Dec. 24, 2015) It was a case of Pines-ception last Thursday, when an HOA within an HOA addressed the board of directors during a public meeting inside the community center within the community.
During public comments Chris Wanzer, vice president of The Parke homeowner’s association, asked to speak about his yearlong struggle to correct a perceived safety issue in his community, located near the intersection of Racetrack and Manklin Creek roads.
Speaking on behalf of the 503 resident homes in the association, Wanzer said his HOA had asked Ocean Pines to address hard-to-see road markings, but struggled to get a definitive answer.
“It’s not a big deal, but it’s still a necessary deal because we feel that we have a safety issue with our more mature residents that we have over in the Parke,” he said.
According to Wanzer, the Parke’s general manager and chief of operations first met with Ocean Pines General Manager Bob Thompson and Public Works Director Eddie Wells in September 2014 to discuss the issue.
“It was a very good meeting. We cleared several topics of discussion … and we also asked them about the line painting,” Wanzer said. “We said we would really like to have, if at all possible, yellow lines.”
Wanzer said the current lines were “almost invisible” to many in the community.
“With us mature folks having a hard time seeing … we really would like it painted,” he said. “We were told that the OPA does line painting every three years and that no one knows why the Parke was omitted.”
Last spring, when work had yet to be done, representatives from the Parke again contacted Ocean Pines officials, when Wanzer said they received mixed messages.
First, he was told it was a “viable project.” Then, in November, Wanzer said he was told there was no money remaining in the budget for the improvements, despite an online overview of the budget showing available funds.
Finally, Donna McCracken, president of the Parke’s board, hand-delivered a letter to Thompson and each of the seven board members in Ocean Pines “expressing concern.”
Wanzer said the Parke’s general manager received a text message from Thompson last Wednesday “stating that the OPA would paint the lines” after the community apparently found additional money in the budget.
“Granted, we are very excited and very pleased that this project will come to fruition, but why do we have to wait until spring?” Wanzer said. “This has been now about a year and three months.
“In addition, we feel that the manner in which we were given the information is not appropriate,” Wanzer continued, adding that he felt a return letter would have been a “common courtesy.”
“We would like a commitment out of you … if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t happen,” Wanzer said. “Nothing’s guaranteed but death and taxes.”
Thompson said he felt appropriate action was taken, adding that the improvements would be started in the spring. OPA Board President Pat Renaud promised to send a letter confirming the timeline.
“You’ll get a letter from me, and in that letter we’ll commit ourselves to painting those lines,” Renaud said.
For the moment, Wanzer seemed satisfied with the resolution.
During public comments Chris Wanzer, vice president of The Parke homeowner’s association, asked to speak about his yearlong struggle to correct a perceived safety issue in his community, located near the intersection of Racetrack and Manklin Creek roads.
Speaking on behalf of the 503 resident homes in the association, Wanzer said his HOA had asked Ocean Pines to address hard-to-see road markings, but struggled to get a definitive answer.
“It’s not a big deal, but it’s still a necessary deal because we feel that we have a safety issue with our more mature residents that we have over in the Parke,” he said.
According to Wanzer, the Parke’s general manager and chief of operations first met with Ocean Pines General Manager Bob Thompson and Public Works Director Eddie Wells in September 2014 to discuss the issue.
“It was a very good meeting. We cleared several topics of discussion … and we also asked them about the line painting,” Wanzer said. “We said we would really like to have, if at all possible, yellow lines.”
Wanzer said the current lines were “almost invisible” to many in the community.
“With us mature folks having a hard time seeing … we really would like it painted,” he said. “We were told that the OPA does line painting every three years and that no one knows why the Parke was omitted.”
Last spring, when work had yet to be done, representatives from the Parke again contacted Ocean Pines officials, when Wanzer said they received mixed messages.
First, he was told it was a “viable project.” Then, in November, Wanzer said he was told there was no money remaining in the budget for the improvements, despite an online overview of the budget showing available funds.
Finally, Donna McCracken, president of the Parke’s board, hand-delivered a letter to Thompson and each of the seven board members in Ocean Pines “expressing concern.”
Wanzer said the Parke’s general manager received a text message from Thompson last Wednesday “stating that the OPA would paint the lines” after the community apparently found additional money in the budget.
“Granted, we are very excited and very pleased that this project will come to fruition, but why do we have to wait until spring?” Wanzer said. “This has been now about a year and three months.
“In addition, we feel that the manner in which we were given the information is not appropriate,” Wanzer continued, adding that he felt a return letter would have been a “common courtesy.”
“We would like a commitment out of you … if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t happen,” Wanzer said. “Nothing’s guaranteed but death and taxes.”
Thompson said he felt appropriate action was taken, adding that the improvements would be started in the spring. OPA Board President Pat Renaud promised to send a letter confirming the timeline.
“You’ll get a letter from me, and in that letter we’ll commit ourselves to painting those lines,” Renaud said.
For the moment, Wanzer seemed satisfied with the resolution.