'Moving onward and upward' - A message from the General Manager

The Association continues to manage through the COVID-19 pandemic with favorable operating results, based on our recent financial reports. We have done this through a total team effort, with department heads across the board managing expenses well, despite these difficult and uncertain times.

As I have mentioned over the year, the Paycheck Protection Program money we received is still subject to approval by the government for forgiveness. Our Finance Director and Controller Steve Phillips is working along with the bank on the paperwork for this.

We were also able to pass a new budget for fiscal year 2021/2022 that helped to end prior-year deficits that, at one point, totaled $1.6 million. Credit to Phillips, Julia Johnson and the entire Finance team for their leadership and hard work during the budget process, and to the whole team for working well with them.

Budget managers for each department were asked to create a budget from the ground up, and with no COVID adjustments added in. The process started last fall and included oversight and review from the Budget and Finance Committee and the Board of Directors, as per our governing documents. It was a transparent process that gave homeowners several opportunities to make comments and ask questions.

All of our departments and amenities in recent months have tackled important projects and initiatives.

At the Racquet Sports Center, we’re adding four new pickleball courts and a new junior tennis court, as well as addressing fencing and crack repairs just in time for our busy spring season. We believe the team of Tim McMullen and Terry Underkoffler are going to make great use of those new features, and they will continue to make that an attractive amenity for our homeowners.

Public Works is busy working on several notable drainage projects, including overseeing the Bainbridge Pond project that broke ground in March, and pipe replacement along Ocean Parkway that will make use of a new process that will help reduce flooding and save the Association money. Public Works will also help oversee replacement of more than 3,000 linear feet of bulkheads, in the most efficient way possible. Eddie Wells, Nobie Violante and Justin Riner are all contributing to those efforts.

Our Recreation and Parks team, led by Debbie Donahue, has overseen playground demolition and building of a new playground at Robin Hood Park, and we are also looking into building a new handicapped accessible playground, made for both children and adults, at Bainbridge Park. Debbie also oversaw a recent project that added more parking to the Ocean Pines Community Center and Administration campus, and she will oversee the Racquet Sports amenity for us, on top of her duties at Recreation and Parks.

Public Relations and Marketing recently finished the Ocean Pines Academy project, designed to help educate both homeowners and prospective new Board candidates and committee members. Marketing Coordinator Julie Malinowski led that effort, with Public Relations and Marketing Director Josh Davis handling all of the video production involved with that.

Our Golf Course has stepped up maintenance efforts, thanks to great work by new Golf Superintendent Justin Hartshorne and Assistant Superintendent Kurt Joseph. General Manager of Golf John Malinowski also recently debuted the new launch monitor, which will help our golf shop and club fitting operations.

Aquatics Director Kathleen Cook is preparing to open our four outdoor pools for the summer, and the team there is adding new classes and other events at the indoor Sports Core Pool. Kathleen will also oversee Beach Parking for the first time. We’re also preparing to reopen our Marinas for the season, and Ron Fisher is guiding several maintenance items there, including board replacements that are expected
to finish in April.

In conjunction with the Matt Ortt Companies, we kept the Yacht Club closed during January and February, and opened the new Clubhouse Bar and Grille four days a week during the month of February. This is something that many in Ocean Pines wanted to see, and feedback from residents is that they enjoyed the clubhouse and the new and inviting fireplace we built for them. Thanks to the Matt Ortt Companies, who fully embraced this.

Our community continues to be among the safest in Maryland, and Police Chief Leo Ehrisman and his team have moved into a new police headquarters and made great use of that facility. The state-of-the-art addition to our administration building should serve the community and our Police Department for many years to come.

We also recently introduced new customer service initiatives led by Public Works Office Manager Linda Martin, and Julie. For any questions and concerns, there is now one central email address: [email protected]. Homeowners and residents can also call 410-641-7717 during business hours, or 410-641-7747 on nights and weekends.