Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
By Greg Ellison (Feb. 25, 2021) Board member Frank Daly updated the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors Saturday on efforts to establish guidelines for short-term rentals. The issue erupted last summer because of recurring problems at a few properties that were advertised on web-based platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, Flipkey or Homeaway. Because of… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (Feb. 25, 2021) With several last-second cost reductions cutting assessment fee increases from $35 to $10, the Ocean Pines Board voted 6-1, with Director Tom Janasek opposed, to approve the fiscal 2021-22 budget on Saturday. OPA Treasurer Doug Parks reviewed the final numbers for the next fiscal year recommended budget, which reflects… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2021) The following took place during the Berlin mayor and Town Council meeting on Monday: Covid-19 update If the covid-19 positivity rate remains below 5 percent for seven consecutive days, Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said the plan is for employees to return to a full schedule on March… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (Feb. 25, 2021) With one quarter remaining in the current budget year, the Ocean Pines Association continues to chart operating favorability while also completing offseason facility updates. General Manager John Viola provided updates on both fronts during the Board of Directors’ virtual meeting on Saturday. Regardless of revenue reductions tied to coronavirus… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (Feb. 25, 2021) Ocean Pines Treasurer Doug Parks reviewed the associations’ financial standing and updated assessment fee collections during the Board of Directors meeting on Saturday. To close out January, the association reported approximately $10.5 million in cash and investments, with that sum split with $7.1 million in CDARs (Certificate of Deposit… Read more »
By Greg Ellison Trendic suit settlement will allow community to decide limits of board authority (Feb. 25, 2021) After reaching a recent settlement with former Director Slobodan Trendic on a previously rejected petition to limit spending by the board of directors, the Ocean Pines Association announced this week a referendum will be scheduled on the… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2021) Superintendent Lou Taylor was unanimously appointed to another four-year term effective July 1 during the Worcester County Board of Education meeting last Tuesday. “We’ve had our challenges, none more than we’ve had the last year with covid, but the thing that always rings out in my mind… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2021) Berlin’s Main Street Community has been awarded $194,113 in emergency relief to support small businesses and other economic recovery efforts. “We were pleasantly surprised because we’re a small town,” said Ivy Wells, the Berlin’s economic and community development director. “We were very happy with what we received… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2021) Berlin is competing in a USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2021 contest for the best small town beer scene against 19 other nominations, including Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Each nomination has a population less than 30,000 and were chosen by a panel of beer experts as having the… Read more »
Special meeting called for after Phillips resignation By Greg Ellison (Feb. 25, 2021) The possible removal of a member of the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors will be decided at a special meeting, following a board vote Saturday apparently in response to circumstances that might have led to the resignation of Director of Amenities… Read more »