OPA members should attend next town hall

Considering that members of the Ocean Pines Association had already agreed to chip in up to $3.4 million to help the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department build a new southside fire station and that this contribution would require an increase in the annual assessment, no one is surprised that next year’s assessment will go up by $40.

At least that’s the assessment change the OPA administration and board of directors will discuss and explain when members gather at a town hall meeting in the clubhouse meeting room next Thursday, starting at 10 a.m.

Although upward adjustments of the annual assessment usually result in at least some grumbling, an overwhelming majority — 80% — of the votes cast in the August referendum on the OPA’s fire station contribution accepted that they were voting on the possibility of having to pay an additional $50 on assessments.

The fact that the additional expense came in at much less than that suggests smooth sailing when the directors, members and staff gather to review the financial package for next year.

Even so, this doesn’t mean people shouldn’t attend this session or that they can skip it because all is well for another year.

No, they owe it to themselves and other members to learn as much as they can about the board’s projects, spending plans and the general outlook for the year ahead.

It isn’t complicated: the more people know about how things work and what’s expected, the less likely any kind of turmoil will arise when the unexpected does occur.

In addition to the session at the clubhouse, the meeting will be streamed online, thus giving those who are unable to attend the opportunity to learn more themselves.

This opportunity really comes down to this: once Thursday’s meeting comes and goes, members have no excuse for not knowing what’s going on.