By Greg Ellison

(May 20, 2021) The Ocean Pines Board approved policy documents and capital expenditures during its meeting on Saturday.

Succession Planning

Board member Dr. Colette Horn introduced a first reading of policy document to establish succession planning procedures for the general manager position.

Horn said the board was assisted by an outside consultant to craft internal succession plans.

The proposed policy outlines processes, job duties, prior qualifications and skills required for the general manager position.

Ocean Pines President Larry Perrone asked if the policy details were changed from the most recent discussions.

“These are the same documents we reviewed a couple of months ago and the board looked at in closed session?” he said.

Horn said subsequent changes occurred following closed session talks.

“They’ve been updated, and we made changes based on discussions of our work group and input from the consultant,” she said.

Board member Doug Parks said the policy document would not require a second reading.

“There’s no requirement to have two readings,” he said.

Horn gladly accepted the input.

“Thanks for doing that research Doug,” she said. “That would be my preference to go ahead and approve it.”

The board voted unanimously to adopt the succession planning procedures.

Jenkins Point

The board unanimously approved investing $10,000 to cover design and permitting costs for a proposed restoration for Jenkins Point.

Parks said the goal is conducting a nature-based restoration of the eroding Jenkins Point peninsula located in the Isle of Wight Bay.

The intent is to bolster natural infrastructure to provide the community enhanced protection from climate change issues, notably the mounting occurrences of intense coastal storms causing erosion to shorelines and increased levels of flooding.

Perrone, while espousing support for the undertaking, raised funding concerns.

“When we were first contacted about this and had discussed it with Maryland Coastal Bays, we were told Ocean Pines would not have to incur any expense for the engineering portion,” he said.

Perrone said the project was estimated to cost anywhere from $2-4 million and would be financed through grants.

“That was their initial commitment,” he said.

Perrone noted a similar scenario occurred with the Bainbridge Pond project.

“This is what we’ve been told before and my concern is we’re going to move down the line [and] they’re going to come back to us with more engineering costs,” he said.

Perrone said engineering costs for Bainbridge included $121,00 for design work and $31,000 for Worcester County charges.

“Originally, we were told we’re going to get all that money back and we’re not getting in back,” he said. “I am in full support of the Bainbridge project but just want to make sure our eyes are wide open as we go into this.”

The board voted unanimously to approve expense.

Resolution B-08

Director Frank Daly introduced a first reading to repeal resolution B-08 relating to director and officer ethics and conduct.

“This would appeal it in its entirety,” he said.

Director Tom Janasek voiced concerns over the issue, noting a related work group was not informed the first reading was slated to occur.

“I have an issue with this coming up and the three of us that are on the committee knowing nothing about it until it popped up,” he said.

While acknowledging Daly had suggested several months ago that the resolution would be repealed if the work group failed to make progress, Janasek still expressed disappointment.

“It would have been nice to reach out to the committee,” he said.

Daly said Janasek had a valid point and noted the work group could still offer revisions prior to second reading, which is slated during the board meeting next month.

Seacrets lease

Board members voted unanimously, with Janasek abstaining, to approve a five-year lease with Seacrets for use of the Ocean Pines Beach Club oceanside parking lot.

The agreement includes a $60,000 charge that includes a 3 percent annual increase.

Under the lease terms Seacrets would be responsible for related property taxes.