(June 16, 2016) Apparently recovering nicely from a long string of setbacks, the Ocean Pines Association Comprehensive Planning Committee tentatively approved a series of questions for a new survey, and hopes to pass another grouping during its meeting this week.
If all goes well, the questions would wind up in a communitywide survey designed to gather data – and public opinion – for a new comprehensive plan.
This time, the committee members talked about composing questions that address future projects and operations. Chairman Frank Daly came armed with a series of possible queries that focused on capital planning, reserves and assessments.
Two of the prior hang-ups were the quality of the language and the questions themselves. This time, however, several committee members pondered what would happen if the public said “yes” to some of the questions, specifically those that would suggest the board impose strict spending restrictions on itself.
Daly said the questions were not intended to “hand-tie or hamstring” the board of directors, but rather to give the board “a sense of direction.”
“I’m afraid of asking the question,” committee member Steve Cohen said. “God forbid you get a response.”
“You can’t govern with having your hands tied behind your back,” committee member Gail Blazer said. “You can’t cripple our board of directors.”
Others pointed out that permanent change in association policy would require changes to the bylaws – and would have to go to a referendum, which would cost about $18,000.
“There’s a difference between doing it and asking the question,” Daly said. “If you don’t ask the question, you’ll never get the answer – even if the answer is unpleasant.”
Committee members also mulled the notion that an approved comprehensive plan could add some stability to an association that sees high turnover on its board of directors, as members generally elect two-to-three new members to the seven-member panel each year.
“When the board changes, everything changes,” Board President Pat Renaud said. “You don’t want to tip over what the other board did before you. Sometimes you don’t like it, and next year’s board might not like what we did.”
“The difference is, there’s a plan – a written plan,” Cohen said. “[If] you’re not following a written plan, people are going to come in and wonder why.”
Daly said earlier comments that came back from focus groups suggested the decision makers in Ocean Pines often use “a real helter-skelter process.” With public input informing a long-term plan, “it’s kind of like the first part of ‘mission accomplished,’” Daly said. “At least we know, as homeowners, what people are working toward.”
A three-year planning cycle was agreed upon as being part of the framework of the in-progress comprehensive plan, and the committee members eventually approved a series of seven questions, including a priority ranking of 10 major buildings and whether they should be renovated or replaced as needed – with some minor changes.
Daly elaborated on Monday, saying the committee had received a revised set of questions by email, which he expected would be approved electronically before the next meeting.
“I think it went well,” he said. “The two sections that we addressed that had to do with assessments and with amenities are probably the toughest two that we’re going to have to deal with.”
The committee met again on Wednesday, after press time.
If all goes well, the questions would wind up in a communitywide survey designed to gather data – and public opinion – for a new comprehensive plan.
This time, the committee members talked about composing questions that address future projects and operations. Chairman Frank Daly came armed with a series of possible queries that focused on capital planning, reserves and assessments.
Two of the prior hang-ups were the quality of the language and the questions themselves. This time, however, several committee members pondered what would happen if the public said “yes” to some of the questions, specifically those that would suggest the board impose strict spending restrictions on itself.
Daly said the questions were not intended to “hand-tie or hamstring” the board of directors, but rather to give the board “a sense of direction.”
“I’m afraid of asking the question,” committee member Steve Cohen said. “God forbid you get a response.”
“You can’t govern with having your hands tied behind your back,” committee member Gail Blazer said. “You can’t cripple our board of directors.”
Others pointed out that permanent change in association policy would require changes to the bylaws – and would have to go to a referendum, which would cost about $18,000.
“There’s a difference between doing it and asking the question,” Daly said. “If you don’t ask the question, you’ll never get the answer – even if the answer is unpleasant.”
Committee members also mulled the notion that an approved comprehensive plan could add some stability to an association that sees high turnover on its board of directors, as members generally elect two-to-three new members to the seven-member panel each year.
“When the board changes, everything changes,” Board President Pat Renaud said. “You don’t want to tip over what the other board did before you. Sometimes you don’t like it, and next year’s board might not like what we did.”
“The difference is, there’s a plan – a written plan,” Cohen said. “[If] you’re not following a written plan, people are going to come in and wonder why.”
Daly said earlier comments that came back from focus groups suggested the decision makers in Ocean Pines often use “a real helter-skelter process.” With public input informing a long-term plan, “it’s kind of like the first part of ‘mission accomplished,’” Daly said. “At least we know, as homeowners, what people are working toward.”
A three-year planning cycle was agreed upon as being part of the framework of the in-progress comprehensive plan, and the committee members eventually approved a series of seven questions, including a priority ranking of 10 major buildings and whether they should be renovated or replaced as needed – with some minor changes.
Daly elaborated on Monday, saying the committee had received a revised set of questions by email, which he expected would be approved electronically before the next meeting.
“I think it went well,” he said. “The two sections that we addressed that had to do with assessments and with amenities are probably the toughest two that we’re going to have to deal with.”
The committee met again on Wednesday, after press time.