OCEAN PINES– Following more than six months of debate, concern and consternation, the Board of Directors last Saturday unanimously agreed on a plan to control the growing population of Canada geese in the community.
Board Vice President Marty Clarke introduced a motion during a Saturday’s board meeting outlining a three-pronged approach to curb the birds, which are being blamed for adding excessive nutrients into Ocean Pines waters through their droppings.
The plan, developed with the Environmental Advisory committee, National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program and Ocean Pines Public Works, would begin by installing monofilament lines to create a “no mow” zone around the perimeters of the North Gate and South Gate ponds.
In addition, landscaping will be created in those areas to discourage flight.
The second phase calls for volunteers, with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, to treat, remove and destroy Canada goose nests to help control the resident population. The community would also test the goose repellent spray, Flight Control, in the area around the memorial.
“We really have no control of these birds,” said Treasurer Jack Collins. “They are migratory even though they’re non-migratory. They’re domestic Canadian geese – that’s what we’re talking about. We are not talking about those fat geese that people give bread too – we’re talking about the non-migratory domestic Canadian geese.”
“We’re in partnership with federal agencies to control this problem from a health point of view, and I think that’s a good step of progress,” Collins continued.
The estimated cost of the plan was $6,500, with $3,400 reoccurring annually.
Parliamentarian Tom Terry urged the board to support the measure.
“If there was ever an issue last year that got out of hand,” he said, “it was what we were or were not going to do to geese. The realities are I believe this board of directors needs to lend its support to what (General Manager) Bob (Thompson) and the Environmental Committee have already been talking about.
“If there was ever an issue that Bob and his team need air cover for and support from a board of directors, it’s this one,” Terry continued. “Last year there was one sentence in one report and it became a six-month saga.”
Terry said he wanted to reinforce the fact that the motion used the words “non-lethal.”
“I’m in support of this motion that Bob and the Environmental Committee keep moving where they are,” he said. “I believe this board needs to provide public support so we know what’s going on here so we don’t have a repeat of what happened last year.”
The board said the monofilament lines, between 6-12 inches in height, would not prevent fishing in the pond, and the no-mow areas would not block walking paths.
A small debate stirred as to whether some or all of the funding would need to come out of the current year fiscal budget. The initial phase would begin immediately, with other measures occurring in March, April and May 2015.
“I would suggest we could find the money in this year’s budget,” said President Dave Stevens. “This is the solution to a problem that’s been plaguing us.”
“It’s a problem we have to solve,” said Clarke. “We don’t need to think it anymore. We have a room of real experts on the subject.”
Thompson said OPA would immediately implement the new measures.
“We’ll start immediately,” he said. “The Board voted to have it done, so we’ll let the grass start growing around the ponds, we’ll put the monofilament line up and whatever chemical that the board wants us to spray on the ground, we’re going to spray on the ground.”
Board Vice President Marty Clarke introduced a motion during a Saturday’s board meeting outlining a three-pronged approach to curb the birds, which are being blamed for adding excessive nutrients into Ocean Pines waters through their droppings.
The plan, developed with the Environmental Advisory committee, National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program and Ocean Pines Public Works, would begin by installing monofilament lines to create a “no mow” zone around the perimeters of the North Gate and South Gate ponds.
In addition, landscaping will be created in those areas to discourage flight.
The second phase calls for volunteers, with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, to treat, remove and destroy Canada goose nests to help control the resident population. The community would also test the goose repellent spray, Flight Control, in the area around the memorial.
“We really have no control of these birds,” said Treasurer Jack Collins. “They are migratory even though they’re non-migratory. They’re domestic Canadian geese – that’s what we’re talking about. We are not talking about those fat geese that people give bread too – we’re talking about the non-migratory domestic Canadian geese.”
“We’re in partnership with federal agencies to control this problem from a health point of view, and I think that’s a good step of progress,” Collins continued.
The estimated cost of the plan was $6,500, with $3,400 reoccurring annually.
Parliamentarian Tom Terry urged the board to support the measure.
“If there was ever an issue last year that got out of hand,” he said, “it was what we were or were not going to do to geese. The realities are I believe this board of directors needs to lend its support to what (General Manager) Bob (Thompson) and the Environmental Committee have already been talking about.
“If there was ever an issue that Bob and his team need air cover for and support from a board of directors, it’s this one,” Terry continued. “Last year there was one sentence in one report and it became a six-month saga.”
Terry said he wanted to reinforce the fact that the motion used the words “non-lethal.”
“I’m in support of this motion that Bob and the Environmental Committee keep moving where they are,” he said. “I believe this board needs to provide public support so we know what’s going on here so we don’t have a repeat of what happened last year.”
The board said the monofilament lines, between 6-12 inches in height, would not prevent fishing in the pond, and the no-mow areas would not block walking paths.
A small debate stirred as to whether some or all of the funding would need to come out of the current year fiscal budget. The initial phase would begin immediately, with other measures occurring in March, April and May 2015.
“I would suggest we could find the money in this year’s budget,” said President Dave Stevens. “This is the solution to a problem that’s been plaguing us.”
“It’s a problem we have to solve,” said Clarke. “We don’t need to think it anymore. We have a room of real experts on the subject.”
Thompson said OPA would immediately implement the new measures.
“We’ll start immediately,” he said. “The Board voted to have it done, so we’ll let the grass start growing around the ponds, we’ll put the monofilament line up and whatever chemical that the board wants us to spray on the ground, we’re going to spray on the ground.”