By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 5, 2018) The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors discussed the following items during a regular meeting in the community center last Thursday:

GM report

General Manager John Bailey provided updates on several projects his monthly report.

Bailey said an association committee on drainage recently met and discussed five topics: emergency response situations, chronic problem areas that don’t require engineering, chronic problem areas that do, preventative maintenance, and education. A report with recommendations is in progress.

On the yacht club, Bailey said he spoke with the county fire marshal and building inspector. A minor demolition at the facility did not require a permit, according to Bailey, but county officials are aware of renovation plans.

He said renovation plans for the second floor of the community center were sent to seven companies and two attended a recent pre-bid meeting. Bailey said he expected between two and four bids, and that contractors were given an option to submit proposals with a June 22 deadline and proposals without a set deadline.

A Ford Tahoe and large passenger van were sold, and a Ford Escape was purchased for staff use, netting back $37,000 to the association, Bailey said. Other items sold or auctioned off included a refrigerator truck and several mowers.

“We sold assets worth $92,000 back into our coffers, as well as getting the Ford Escape for staff use,” Bailey said.

Bailey said a human resources staffer was hired and did a review of the Ocean Pines employee handbook. He said job descriptions, pay rates and insurance benefits were also under review.

Bug spray

The board unanimously approved a single source contract with the Maryland Department of the Environment for mosquito control. The cost was $19,000.

Capital purchase requests

Capital purchases requests by Bailey for several replacement items were tabled. They included a golf sand rake, golf tri-plex mower, golf trim mower, golf utility carts, Ventrac mowers and golf fuel system.

Director Slobodan Trendic said he had several issues with the requests, including a lack of documentation as to what specific items they would replace.

“I just feel we have been presented with something that’s incomplete and I have no intention to approve any of this for that reason,” Trendic said. “Even if some of this is a justified purchase, I feel uncomfortable voting because I’m presented with incomplete justifications.”

The directors agreed to table the matter until the next regular board meeting.

No safe harbor

The board voted unanimously to remove so-called “safe harbor” contributions to employee 401Ks.

Director Ted Moroney said the association previously contributed 3 percent regardless of whether employees contributed to the fund. “This says we will match the 3 percent if you participate in the program,” he said.

Director Pat Supik said the board-approved fiscal 2019 budget included elimination of the practice, but the resolution was necessary to implement the change.

Motion denied

Trendic moved to direct the general manager to set new percentages for employee health care contributions. He said the new percentages would be adopted over a two-year period and be more in line with national averages.

The motion did not receive a second and no discussion or a vote occurred.

Lawyer up

The board unanimously approved a motion to renew its contract with legal firm Lerch, Early & Brewer for one more year at a cost not to exceed the current contract.

There was no discussion before the vote.

Survey approved

The directors voted 6-1 to direct the general manager to release a community survey “no later than July 2.” The strategic planning committee submitted a finalized questionnaire to the board a year ago.

Parks said he would like to have one more look at the questions before they are released.

Jacobs objected to how the survey was written and voted against the motion.

Pier review

All of the directors favored an evaluation of the sanctuary fishing pier, commonly called the crabbing pier.

Moroney said he looked at the condition of the structure last Saturday and recommended it be closed until an inspection could occur.

Insurance review

The directors unanimously approved an amended motion to review the association’s commercial property insurance.

The amended motion capped the cost at $5,000.

Mediacom update

Jacobs said the current contract with Mediacom expires in June and would continue on a month-to-month basis.

She said association leadership has also had discussions with Comcast and Verizon and a special meeting today, Thursday, would continue talks.

The agenda for that meeting has one item, “Adjournment to Closed Session for Contractual Issues as permitted by the MD Homeowner’s Association Act.”

Bailey added Mediacom workers seen in the area were burying new fiber lines as part of a capital investment in the community and were done at no cost to the association.

Appointments

The board unanimously approved a batch of appointments to association advisory committees.

There were: Steve Habeger, elections chairman, Virginia Sutula, elections, Frank Daly and Geraldine Fasulo, golf, John Noonan, aquatics, Matt Groves, recreation and parks chairman, and Leah Fuller, Tim McMullen and Jim Wahl, recreation and parks.