By Greg Ellison

(Feb. 3, 2022) The Ocean Pines Strategic Planning Committee last Thursday discussed how to break down Homeowners’ Survey results and how to use that data to drive long-term priorities.

Board liaison Amy Peck, who was appointed as a director in November, kicked off the virtual meeting with a brief introduction.

Peck, who was formerly a pre-K educator, said her professional background has provided useful skills for board interactions.

“I’m finding that experience helpful in working with the board,” she said.

Over the past few months, Peck has been surprised to witness the extreme level of dedication exhibited by board members and association staff that regularly send out emails over weekends and off hours.

“The commitment with the board and the staff is amazing,” she said.

Committee Co-Chair Bernie McGorry said Peck is passionate about increasing community engagement.

“You bring a lot of different perspectives to the board,” he said.

Committee members reviewed progress on the Homeowners’ Survey, which was created, tested and executed between July and November last year, with a summary presentation provided to the board in December.

“My expectation is this will have a major impact on future planning,” McGorry said.

Although survey results were not finalized until after the next operating budget process was launched, committee members anticipate the data will be useful over the next five years starting in 2023.

“It has been useful to help setting priorities,” he said.

Committee goals for this year include analyzing survey results in preparation for a town hall meeting for residents, tentatively slated for March.

“I would like to make it interactive,” McGorry said.

Committee plans for the town hall include presenting data in digestible form, reviewing how to incorporate feedback into planning and holding an open discussion with residents.

Committee member Becky Colt-Ferguson suggested holding the town hall outside at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.

“So that people can attend in an open-air environment,” she said.

About a month after the town hall, committee members planning to hold a board work session, to be followed by coordinating with the Budget Committee about priorities.

“We want to work with them closely,” McGorry said.

Committee members want to present recommendations to the board by August and in time for the next budget process.

Committee member Wes Blackley said the board appears highly interested in the groups’ conclusions.

“The board seems to be supportive of what we’re doing [and] wants this information,” he said. “I’m still not sure I know what some of the responses mean.”

Colt-Ferguson said there was a fair percentage of neutral responses to survey questions.

“We’ve had on multiple occasions null responses,” she said. “Bernie has helped me understand that you can’t make further inferences about that neutrality response.”

McGorry replied, “People either don’t care or don’t have an opinion.”

Committee member Bob Keesling said although 1,800-plus surveys were completed, a much higher percentage of residents failed to participate.

“That means there’s over 6,000 people not participating,” he said. “What else would they bring to the table if they did participate?”

McGorry noted about 20 percent of homeowners did reply to the inquiry.

“It would be curious to see who didn’t and why,” he said. “One of the keys of social media engagement is asking questions.”

Based on survey data, the committee identified long-term priorities as infrastructure maintenance, community appearance and assessment fee value.

“When I looked at all these different demographics, the overall conclusions did not change,” he said.

In terms of values identified in the survey, the committee listed accountability, collaboration, sustainability, respect and integrity.

McGorry, who noted one survey question asked how best to measure integrity, said the inquiry could be broadened.

“How are we going to measure any of our values that we’re going to include in future plans?” he said.

Committee member Helen Johnson said integrity was not easily qualified numerically.

“Are people dependable, do they keep commitments and are they open and honest?” she said. “All of that intertwines with our other values.”

Blackley characterized integrity more as an impression than a quantifiable value.

“Integrity is one  of those odd things you can’t always define but is evident when there,” he said.

Blackley attached more importance to acknowledgment than assigning a numerical value.

“I don’t know that measuring integrity is as important as the board understanding that this is a very important factor for our people.”

Johnson said the question of integrity has to weighed within a larger framework of values.

Blackley proposed a different scale.

“It’s hard to measure objectively, but we certainly can measure is subjectively,” he said.

The next Strategic Planning Committee meeting is Feb. 24 at 9 a.m.