By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(April 2, 2026) Current maintenance projects were discussed during last week’s Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting, as staff detailed progress to date and upcoming improvements to be made in areas like bocce, aquatics, and racquet sports.

OPA’s Senior Director of Administration Linda Martin reported that annual maintenance on the bocce courts was completed March 11, a day ahead of its season opener on March 12. The work was performed by the original installation contractor as part of a routine upkeep program.

“We have an annual maintenance program, so the company that installed the bocce courts came out and did that on March 11,” Martin said.

Martin added that further upgrades to the bocce area are in motion. Shade tents and bleachers have been ordered, and a new leaderboard is currently being fabricated. Martin added a limited number of sponsorship opportunities for the courts are still available.

Additionally, facility improvements are planned for the golf course and pools. Martin said restrooms at the golf course fairways are scheduled for painting and general repairs, while more extensive upgrades are planned for Swim and Racquet.

“Materials have been ordered to replace the partitions and flooring,” she said. “So, the Swim and Racquet bathrooms will be upgraded with new partitions and flooring once those materials arrive.”

At the racquet sports complex, staff are working to replace a light on court No. 8, though the project has faced minor delays due to logistical issues.

“We were trying to do it when we had the lift. Unfortunately, we didn’t want to damage the courts or the grounds around there,” Martin explained. “So, we’re trying to get equipment that will not damage that.”

Inside the clubhouse, additional maintenance is planned, including steam cleaning of carpeting throughout the building.

Also at this week’s meeting, Viola provided a financial update, emphasizing that while the association finished the month of February unfavorable to budget, the overall outlook remains positive.

“If we look [at our scorecard], we are negative about $4,000, and I take that seriously, even though it’s a small number,” Viola said. “When I look at the detail and everything, revenues were under budget by about $30,000, but our expenses were under budget by $26,000. These are slow months to begin with. The golf course was closed, other things were closed. And we had the storm. But I take this seriously, my team takes it seriously.”

Viola added that despite the financial slide, the community’s staff are to thank for the quick and effective response to cleanup efforts from February’s unprecedented winter storm.

“Public works and everybody in this association — when I look all around, we could say we stood at the top for how we handled it as a team,” he said.

Viola maintained that the association remains in a favorable position financially, reporting approximately $400,000 in positive variance year-to-date.

“I’m about 10 months in. We’re favorable around $400,000. We’ve been estimated before between $400,000 and $450,000 on favorability,” he said. “Again, it’s not surplus. It’s favorability. A lot of that money is already earmarked for the next assessment and for capital [projects].”

Viola noted that both revenues and expenses have trended favorably overall. A major contributor to the improved financial picture is the turnaround in food and beverage operations, he added.

“If you look at food and beverage, the year before we were negative $100,000 after depreciation which obviously would be a cost in the assessment,” Viola said. “What I look at now in the budget we used for this year, we are favorable…we are estimated to be favorable $150,000 in the black. That’s a $250,000 swing. That’s $25 to $30 favorable on the assessment this year because of food and beverage. Hopefully we continue that.”

Viola maintained that much of that improvement is due to the association’s contract with Touch of Italy and said the results reinforce ongoing investments in community infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Yacht Club’s main bar has officially reopened following renovations completed in late February.

“The main bar reopened on Feb. 27, and Touch of Italy added drink counters to the corners of the bar area,” Viola said. “We also installed televisions for viewing enhancement. We never had TVs in the middle of the bar. I think it looks great.”