Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2021) The Berlin mayor and Town Council agreed on Monday to adopt the 2020 Worcester County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan to remain eligible for funding from several sources, such as the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Funding is available for… Read more »
By Greg Ellison Board of directors agrees to spend more than $1.2 million for pair of projects (Feb. 25, 2021) Aiming to improve drainage and to continue annual bulkhead maintenance, the Ocean Pines Board of Directors on Saturday approved spending more than $200,000 to address failing underground piping and just over $1 million for bulkhead… Read more »
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 »
Time to clear the air Transparency is an overused word to describe an underused concept. That’s how it has seemed ever since governing officials and their constituents began to demand more of it in recent years. Yet, despite these pledges of more openness, the flow of information from authorities to the public has been increasingly… 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 »