(Sept. 28, 2017) Former Ocean Pines Association Finance Director John Viola said his resignation last week was because of family reasons.
He took over following the abrupt resignation of Mary Bosack in May.
Viola, 60, said his appointment to the position was always meant to be temporary. That contrasts somewhat with reaction from several association officials, who appeared caught off-guard by his resignation.
He said former director and interim General Manager Brett Hill and current directors Tom Herrick and Pat Supik were aware his stay was meant to be temporary.
“I was hoping they would come forward with that. I don’t know why they didn’t,” Viola said.
Viola said it was his understanding his tenure would end when a permanent general manager was hired and could oversee the search for his replacement. John Bailey officially took over as the association general manager on Sept. 11.
“The new person was hired and I made the decision and thought that would be the right time,” Viola said. “I spoke to [Bailey] and told him it was about family and there were family considerations, and he understood. He is a man of integrity and asked me to stay on for a week and I said I would.”
He promised to be accessible to Bailey and other Ocean Pines officials, should they need him.
“I said I would be five minutes away, at the golf course,” Viola said with a laugh.
During his tenure, Viola said he worked on monthly financial reports and assisted with the year-end audit, performed by SC&H Group Inc. from Ellicott City.
A more in-depth version of the original audit was later ordered by the board of directors, sometimes referred to as a “deep dive.” Viola also assisted with that.
Initially, Viola said he asked to work as an unpaid volunteer.
“In the beginning I wasn’t taking salary, but then I was told that I had to take a salary in order to be covered by insurance,” he said. “That’s a fact. I did get paid, but numerous times I said I would take less.”
He laughed at reports that he became “burned out” by the job.
“My favorite [rumor] was that I was stressed out over an antiquated financial system. I’m not saying it was the most current financial system I ever saw, but it didn’t stress me out,” Viola said. “It kinda gets the job done, somehow, some way.”
Viola said suggestions that former director Pete Gomsak played a large role in the finance department were overblown. He said Gomsak, with the blessing of Hill and Supik, simply assisted with the finalization of the audit while he was away on vacation, in July.
At Viola’s request, Gomsak was also involved “in helping with several other matters which were discussed with the board president and acting general manager,” in August and September, he said.
Viola said the financial report delivered during the annual meeting, in August, was his own.
He stepped into the role during a time when, reportedly, working conditions in the administration building were not ideal. Still, Viola said he had a largely positive experience during his brief tenure.
“I have mixed emotions [about leaving],” he said. “I will miss all the good people. I think I got along really well with all the department heads.”
Viola also left open the possibility of returning to the budget and finance committee, where he served for several years, including as committee chairman.
As of last Thursday, Bailey said the director of finance position was already being advertised online and in local papers, and the deadline for applications is Oct. 9.
According to a statement released by the association last week, “Sharon Davis, who has worked for the Association since 1978 and most recently as an Accounting Manager, will serve as interim Director of Finance as the Association searches for Viola’s replacement.”
Bailey said in-house candidates were being considered for the job.
“I’m not opposed to promoting from within. I think that’s healthy for an organization, but we always want to go through that process of due diligence,” Bailey said.
He took over following the abrupt resignation of Mary Bosack in May.
Viola, 60, said his appointment to the position was always meant to be temporary. That contrasts somewhat with reaction from several association officials, who appeared caught off-guard by his resignation.
He said former director and interim General Manager Brett Hill and current directors Tom Herrick and Pat Supik were aware his stay was meant to be temporary.
“I was hoping they would come forward with that. I don’t know why they didn’t,” Viola said.
Viola said it was his understanding his tenure would end when a permanent general manager was hired and could oversee the search for his replacement. John Bailey officially took over as the association general manager on Sept. 11.
“The new person was hired and I made the decision and thought that would be the right time,” Viola said. “I spoke to [Bailey] and told him it was about family and there were family considerations, and he understood. He is a man of integrity and asked me to stay on for a week and I said I would.”
He promised to be accessible to Bailey and other Ocean Pines officials, should they need him.
“I said I would be five minutes away, at the golf course,” Viola said with a laugh.
During his tenure, Viola said he worked on monthly financial reports and assisted with the year-end audit, performed by SC&H Group Inc. from Ellicott City.
A more in-depth version of the original audit was later ordered by the board of directors, sometimes referred to as a “deep dive.” Viola also assisted with that.
Initially, Viola said he asked to work as an unpaid volunteer.
“In the beginning I wasn’t taking salary, but then I was told that I had to take a salary in order to be covered by insurance,” he said. “That’s a fact. I did get paid, but numerous times I said I would take less.”
He laughed at reports that he became “burned out” by the job.
“My favorite [rumor] was that I was stressed out over an antiquated financial system. I’m not saying it was the most current financial system I ever saw, but it didn’t stress me out,” Viola said. “It kinda gets the job done, somehow, some way.”
Viola said suggestions that former director Pete Gomsak played a large role in the finance department were overblown. He said Gomsak, with the blessing of Hill and Supik, simply assisted with the finalization of the audit while he was away on vacation, in July.
At Viola’s request, Gomsak was also involved “in helping with several other matters which were discussed with the board president and acting general manager,” in August and September, he said.
Viola said the financial report delivered during the annual meeting, in August, was his own.
He stepped into the role during a time when, reportedly, working conditions in the administration building were not ideal. Still, Viola said he had a largely positive experience during his brief tenure.
“I have mixed emotions [about leaving],” he said. “I will miss all the good people. I think I got along really well with all the department heads.”
Viola also left open the possibility of returning to the budget and finance committee, where he served for several years, including as committee chairman.
As of last Thursday, Bailey said the director of finance position was already being advertised online and in local papers, and the deadline for applications is Oct. 9.
According to a statement released by the association last week, “Sharon Davis, who has worked for the Association since 1978 and most recently as an Accounting Manager, will serve as interim Director of Finance as the Association searches for Viola’s replacement.”
Bailey said in-house candidates were being considered for the job.
“I’m not opposed to promoting from within. I think that’s healthy for an organization, but we always want to go through that process of due diligence,” Bailey said.