OCEAN PINES– In a contentious move, the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors on Saturday ordered the creation of a new capital improvement work group to examine the growth and management of the community well into the next decade.
At a special meeting, the directors voted 5-2 to establish the group, with directors Bill Cordwell and Sharyn O’Hare opposing the measure.
OPA President Dave Stevens, Comprehensive Plan Committee Staff Liaison Jerry Aveta and Ted Moroney, who previously served on an OPA 10-year task force, will form the core of the “Coordinate Committee” which will appoint various subcommittees to explore different aspects of the capital improvement plan.
Stevens said the committee was “the highest need for Ocean Pines right now,” while Cordwell and O’Hare insisted that work on the project had already been undertaken others, most notably General Manager Bob Thompson.
“I hope we’re not going to go back to ground zero and start as if the ground has never been plowed before,” said Parliamentarian Tom Terry. “We’ve certainly plowed the heck out of the ground and I want to make sure that some of those procedures and some of that work that went on before will be utilized so that we’re not starting from completely ground zero as if nothing has gone on before.”
Thompson was due to present a capital improvement plan to the board in November and O’Hare, in particular, believed Thompson should spearhead the task himself.
“I think we’ve given our task to our general manager months ago to do this,” she said. “I’d like to see his presentation before we develop another committee,” she said. “I think they should be working concurrently with Bob. Bob has a lot of work to do and this is not a one-person job, but I think Bob should be on this committee.”
Thompson, for his part, said he met with Stevens in September, when the newly elected president advised him to shorten his survey to a 12-24 month timeframe.
“You directed him to do something different without telling the rest of the board?” O’Hare asked.
“I have not and shall not direct the general manager,” Stevens replied.
Terry said he saw “no value” in Thompson continuing his work on a November presentation in light of the new committee.
“I still think you need input from the general manager,” he said. “Who has more knowledge as to what’s going on day to day in this place and the impact on the future than the general manager?”
Stevens countered that the “old way” of doing things on the OPA Board was not working and that, during his previous tenure as a director “everyone unanimously agreed we had to stop doing that.”
“Bob is going to be responsible in one way or another for the execution of these projects,” he said. “What you’re actually trying to do on any given project is find out what is needed, why it’s needed, when it’s needed, what is it’s probable cost, project interdependencies, does it influence anything else and its associated requirements. (That) hasn’t been done in a consistent manner (and) that’s what this committee is going to bring to the table.”
Cordwell called for a review study, while Terry compared the dispute to “arguing over puppy dogs and kittens.”
“Everybody loves this stuff,” he said. “The reality is there’s nothing wrong with doing a plan and putting it together. How can you argue against it? The issue for me is what is the directive from this board to Bob Thompson now (on) what it is he’s supposed to be doing because right now, on the table? Is the directive to go redo the existing CIP with all the years included and then present it during the (November) time frame? If we want to change that, let’s change it. I don’t want one set of objectives out there, which is in essence a duplication of what this group will now be tasked to do.”
Secretary Pat Renaud insisted Thompson would still be a part of the long-term plan.
“Anything that we do or propose here, I think he’s going to be well aware of it – even before we’re aware of it,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’re taking him off the group … it means we have three more sets of eyes looking at this problem. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to change everything.”
Renaud said the committee would “reexamine process” rather than attempt to reinvent the wheel.
Stevens agreed, saying Thompson should “use his best judgment in producing what he was going to produce anyway.
“They won’t conflict. They will, potentially, be very useful to each other,” Stevens continued. I believe that Bob’s directive still stands … we’re coming at it from different ways. Bob needs to think about making things happen. (He needs) to look at the broader picture. I’m not trying to say what Bob can or can’t do, but I do believe these are two complimentary efforts.”
Thompson said he would narrow his focus to the new 12-24 month timeframe he discussed with Stevens.
“Either way works for me,” he said. “(This) committee doesn’t bother me at all. Just give me clarity.”
O’Hare stuck by the GM.
“Let’s give (Thompson) an opportunity to make his presentation as the board originally intended him to do,” she said. “After that’s done, then let’s let this (committee) get together and let them work after he’s made his presentation as he was directed by the previous board. I don’t think he needs to be left out. This is our general manager.”
“I’ll disagree with that,” said Stevens.
“Well, I know. Why are you opposed to Bob being on (the committee)?” O’Hare asked.
“I’m opposed to Bob being on the committee because Bob has got a job, and it’s a really hard job,” Stevens said. “He needs to do everything to do it. I believe that Bob can do that job without being on the committee and I believe the committee can do its job without having Bob there.
“The whole point … is to go down into a level of depth,” Stevens continued. “Each (component) will not be done by this three-person committee, but by people who volunteer and are assigned to do those individual things. Some of those things might take a long time.”
The board set a January deadline for an initial report on the findings of the committee. Stevens, Renaud, Terry, Secretary Jack Collins and Vice President Marty Clarke, voting via telephone, approved the motion.
O’Hare said she and Stevens would have to “agree to disagree on everything.”
“I’m opposed because Bob is not included in this and I think we should wait for his report,” she said.
“I think his time is going to be better spent on the short term,” Stevens said. “He’s going to be responsible for making things happen in the short term. To me it’s just common sense.”
Renaud agreed.
“As a working manager, (Thompson) needs to report on 12-24,” he said. “His responsibility is to report on 12-24. Our responsibility is beyond that.”
At a special meeting, the directors voted 5-2 to establish the group, with directors Bill Cordwell and Sharyn O’Hare opposing the measure.
OPA President Dave Stevens, Comprehensive Plan Committee Staff Liaison Jerry Aveta and Ted Moroney, who previously served on an OPA 10-year task force, will form the core of the “Coordinate Committee” which will appoint various subcommittees to explore different aspects of the capital improvement plan.
Stevens said the committee was “the highest need for Ocean Pines right now,” while Cordwell and O’Hare insisted that work on the project had already been undertaken others, most notably General Manager Bob Thompson.
“I hope we’re not going to go back to ground zero and start as if the ground has never been plowed before,” said Parliamentarian Tom Terry. “We’ve certainly plowed the heck out of the ground and I want to make sure that some of those procedures and some of that work that went on before will be utilized so that we’re not starting from completely ground zero as if nothing has gone on before.”
Thompson was due to present a capital improvement plan to the board in November and O’Hare, in particular, believed Thompson should spearhead the task himself.
“I think we’ve given our task to our general manager months ago to do this,” she said. “I’d like to see his presentation before we develop another committee,” she said. “I think they should be working concurrently with Bob. Bob has a lot of work to do and this is not a one-person job, but I think Bob should be on this committee.”
Thompson, for his part, said he met with Stevens in September, when the newly elected president advised him to shorten his survey to a 12-24 month timeframe.
“You directed him to do something different without telling the rest of the board?” O’Hare asked.
“I have not and shall not direct the general manager,” Stevens replied.
Terry said he saw “no value” in Thompson continuing his work on a November presentation in light of the new committee.
“I still think you need input from the general manager,” he said. “Who has more knowledge as to what’s going on day to day in this place and the impact on the future than the general manager?”
Stevens countered that the “old way” of doing things on the OPA Board was not working and that, during his previous tenure as a director “everyone unanimously agreed we had to stop doing that.”
“Bob is going to be responsible in one way or another for the execution of these projects,” he said. “What you’re actually trying to do on any given project is find out what is needed, why it’s needed, when it’s needed, what is it’s probable cost, project interdependencies, does it influence anything else and its associated requirements. (That) hasn’t been done in a consistent manner (and) that’s what this committee is going to bring to the table.”
Cordwell called for a review study, while Terry compared the dispute to “arguing over puppy dogs and kittens.”
“Everybody loves this stuff,” he said. “The reality is there’s nothing wrong with doing a plan and putting it together. How can you argue against it? The issue for me is what is the directive from this board to Bob Thompson now (on) what it is he’s supposed to be doing because right now, on the table? Is the directive to go redo the existing CIP with all the years included and then present it during the (November) time frame? If we want to change that, let’s change it. I don’t want one set of objectives out there, which is in essence a duplication of what this group will now be tasked to do.”
Secretary Pat Renaud insisted Thompson would still be a part of the long-term plan.
“Anything that we do or propose here, I think he’s going to be well aware of it – even before we’re aware of it,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’re taking him off the group … it means we have three more sets of eyes looking at this problem. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to change everything.”
Renaud said the committee would “reexamine process” rather than attempt to reinvent the wheel.
Stevens agreed, saying Thompson should “use his best judgment in producing what he was going to produce anyway.
“They won’t conflict. They will, potentially, be very useful to each other,” Stevens continued. I believe that Bob’s directive still stands … we’re coming at it from different ways. Bob needs to think about making things happen. (He needs) to look at the broader picture. I’m not trying to say what Bob can or can’t do, but I do believe these are two complimentary efforts.”
Thompson said he would narrow his focus to the new 12-24 month timeframe he discussed with Stevens.
“Either way works for me,” he said. “(This) committee doesn’t bother me at all. Just give me clarity.”
O’Hare stuck by the GM.
“Let’s give (Thompson) an opportunity to make his presentation as the board originally intended him to do,” she said. “After that’s done, then let’s let this (committee) get together and let them work after he’s made his presentation as he was directed by the previous board. I don’t think he needs to be left out. This is our general manager.”
“I’ll disagree with that,” said Stevens.
“Well, I know. Why are you opposed to Bob being on (the committee)?” O’Hare asked.
“I’m opposed to Bob being on the committee because Bob has got a job, and it’s a really hard job,” Stevens said. “He needs to do everything to do it. I believe that Bob can do that job without being on the committee and I believe the committee can do its job without having Bob there.
“The whole point … is to go down into a level of depth,” Stevens continued. “Each (component) will not be done by this three-person committee, but by people who volunteer and are assigned to do those individual things. Some of those things might take a long time.”
The board set a January deadline for an initial report on the findings of the committee. Stevens, Renaud, Terry, Secretary Jack Collins and Vice President Marty Clarke, voting via telephone, approved the motion.
O’Hare said she and Stevens would have to “agree to disagree on everything.”
“I’m opposed because Bob is not included in this and I think we should wait for his report,” she said.
“I think his time is going to be better spent on the short term,” Stevens said. “He’s going to be responsible for making things happen in the short term. To me it’s just common sense.”
Renaud agreed.
“As a working manager, (Thompson) needs to report on 12-24,” he said. “His responsibility is to report on 12-24. Our responsibility is beyond that.”