The Ocean Pines Board of Directors voted at a special meeting Aug. 23 to appoint Dr. Stuart Lakernick in place of Rick Farr as president for the coming year.
Pictured, from left, are new Ocean Pines Association Board appointees Stuart Lakernick, president; Emily Rakowski, treasurer; John Latham, secretary; and Rick Farr, vice president.
Tara Fischer / Bayside Gazette
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Board of Directors will see a shakeup at the top with Dr. Stuart Lakernick and Rick Farr swapping leadership roles.
At a special meeting on Friday, Aug, 23, the board voted to make Lakernick, whose term expires next year, the president from vice president with recently elected Farr moving down from president to vice president. John Latham and Monica Rakowski will remain as secretary and treasurer, respectively.
The officer positions were determined roughly two weeks after the 2024 Board of Directors election, in which Farr and Director Jeff Heavner defended their seats on the seven-person governing body. The incumbents beat out challengers Amy Peck, who served a stint in the management group from October 2021 to August 2022, Sherrie Clifford and Jerry Murphy.
Farr was elected to the board in August 2021 and appointed president approximately a year ago. Lakernick’s term began in the summer of 2022. He was chosen as second-in-command following the 2023 election.
According to Lakernick, the president acts as the face of the organization, “speaking for all seven.”
“It is a corporate board,” the new president noted. “We all have these seats, but nobody has more power than the next person.”
The vice president assists the head in administering the policy, the secretary takes notes, and the treasurer handles the association’s financial records and responsibilities.
Fellow board members chose the nominations for the executive positions. Farr recommended Lakernick for president, Heavner endorsed Farr’s transition to vice president, Director Elaine Brady suggested Latham as secretary, and Latham promoted Rakowski for treasurer. Each motion was passed unanimously by the governing group.
The nominations were certified by Bruce Bright, the organization’s legal counsel, of the Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy, and Almand law firm.
Additional board appointments occurred on Aug. 23. Linda Martin will remain as assistant secretary, Steve Phillips will act as assistant treasurer, UHY will continue as the audit firm, Doug Parks will serve as parliamentarian, and Bright will carry on as legal counsel.
As the election cycle draws to a close, the board, gearing up for the year, approved their meetings for the next 12 months. The public gatherings will be at the Golf Course Clubhouse and are scheduled for the Saturday mornings of Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23, Dec. 21, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 29, April 26, May 24, June 28, and July 26. The annual meeting is slated for Aug. 9.
The assemblies are to kick off at 9 a.m. The proposed dates passed unanimously.
With another board voting process down, the group intends to focus on its priorities for the next year and thereafter. Primary concerns remain the construction of the new South Station Fire House, which nears closer as the association and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding to hash out each party’s requirements in July, beautification, the completion of the Veterans Memorial Pavilion, the racquet sports center building renovation, continuing the success of the golf course, among others.
Lakernick, the board’s latest president, is starting his third year on the board. He, along with Director Steve Jacobs and Rakowski, will be up for reelection in August 2025.