By Greg Elison

(Jan. 27, 2022) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors delayed voting on revising resolution M09 to change election verification processes after Director Frank Daly announced that a slew of related revisions would be unveiled at a special meeting.

Association President Colette Horn said the proposed changes for certifying board candidates includes specifying that the secretary verify property ownership through assessment and taxation records.

The language changes also include a new candidate registration form, which the secretary would officially accept or reject, prior to submitting to the Elections Committee by June 1.

“The list of eligible candidates and the registration form will be released to public once approved,” she said.

Director Larry Perrone said election procedure updates should require that the secretary use Worcester County land records to determine property ownership.

“With the recent litigation and the judge taking the position that ownership is inferred based on our membership roll … we should add that membership rolls are not determinant,” he said.

Before further consideration could be given for Horn’s suggestions, Daly pitched an even larger batch of bylaws revisions.

“I have 14 proposed bylaws changes being reviewed by counsel,” he said.

Daly said a special meeting would be held within a week to consider his recommended updates.

“Some of those changes directly affect those issues and this [candidate registration] form,” he said.

Horn said the first reading for M09 changes was scheduled prior to learning of Daly’s efforts with association legal counsel Jeremy Tucker.

“We can delay the second reading of this until we get input from counsel,” she said.

Bylaws and Resolutions Committee Chair Jim Trummel said regardless of Daly’s recommendations, the board could proceed with approving M09 changes.

“This effects the candidate application and that can be today,” he said. “Delaying M09 and its consideration is not … really what you want to do.”

Unlike changes to bylaws or declaration of restrictions that require approval by referendum vote, amending association resolutions can be done at the board level.

Tucker said M09 changes could be approved prior to other bylaw revisions being adopted.

“If amendments are adopted, you’ll revisit and revise,” he said.

Daly said the bylaw changes could be incorporated during a second reading for M09 updates.

“By the time the second reading comes up, we should know what proposed changes are, if they are board approved and if we’re going to referendum,” he said.

Perrone envisioned a means to streamline procedures.

“We could include a second reading of resolution M09 at Daly’s special meeting and make adjustments right then and put the resolution in place,” he said.