By Greg Ellison

Bertino, Bunting want to be sure of costs, easements

(Aug. 27, 2020) Because of comments by OPA President Larry Perrone and unanticipated land easement costs, the Worcester County Commissioners voted last week to table acceptance of a state grant for the Bainbridge Park drainage project.

Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting led a unanimous vote on Aug. 18 to pause receipt of a $549,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to retrofit Bainbridge Pond for enhanced flood protection.

The grant, which was the largest allotment of more than $26 million awarded statewide by the DNR last month, represents about a third of the $1.58 million requested for a project expected to cost $2.3 million.

Bertino acknowledged the funding fell short of expectations, primarily as a result of state budgetary cutbacks stemming from the covid-19 pandemic.

“It was less than we expected but … it’s the highest grant amount awarded to us as opposed to any place else in the state,” he said. “ We were amazed about that.”

Commenting on the revised grant award, after being appointed as OPA president on Aug. 12, Perrone raised questions about the funding gap and how that might increase costs for the association.

Bertino said about nine months ago, the county agreed to an OPA proposal to function as a pass-through agent to request state funding for drainage improvements in the area around Bainbridge Park.

“We are acting as the agent for Ocean Pines because OPA is not a municipality and can’t get the funds themselves,” he said.

Bertino said seeking county support is not unusual.

“We were glad to do it, and we’ve done it on other projects in other areas around the county,” he said.

Since that time, the scope of the project was developed by the staffs of the OPA and county government.

“We’ve been moving along with the objective of receiving a grant … to help address this problem at Bainbridge Park in section three and other neighborhoods in that area with drainage issues that have been a chronic problem for decades,” he said.

In addition to strong backing from Commissioner Jim Bunting, Bertino also credited OPA Director of Logistics and Operations Colby Phillips, Public Works Director Eddie Wells, Worcester Director of Environmental Programs Bob Mitchell and Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38).

“She, at her level, made sure that the state was receptive to working with us, and they were,” he said.

Developing the grant proposal also involved numerous meetings between county and OPA officials.

“We were very fortunate that the efforts paid off with the grant that came through,” he said.

Despite wanting to accept the grant funds last week, Bertino said after learning that Perrone raised the possibility of the matter going to a vote by association members, he opted to hit the brakes.

“It raised a number of flags with me and with Commissioner Bunting,” he said. “We felt that it was more prudent to assure that everybody was on the same page and … knew what the scope of work was going to be before accepting … because the county is on the hook for this.”

During the commissioners’ Aug. 18 meeting, Bunting asked if the OPA might have difficulty obtaining drainage right of way easements on the former Old Pine Shore Golf Course property located north of Beauchamp Road.

Mitchell said the project plan did not originally factor in land costs.

“It was to be done through a cooperative easement with the developer,” he said. “If we have to purchase an easement, that was not anticipated before we might have to go another route.”

Mitchell said there were other drainage infrastructure projects within Ocean Pines that could qualify for the grant funds.

“We could do something totally different than what it was originally applied for,” he said.

Mitchell said the DNR grant could be applied to projects that reduce flooding and improve runoff into coastal bay waters.

Bertino said regardless of lower than anticipated grant funding for Fiscal 2021 the Bainbridge project was intended as a staged endeavor.

“This was not a project that I think anyone expected we would be able to solve with one bite of the apple,” he said. “As we move forward, we’ll be looking at applying for additional grants.”

Speaking on Friday, Bertino said county officials expect to meet with OPA Board members and management in short order.

“We will be meeting with the parties next week to make sure we’re all on the same page,” he said. “If Ocean Pines isn’t on board, then I don’t think the county needs to be on broad.”