Advisory group discusses host of ongoing initiatives during meeting last Thursday

By Greg Ellison

(Jan. 27, 2022) The Ocean Pines Communications Committee discussed electronic signs, annual meeting attendance, electronic voting and preservation of historical items during its meeting last Thursday.

Committee Chair Cheryl Jacobs said the prospect of upgrading community marquee signs to electronic message boards was scheduled to be examined during the Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 22.

Jacobs said committee members should present a united front to answer any questions generated by the board.

“There’s been so much time and effort put into this and it’s really such a good thing for the community,” she said.

Committee member Jenny Cropper Rines said sign price quotes have been forwarded by Marketing Director Josh Davis to General Manager John Viola.

Jacobs did email board members about the matter before their meeting.

“I did get a reply from [Director Doug] Parks in support,” she said. “I’m thinking we’ve got a good chance of moving forward with this, finally.”

Board liaison Josette Wheatley, who was previously a committee member, said a wealth of useful data regarding sign particulars were obtained during the group’s investigative process.

“Many of us are for this,” she said. “It’s moving our community forward for communications for the younger generation.”

Jacobs highlighted potential monetary savings.

“There’s real dollar savings in this ultimately, because staff spends a lot of time and effort changing out those signs,” she said.

Rines said electronic signs could prove useful in the event of Amber Alerts or other safety warnings.

“In my opinion the main negative is impacting property values due to placement,” she said.

Rines stressed the importance of strategic placement to also avoid light pollution affecting residents.

Jacobs suggested both the North and South gates as prime spots for initial sign placement to avoid subjecting individual lot owners to the lights, while providing the community an opportunity to receive the information.

Turning to the annual association homeowners’ meeting, Jacobs asked committee members for ideas to bolster attendance.

“What can we do to generate interest and get people to come to the annual meeting?” she said. “It’s pathetic in my opinion.”

After Rines broached the concept of door prizes, committee member Marlene Ott suggested adding guest speakers.

“You’ve got to prime them,” she said.

Jacobs pondered turning the meeting event into a larger affair to achieve more participation.

“It’s not just the meeting, there’s more to it,” she said.

Rines said a “family-fun day” might prove useful to lure in meeting attendees.

Switching to the topic of electronic voting for board elections, Jacobs asked if a town hall meeting on that subject should be planned after feedback from the Ocean Pines Community Survey indicated potential interest.

Rines, who also serves on the Strategic Planning Committee that conducted the recent survey, said a town hall is forthcoming to review overall results.

“We are still planning a presentation for membership,” she said.

Rines said the survey presentation would likely occur near the end of the FY 22/23 budget process, while also offering to update the group after the next strategic planning meeting.

Rines also raised the issue of safely preserving historical items and memorabilia from Ocean Pines.

Long-term plans to either locate or build a structure to house Pines history have been previously discussed, Rines said.

Prior to those plans, Rines requested committee approval to research the topic of historical preservation at the Nabb Research Center located at Salisbury University.

“They do historical cataloging,” she said. “I wanted to research a bit … to see if I could find a solution.”

Rines said, ultimately, a permanent home for historical documents and artifacts needs to be identified.

“Where they are today is not going to keep them in good condition for the next 50 years,” she said.

With all committee members in agreement, Rines promised to return with further details after contacting the research institution.

The communications committees’ next virtual meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 10 a.m.