Announcement

OPA Statement by Board of Directors and General Manager John Viola, March 29, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024

OPA Statement by Board of Directors and General Manager John Viola, March 29, 2024:

At the monthly OPA Board meeting held on March 23, 2024, the Racquet Sports Advisory Committee (“RSAC”) made a lengthy public statement to the Board, raising a number of matters of apparent concern to the RSAC. In particular, the RSAC asserted during the meeting that the Racquet Sports building located at the OPA Racquet Center “may not be safe” due to what they characterized as a “potential mold/mildew issue behind the walls which was making employees sick and, in some cases, contributing to them quitting.” This was part of the RSAC’s basis for advocating for a completely new building at the Racquet Sports Center, rather than renovations. As a result of this assertion and the public health ramifications thereof, OPA management, with the full support of the Board, took immediate action to close and proactively inspect the facility, which involved destructive investigation behind walls and under carpeting, inspection by qualified outside professionals, and testing the air inside the building for ambient mold conditions, unfortunately (but necessarily based on the assertion being made) at considerable cost to the Association. All this work was performed diligently, promptly, and with minimal disruption to Racquet Sports activities. Although a few very small areas of discoloration of indeterminate type were observed on the interior side of a wall, there was no discovery of any confirmed mold or similar condition or other indication that was sufficient to warrant further testing, inspection, or investigation. The Board thanks our General Manager John Viola and his team for managing this important effort so effectively.

With that being said, it is important to note that members of OPA advisory committees are appointed and reappointed by the Association president with the consent of the full Board, and therefore serve at the Board’s pleasure. Advisory committees exist under our governing documents to assist the Board, and they take direction from and report to the Board. Beyond that, consistent with governing documents, the Board generally welcomes constructive and properly communicated input from advisory committees on matters appropriately within their purview. Advisory committees do not exist to advocate for particular groups within the community, lobby the Board on behalf of groups, or generate controversy or disputes between themselves and the Board or otherwise as to OPA matters. Further, they are not permitted to interact with governmental entities on OPA matters without express authorization to do so from the OPA Board. We are deeply concerned that, as to matters raised publicly by the RSAC in the March Board meeting, the committee was less than thorough in its own vetting of the purported mold concerns and may have made public assertions in that regard for purposes other than the performance of the committee’s legitimate role. We are also concerned by references made in the RSAC’s public statement concerning unauthorized interactions with County officials, in regard to OPA matters. The Board Of Directors will meet soon to discuss appropriate next steps in light of this situation.

Announcement

OPA Statement by Board of Directors and General Manager John Viola, March 29, 2024

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