Candidate’s top concerns improving communications and audit follow through

Steve Tuttle

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 15, 2018) Former Elections Committee Chairman Steve Tuttle on Friday announced his candidacy for the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors.

Tuttle, 72, was born in Maine and earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Northeastern University, a masters in Christian education from Bethel Seminary and completed graduate work in engineering at the University of Minnesota.

His career included 15 years in civil engineering, 21 years in college campus ministry, five years as director of operations for youth programs in Camden, New Jersey, and four years as a building and facilities manager for programs serving children and adults with disabilities in Westville Grove and Pittsgrove, New Jersey.

Tuttle and his wife bought a home in Ocean Pines in 2014 and one year later moved to the community full-time. They have three children and four grandchildren.

He said his reason for running was twofold.

“I had a feeling like there needs to be more communication with members, and concerns about finances and how they have been handled,” he said. “I had some concerns about whether the forensic audit [of association finances] was going to happen. Now that’s been approved, I think the next step is to make sure the board follows through with whatever recommendations show up.”

Because the audit will almost certainly not be completed until after the August election, decisions on what happens next would likely fall to the next board.

As for improving communications, Tuttle said he favored bringing back board work sessions held by then Association President Tom Herrick in 2016 and 2017.

“The advantage to the work group was you had a chance to interact with the board around different issues they were considering,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t come, but they were still there.”

He said quarterly town hall meetings could also improve interaction between the board and membership.

“Let’s have a give and take Q&A, and have at least one or two board members there and the general manager, and let people ask their questions,” he said. “There are sometimes things that can’t be discussed in public, if it’s a personnel issue or whatever, but I think the majority of the questions that residents have can be talked about in a public setting.

“I think that would be the best way to get at helping people to know what’s going on,” Tuttle continued. “There’s just so much speculation right now … I don’t think that’s helping us as an association at all.”

As chairman of the elections committee, Tuttle was able to pass significant election reforms in each of the last two years, first opening up the ballot-counting process and then changing election procedures to announce vote totals immediately.

“I think as a committee we were delighted [with the result] and it was a team effort,” Tuttle said. “Even in my leading of that committee, I was emailing with the team all the time about various aspects and progress and where we’re at. Also, a lot of help was given to us from the bylaws and resolutions [committee], with Jim Trummel and Marty Clarke and other people on that committee coming out and unanimously supporting what we were trying to do. That gave us, I think, greater credibility.

“It was decided, I think, in the right way and I think it will be great opportunity for people to understand more about the election process,” Tuttle added. “And maybe some people will actually come and watch the vote count this year.”

Tuttle described himself as a “common sense kind of guy.”

“Someone once said ‘common sense is not very common,’” he said. “I’m a hard worker. I don’t mind doing research and studying to know what the issues are, and I feel like I can be a good team player and contribute to the association in that way.

“And I care about the Pines,” Tuttle continued.” I live here. We plan to spend the rest of our lives here, as far as we know.”

As of last Friday only one other candidate has registered. Three seats on the seven-member board will be on the ballot this year.

Ballots will be mailed in July and are due back by Aug. 8. Votes will be counted and announced on Aug. 10 and validated during the annual meeting on Aug. 11.