criteria.”

•The Board should call upon the committee “to provide assistance in the review and development of the Reserves. Reference to the Reserve Study guidance. At this time, we believe that there should not be any release of any balances. We need an approved Capital Plan.”

•Management should produce a “detailed current fiscal year spending projection. Based upon this projected spend compared to the fund balance and the detailed work plan for FY 2019, B&F will give guidance.” The committee also is requesting detail on Swim and Racquet Club bulkhead replacement staging area issue costs.

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October 2018

August operating results push OPA into surplus territory Positive variance to budget of $138,373 reverses earlier operating fund deficit

By TOM STAUSS Publisher nother solid month in August, on the heals of similar good news in July, has pushed the Ocean Pines Association into a positive variance to budget for the 201819 fiscal year. The OPA generated a positive operating fund variance of $138,373, on revenues that exceeded budget by $180,000 partially offset by total expenses over budget by $42,000.

The cumulative positive variance of $69,126 is almost a mirror image reversal from July, when the OPA had recorded a cumulative operating fund deficit of $69,248.

The positive variance to budget through the end of August is based

A

on revenues exceeding budget by $250,741 and expenditures exceeding budget by $181,615.

Once again, significant year-overyear improvements at the Yacht Club and Beach this summer are largely responsible for the positive operating fund variance. But the Aquatics Department also did very well in August, reducing negative variances to budget for earlier in the fiscal year. Golf operations and the Tern Grille also continue to roll along, performing better than budget in both cases during August.

The Yacht Club produced a $72,641 surplus in August, exceeding budget by $42,384. For the first four months of the fiscal year, the facility has generated a $150,840

surplus, better than budget by $117,055.

In contrast, through August of last year, the Yacht Club had lost $236,458. That represents a $487,298 year-over-year turnaround.

Regular food and beverage revenues are significantly outperforming budget, while banquets are well behind budget in both categories.

When the banquet business recovers under the direction of the Matt Ortt Companies, it’s reasonable to think that this situation will be reversed.

For the year so far, food banquet revenue is $77,105 under budget, while beverage banquet revenue is $35,484 under budget.

In contrast, regular food revenue is $336,553 over budget for the year, while regular beverage revenue is $143,457 ahead.

The Beach Club recorded a $86,175 surplus for August, ahead of budget by $19,887. Through August, the last full month of operation in 2018-19, the Yacht Club is in the black by $113,869, under budget by $15,073.

Even so, this year’s performance is far ahead of last August, when the cumulative loss through August was $38,943. That’s a turn-around of almost $153,000 year-over-year.

Golf operations are also doing well through the first four months of

the fiscal year.

Although recording a $14,438 loss for the month, that beat the budget forecast by $16,492.

Through August, golf operations were in the black by $91,379, ahead of budget by $40,199.

That represents a modest improvement over August of 2017, when the surplus stood at $87,807.

The Tern Grille, the bar and restaurant operation primarily serving golfers but open to the public, netted $4,861 in August, ahead of budget by $5,947. Through August, the grill operation has netted $9,671, ahead of budget by $2,161.

Year-over-year, the improvement is more than $22,000.

Aquatics produced a $34,907 surplus in August, ahead of budget by $38,598.

For the year, Aquatics is in the black by $319,379. That’s under budget by $76,875. A year ago through August, the surplus was $408,857.

There still is an excellent chance that Aquatics will be in the black by year’s end even if it misses its budget target.

Last year, the OPA didn’t offer a parking-only option at the Beach Club, but this past February, as part of the 2018-19 budget, the Board of Directors made that possible.

Some members who last year opted to buy the bundled parking-pool passes elected this year to buy the parking only option instead, significantly affecting Aquatics membership revenue.

Some of that negative variance is offset by higher than budgeted revenue for Beach Club parking, which is $51,073 ahead of budget for the year. Aquatics’ solid performance relative to budget in August narrows the gap between Aquatics and Beach Club parking variances to only $25,000 All other amenity departments for the first quarter of the fiscal year are in the black and are ahead of budget, with the exception of tennis’s negative variance of $583.

Marina operations continue to be a cash cow for the OPA, generating $240,456 in net revenue for the year through August.

That’s ahead of budget by $25,332.

Reserve summary -- As of Aug. 30, the OPA had 10,188,566 in reserve accounts, comprised of $5.99 million in the replacement reserve, $3,57,689 in the bulkheads and waterways reserve, and $1,142,964 in the roads reserve. q

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OPA FINANCES

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

31

Bailey announces 2019-20 budget review process

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Net operating results by department on Aug. 31, 2018. Source: OPA Finance Department

Capital summary -- The OPA through August spent $307,259 in replacement capital, $51,359 more than budgeted.

Balance sheet -- The OPA balance sheet as

of Aug. 30 shows $12,08,420 in short term investments, compared to about $10 million in August of 2017. Operating cash of $1,460,862 is about $20,000 less than the same month a year ago.

he Ocean Pines Association will host several meetings, work sessions and public hearings during the next five months to discuss the Association’s budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, General Manager John Bailey has announced.

“In preparing for FY19-20, OPA invites members of the Association to get involved,” said Denise Sawyer, marketing and public relations director for OPA. “There are a total of ten meeting opportunities for member comment, plus the respective committees are being involved in the budget development process,” Bailey said.

The following is the budget review process schedule announced by Bailey: Oct. 20 -- Board meets to adopt budget guidance to provide to the general manager.

September to December -- GM works with staff to develop budget. Oct. 5, first draft due; Nov. 2, second draft due; Nov. 30, third draft due. Nov. 10, deadline for committees to provide input.

Jan. 2 -- GM provides proposed budget to the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, with copy to Board of Directors. Proposed budget published by press release, mass email attachment, weekly articles.

Jan. 5 - GM introduces proposed Budget at board meeting. Member comments welcome.

To Page 33

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OPA FINANCES

October 2018

Aquatics Department shortchanged in coupon debit card revenue

Viola in an email said that questions posed by the Progress were “on point” and would be explained in the financial report he would deliver Oct. 20 during the monthly meeting of the board of directors. Viola has been credited with his detailed and informative financial reports since assuming the treasurer and CFO role upon the resignation of former OPA Director Pat Supik this past summer.

OPA Treasurer says he will provide detailed information in the October financial report

By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Ocean Pines Association’s Aquatics Department has not been credited with revenue from the sale of debit “coupon cards” over several years, perhaps dating back to 2015. OPA Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer John Viola told the Progress that somewhere between $75,000 and $100,000 is at issue.

Revenue from the “refreshing” of Aquatics membership cards that have limits on allowable visits to all five Ocean Pines swimming pools also has not been fully “recognized” in Aquatics’ revenues and is includ-

T

ed in the $75,000 to $100,000, he said.

Members of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, of which Viola serves as chairman, and the Board of directors will be receiving a summary of the uncredited funds and how they will be accounted for in the Aquatics Department financials later this month. Viola said most likely the funds will be credited in the current fiscal year.

If these funds are all credited in 2018-19, perhaps in the October or November financials, they would make a significant dent in the negative variance to budget that has occurred in the Aquatics Depart-

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ment so far this year, even offsetting it altogether. While the department year-todate through August had a net surplus of $319,379, that was behind budget by $76,875.

The Progress also John Viola has asked where the revenue from debit card sales or refreshed membership cards show up in OPA financial reports if not credited to Aquatics. Viola said the funds do appear on the OPA balance sheet and eventually do show up as Aquatics revenue.

The Progress has learned that the Aquatics Department apparently receives some revenue from the sale of debit coupon cards, which sell for $35 and entitle card holders to access OPA swimming pools at a discount from the daily cash rate. But that normally occurs when the card is swiped, that is, used for a visit to one of Ocean Pines’ pools.

The accounting treatment of that revenue stream presumably dates back well before Viola’s tenure as treasurer and well before the arrival of Director of Finance Steve Phillips earlier this year. Before debit cards were used for discounted visits to q

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OPA FINANCES Aquatics debit cards From Page 32

the pools, the OPA issued paper coupon books.

The old coupon books and the newer debit cards often remain in the possession of purchasers over multiple years. Sometimes they’re lost or discarded or for whatever reason are simply not used. Over the years, the OPA has credited to the Aquatics Department “coupon” line item revenue attributable to the “unused” portion of the coupon books or debit cards.

But the last time this was done, the Progress has learned, may have been sometime in 2015, which leaves up to three years when a lot of coupon revenue could have been credited to Aquatics but wasn’t.

Viola apparently seems prepared to make an adjustment to the coupon revenue line, to make up for the uncredited revenue, but the timing is still somewhat up in the air. He also indicated that going forward, coupon card revenue will be credited to Aquatics “on a more consistent basis.”

Whether that means that Aquatics will be credited the full $35 per card in the month it’s sold remains

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS to be seen. Viola said that would be the easiest way of accounting for the revenue and would bring consistency to the way revenue generated by all the cards is recognized.

The practice of deferring the recording of coupon revenue to Aquatics differs from the way revenue from two other cards are recognized.

Aquatics’ share of the bundled $200 Beach Club parking/pool passes -$120 per card is allocated to Aquatics -- as well as the $120 passes good at all five OPA pools are fully credited to Aquatics when sold, or at least soon after. But there appears to be lag-time in recognizing revenue associated with the “refreshing” of the all-access cards, Viola said.

To further complicate matters, there appears to have been a lag in the recognition of membership revenue related to these two $120 membership cards this year, which explains why Aquatics had an extremely good month in August.

The department shows a “surge” in membership revenue in the amount of $40,970, beating the forecast by almost $26,000.

Even with that surge, Aquatics remains under budget in membership revenue for the year through August in the amount of $62,610.

33

The Progress asked Viola why a surge in membership revenue attributable to the bundled parking/ pool passes and the all-access passes showed up in August, when, presumably, they were sold earlier in the fiscal year. He did not offer an explanation, but there’s no reason to believe the delayed recognition this year differs from prior years.

Viola told the Progress in a reply email that “after a collaborative effort made by the director of aquat-

ics, the membership lead, and the finance director, we have an answer and [are] working on a solution that I will address in the next Treasurer’s Report. At this time I can tell you it will have a favorable impact on the Aquatics revenue and we will report on a more consistent basis going forward.

“To summarize it was a timing situation of recognizing revenue, nothing else should be read into it,” Viola said.

Budget schedule

based on board input.

Jan. 25 -- GM publishes recommended budget.

Feb. 2 -- Board conducts public hearing on recommended budget.

Member comments welcome.

Feb. 5 -- Treasurer & GM provide BOD with any final recommendations.

From Page 31

Jan. 7, 8 and 9 -- B&F committee budget work sessions with the GM. Member comments welcome.

Jan. 12 -- Treasurer & GM host hearing on the proposed budget budget. (B&F committee and GM meet to consider any revisions to budget based upon membership input from the Budget Hearing.) Member comments welcome.

Jan. 14, 15 and 16 -- GM distributes recommended budget to the board and board conducts work sessions on the budget. Member comments welcome.

Jan. 17 - 24 -- GM makes any changes to recommended budget

Feb. 7-14 -- Board provides GM with any potential motions to amend, so that the GM can calculate the impact any amendment may have on the assessment calculation.

Feb. 16 -- Board hears final comments on the budget; Board considers any motions to amend and votes to adopt budget. Member comments welcome.

34 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

WORCESTER COUNTY

October 2018

BERTINO VS. BUTLER

Incumbent county commissioner r e l t u B y d u J Candidate For challenged Worcester in Ocean Pines district 5 County Commissioner ELECT JUDY BUTLER, Democrat Judy Butler wages determined campaign to upset term representative in Snow Hill Our District Advocate forRepresenting Ocean PinesfirstOcean 5, Pines

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

By ROTA L. KNOTT Ocean Pines is my home. It is a beautiful communithing I feel very strongly about that ty, and my husband Tom and I have enjoyed the blessing “I will proactively Judy – Contributing Writer of living here for the past Butler 10 years. I have always believed we need to look at seriously.” that community action and responsibility are lifetime priorities.

That has been my commitment.

In addition to ith the general election forcounty, which funds Headvocate said the my 35 year career as a scientist and health care professionan intelligent al, I have served countless charitable organizations and less than a month away causes. I am currently an active volunteer at Diakonia, OPEB for both Rackliffe House, and Holy Savior Catholic Church, where Ocean Pines ...its employees and I mentor young people. And, for over a decade, I served on Nov. 6, two candidates those of the school system, only has the local, state, and national levels of the Parent Teacher alternative are vying to represent the votersAssociation, of and I now have the honor of being a PTA What’s Important about $66 million in the fund but Lifetime Member.

I recognize the privileges and lifestyle I've enjoyed the all-Ocean Pines District 5 on the have not been the reality for many. While many are lucky should have nearly a quarter billion to the to You is Important enough to watch their children perform in school plays, and participate in school and county sports programs, too Worcester County Board of Commisdollars.

He said the county reduced many families in our community are forced to watch their children, or their relatives, succumb to opioid and alcoto Me” sioners. Incumbent Chip Bertino, status spending for OPEB due to the slack hol addiction.

We have to not onlyquo! recognize this, but be forceful in addressing remedies. a Republican wrapping up his first I want to see our young people have the opportunieconomy, but now that tax revenue Chip andBertino Judy Butler ties to pursue meaningful lucrative careers right here at home. They shouldn't have to leave the area to make a term on the county’s governing body, is up the commissioners need to conStrong on Education decentBackground living. Whether it be training our youth in sustainPines was not meant for shut-ins. able careers associated with emerging alternative energy Recognizing that fiscal responsibility should always is facing a challenge for his seat • or Expert managerial skills care professional • Quality Public School Advocate sources, in medical technology, our goal should -beHealth to SES, Bertino said the commissionbe factored in and balanced with our initiatives, county sider how to increase funding. provide bright and successfulfor careers that match 21st cengovernment must be the catalyst developingof resilience responsible directing a multi-layered profession• for Creation 21st Century Career Paths from a political newcomer, Democrat tury needs … ers right here in our county. plans to protect our citizens.

The gifts of this beautiful “Now that times have turned worked hard to pared down the staff , insidea ofhighly complex medicalcommunity, laboratory, ser- • Protect the Arts in County Classrooms I wantal to be on the advocating for the safety and this wonderful county, should not be and health vicing needs of our community.

We needprofessionals. to protect Judy Butler. for just some. I want to represent all of us. over 50 medical around I think we need to look at original $60 million estimate for our bays and rivers from toxic pollutants. Plus, many in

W

Strong on Environment

I will appreciate your support on November 6.

• Fiscal Responsibility - Comprehensive understandour community are seniors, and I want to advocate for Thank you. them. I want have a chance to utilizeinherent in securing • Protect the St. Martin River ingto see of our theneighbors financial protocols Judy Butler, Your Advocate, and Candidate a community wide public transportation system so they needed funding, and profi cient in creating, • No Offshore Drilling WorcestermanagCounty Commissioner can get to their doctor appointments, take care of their Pines Resilience Plan to Protect shopping needs, getbeing to all their outings safely. Ocean ing, and and accountable to budgets.District 5, Representing• Ocean Develop

Chip Bertino

Chip Bertino, a local newspaper• publisher, said he wants to continue building on the strong foundation he and his fellow commissioners have created during the last four years.

“The reason that I wanted to run for reelection is that we accomplished a lot in the past four years and I wanted to continue serving the Ocean Pines community and the county as a whole,” he said.

Bertino cited an improved overall relationship with the Board of Education and an extensive cooperative planning and retooling effort for the new Showell Elementary School as accomplishments of which he is particularly proud. With regard to

the replacement school, ultimately that again,” he said, adding that something residents can reducing the cost by more than $13 OPEB “isn’t Us as We Adapt Community Advocate - A strong believer in com- Commisto Sea-Level Risesee and Climate like Change. a new building or programs, million.

Along with fellow munity action and responsibility as a lifetime priorbut underfunding it can wreak havBunting, whose District on Health itysioner … has beenJim a volunteer in countless local, state, Strong and organizations, primarily geared help- • Pines, Keep Our Waterways Clean oc on the county’s operating budget, 6national includes a portion of toOcean ing children and students.

• Aggressively Address the Opioid Crisis Bertino took field trips to visit other a bill footed by all taxpayers.” on SafetyHowever, Bertino said he favors schools across the state and Strong worked • Widen 589 government and thinks the hand-in-hand with Board of• EducaAdvocate for OPlimited Public Transportation • Advocate for School Safety Initiatives tion representatives to tweak the county needs to continue being very Strong on Economic Development mindful of its spending. “Just beproject.

• Support of Small Business cause the county has money doesn’t That cost reduction results in a • Need For Quality Year Round Jobs mean that we should spend it frivosavings to taxpayers in Ocean Pines Paid for by friends of Judy Butler. Pat Tarr, Treasurer and county-wide, both in initial con- lously,” he said.

The county should focus on prostruction expenditures and longviding for essentials like strong pubterm on the bond market, he said.

Tackling the increasing cost of lic safety and emergency services, the county’s other post employment good roads, a quality educational exbenefits (OPEB) fund for employees perience, and parks and recreationis at the top of Bertino’s to do list for al opportunity for residents, he said.

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government during the last four years, according to Bertino. “Every new program or venture costs money and once they are added to county government, they stay in county government, he said. “It’s very difficult to take it away down the road.”

He said the priority should be “not to grow government, but to ensure that what we have is well maintained and is meeting the needs of our county taxpayers and residents.” Among those priorities are improvements to several schools and maintenance of the roads.

Bertino said he has been responsive to issues brought to him by constituents in Ocean Pines throughout his first term. Among those concerns were crossings on Manklin Creek Road, bicycle signage along the road, and difficulties navigating the dark steps at the library. He said those may seem like little things but are important to the people who brought them to his attention.

Carrying on the tradition of his predecessor, Judy Boggs, Bertino hosts regular town hall meetings at which county staff discuss their departments and programs and how they can be of service to residents, and he fields questions from the audience. “I think that’s important because the county government has no money that it doesn’t get from taxpayers.”

Bertino said he has worked very well with the other six commissioners for the last four years to benefit both his district and the entire county. “I have a very good relationship with Commissioner Bunting.”

He said he and Bunting have a very strong working relationship built on mutual respect and trust.

He said he has learned a lot from Bunting during his first term. “He has been a tremendous asset and a resource for me to call upon.”

It takes a majority vote of the commissioners to get anything done, Bertino noted. Whenever he moves an issue forward, he said it is incumbent upon him to get at least three other votes and he has been successful in doing so. “One commissioner can have a voice and a vote,” he said, but to be effective they must all work together.

Four years ago the community gave him a wonderful gift in electing him to represent District 5, Bertino said. “It’s very humbling to have your name on the ballot and even more so to win. He said voters should reelect him as their representative for District 5 because he listens to To Page 36

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

35

Ed Tinus, Write-In Candidate For Delegate District 38C, Maryland House of Delegates Why I am seeking office: From the desk of: Ed Tinus

Age: 59 years Occupation: Master Upholsterer, Universal mechanical technician

ForFirst, God,ICountry, Community.

To serve with transparent, interactive, representa-can down load the ED App -- an inwant toAnd thank the hundreds tion.

We have the technology for all voters to securely be engaged with the political teractive vehicle that will drive you to of voters that elected me to the Central process.

We The will have an voting App for your smart devises. A vehicle that will drive you to Annapolis from the comfort of your Committee.

Primary turnout the open doors of legislation in Annapolis, from the comfort of your own home. Down was low. The winner received under 2000 own home. Download the Bills that load Bills and take an active roll with digesting the verbiage. Citizens and government votes.

This campaign speaks out against are in session, help me digest the intechnician working together interacting on your Rights, Laws, Tax’s. Returning more power to the both party’s method of representation. It formation, vote on term limits, repeal people of our community. Regardless of your party affiliation. To protect the services for is archaic, mathematically improbable and unconstitutional laws, hold your repour DD 214 Veterans as well our first responders they are my real hero’s. To serve with alienates the voters from interacting with resentatives accountable, and have an honesty, integrity, and morals to lead us into a Better Maryland. Praying that my Trust in their representatives. active role in protecting your Liberties ent, interactive, representaGod as a Forth Degree Knight of Columbus, guides me to represent you well. Amen.

It was no surprise that the establishment

and Rights.

engaged the political voters with of Ithestand: primary chose a candidate The Archaic Method: 3000 Bills in Where who will conform to the archaic method a 90-day legislative session? Not one hicle that will integrity, drive you 1: Voting everyto election cycle some of our votes are mishandled, lost, or simply not counted. The archaic of daily business in Annapolis. representative canpaper read ballots and underof voting has outgrown itself. The State Board of Election does ts very best trying to upload to ort ofmethod your own home.

Down The primary system has failed unaffiliatstandwith all the verbiage.

Theyall form comintergrade with our technology.

A few basic measures can make your votes more secure little cost. That forms ge. Citizens and government ed photo and Democrat voters. leaves onlyU.S. onecitizen displayed. That your voting registrationmittees; receives stack Bills of I.D. from MVAItwill have is swipeeach stripe codeda on theofbotcandidate on the ballot, thus subjugating to review.

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This way when you Returning more power to move the your voting registration is automatically transferred. Even in the event of death as those voters not to have a choice of candirepresentative vote. your license expires so does your voting status. The merchant processing equipment your can be adapted tohow this to I.D. pro-That tion. To protect the services for dates minimizing to vote for. the cost and time. is second-hand information. This is cess, am aConstitutional Constitutionalist.

Theare constihowfor mistakes are made. my real2:I hero’s.

To serve with Our Rights undermined and disregarded. Example: Our new law gun control HB 1302 viotution states that all voters have the right Ex: HB 1302 the FLAG several laws. Our representatives have overstepped the boundaries of what The Maryland ConstitutionRED allows yland.lates Praying that my Trust in to votetoinenact all elections.

You Constitutional cannot vote if nature. We the People through a popular vote BILL. This is unacceptable mathethem law of this must first amend the and Maryland doesn’t happen. there is you no choice.

On these matically improbable.

Take a jar of jelrepresent well.

Amen.

Constitution granting ourgrounds GeneralI filed Assembly the right to do so. The Republic and society has no checks and balances in

Everyone that talk apolitics with of andcommunication place to hold our elected into officials accountable.

With the EdI App new level allow the voters to to continue our campaign the Genly beans, askwill a 10-member committee listensthat to my agenda, all state “That’s How have a voice as ofarepeal. must not make laws break laws. eral Election write-inWe candidate.

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is Supposed to be funding .” My agenda is simProtecting Security, Bay, our first responders, education To 116 we3:have a choice,Social but still the SBErestoring will not theitChesapeake have anand incorrect vote. needs.

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Give the voters more Power to hold reduce taxes through wiser spending. my name on the Ballot?

Voters not counted. The archaic voters guess the amount and the vote es are display mishandled, lost, orThe simply me accountable and interact with me on will have to Write-in Ed Tinus in the area will be greater than 87% correct. The Election does ts very best trying to upload paper ballots to basisisthrough our Smartmethod Devices.of representation.

We stand at the edge of a great divide ona daily one side our traditional Where Wayne H the below Hartman’s name. more people digesting the Bills, offers his O.C. councilmen experience of regulations, fines, and tax’s that gives him the ability to vote for you in AnBoth parties do not want you to gain Change votes is not easy.

If Hartman wins he n make your more secure with little cost. That all forms more perfect the outcome. Imagine napolis.

Remember the tax payers of Worcester county paying forgovernment.

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Joe thousands S stands on the power to are regulate your will learn how the archaic method of repeventually having ofthis civic hat your voting registration is swipe stripe coded on the bottraditional Working as a Hogan appointed agent to follow leadership of Mr. Hogan.

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Vote of EdEd Tinus forfor Delegate Primary, Tuesday, JuneNov. 26, 6,2018 he boundaries what The Maryland Constitution allows Write In Tinus Delegate38C, 38CRepublican in the General Election, Tuesday, 2018 Early Voting June 14-June 21, 10Maryland a.m.Nov. to 8 1,p.m. eople through a popular Early voteVoting must firstOct. amend the Thursday, 25, through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.united-us.org do so. The Republic and society has no www.united-us.org checks and balances in Paid for by Friends of Ed Tinus, Curtis Andrews Treasurer d App a new level of communication will allow the voters to

36 Ocean Pines PROGRESS Bertino vs. Butler From Page 34

their concerns and has represented respectfully and effectively at the county level. “I hope that during the past four years that I have demonstrated to them that I have worked very hard,” Bertino said.

Judy Butler

WORCESTER COUNTY

October 2018

Judy Butler, who retired to Ocean Pines in 2010, thinks the Worcester County Commissioners should be doing more to increase wages, expand educational opportunities for local residents, and address climate change and the associated environmental impacts.

“I believe that we need to find some 21st Century solutions to the challenges facing our county,” Butler said.

Having worked for 23 years with local, state and national PTA organizations, Butler said she is an advocate for education. She believes the county has a good school system and wants to see that continue.

She’s an advocate for offering Worcester County students the opportunity to continue their education for two years at Wor-Wic Community College at no cost to them.

Butler said Worcester County has the second lowest wage level in the state. The county needs to do more to help train young people for “modern 21st Century jobs” so they will stay in Worcester County to live and work, she said.

The commissioners also need to boost economic development and entice businesses to create sustainable jobs in Worcester County, Butler said. “That’s my vision for future.”

To provide both businesses and local youths with incentives and the

tools necessary to stay in Worcester County, Butler said high speed Internet access is essential. She said the lack of broadband service in much of the county is one of the reasons the county is so behind in its economic development.

“We just have to do it,” she said of taking the steps necessary, including providing funding, to offer more widespread service. Additionally, she argued that students need access to the Internet at home to be able to succeed in school and college.

“Always we have to be fiscally responsible,” Butler said of other issues facing the county. “People that retire here people don’t want to see their taxes go up.” As a commissioner she said she would look at carefully at the county budget and ways to provide high levels of service without raising taxes.

While many people move to Worcester County because of the environment, Butler said the county needs to ensure that everyone is a good steward of that environment.

As sea levels rises and the climate warms, the entire county will feel the impact, she said, adding the county needs to develop a resilience plan to protect the coastline and communities.

She cited the poor health of the St. Martin’s River and drainage problems that plague Ocean Pines as examples of environmental issues the commissioners need to help address.

Other issues of concern, particularly for Ocean Pines residents, are the need for improvements to Route 589 and access to public transportation, Butler said.

“What we really need is to expand the road and make it a boulevard,” she said of Route 589. She said it is

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able as is to serve the 12,000 people who live in Ocean Pines. She pointed out that many senior citizens live in Worcester County and need access to public transportation, but the regional bus service doesn’t stop in Ocean Pines.

While representing the entire county, Butler said she will look out for the constituents of her district as well.

“I will advocate for Ocean Pines and I believe that Ocean Pines, because we are not a municipality, sometimes we get over looked,” she said, adding the county expects Ocean Pines to support itself but “sometimes Ocean Pines could use some help.”

She said the county gives grant little money to Ocean Pines other than for the police department, but the community has roads, recreation, parks and other programs that need support.

Butler said she likes to volunteer and felt running for the commissioner’s seat was a good opportunity for her to serve the community.

“I’ve always worked with my community no matter where I am,” she said. She said the county’s governing body needs more diversity and

it’s time to add another woman to the Board of Commissioners. Currently, Commissioner President Diana Purnell is the lone female on the seven-member board.

Butler said voters in District 5 should cast their ballot for her on election day “Because I care. What’s important to them is important to me. I’ve made this my home.”

She said she will use skills developed as a laboratory scientist to study public policy, assess issues and address problems facing the county. As health chair for the state PTA, Butler said she “was in Annapolis a lot,” and has offered testimony as the local, state, and federal level on Capitol Hill.

“I’m very familiar with that part of county government,” she said. A code home rule county, Butler said Worcester has “an old style government” with the Board of Commissioners fulfilling multiple roles as the executive and legislative branches, but also as the final authority on matters such as health and zoning.

“That’s a lot of responsibility in the hands of seven people,” she said. “I believe that it takes a lot of assessment value to understand what’s going on in all parts of the county.”

County OKs agreement for Triple Crown Estates

Based on a staff recommendation, the Worcester County Commissioners recently approved a small project agreement between the county and Steen Associates to construct water and wastewater lines to serve the Triple Crown Estates subdivision north of Gum Point Road in the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area.

John Tustin, county director of public works, recommended the commissioners sign the agreement. He said staff has reviewed the design drawings for the utility lines and appurtenances and found them in compliance with county specifications.

Triple Crown Estates will eventually become part of Ocean Pines. It’s a planned 60-unit duplex development, within internal access through Ocean Pines via King Richard Road.

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October 2018

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WORCESTER COUNTY

COUNTY BRIEFS

School, roof replacement projects at Snow Hill Middle and Pocomoke Elementary Schools, and a Buckingham Elementary replacement school project.

Worcester students best in state on standardized test scores

S

tudents in Worcester County Public Schools scored higher that the state average on standardized college and career readiness tests.

For the fourth consecutive year students led the state on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers in five of the assessments administered last year in all counties.

The county ranked first on the Eastern Shore in nine assessments and ranked second in all other assessments.

“The examination of these scores is further affirmation that what we are doing here in Worcester County is working,” Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said, adding, “it is evident that our students are showing remarkable growth and success, which in turn validates the dedication and innovative work of our educators.”

The school system will use the state assessment results to target and improve instruction for those students who have not yet reached the levels of college and career readiness.

In the test area of English/Language Arts, 61.2 percent of all students in grades 3-8 scored a level of four or five, the highest level of college and career readiness.

That is nearly 20 percentage points more than the state’s average in the same grade levels.

This score marks a 3.1 percentage point increase over last year for Worcester County, whereas the state increased only one percent.

At the high school level, 57.6 percent of Worcester County students demonstrated college and career readiness in the English 10 assessment, well above the state average of 42.5 percent.

In mathematics, 51.3 percent of students in grades 3-8 combined achieved college and career readiness, which demonstrates a growth of 2.7 percentage points from 2017 scores.

Worcester’s performance outpaced both the state’s average of 34.1 percent and the state’s year-toyear growth of one percentage point.

In Algebra I, 46.9 percent of stu-

dents in Worcester County achieved college and career readiness, which is nearly 16 percentage points above the state average.

Standing out in the county’s performance results were English/Language Arts scores in grades three, four and six, as 61 percent of the third and fourth graders scored at a level four or five.

Seventy-two percent of sixth graders achieved college and career readiness in English/Language Arts, nearly double that of the state average of 38.7 percent.

In these assessments, Worcester students outperformed all other counties in the state.

Third graders in the county also had a stand-out performance on the math assessment, with 67.7 percent scoring at a level of four or five, topping scores from all other counties in Maryland.

Another highlight in Worcester County’s performance is how students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meal Programs are performing on the state assessments. In ELA, this subgroup was first in the state in four assessments and second in the state in all others.

In mathematics, students eligible for FARMS in Worcester County topped the state in three assessments and ranked within the top five performing counties in all other assessments.

School Safety Center recognizes Taylor

Louis H. Taylor, Worcester County Public Schools’ superintendent, was honored as the 2017/2018 School Safety Superintendent of the Year by the Maryland Center for School Safety.

The organization held its 5th annual School Safety Conference last month in Annapolis.

An award ceremony held during the conference honored individuals and teams that went above and beyond in the name of school safety during the 2017/2018 school year.

Taylor was honored for demonstrating extreme resolve and leadership to the mission of school safety and emergency preparedness.

Hearing scheduled on animal care bill

The Worcester County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 23 on proposed revisions to the Public Safety Animal Control section of the county code.

The changes will address animals being kept outdoors during unsafe weather conditions, the tethering and restraint of animals, and to clarify what constitutes as appropriate shelter sizes based on the size of animals.

County Attorney Maureen Howarth drafted the proposed text amendment at the commissioners’ request.

The draft adds language regarding the conditions of required shelter, shade, and suitable restraints. It * %new TAX-FREE* also 3.25 includes definitions of unsafe weather conditions, including Prince Georges Md (Name of MuniCnty Bond) hot and cold weather temperatures.

The bill specifies that suitable Price: 98.500 (00.00) shelter is a structure Coupon: 3.25 (00/00/00) with secured sides,Maturity a(Name roof, and protect 07/15/2036 Date: Georges (00/00/00) Prince Md the offloor MunitoCnty Bond) animal from the weather.

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School system modifies teacher induction

The Worcester County Public Schools offers a comprehensive induction program designed to help its teachers gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become highly effective instructors, while also aiding them in reaching tenure that will afford them a long career in teaching.

The focus of the teacher induction effort for the 2017-18 school year was to examine the current program and determine if adjustments needed to be made to better serve new educators.

After interviewing school administrators/coordinators and reviewing feedback from first, second, and third-year teachers through surveys and interviews, the school system made modifications made and will be implemented in 2018-19 school year.

The goal is to equip teachers with the essential instructional tools they need to be effective teachers who will make a positive difference in the lives of their students.

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Board of Education endorses annual CIP

Financial Advisor

215 North Main Street Berlin, MD 21811 410-208-1704

Carrie.Dupuie@RaymondJames.com During a September meeting, the Worcester County Board of Education approved the FY20 Capital Call Price: 100 (000) * Improvement Program and authoOther:% (Obligor) (0.00%) TAX-FREE TAX-FREE* 8/15/2045 Maturity Date: (00/00/00) 100 Call3.25 Price: (000) rized forwarding the document to A2/A Rating: (XXX/XXX) A2/A Rating:(Name (XXX/XXX) the State of Maryland Interagency Prince Georges Md of MuniCnty Bond) Other: 8/15/2025 Callable Date: (00/00/00 or(Obligor) N/A) Carrie Dupuie, AAMS Committee on School Construction. **AsAs ofof00/00/00.

Other: (Obligor) 06/07/2018 Carrie Dupuie, AAMS 98.500 Price: (00.00) (Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Name) to availability and price change. Minimum Coupon: purchases may apply.

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COVER STORY

October 2018

Yacht Club From Page 1

Yacht Club as a watering hole for “Ocean Pines tightwads” who don’t like to tip the wait staff, which in turn produces a lot of turn-over and need to train replacement staff.

What’s been happening since the Ortts arrived on the scene is that patrons are so appreciative of good food and service that they often don’t hesitate to reward the wait staff with much higher than normal tips, sometimes even 30 percent, DeAngelus said.

“That it turn has changed the reputation of the Yacht Club as a fun and financially rewarding place to work,” he said. “I’m getting calls from people who want to work here.

A year ago, that never would have happened.”

And as for the reputation of the Yacht Club as a hang-out for geezers on tight budgets who don’t tip, DeAngelus says that is no longer the case.

“What we’re finding is that Ocean Pines people are really quite generous. They are reciprocating for their good experiences in coming here,” he said.

Expires 11/06/18

Signs of the dramatic turnaround begins with a first impression. On entering the lower level restaruant from the reconfigured side entrance, patrons are immediately greeted by staff at a new welcome area on the right. Straight ahead is a room that no longer has the feel of a nursing home cafeteria. New tables, chairs, and most of all lighting improvements create the feel of a sleek, modern restaurant, but one that overlooks the fulsome view of the Yacht Club marina.

The old “hallway to nowhere”, through which patrons had to navigate from the old front entrance, is now a expanded second bar area that supplements the southeast corner bar that remains from the original layout. “It often gets used more than the original bar,” DeAngelus said.

The front entrance to the building is now exclusively the entrance to the second floor renamed ballroom, where the Ortt Companies are making great strides to bring back what was once a very robust wedding and special event venue. It’s still early in the process, because weddings in particular are sometimes booked a year or two out from when they are

Expires 11/06/18

actually held.

The financial insurgence will come back when those weddings are fully paid for.

As a teaser for what lies in store, DeAngelus says that there was an early October wedding that generated $40,000; it will show up in a month when that sort of revenue simply isn’t anticipated. In a month that sometimes produces losses, October is likely to show a profit in part because of a single wedding.

“Weddings are more profitable than regular dining,” DeAngelus said. For next year, during the April through June prime wedding season, all but three of 14 Saturdays are booked for weddings, leaving some Fridays and Sundays open for weddings that will be cost less for clients than Saturday events.

Even without much of a wedding business this year that shows on the books, the Yacht Club this summer has been financial success, at $150,840 in net earnings through August well ahead of budget. The year-over-year turn-around has been nothing short of breath-taking. Through August of last year, the Yacht Club was in the red by $236,458.

So that’s a improvement in the bottom line of just short of $400,000.

But once the wedding and banquet business hits its stride, DeAngelus said people will react with a “Wow -- look what those people after less than two years in Ocean Pines. Well, we’re on our way to that ‘Wow’.”

DeAngelus cautions that even with reduced days of operation, the November through March period probably won’t be profitable, so that $150,840 surplus at the end of August probably won’t hold up. But there’s every expectation that the Yacht Club will produce a surplus by year’s end. Even if it’s a breakeven result, most people would find that acceptable in a year when the banquet business has not yet come into its own.

Immediately after Labor Day, the Yacht Club shifted to a Thursday through Sunday schedule, that will remain in place through Thanksgiving, after which the club will be open Friday through Saturday until a “big bash” on New Year’s Eve. The plan then is to open the Yacht Club for one day of 50 percent discounts off all checks to help clean out the inventory.

“Then we’ll chose for about 16 days or so for a thorough house-cleaning,” DeAngelus says, and then “we’ll reopen Fridays and Saturdays only

through President’s Day. After that, we’ll add Sundays until May, when we will reopen seven days a week.”

For the time being, Sunday brunches remain on the schedule, but for how much longer DeAngelus isn’t sure.

“It will depend on the numbers,” he said. “We need 100 people to make it worthwhile.” If the numbers drop below 100, the Sunday brunch will be dropped in favor of ala carte dining only, he says.

DeAngelus says if the Matt Ortt Companies were looking out only for short-term advantage, he and Ortt might be inclined to close down the Yacht Club during months when it doesn’t make money.

“But we’re in it for the long-term,” he said, and that means keeping a core staff on hand even when the numbers might suggest it would be smarter to do otherwise. By keeping that core staff, when May rolls around again, “we’ll be ready, full steam ahead.”

The decision to stay open during the months when the Yacht Club loses money actually will cost the Ortt Companies under the current, highly incentivized contract.

The contractor receives 50 percent of any positive variance to budget at the Yacht Club and the Beach Club, which the Ortt Companies also are operating for the OPA, up to $50,000 for each amenity. Because the Yacht Club is budgeted to lose $100,000 this year, the Ortts will be able to earn a $50,000 bonus if the Yacht Club breaks even for the year, and it will probably do better than that.

Even so, the budget bonus is capped at $50,000.

At the Beach Club through August, net earnings are actually about $15,000 behind budget for the year so far, so it’s possible, barring something unexpected in the financial results for September, ithat there will no budget bonus awarded for the Beach Club this year.

Through August, the Beach Club has yielded a net surplus of about $1l4,000. Since carrying costs continue at the Beach Club during the winter months, that surplus could easily erode in the remaining months of the fiscal year.

The contract also specifies a performance bonus if the two amenities together achieve a combined profit of $100,000 or more, on a sliding scale for amounts in excess of that.

Bottom line, the Ortt Companies seem likely to receive some sort of q

40 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

associations. ontentious 4-3 vote to terminate the clauses” that would have made it much was a solid majority of pro-Thompson di- homeowner Hecaught and other in directors declined a What Ocean Pines by the 2018 Oceanmany tract and Thompson’s Pines PROGRESS COVER STORY employment easier for Thompson to earn a bonus re- rectors who could have renegotiatedOctober email invitation by the Progress surprise, however, was the fact that 41 theto d lated to amenity performance this year. contract to make it even more lucrative axe fell as soon as it did. The new board h the Ocean Pines Association. and whyindividual the decision to te staff,how with every val“It’s simply not functional,” he Brett has been taking place in GM Ocean City al cuss Stevens motion passes 4-3,Hill over Jacobs’ ‘emotional’ objections; Hill named acting in his explanation said that the for Thompson. reorganized itself with an election of ofYacht Club Director Brett Hill was chosen by ued for thethe contribution each makes said, comparing it to a ten-year old this summer. minate contract citing t fices in a meeting Aug. 22.occurred, H “hasoptions. an obligation to discussdea tors Stevens wasfor participating Frommajority Page 40 to serve as interim board three it, Jack Collins,inwas the operation, creates a culture laptop computer.

It’s essential “I who hatevoted the word shrinkage,” hethe to confi board

By TOM STAUSS dentiality of closed meetings. ill’s motion to go into closed session Newly elected director Brett Hill, who meeting defeated intheft.” his election bidand this said summer, objective measure of bonus calcuisn’t a open serious problem. fect is inability to keep up with upsaid.

“It’s via telephone, later where budget bonusmanager at the Yacht Clubathismore Publisher on Aug.theft 26 after the session made acting general pending offeredin thecredit motion to go into closed ses- with contract extension vote a possitoo,press ispossible working in a venue th grades card processing.

Hehissays that Yacht Club andhe no So, year and a performance closed meeting that bonus began for with The release announcing mention of termination. lation, so a notifi cation of a (reopened) he might have voted differently had rchthe for aYacht replacement. sion, in prepared explaining his Beach ble contributing factor. theClub intended reviewing tip revenue staff w “We’re talkingremarks with vendors, getClub tabs are mostly covered where andpurpose Beach ofClub cuTrendic told only the and Progress several decision said thatoverall the contract contract negotiation would be in the best been at the person to hash out the motion said that fi ve board members reAlso voting for the extension wasde- satisfaction At mulatively. a specialGeneral meeting of the Bob Board Manager Thomp- ting theft.was prices from them, and will be by credit card payments, leaving days after thedisincentivizes decision to terminate cently hadparties discovered “many disturbing DaveofStevens, who wasn’t on the ballot made for“absolutely” convenience, meaning that of all to avoid further is-to tails a renegotiation. son’s employment contract, including that there was no the in- th Regarding plans for 2019-20, presenting our recommendation relatively little cash that needs to made Matt Ortt26, says satisfied withinterest Directors Aug. thehe’s directors votfactors surrounding the handling of the this year but isn’t known as a Thompson what one director described as that “disturbexpectation board maboardormajority wasbynotthealleging any so in future years.”

Elections have consequences, and tention as the part of thefiscal 2019-20 contract as Pat written and ifsuesthe 5-2,the with directors Renaud andbonus GMboard” bonus (for 2015-15 year),” be fan.handled.

Both Collins and Stevens explained new fiscal year that begins this coming factors” involving a $30,900 jority of Herrick, Trendic, Stevens and 1, Ortt says he and DeAngeprocess, Ortt says.

Aware “And it’s nightly in the Board of Directors is happy with Abudget ofMay wrong-doing on Thompson’s part th decision to revisit thealready contract byto with the election of Hill and Slobodan well as “adjustments made their votes asdeposited the best deal possible for ing erylthe Jacobs dissenting, torevisit go into for better-than-budgeted amenity finan- as Hill will that be Thompson’s contract would be lus discussing with General that the OPA has issued a request bank,” he said, with receipts reconit,cial he sees no reason to incenthis year’s budget related to the bonus the OPA given that, at the time, there would have edsession a termination the Aug. 31 deadline would have opened Trendic it was apparent that Thompson terminated performance, ended up with a highin thejustifi closed Aug. 26. f ed tive session to discuss Thompson’s for proposals fromhave financial both the bank and the OPA clauses” that would made itmanmuch ciled was a by solid majority of pro-Thompson di- Manager John Bailey and the board ly terms. contentious 4-3 vote to terminate the He and other directors declined an fortothe andfilonger had a solid majority sup- thecause. tract,contract which extended for finance deparmtent.

“There’s of very possibility that the Ortt Comagement companies for various easier forwindow Thompson earnboard a bonus re- no rectors who could have renegotiated the But he had suggests that if the boarda two-month and been Thompson’s employment email invitation by the Progress to disThe and termination for renegotiate, something ontothe board. lated to to amenity performance this year. contract make it for eventheft.” more lucrative panies little opportunity be drafting next convenien year’s nancial management services, he porters wants toApril run28. the Yacht Club andThompson withonthe Ocean Pines Association. ee years cuss howwill why the decision to terHill in his explanation said that the for Thompson.

Club and Beach Club budgets.

There’s a camera security system Yacht says he doesn’t believe thathave will Beach Club more as amenities and means that Thompson will reap a gene Director Brett Hill was chosen by that Thompson probably would Indeed, there was an expectation minate the contract occurred, citing the Undisclosed at the time the contract boarda “has an obligation to discuss a in Stevens wascould participating in unthe This year, the budgets were draftthe as board majority tothen serveitas might interim place that detect any pose problem with compatibility less businesses, confi dentiality of closed meetings. ous severance package, including sala Back in April, he offered to inmeeting the community that,and at some point, via activity telephone, said cash, later ension was made public wasmenu a pending pro-pricewelcomed. acting general manager a inmore ed by OPA management before the involving the objective future. measure of bonus calcu- derhanded beorpossible to constrain for nine months, althoug The benefi press tsrelease announcing the drop lation, amenity-based in Thompson’s so a notifibonus cation incentives of a (reopened) contract probably would he might have voted differently had hebe and search forwhile athe replacement. on increases that allows “new – in Ortts arrived on the scene.

“We don’t really need integration he says. still board” striving to at decision said only that the contract was contract negotiation would be in the best been at the person to hash out the deAt a special meeting of theClub. he no longer be eligib exchange for a OPA more departments,” predictable incenby the new board.

In pub- apparently “It for makes sense for uswill to In addition, inventory is locked with other Ortt terminated least break even at thethree Yacht case, the board that had newBoard made convenience, meaning thatdraft the interest of all parties to avoid further is- tails of a renegotiation. of Directors Aug. 26, the directors votfor any bonuses. them,majority subjectwas tonot board approval,” up Elections tight every night.

“We’re forata new POS lished He says aofconversation worthtive said. package, butshopping the board the time accounts, Thompson himselfand said board alleging any sort have consequences, mbers a that’s result this Pat summer’s edas5-2, with directors Renaud and sues in future years.”

Ortt said. all,ofwe havepart greater The greater toand the bottom system, has do having with the board in comingvoted wrong-doing on Thompson’s thatout Nine “After months salary works A decision toreally revisit thelittle contract by he with the electionthreat of Hill 6-1 to which extend the contract fortoanwas expecting the board toSlobodan move in a of Cheryl to exgo into A election – toJacobs revisitdissenting, the contract knowledge of new laws or regulaline, according to Ortt, is waste, inwith software needs in other departmonths. would have justifi ed a termination the Aug. 31 deadline would have opened Trendic it was apparent that Thompson closed session to discuss Thompson’s $123,750 for work that need notforbe pe other three years without change. new direction. sion, whether to renegotiate it extended or tertions affecting the restaurant busito majority be thrown out cause.

The Ortt Companies receiv-for ments.” a two-month window for the board and ventory no longerthat had has a solid of supcontract, which had beenare formed. anointed President Tom because Thompson served years as generThesuch termination for wages convenience Thompson to OPA renegotiate, something porters onitthe board. as minimum laws, Since assuming day-to-day manwas not six used in time to ness, $100,000 inApril a management nateing it,three or keep in force as written. fee New yearsiton 28. means that Thompson will reap a generthat Thompson probably would have Indeed, there was an expectation The veil over deliberations in close Herrick was the only director to vote al manager, and that’s well within the family leave requirements, and food run bothspecifi amenities under the con- agement of Ocean Pines’ two key guarantee freshness.

Undisclosed atedthean time the contract Thetocontract Aug. 31 ous severance package, including salary welcomed.

Back in April, he offered to in the community that, at some point, Withtime training, waste is mini- of and beverage cost increases.” restaurant operations this average tract, addition to budget extension was made public was proagainst the extension.

One ofearlier the direcof service for managers dline for inmaking a decision onand theaperbenefi ts for ninefood months, although drop amenity-based incentives Thompson’s probably would be andHe vision thatbonuses. allows the “new board” – in year, Thecontract same is true for more says rising costs might Ortt says bonus he believes hisin mized. formances

Thompson contract terminated

A

beverage sales for years.

exchange has for a been more predictable incencompany able to control tive package, but the board at the time or even eliminate endemic theft or voted 6-1 to extend the contract for anwhat’s sometimes calledchange. shrinkage, other three years without or loss inventory that walks out Newofanointed OPA President Tom the door. was Foodthe and beverage Herrick only director operato vote tions pre-Ortt were covered indirecthe against the extension.

One of the first phase of a forensic audit that

What’s precious to you isprecious precious What’s to to us.

terminated by restaurant the new board.

In Ortt pubconventional theft, lished accounts, Thompson himself said says. he was expecting the board to move in a “At any given time, we might new direction. have up to four managers Thompson served six yearsin-house. as generThey’ve been to within spot any al manager, andtrained that’s well the activity” that isn’t strictly kosher, average time of service for managers of Ortt said. But he says having a loy-

apparently he no longer will be eligible mean increases in menu prices next for any bonuses. year over what patrons are paying Nine months of salary works out to now. Orttforsays in $123,750 workit’s thatbeen needdifficult not be perSM hitting the percentages needed to formed. make on revenueinearned The a veilreturn over deliberations closed

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42 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

OCEAN PINES

October 2018

Outsourcing action proves elections matter

T

he fine print in the just issued, very detailed request for proposals for outsourcing Ocean Pines Association financial and information technology services indicates that this is no fishing expedition. Recently posted on the OPA Web site, the RFP clearly shows the fingerprints of the OPA’s Chief Financial Officer, John Viola, who by quirk of the OPA’s founding documents isn’t a paid OPA officer but a volunteer by virtue of his appointment as OPA treasurer.

He clearly knows what he wants in a financial services company that can assume a range of functions now handled in-house by the OPA. The degree of specificity in the RFP leaves nothing to chance. If anyone is laboring under the impression that the OPA will somehow bungle this process, they can reassess.

Odds are by this time next year, and perhaps much sooner if Viola has his way, some well-respected, competent, highly credentialed and experienced management company will be providing a range of services, using state-of-the-art software that the OPA isn’t going to have to purchase directly.

These are services that the OPA has been struggling to provide inhouse over the years, using software and hardware and off-site contractors barely up to the task.

to do too much too quickly could have disastrous results, although experienced financial and HOA manageAn excursion through the curious cul-de-sacs An excursion through theby-ways curious and by-ways and cul-de-sacs ment companies certainly are aware of Worcester County’s County’s most densely community. of Worcester mostpopulated densely populated community. of pitfalls and should know how to

By TOM STAUSS/

By TOM Publisher STAUSS/Publisher transition to a new management model, to whatever extent the OPA This isn’t to say that existing Fi- decides to adopt one.

Not only is there an excellent chance that outsourcing this vital nance Department personnel are At least two directors, Slobodan component of OPA operations will necessarily expendable when and Trendic and Esther Diller, are alprove to be more efficient and effec- if a transition occurs. Rebadging is ready on the record in support of tive than what is provided currently. certainly possible in certain cases. looking at a more comprehensive It also could very well be done less In the end, however, the OPA is not out-sourcing model. expensively, although it’s probably a charity or a jobs program.

Depending on how management It’s an entity designed to provide companies respond to the RFP, safer not to predict that with any certainly until such time as man- municipal-like and corporate ser- Trendic and Diller may have an opagement proposals come back and vices to its membership in the most portunity to urge their colleagues to efficient and cost-effective way pos- step out of their immediate comfort can be thoroughly vetted.

But one thing ought to be perfect- sible. zones.

The RFP also invites managely clear: By taking the outsourcing To be sure, none of this would route, the OPA can avoid the cost- ment companies responding to the have happened had property ownly commitment of buying or leasing RFP to go beyond financial and IT ers not had their say in this past software that the previous board was services if they feel they have more summer’s election. Outsourcing vs. close to approving on the recommen- to offer. This could produce propos- buying or leasing new software was dation of the now-defunct Technolo- als to assume general management very much an election issue, and gy Working Group and its paid con- oversight over the entire spectrum candidates favoring the explorasultant. Rather than making that of OPA departments, while retain- tion of outsourcing won three of the investment directly, the OPA will ing much or most of the department four contested seats on the ballot. A be the beneficiaries of whatever sys- heads and personnel currently in fourth candidate, Ted Moroney, in tem or systems a management com- place. the end resisted calls for the preSome directors profess to believe vious board to proceed with a softpany employs to provide improved Internet and software functional- outsourcing the entire OPA man- ware-centric solution from Northity among various departments, at agement to an outside manage- Star Technologies. the same time financial reports are ment company would for them be a He no doubt picked up a few votes provided to management and the non-starter, at least for now, prefer- in the 11th hour when it became membership in a much more timely ring a more incremental approach. clear he wasn’t going to support the That’s certainly reasonable. Trying NorthStar proposal. fashion.

That left it to the new board to decide how to proceed.

It’s no accident that the Technology Working Group is no longer functioning, its mandate, at least insofar as financial management is concerned, having expired and the board disposed to move in another direction.

Viola and the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, with Bailey part of the mix, are more suited for the role of vetting proposals that respond to the RFP. There still is a role for a reconstituted technology working group, however.

The Ocean Pines community has been agitating for some time for alternatives to Mediacom in the delivery of high-speed Internet services.

The TWG never got around to it. No matter. It can easily be resurrected and repopulated with individuals who see a need to jumpstart competition in this space, perhaps with individuals more committed to exTo Page 43333

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OPINION

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

43

COMMENTARY Country Club renovation costs heading in wrong direction

I

t is with foreboding and deep concern that Ocean Pines property owners should regard the revised request for proposals for a Country Club renovation that General Manager John Bailey will be issuing very soon. That is already a month later than an informal, non-binding suggestion by OPA Director Ted Moroney during a Sept. 8 Board of Directors meeting.

Moroney suggested that Bailey issue the RFP “as soon as possible,” by which presumably he meant during the month of September, with a deadline for submission of proposals by Oct. 5. Meeting that schedule would have made it possible for the board to choose a contractor and perhaps, inshalla, finalize a contract by the board’s scheduled Oct. 20 monthly meeting. But humans plan and God laughs uproariously, as the adage says.

Needless to say, the RFP wasn’t even issued by the hoped-for submission date, more proof as if any is needed that in Ocean Pines timetables are elastic constructs, with more bounce than a kited check.

Assuming that contractors respond to the RFP, something they didn’t do in the previous iteration of it, that pushes back a board decision to November at the earliest.

Give Bailey credit for honesty. He acknowledged in a recent telephone interview with the Progress that this new RFP is likely to result in higher costs for the Country Club renovation, or at least a more costly base bid, because what had been included as nice-to-have options in the earlier RFP are now part of the base bid. He has said that they could be removed later if deemed too costly, but that’s hardly reassuring.

If they’re considered important enough to be included in a base bid now, surely there will be resistance to omitting them even when the inevitable sticker shock kicks in.

The fact that Bailey is giving an honest, logical assessment of what happens when options are made part of a base bid doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

As four directors made clear during the last scheduled meeting of the board (Sept. 8), this project is heading in the wrong direction. If what Bailey says is true about escalating costs, it may even push up against the $1.7 million or so that

Life in the Pines From Page 39 ploring possibilities.

The new Mediacom contract should soon be presented to the board for ratification. Once it is, the board really has no excuse not to solicit proposals from companies able and willing to offer high-speed Internet services in competition with Mediacom.

Cord-cutters unite! Tell your directors that the OPA has been asleep at the switch for far too long.

triggers a referendum. That kind of money is farcical for renovating a building that few property owners visit. It’s much too costly for a few golf banquets every year or a state-of-the-art venue for OPA board meetings.

Directors really should be considering a Plan B if costs come in at $1.2 million and mostly definitely if they come at $1.5 million or higher.

Here’s a thought. The OPA’s Public Works and Facilities Management Departments managed to do renovations on the first floor of the Country Club more than a year ago and the first floor of the Yacht Club this year without breaking the bank or indulging in over-engineered fantasies.

Both were tastefully and affordably accomplished, in the case of the Yacht Club, with the expertise and flair of the Matt Ortt Companies.

Some variation of that theme needs to occur on the second floor renovation.

This is the time of year when a job of this magnitude can be managed more effectively inhouse, with a little help from a friend of Ocean Pines.

Not too long ago, an Ocean Pines builder/ developer volunteered to assist in that kind of

project.

At one point he seemed willing to serve as a kind of defacto volunteer project general contractor, at no compensation, but the OPA top brass rather foolishly, even discourteously and ungraciously, ignored the offer, and it’s now probably off the table.

But if a delegation of OPA board members would show up at Marvin Steen’s Ocean Pines office with a request for assistance, asking him to work with Public Works and Facilities Manager Kevin Layfield in coordinating sub-contractors for project components that can’t be accomplished in-house, then perhaps they would find a willing partner in Marvin Steen.

Can’t hurt to ask now, can it?

If memory serves, he estimated a renovation could cost in the $500,000 range, and that included an elevator for $100,000.

If it could save the OPA $1 million in renovation costs,this is a Plan B that makes a lot more fiscal sense than Plan A. And there’s no reason not to do it sooner, rather than later. At least check it out. -- Tom Stauss

Securing the ‘envelope’ is top priority

I

f the Board of Directors find Plan B for the Country Club as outlined above too onerous to accept, at least initially, and bids come in north of $1.2 million, then serious consideration needs to be given to breaking the project in two, perhaps completed over two years.

The top priority should be to secure the building “envelope” from leaks. The Country Club reportedly has been leak-free of late, but General Manager John Bailey is probably correct to point out that, with the building in its current condition, new leaks can break out at any time.

The sooner the building can be sealed up tight, immune from all but the most determined assaults from Mother Nature, the better.

Reportedly the OPA’s professional engineers have said that they see no advantage to a phased scenario of completing the renovation, but that’s easy to say. Experts are not always right, and in any event it’s the elected Board of Directors that decides how to spend OPA’s reserves, not the engineers or architects.

Securing the building means fixing the roof, replacing windows, and replacing siding, presumably with enough flashing in places it needs to be to prevent the sort of leakage that occurred this past year.

Once the building is locked tight against the elements, then the OPA can move on to tackle the interior renovations, again with the possibility that, to save costs, as much as possible is done in-house by the Public Works Department.

What can’t be done in-house because of sheer complexity can be subbed out to contractors with expertise in specialty areas, not much different than the way a general contractor would handle subs. It’s really not that complicated. -Tom Stauss

The Ocean Pines Progress, a journal of news and commentary, is published monthly throughout the year. It is circulated in Ocean Pines, Berlin, Ocean City, and Captain’s Cove, Va. 127 Nottingham Lane Ocean Pines, MD 21811

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Tom Stauss tstauss1@mchsi.com 443-359-7527

Advertising Sales Frank Bottone 410-430-3660

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Rota Knott InkwellMedia@comcast.net 443-880-1348

CAPTAIN’S COVE

Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2018

Wilder acquitted of charges in dispute related to posting of 1099s on Cove Web site Opinions differ on why judge dismissed case against Cove GM

By TOM STAUSS Publisher aptain’s Cove General Manager Justin Wilder has been acquitted of charges that he broke Virginia privacy law late last year by posting copies of 1099 tax forms issued more than six years ago to former members of the Cove Board of Directors and Environment Control Committee.

Charges against Wilder were filed

by Cove homeowner John Ward and were heard in Accomack County District Court Oct. 1.

According to Cove President Tim Hearn, the judge “rebuked” the commonwealth attorney handling the case for bringing charges against Wilder, because he had been a state witness in related charges filed against Hearn for his involvement in posting the 1099s. Hearn said it’s his understanding that Virginia law doesn’t permit filing charges against a state witness who has testified in a related case brought by the state.

Recently, Hearn was found not guilty for his involvement in the posting of the 1099s late last year.

Complaints were filed against him by seven Cove residents, including Ward. The complaint against Wilder was filed by Ward only.

Ward told the Progress recently that Wilder, called to the stand during Hearn’s trial, testified that he didn’t recall who told him to post the information on the Web site.

According to Progress reporting last year, it was Hearn who advised Wilder to post the 1099s, initially without redacting Social Security numbers. The Social Security numbers were subsequently removed from the posted 1099s, which appeared on the members only section of the Cove Web site.

C

More recently, Hearn told the Progress that the decision to post the information was made by the board of directors, in response to a request

by Ward to provide evidence that $200,000 or more had been paid out to board members and members of the Environmental Control Committee in the years prior to 2012. That

was the year when Hearn and business allies effectively took control of the Cove property owners association, known officially as Captain’s Cove Golf and Yacht Club.

One attendee of the Oct. 1 court hearing, Cove resident and Hearn critic George Dattore, wrote in an email to the Progress that the judge ruled that “Justin’s sworn testimony in Hearn’s trial was ... inadmissible in Justin’s trial. That surprised the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and really ended everything right there, because Justin’s testimony that he actually posted the IRS Tax Forms to the Cove’s Website was the whole basis of the case. So, the case was dismissed.”

Dattore, one of the complainants in the Hearn case, wrote that “even though it is one of Justin’s usual tasks to put the board’s agenda materials together at the direction of the president, and post on our Website, he couldn’t remember anything about this particular BOD meeting agenda. So, I guess we have to conclude that the agenda, along with 74 1099 tax forms, appeared on the Web site by some sort of electronic miracle.”

Ward also responded to an invitation to comment.

“The Judge had to strike the case because he could not use Wilder’s confession from a previous case as noted by Wilder’s lawyer. I’m happy that everyone knows what happened. I never wanted Wilder to get hurt,” Ward said. “I just wanted the truth to come out. This takes care of the state of Virginia. Now we will see what the IRS and Social Security offices think about this. Several of their laws are at issue. On July 16 Wilder told the Court he posted the 1099’s and on Oct. 1 he changed his story. Go figure.”

The dollar amounts posted on the Web site didn’t come close to $200,000, but Hearn said that was because there were no 1099s posted for ECC members, who were considered Cove employees and therefore did not receive 1099s. Former board members were considered private

Captain’s Cove General Manager Justin Wilder

contractors and were issued 1099s.

Hearn said that Wilder’s legal expenses related to his Oct. 1 court date will be paid for by the Captain’s Cove property owners association, known officially as Captain’s Cove Yacht and Golf Club.

He said that the Cove board will be taking up the matter of how to recoup the legal expenses inccured by defending Wilder and Hearn in the two district court cases. Possible legal action against those filing the charges is on the table, Hearn said.

He said the subject of recouping legal expenses will probably be discussed in public in a board meeting after the Cove’s annual meeting Nov. 10.

Hearn said another possibility will be to deny use of Cove amenities to Ward, a penalty imposed on him last year for an incident in the golf pro shop involving an employee who didn’t take kindly to what Ward later said was good-natured teasing.

“John’s actions are costing us money in legal expenses not recouped from the insurance company,” Hearn said. “Maybe there should be a penalty for that.”

The Ward-Dattore group could also keep the feud alive. There have been reports that there could be a filing of a defamation suit against Hearn for comments in which he allegedly accused former board and ECC members of “stealing” the meeting stipends from the Cove POA. At issue should that come to pass are comments attributed to Hearn in meeting minutes when the stipends were discussed.

Hearn told the Progress that a careful reading of those minutes will reveal he did not accuse the former directors and ECC members of com-

mitting an illegal act. He said he was always careful to suggest that these individuals “took” the money, costing the Cove POA about $200,000 over a period of year.

“If we thought they really had stolen money from the Cove, we would have been in touch with the Commonwealth attorney,” Hearn said, adding that he believed and still does believe that paying directors and ECC members for attending meetings is unjustified.

But not illegal.

Ward has defended the payments, which have not occurred for at least six years now, as permissible under Cove bylaws.

Curtis complaint dismissed -- Hearn disclosed that a complaint filed against him by John and Arline Curtis in District Court for failing to enforce Cove restrictions with respect to an overgrown conditions on a neighboring lot in Section 4 was dismissed by the court on Oct. 8.

Hearn said the judge allowed the Curtisses to expound at length on the situation but then, on a motion

by Hearn’s attorney, dismissed the case without comment. Hearn said it seemed to him that the judge simply thought the Curtiss’ complaint against him lacked merit.

Previously, Hearn told the Progress that the Curtisses seemed to be unaware that the Cove’s forced-mowing program only applies to about half the sections in Captain’s Cove, and Section 4 isn’t one of them.

He also said the neighboring lot in question doesn’t really have any grass; it’s mostly weeds and shrubs, with most of the trees having been cut down years ago by a person or persons unknown.

Hearn also said that for a number of years the Curtises themselves cleared the neighboring lot at issue with the permission of the property owner.

“Now they seem to want us (the Cove association) to do it,” Hearn said.

Not liking the Cove’s response to their concerns, the Curtisses decided to sue Hearn individually to force the OPA to take action to remedy the overgrown conditions.

More recently, Hearn has said that the Cove board will be taking up the issue of whether to extend the Cove’s forced mowing program to Section 4.

In an email to the Progress commenting on the dismissal of her case, Arline Curtis said “One of the forq

44

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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45

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3 BR 2.5 BA 1774 sq ft. Tarpon Plus W/Extended Dining Area, Screen Porch, Unfinished Bonus Area

PENDING

3 BR 2.5 BA 2020 sq ft., Sunroom with Fireplace, Hardwood Floors, Screen Porch, Bonus Room

CANAL FRONT

WATERFRONT LOTS BAY VIEWS

REDUCED

$35,000 1/791 Cleared, No Sewer

$45,000 1/1170 Cleared, 35’ Water frontage

WIDE CANAL

BAY VIEWS

$48,000 3/1422 Cleared, 75’ Bulkhead

$52,000 1/955 Mostly Cleared, 40’ Bulkhead

CANAL FRONT

NEW BULKHEAD

$54,900 3/1416 Cleared 85’ Bulkhead

$55,000 1/1045 Wooded, 60’ New Bulkhead

CANAL FRONT CANAL FRONT $65,000 1/953 Cleared, 60’ Bulkhead

BAYFRONT

BAYFRONT

$80,000 3/1314 Cleared, 50’ Bulkhead

$80,000 3/1315 Cleared, 50’ Bulkhead

3 BR 2.5 BA 2154 sq ft., Sold Furnished, Bonus Room, 75’ Boardwalk, Trek Decking, Canal Views

4 BR 2.5 BA 1820 sq ft., Upgraded Kitchen, Granite Counter Tops, Pergo Floors, Privacy Fencing, Deck, Patio

37526 Bayside Dr. • $375,000

3330 Harpoon Ct.. • $325,000

$55,000 1/1197 Cleared, 40’ Bulkhead

2402 Octopus Rd. • $227,500

Direct Chincoteague Bay Front with pier and Boat lift.

3 BR 2.5 BA 2113 sq ft., Fireplace, Sunroom, Master on main level, Deck, Screen Porch

BAYFRONT

GOLF COURSE LOTS $5,000 2/125 Wooded, Cert Letter $5,000 2/260 Cleared $7,500 2/293 Cleared, Cert Letter on File $8,000 2/172 Cleared, Pond Views $8,000 2/250 Cleared, Cert Letter, Pond Views $10,000 2/365 Cleared, Pond Views $14,000 2/188 Cleared, Cert Letter, Pond Views $15,000 2/381 Cleared, Cert Letter, Pond Views $16,000 2/364 Cleared, Cert Letter, Pond Views $17,500 2/372 Cleared, Evaluation on File

INTERIOR LOTS $1. 3/1727 Wooded $1. 7/167 Wooded $1. 4/2268 Wooded, Cert Letter $250 10/140 Wooded $500 5/47 Wooded, Cert Letter $500 11/17 Wooded, Cert Letter $1500 6/40 Wooded, Cert Letter $1,500 11/58 Wooded, Cert Letter $1,500 11/87 Cleared, Cert Letter $1500 3/1800 Wooded, Cert Letter

$1850 4/2313 Wooded, Cert Letter $1850 6/15 Wooded, Cert Letter $2,000 11/77 Wooded $2,000 2/90 Wooded $2,000 7/181 Cleared $2,000 2/377 Cleared, Secondary System $2,000 7/268 Mostly Cleared $4,000 2/350 Cleared, Septic Approved $2,000 10/119 Mostly Cleared $5,000 2/134 Wooded, Septic Approved $6,000 2/206 Cleared, Septic Approved $2000 1/1081 Wooded $2,500 1/1159 Wooded, Water/Sewer $2,500 5/20 Wooded $2,500 4/2200 Wooded, Cert Letter $3,000 4/2104 Wooded, Cert Letter $3,000 5/82 Wooded $3,000 1/868 Wooded, Water/Sewer $3,000 6/22 Wooded, Cert Letter $4,000 6/24 Wooded, Cert Letter $4,000 3/1627 Cleared, W/S, Water View $4,900 1/1055 Wooded, W/S Bay View $5,000 3/1623 Cleared, W/S Water View $5,500 3/ 1622 Cleared, W/S, Water View $11,000 1/1258 Cleared, W/S, Bay Views $25,000 1/724, No Sewer, Bay Views

©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

46

CAPTAIN’S COVE

Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2018

Wilder acquittal From Page 44 ward actions Mr. Hearn mentioned at the Board of Director’s meeting on Oct. 8 is to send a letter to all the lot owners in Section 4 asking for their opinion on whether forced mowing should be included in this section. We are weighing our options pending the conclusion of the Board of Director’s special hearing which looks like it may be scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23.”

She added that if she and her husband had “known about this issue as it was being discussed in November of 2017, it is highly unlikely that we would have purchased another property here in Captain’s Cove in April of this year.”

Oct. 8 board meeting -- The Cove board of directors met in Towson Oct. 8 to hear proposals from potential broadband consultants, presentations that had originally been scheduled for a board meeting in June.

That meeting was canceled because Hearn was detained by the county sheriff’s department on charges for which he was subsequently acquitted.

The three companies that had been prepared to make presentations were KCI Technologies, Alpha-Omega Communications, and Terry and Unitas.

Hearn said that two of the companies would work with the Cove in laying out a strategy for providing broadband services to the Cove, while one, KCI, could do that in addition to actually executing the strategy.

The company has laid fiber optic cable in Northern Virginia, according to its Web site.

Hearn said that the Eastern Shore Broadband Association also asked to make a presentation to the Cove before the board makes a decision on next steps.

Annual meeting -- Unlike the two most recent board meetings, the annual meeting of Cove property owners Nov. 10 will be held closer to home, at the Chincoteague Center in nearby Chincoteague.

The results of the annual election will be announced, with Michael Glick, Jim Silfee, and Hearn, with 1400-plus votes from the developer/ declarant, expected to coast to new three-year terms on the board.

Also running are Dawn Wagner and Lisa Yousefkhanian.

Both are competing for one single year alternate seat on the board.

Building Captain’s Cove

CAPTAIN’S COVE

Y WELSH D N I C Trial date R ASK FO

From Page 46 July 30th board meeting -- Th June 7 board meeting cancelled b cause of the Hearn arrest has bee rescheduled for July 30th, with very light agenda, Hearn has a nounced.

It will be held in Towson, Md., the Sheraton Town Center, acro FEATURED HOMES from the mall, Hearn said. A prelim inary agenda has been posted on th 3BR/3BA ••3BR/2.5BA Cove Web site.

NewConstruction Construction New www.jabuildersllc.com Hearn said there was no conne • 1733 sq. ft.

• 1733 sq. ft.

• Tarpon Plus model tion between the decision to ho • Tarpon Plus Model Mako • Screen Porch a meeting at least two hours awa • Screen Porch • Golf Course lot from the Cove and his arrest.

• Unfinished Bonus Room • Two-car garage “We’ve been considering rota 2179Yardarm Dr. ing meetings between the Cove an the Western Shore for some tim $213,900 Hearn said, because many Co Raised Home on Pilings 3BR/2BA non-resident UNDER CONTRACT •• 3BR/2BA 44BR BR//3.5 3.5BA BA1940 1940Sq SqFtFt•• $266,800 $272,200 owners live closer Construction •New 1496 sq ft.

New Construction the Washington, D.C., Baltimo •• 1663 Sq ft.

Dophin 1663 Sq2012 ft. model and Philadelphia metro areas.

Thresher Tiger Shark •• New 1-CarBulkhead Garage New Bulkhead He said he is aware that it will •• Construction 10x12Floor screen porch Open Plan less convenient to the 40 or so re Starting Soon • Chincoteague idents who show up to meetings Bay Views the Cove.

38 Half Staff Ct. Rd. 1332 Blackbeard Since it will be held at a conve $176,700 $321,900 tion hotel with on broadband acces Raised Home Home on Pilings Raised Raised Pilings Raised Home Home on on Pilings Pilings BR // 22said BA 1349 1349it’s Sq Ft Ft •possible • $185,200 $181,500that th 33BR 33 BR BA Sq BR//22BA BA1745 1745Sq SqFtFt•• $246,500 $241,600Hearn meeting will be live streamed. Com Wahoo Sea Robin Dolphin 2012 Tarpon munications Director Justin Wil er always makes audio of meetin available, so at the very least th will occur at the July 30 meeting.

“I’ll ask Justin about the possib ity of a live stream,” Hearn told th Ranch Style Home Ranch Style Home Ranch Style Home Two-Story Contemporary Home Progress. $169,200 33BR 3BR / 2BA 1496 Sq Ft • $177,900 3 BR / 2 BA 1288 Sq Ft • $142,300 $134,300 3 BR / 2 BA 1408 Sq Ft • $165,000 $173,600 FtFt •• $177,200 BR//2.5 2.5BA BA1607 1607Sq 186,100 He said the Sqlight meeting age da will include verification of th Skipjack Marlin Barracuda Tarpon II assessment levels for next year an some discussion of the 2018-19 bu get. Because he said the Cove is pe forming better than budget so f this year, and has completed its ca ital projects, there will be no need Ranch Two Two Two Story Story Contemporary Contemporary Home Home Two Story Story Contemporary Contemporary Home Home Two Two Story Story Contemporary Contemporary Home Home Ranch Style Style Home Home the $1200 assessments tha 33 BR BR // 2.5 2.5 BA BA 1874 1874 Sq Sq Ft Ft •• $202,700 $212,100raise 44 BR BR // 2.5 2.5 BA BA 1818 1818 Sq Sq Ft Ft •• $209,400 $200,100 33 BR BR // 2.5 2.5 BA BA 2050 2050 Sq Sq Ft Ft •• $232,500 $222,700 BR // 2BA 2BA 1525 1525 Sq Sq FtFt •• $205,800 $196,500 33 BR been in place for several years.

Health and safety fair: Th J&A Builders specializes specializes inin spec spec home homesales salesand andnew newhome homeconstruction. construction.AllAllofofour our models modelsninth are are“stick “stick built” built”and and feature feature afair w Cove’s annual health first a first floor floor master master suite suite with with standard standard appliance appliance package, package, andand Low-E Low-E windows. windows.

TheseThese are aare fewa of few ourofmodels our models we can webuild can be held on Saturday, Aug. 4, fro on build your onlot. your Prices lot. Prices DO NOT DOinclude NOT include the costthe of cost the lot. of clearing Homes are a lot of OR similar the design lot. Homes and may are ofhave similar upgrades. designPrices and may goodhave for 8:30 a.m. until noon, at the Marin Captain’s upgrades.Cove, PricesGreenbackville, good for Captain’s Va. Only.

Cove,MHBR Greenbackville, #4790 Va. Only. MHBR #4790 PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE by th Club. The fair is sponsored Captain’s Cove Community Eme gency Response Team (CERT).

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Pen Fed Realty Free health screenings provid Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty by Atlantic General Hospital w 4323Captain’s Captain’sCorridor Corridor • PO Box 28 4323 include cholesterol, LDL, HDL, tr Greenbackville, Greenbackville,VA. VA.23356 23356 glycerides and blood glucose leve 302-381-6910 (cell) •• 757-854-1604 (office) 302-381-6910 (cell) 757-854-1604 (office) which requires a 12-hour fast. Ri 757-854-1606 (fax) (fax)••Email: Email:candhwelsh@aol.com candhwelsh@aol.com erside Shore Memorial Hospital w 757-854-1606 have a nurse checking blood pre ©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway sure.

HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

Riverside Home Health, Hospi

! e m i T a t a e m o One H

CINDY WELSH - REALTOR CINDY WELSH - REALTOR

October 2018 Ocean Pines PROGRESS

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410-543-4848 MHIC #102406

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48

Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2018

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