(March 30, 2017) The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors on Saturday approved floor plans for renovations at the country club, adding new meeting spaces and room for golf banquets on the second floor.
The board budgeted $417,000 for the project, which will be handled by public works.
In a parallel move, the directors voted to approve floor plans to remodel the Ocean Pines administration building, eliminating meeting spaces to allow police facilities to expand there. The fiscal year 2018 budget included $288,000 for renovations to the police station and an additional $72,000 for office renovations.
Board President Tom Herrick said construction at the country club would start on May 1.
The only director who voted against the renovations at the country club, Dave Stevens, said he did so because there was not adequate notice to the public. He expressed similar sentiments during a board work session last Monday.
“If this has been out, it certainly hasn’t been as visible on our webpage [as other items],” Stevens said. “I think, probably, it was embedded in the board package, which contains 74 pages – that’s not exactly what I would call inspiring a community discussion. I still feel just as uncomfortable as I did on Monday.”
He also said the language in the motion was vague and confusing.
“What are we voting on? If we voted to approve this … does that mean those rooms are exactly like they are on the drawing?” Steven asked. “I’m not sure we’re getting the best ideas we can out of the community.”
Director Cheryl Jacobs said there was some urgency, because the cramped police headquarters was something of a safety issue.
“In order to give police more space in the most financially prudent manner, we’re going to refigure the admin building,” she said. “The plan that we have been discussing for months – and at length at our almost five-hour work session meeting Monday – is the plan that you see before you.
“Conceptually, this is what we’ve been talking about. This is what is being proposed,” Jacobs continued. “I’m in total agreement with moving forward with this. This is what we’ve been moving towards.”
The board also voted on six other capital items during the meeting on Saturday.
By a 3-2 vote, the directors approved construction of a pergola at Mumford’s Landing. The cost was estimated at less than $15,000 and the motion stipulated it would be constructed with wheels – if possible.
Directors Jacobs and Slobodan Trendic voted against the measure, both saying they preferred a movable structure. They said the language in the motion did not definitively request that.
The board voted along the same lines on a motion to spend $30,293 to buy a 2017 Ford Transit van for aquatics and recreation and parks activities.
Trendic said he was not in favor because the board was not presented with a financial justification. He also worried there was the potential for liability – because staff would be driving children and other participants to and from activities and events – and said he preferred the current system of renting a van and hiring a driver.
Unanimous votes approved $27,560 for a 2017 Ford Interceptor, for police, and $28,587 for a 2017 Ford F-250 extended-cab truck for public works
The directors voted unanimously to approve a $4,435 change order at Huntington Park related to water services for new sports fields, and voted 4-1 to spend $28,052 to replace gas systems for public works and the golf club.
Jacobs, the “no” vote, said she was not opposed to the spending, but that the board did not have enough information. That item was the only one on the capital-spending list not discussed during the work session.
The board budgeted $417,000 for the project, which will be handled by public works.
In a parallel move, the directors voted to approve floor plans to remodel the Ocean Pines administration building, eliminating meeting spaces to allow police facilities to expand there. The fiscal year 2018 budget included $288,000 for renovations to the police station and an additional $72,000 for office renovations.
Board President Tom Herrick said construction at the country club would start on May 1.
The only director who voted against the renovations at the country club, Dave Stevens, said he did so because there was not adequate notice to the public. He expressed similar sentiments during a board work session last Monday.
“If this has been out, it certainly hasn’t been as visible on our webpage [as other items],” Stevens said. “I think, probably, it was embedded in the board package, which contains 74 pages – that’s not exactly what I would call inspiring a community discussion. I still feel just as uncomfortable as I did on Monday.”
He also said the language in the motion was vague and confusing.
“What are we voting on? If we voted to approve this … does that mean those rooms are exactly like they are on the drawing?” Steven asked. “I’m not sure we’re getting the best ideas we can out of the community.”
Director Cheryl Jacobs said there was some urgency, because the cramped police headquarters was something of a safety issue.
“In order to give police more space in the most financially prudent manner, we’re going to refigure the admin building,” she said. “The plan that we have been discussing for months – and at length at our almost five-hour work session meeting Monday – is the plan that you see before you.
“Conceptually, this is what we’ve been talking about. This is what is being proposed,” Jacobs continued. “I’m in total agreement with moving forward with this. This is what we’ve been moving towards.”
The board also voted on six other capital items during the meeting on Saturday.
By a 3-2 vote, the directors approved construction of a pergola at Mumford’s Landing. The cost was estimated at less than $15,000 and the motion stipulated it would be constructed with wheels – if possible.
Directors Jacobs and Slobodan Trendic voted against the measure, both saying they preferred a movable structure. They said the language in the motion did not definitively request that.
The board voted along the same lines on a motion to spend $30,293 to buy a 2017 Ford Transit van for aquatics and recreation and parks activities.
Trendic said he was not in favor because the board was not presented with a financial justification. He also worried there was the potential for liability – because staff would be driving children and other participants to and from activities and events – and said he preferred the current system of renting a van and hiring a driver.
Unanimous votes approved $27,560 for a 2017 Ford Interceptor, for police, and $28,587 for a 2017 Ford F-250 extended-cab truck for public works
The directors voted unanimously to approve a $4,435 change order at Huntington Park related to water services for new sports fields, and voted 4-1 to spend $28,052 to replace gas systems for public works and the golf club.
Jacobs, the “no” vote, said she was not opposed to the spending, but that the board did not have enough information. That item was the only one on the capital-spending list not discussed during the work session.