(March 17, 2016) In addition to Monday’s confusion over a survey produced by Ocean Pines’ comprehensive planning committee, the circulation of that questionnaire could be delayed, according to OPA Board President Pat Renaud.
The directors had met to finalize the language of the survey, which was intended to collect data that would then be put into a computer program by Dr. Memo Diriker, director of Salisbury University group BEACON.
Diriker, however, was not present during the meeting.
“I was disappointed, obviously, because we thought Memo was going to be there,” Renaud said. “Subsequent emails and messages that I saw [suggested] that he didn’t know that we expected him. I don’t remember that at all – none of my notes said that.”
Renaud said many of the directors had serious concerns about the survey.
“The questions leave a lot to be desired, from some people’s view,” he said. “There were some things that bothered me too. They were written by students from the school, and I’m not sure whether they understood our perspective on the thing.
“I think there should have been more substance that what was there, and we’re probably not as ready as we think we are to go ahead with [the survey],” Renaud added. “I know we’re all anxious to get it off the ground, but I’d rather get it off the ground the right way, rather than have it out there and everybody sort of laugh at it and throw it in the wastebasket.”
Asked if he thought the survey would be ready for a planned release in mid-April, Renaud appeared decisive – it won’t.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “That’s my opinion – and it’s only my opinion – but I don’t think they’re going to meet that deadline.”