(Sept. 8, 2016) The Ocean Pines Association Budget and Finance Committee discussed the following items during a public meeting in the administration building, Aug. 24:
New chairman
Committee member John Viola was named the acting chairman of the committee, pending approval by the board of directors. Previous Chairwoman Pat Supik was recently elected to serve on the board and can no longer act as chair. Supik was, however, named as liaison to the committee.
Yacht club talk
Discussing the July financial report with former General Manager Bob Thompson, committee member Jim Beisler pressed for information about the apparent poor showing at the yacht club when considering both revenues from the previous year and budget estimates.
Thompson, whose contract was terminated later that week, said rain earlier in the year had cost many of the amenities money – and many local businesses in general – and said he was hoping a new chef and new approach would broaden the appeal of the yacht club’s restaurant, The Cove.
“We need to better understand a more basic food option for our membership and the new chef is aware of that,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the club only recently got payroll costs under control and that attention had turned to improving the consistency and accessibility of the menu.
“I think that’s what needed to be done,” Beisler said.
Extended hours
Buoyed by heavier-than-expected activity at the marina, which includes fuel pumps, Thompson told the committee that he was looking into expanded hours for the amenity during next year’s White Marlin Open.
“We’re going to budget staffing for that week to extend hours, because when they come over it’s not [filling up] 50 or 100 gallons, it’s 800 to 1,000 gallons of fuel,” he said.
Budget guidance
The committee began work on a budget guidance document for the next fiscal year, which it will present to the board during a special meeting on Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
That included some items carried over from last year, like the suggestion to add an information technology position, along with a few new recommendations.
John O’Connor posed the idea – and the other committee members seemed to agree – that legacy reserves be merged with historical reserves to create a replacement reserve column, essentially streamlining those assets, while roads and bulkhead reserves continue to be kept in a separate column.
He also suggested eliminating the operating recovery fund related to an IRS debt could trim assessments by $16.
New chairman
Committee member John Viola was named the acting chairman of the committee, pending approval by the board of directors. Previous Chairwoman Pat Supik was recently elected to serve on the board and can no longer act as chair. Supik was, however, named as liaison to the committee.
Yacht club talk
Discussing the July financial report with former General Manager Bob Thompson, committee member Jim Beisler pressed for information about the apparent poor showing at the yacht club when considering both revenues from the previous year and budget estimates.
Thompson, whose contract was terminated later that week, said rain earlier in the year had cost many of the amenities money – and many local businesses in general – and said he was hoping a new chef and new approach would broaden the appeal of the yacht club’s restaurant, The Cove.
“We need to better understand a more basic food option for our membership and the new chef is aware of that,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the club only recently got payroll costs under control and that attention had turned to improving the consistency and accessibility of the menu.
“I think that’s what needed to be done,” Beisler said.
Extended hours
Buoyed by heavier-than-expected activity at the marina, which includes fuel pumps, Thompson told the committee that he was looking into expanded hours for the amenity during next year’s White Marlin Open.
“We’re going to budget staffing for that week to extend hours, because when they come over it’s not [filling up] 50 or 100 gallons, it’s 800 to 1,000 gallons of fuel,” he said.
Budget guidance
The committee began work on a budget guidance document for the next fiscal year, which it will present to the board during a special meeting on Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
That included some items carried over from last year, like the suggestion to add an information technology position, along with a few new recommendations.
John O’Connor posed the idea – and the other committee members seemed to agree – that legacy reserves be merged with historical reserves to create a replacement reserve column, essentially streamlining those assets, while roads and bulkhead reserves continue to be kept in a separate column.
He also suggested eliminating the operating recovery fund related to an IRS debt could trim assessments by $16.