News

March 20 Board meeting briefs

(March 22, 2021) The Ocean Pines Board discussed the following items during a public meeting on Saturday: 

Board announces town hall for short-term rental guidelines 

Director Frank Daly withdrew his motion to adopt new short-term rental guidelines, and instead announced the motion would come up during the next regular Board meeting, on April 21.  

Daly also said there would be a town hall on the issue, on April 17.  

“This is the last move of this item – it is going to be voted on this year,” he said.  

Association President Larry Perrone said he and Daly discussed the issue that morning.  

“There has been an unbelievable outpouring from the community, both positive and negative, on the short-term rental motion,” Perrone said. “Instead of turning this meeting into a four-or-five-hour meeting today, what we’d like to do is … table this motion when we get to it, and then have a town-hall meeting solely addressing the short-term rental motion, so that the community has an opportunity to express all their opinions. 

“If, from that town hall meeting, any adjustments need to be made to the short-term rental motion, then it will give the work group time to do that” prior to the next regular Board meeting, Perrone said.  

To view the proposed guidelines, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/10184/59398/ARC+GUIDELINES+FOR+SHORT+TERM+RENTALS-Final+proofed+copy.pdf.  

Investigation reports available, by request 

Perrone said summary reports for two recent investigations would be made available to homeowners, upon request.  

“A couple weeks ago, the Board announced to the community that we would be releasing summary reports on the two recent investigations: the management investigation and also the investigation on the complaint filed by former employee Phillips against me. Those reports are done and they will be available by emailing or coming to the admin office,” Perrone said.  

To request a report by email, contact Senior Executive Assistant Michelle Bennett at mbennett@oceanpines.org. Perrone said the reports would not be posted on social media.  

Handicapped playground under consideration  

Perrone said the Recreation and Parks Committee discussed building a handicapped accessible playground in Ocean Pines, “to help provide some recreational activities for wheelchair bound individuals, not just children but [also] adults, as well as individuals who may be additionally physically handicapped.” 

He said Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue has researched the addition, and County Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting recently expressed support for the project. 

“The County Commissioners were very excited and enthused,” Perrone said, adding that county and state funding may be available for the construction.  

Bainbridge Park, currently the site of a major drainage improvement project in Ocean Pines, was named as a possible future site for a handicapped accessible playground.  

Board self-evaluation discussion  

Association Vice President Colette Horn introduced a draft of a self-evaluation survey for Ocean Pines Board members. Horn said the survey would he used “as a tool [to] examine board, officer and director performance and develop plans for areas in need of improvement.” 

“This discussion is meant for transparency purposes,” Horn said. “This is not a process that we intend to take place as part of our public meetings. This is work that we, as a Board, need to do. 

“It’s not about pointing fingers … it’s about moving the Board forward,” she continued. “This is another tool that we can put in our toolbox and use, and it is a tool that is increasingly being used in the business and nonprofit worlds.”  

Perrone said the form would be distributed to Board members, and a closed session on the results may be held following the regular Board meeting, next month.  

To view a video of the meeting, visit https://youtu.be/mSvbbPvZtYQ.