By Greg Ellison

(Dec. 24, 2020) Ocean Pines Directors Frank Daly, Dr. Colette Horn and Doug Parks updated other members of the association’s board on an assortment of work groups during a virtual meeting on Saturday.

Daly provided a snapshot of progress achieved by the short-term rental work group.

“We have met with [Ocean Pines] police chief, [Worcester County] fire marshal, Worcester County Zoning officials and our attorneys,” he said.

The various discussions have resulted in an addendum to Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines.

“As a result, we have added to ARC guidelines a clause to regulate short-term rentals,” he said. “We have a semi-final document we gave to the board and ARC chair yesterday.”

Daly said contingent on an initial review by the ARC Committee, the proposed short-term rental clause would next be examined by legal counsel.

“They would have to agree and send it to the attorney for final review and then back to ARC for voting,” he said. “Then the board votes and incorporate in the [ARC] guidelines.”

The issue would be revisited during the board meeting in January or February at the latest, Daly said.

Horn reviewed the progress of several work groups, beginning starting with succession planning.

Horn is assisting Daly and Director Camilla Rogers on work with the Segal Group to create a process to vet future general manager candidates. The firm previously completed a compensation study for Ocean Pines Association employees.

Horn said the goal is to develop ways to determine the qualities required for the position and a process for vetting employees who submit their names for consideration.

“At this point, a 360-degree evaluation process has been developed,” she said. “Those have been sent out to employees who will be completing them for the one candidate that has come forward for consideration.”

The process should be completed by next month with more details anticipated at the board meeting in January.

Horn also provided a status report on efforts by the Communications Committee to install electronic messaging signs in the community.

Horn said the dozen-plus existing marquee signs are not permitted under Worcester County zoning regulations.

“The current signs are grandfathered in but we want to replace them with electronic signs,” she said.

Horn said a zoning amendment to authorize electronic signs within residential communities is nearly finalized.

“The text amendment has been written and reviewed by the Worcester County Planning Commission,” she said. “They agreed to send it to the Worcester County Commissioners for consideration.”

After an administrative review next month, the county commissioners are expected to vote on the amendment the following month.

Horn said plans call for retaining three existing manually updated message boards and installing three electronic signs at key points in the community.

Parks gave a status report for the Bainbridge drainage project work group and pending receipt of a more than half million dollar grant though the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

“We are waiting to hear back from the state regarding the final distribution of the grant,” he said.

Parks said the OPA would continue working closely with Worcester County, the Maryland Coastal Bays program and Vista Engineering to move forward with the storm water upgrades.

Parks also highlighted the newly convened bylaws and resolutions review work group.

Joining the effort is Rogers, Communication Committee Chair Jenny Cropper Rines and Bylaws and Resolutions Committee Chair Jim Trummel.

“Our next meeting is Jan. 4 and we met for the first time last week,” he said. “We have a soft target of the annual meeting to look at as a target to have something for consideration.”