Ocean Pines news briefs

(July 2, 2020) Ocean Pines Association President Doug Parks discussed the following items during the President’s Remarks portion of a July 1 regular Board meeting, held at the Ocean Pines Golf Clubhouse:
 
COVID precautions
 
Parks began his remarks with a “word of caution” related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
“It’s not over yet,” Parks said. “Everything we’re hearing is the fact that it’s still there with us. And, therefore, I would just urge our residents … to continue to take the precautions.”
 
He underscored the importance of social distancing, wearing a mask, and following CDC guidelines. 
 
Ocean Pines staff, prior to the meeting — the first to allow public attendance since March — took precautions for COVID-19 including ensuring that seating met social distancing guidelines, sterilizing seating and all other surfaces, and asking guests to sign in and complete a wellness checklist to help contact tracers, in the event of a localized outbreak. Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue led that effort.
 
“Protecting our community is certainly something we want to continue to do,” Parks said. “I’d urge everyone to take those requirements seriously and practice them because, you’re not only helping yourself, but you’re helping your community members well.”
 
For more information on COVID-19 news related to Ocean Pines amenities and operations, visit /web/pages/covid-19-announcements-and-closings.
 
KKK literature was distributed
 
Parks said there are reports that Ku Klux Klan literature was recently distributed in driveways in Ocean Pines.
 
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Department in a June 23 statement said similar packages were found in West Ocean City and Berlin. 
 
“An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111,” the statement said.
 
Parks took the opportunity to publicly condemn the acts.
 
“Under no circumstances does the Board condone that kind of rhetoric, that kind of hate speech,” Parks said. “We do not support that kind of communication within our community and, hopefully, it was a one-time event and it will stop.”
 
Fireworks postponed until September
 
Ocean Pines this week announced that the annual Fourth of July fireworks display was postponed until Saturday, Sept. 5. 
 
Parks said there was a concern about “neighborhood-centric fireworks” happening in place of the traditional display. 
 
“I suspect there will be some exuberance in setting off fireworks,” he said. “We hope that, if any is done, it’s done within a reasonable amount of control [and] it’s not disruptive to the neighbors.
 
“Please use common sense and please be aware that your neighbors are also being affected by all of the activities associated with that,” he added.
 
Cell tower update
 
Parks said a company recently approached Ocean Pines about placing a Verizon cell tower in the community, and a workgroup was formed to explore the concept.
 
He said a similar issue came up about a year ago but, “there wasn’t a lot of momentum.” Now, the concept is being revisited. 
 
“We’re in the very early stages of that,” Park said. “We’re coordinating with the county and we’re going to open some dialog, to see if that’s something that can be pursued.
 
“We do have meetings coming up to discuss that topic, therefore there will be more to come,” he added.
 
Annual meeting
 
Parks said the Annual Meeting was now scheduled Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9 a.m., outdoors at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines.
 
He said CDC guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic are the reason for the venue change. The Annual Meeting is traditionally held in the Ocean Pines Community Center.
 
“We wanted to make sure we maintain all of the CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, and we felt that it would be beneficial to have it outside because, hopefully, we will get a quorum of 100 people” as required by Association bylaws, Parks said. 
 
He added additional information on the Annual Meeting would be released shortly. 
 
To view video of the President’s Remarks portion of the July 1 meeting, visit https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=121.
 
Video links for additional parts of the July 1 meeting are as follows:
  
Approval of Agenda   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=24
 
Approval of Minutes 
June 3, 2020 – Regular Meeting   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=94
 
GM Report – John Viola   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=351
 
Treasurer’s Report – Larry Perrone   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=1207
 
Public Comments – None 
 
Capital Purchase Requests – None
 
CPI Violations – None
 
Unfinished Business – None
 
New Business – 
Motion to approve submission of application for a text amendment to the Worcester County Zoning and Subdivision Control Article – Colette Horn   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=1454
 
Motion to direct legal counsel to develop the wording necessary to amend the Declarations of Restrictions in all sections to ban rentals of less than one week and once established to place that question before all homeowners in a Referendum vote – Frank Daly   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=1757
 
Motion requesting text amendments to regulate short-term rentals within the Ocean Pines community - Frank Daly   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=3929
 
Appointments –   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=4135
 
Margaret McGovern – 2nd Term – ARC 
Dick Keiling – 2nd Term – Budget & Finance
 
Adjournment   https://youtu.be/OGSqfCSxmf4?t=4169