Supports Lakernick joining committee

Editor,

After reading the Opinion titled “Board majority silent, but its dislike is clear” I wanted to share my perspective on the subject.

As a former member of the OPA board and the association’s secretary, I understand how important it is to have a clear knowledge of the OPA governing documents.

The handling of Stuart Lakernick application for the Search Committee didn’t follow OPA Resolution C-01, Committee General Policy.

The fact that his name appeared on the March 23 agenda under Appointments clearly indicated this was a business topic for the board to address.

The board should have formally voted on his application. Director Doug Parks correctly questioned why Stuart’s appointment was declined since he met required qualification.

In Resolution C-01, paragraph 4, Committee Assignments, Terms, and Miscellaneous Procedures, the relevant sentence is in bold and it clearly only requires recommendation by the committee chairperson.

The president is not mentioned. Specifically 4.e. Filling Vacancies states: Should any vacancy exist, the chairperson of the committee will request the letter and application from the Ocean Pines Administration office of all those who are interested in serving on that particular committee.

The chairperson will interview the prospective candidate(s) and submit the letters and application with recommendations to the board.

The board will review the applications recommended for appointment to a committee by the committee chairperson and vote either to accept or reject the candidate for a position on the committee.

The same Resolution C-01, 4.b., Qualifications for Committee Membership, only lists one qualification and it states: Members shall be eligible to vote. Clearly Stuart meets the required qualification per the subject resolution.

Furthermore, OPA By-laws, Section 6.06, Duties, states that one of the president’s duties shall include “ensuring orders and resolutions of the board are carried out.”

OPA By-laws require the Search Committee to be appointed by Feb. 1.  March 23 meeting provided the board with the opportunity to fully constitute that committee and finally, after being almost two months late, comply with the OPA By-laws. Instead, the board decided not to.

I am very disappointed the board didn’t vote on Stuart’s appointment.  We should all be concerned with the way some board members decided to handle this situation. For what is worth Stuart Lakernick certainly has my vote.

Slobodan Trendic
Ocean Pines