By Greg Ellison

(March 24, 2022) Building resident interest in community issues dominated discussions during the Ocean Pines Communications Committee meeting last Thursday.

Chair Cheryl Jacobs opened the St. Patrick’s Day virtual meeting with an update on changing existing marquee signs to electronic message boards.

In September 2019, the OPA Communications Committee began looking into replacing the community’s marquee signs with digital versions. After conferring with county officials it soon came to light that the sign swap would require a zoning code amendment specific to Ocean Pines.

Although eventually gaining that approval, Jacobs said the board of directors’ discussion on the issue in January put the proposal in doubt.

During the board meeting in January, Director Larry Perrone said Development, Review and Planning Deputy Director Jennifer Keener had indicated any investment in electronic signs would require removal of all existing marquee signs.

After hitting an apparent roadblock, Jacobs contacted Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino to confirm the directive was accurate.

“I did have a positive conversation with Chip,” she said.

Bertino subsequently spoke to Keener, who reportedly was amicable to reaching an accord to permit new signs.

“It does appear that we are going to be able to, if [board] approved, install one or more to begin with, without having to remove all of the other ones immediately,” she said.

Jacobs said a firm meeting date with Keener should be set later this month.

“That’s the first next step,” she said.

Drumming up attendance for the annual homeowners’ meeting held on the second Saturday in August was also a meeting focal point.

Jacobs said a previous committee discussion centered on staging a larger “Community Day” to build the annual meeting into a larger celebratory event.

“We talked and came up with suggestions,” she said.

Jacobs said committee board liaison Josette Wheatley has also indicated other efforts are underway to lure residents to the meeting.

“Josette did tell us last month that the board is also working sort of in that direction,” she said.

Jacobs noted Strategic Planning Committee Chair Bernie McGorry has offered to craft a mini-survey to gather resident suggestions on how to boost meeting attendance.

“Bernie said he would be happy to help put together questions if we needed that,” she said.

Committee member Marlene Ott wondered whether the approach would work.

“We’ve done quite a few surveys,” she said.

Ott said committee members might have better luck brainstorming ideas among themselves.

Noting strong attendance for several recent Ocean Pines historical panels, Ott recommended opening the annual meeting in a similar spirit.

“Maybe start the annual meeting 15 minutes early … with a historical presentation,” she said. “Maybe a few minutes at the start with a host would attract people who would stay for the meeting.”

Other topics of discussion included how to encourage residents to vote in an upcoming referendum for bylaw updates.

“Whenever the board sends it out … we will have to figure a way to get people to respond,” Jacobs said.

Committee member Jenny Cropper Rines suggested creating an “understanding piece” to accompany the referendum materials, which include nearly 30 language revisions.

“So people don’t look at it and do the straight line no,” she said. “Take a look at what this is and make sure you vote accordingly.”

Jacobs said the list of bylaw changes is quite extensive.

“We’re going to be asking people to weed through all of that,” she said.

The list includes a mix of minor language alterations and more substantive matters regarding board elections

“My opinion is people are just not going to take the time to go through that to make responsible decisions about these issues,” she said.

Rines said committee efforts to heighten participation are not intended to influence decisions.

“We can’t take a position,” she said.

Jacobs offered to advise the board the committee suggests that clear explanations be provided to encourage referendum voting.

The next Communications Committee meeting is April 21 at 10 a.m.