By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 29, 2020) The Worcester County Circuit Court ruled in favor of Slobodan Trendic last Wednesday in his suit against the Ocean Pines Association over a previously rejected petition drive regarding unauthorized spending limits.

Trendic stepped down as a director after abstaining from a vote on April 6, 2019 to approve expansions of the police and administration building, as well as the golf clubhouse and cart barn, which combined totaled more than $3 million.

During the OPA homeowners annual meeting that August, Trendic presented a pair of petitions. One called for limiting the board’s unauthorized spending authority, and the other sought a referendum on the recently begun clubhouse project at the Ocean Pines Golf Course.

Trendic filed suit last November in response to the OPA Board of Directors’ rejection in August of a petition containing more than 800 signatures seeking to amend the OPA bylaws to require the board to conduct a membership vote to approve any single capital expenditure over $1 million.

The court decision found the board expenditure petition organized by Trendic did meet HOA bylaw requirements and obligated the board to put forth a referendum question.

The summary judgment in favor of Trendic found the OPA Board “acted improperly, incorrectly and in contravention” of its bylaws when it decided not to act on the petition and advance the question for vote by OPA members.

Attorney Bruce Bright, who represents Trendic, said the court ruling is substantiated by the case details and in line with legal standards related to this, or future, petition drives.

Bright noted the importance of the association abiding its bylaws and governing documents.

Speaking this week, Trendic offered scant comment short of praising Judge Beau Oglesby’s decision to uphold the integrity of the petition process.

The OPA are weighing legal options with President Larry Perrone having no comment on the matter to this point.