(Feb. 10, 2022) After agreeing to delay stepping down until the fall while a replacement candidate was being recruited, Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola changed course on Wednesday and tendered his resignation at end of this month.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Association President Colette Horn said Viola “informed me that his resignation date under his current contract as General Manager of Ocean Pines will again be Feb. 28.”
Horn said Viola had “generously agreed to extend his current contract until at least Sept. 9 … to allow for a smoother transition to a new general manager.”
Despite those earlier assurances, Horn said “after considering a number of factors, he felt proceeding with ending his current contract was in his and his family’s best interests.”
Horn said Viola has agreed to “remain in place beyond Feb. 28, on a week-to-week at-will basis, without a contract and with no change in compensation, to ensure stability until the position is filled or until the annual meeting in August, whichever comes first.”
Horn also said if the position is vacant at the time of the annual homeowners’ meeting, “the Board will follow the provisions of Section 9.06 of the OPA Bylaws to appoint someone to assume the duties of the general manager on a temporary basis, until the position is filled.”
Viola, in a separate statement, said, “With the completion of the FY 2022/2023 Budget, the stability of the open position that the Board asked me to achieve and discussions with my family, I have opted not to sign the current contract put forth to me.
“Feb. 28, 2022 will be the date for my resignation as originally planned and as agreed upon with the president of the Association. I would like to thank my entire team for all the great support I have received.”
Horn added, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Ocean Pines community, we thank John for his willingness to extend his departure date and for his many valuable contributions to Ocean Pines. The search for the new general manager remains underway.”