FILE PHOTO
Ocean Pines Facilities Manager Kevin Layfield in August briefs board members on the sanctuary crab pier, said to be unsafe. The board voted unanimously on Saturday to demolish the old pier, but still has options on where or whether to replace it.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 25, 2018) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors approved two significant items without much discussion on Saturday: finalizing a financial reserve study after several years of work and removing the sanctuary crab pier.

The 2015 board approved a $31,800 contract with Richmond firm Design Management Associates to study how much money the association needed to hold in reserve, but disagreements continued through subsequent election cycles until the document was finally approved on Saturday.

Another factor in the delay was that association workers spent months – if not years – updating an extensive component list that sought to include all of Ocean Pines’ assets, along with life expectancy and estimated costs to replace them.

Association President Doug Parks on Saturday said it would probably be prudent to revisit the study each year.

“As the asset base changes, it’ll update the reserve study,” he said. “If any changes were made to the reserve study based on a change in your assets, then obviously you’ll want to recognize that and say … we’re using the most current version of the reserve study.”

Director Ted Moroney said there would also be changes to calculations for inflation and construction costs.

“I think it’s something that we should be looking at every year and [the] budget and finance [committee] should be looking at, because it is the planning tool we’re going to use” for budgeting, Moroney said.

The directors also approved a contract with Fisher Marine Construction to remove the crab pier at a cost not to exceed $17,500.

“This will allow demolition of the existing pier, while retaining the right to replace the existing pier for the next 12 months,” Moroney said. “This is the next step in addressing the crab pier issue in Whitetail Sanctuary.”

According to a report from Facilities Manager Kevin Layfield, age and other factors made the pier unsafe for use. The pier was closed based on an April engineering study. In September, the board issued a request for proposals to remove the pier, which is largely made of wood and rubber tires.

A permit for removal and replacement of the pier was issued and is good for one year, effective Oct. 10, 2018.

The directors have yet to decide whether to replace the pier at the same location or move it to another spot. A resident group in recent months recommended converting the area into a nature preserve.