JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Members of the Ocean Pines Board come together for the first time after the August election for an organizational meeting, last Sunday. Pictured, from left, are Slobodan Trendic, Vice President Steve Tuttle, Ted Moroney, President Doug Parks, Secretary Colette Horn, Esther Diller and Frank Daly.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Aug. 23, 2018) Doug Parks will remain president of the Ocean Pines Association, following a 5-2 vote Sunday during the board of directors’ organizational meeting held annually after each election.

It is the first time since 2013 an association president was elected during two consecutive organizational meetings.

“Just wanted to share a thank-you to my board colleagues for their consideration and support,” Parks said in an emailed statement Monday. “The makeup of this board has the potential for accomplishing a number of things this year both in addressing and delivering projects currently in progress as well as planning for future enhancements to better the Association for its members. I take the trust my fellow directors placed in me very seriously and will fully support the goals we develop as a team for the coming year.”

Parks was unanimously voted into the office last August after being the leading vote getter in the election that year, although his journey onto board did not officially begin there.

First running for election in 2016, Parks finished ninth in a crowded field of 11, but was appointed to the board that September when Pat Renaud left office. Parks had served as chairman of the Ocean Pines Bylaws and Resolutions Committee.

On Sunday, newly elected Director Steve Tuttle nominated Parks to continue as president. Tuttle was the leading vote getting this year. Director Slobodan Trendic nominated Tuttle, but he declined and Trendic was nominated by new Director Esther Diller.

Parks received five votes: from himself, Tuttle, Ted Moroney, Colette Horn and Frank Daly.

Moroney then nominated Tuttle to fill the office of vice president, previously held by Cheryl Jacobs, who will join the Worcester County Orphan’s Court as a judge.

Trendic nominated Diller, but the vote was 5-2 for Tuttle. Again, those in favor were Parks, Tuttle, Moroney, Horn and Daly.

In separate votes, the directors unanimously opted to allow four others to continue serving their current officer positions: Horn as secretary, Michelle Bennett as assistant secretary, John Viola as treasurer and Gene Ringsdorf as assistant treasurer.

Lerch, Early & Brewer were unanimously selected to remain as legal council, with the caveat that “we’re going to be looking at some parts of that, that could be farmed out to local [attorneys],” based on a recommendation from Moroney. Trendic noted Ocean Pines’ contract with Lerch, Early & Brewer expires on April 30, 2019.

The firm was also named board parliamentarian.

Trendic suggested the board not select an auditor because of an open motion instructing General Manager John Bailey to issue a request for proposals for auditing services “by September of this year.”

“And so, I don’t believe it’s appropriate that the board appoints anyone at this time,” Trendic said.

Most recently, Ocean Pines contracted with SC&H Group Inc., which has offices in Sparks and Elliott City in Maryland, and Tysons Corner, Virginia.

The vote to not appoint an auditor was 7-0.