APRIL 13, 2023
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Daly’s leaving opens third spot in race
Pines director announces he’s moving to Florida as board election time nears
By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (April 13, 2023) Three seats are up for grabs in this year’s board of director’s elections, now that board member Frank Daly has announced he will soon be moving to Florida.
“We have purchased a home in Florida. I will remain on the board until the transaction closes. Those dates are subject to a few contingencies that are normal in the same process,” Daly told the Ocean Pines Forum. “We need to follow section 5.04 of the by-laws regarding a vacancy on the board. The action will be based on if and when Frank Daly is no longer a homeowner in Ocean Pines,”
said Doug Parks, president of the OPA Board of Directors. “If all proceeds as planned (b) will apply,” Daly said. Section 5.04(b) reads, “According to the bylaws, in the event a vacancy occurs on the board of directors within ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting but before the ballots have been submitted to the secretary for printing under Section 5.03, a majority of the remaining directors
may appoint a replacement to serve until the next annual meeting. If the vacancy is not for an expiring term, the vacancy shall be included on the ballots. This means there will be three vacancies to be filled in the August elections, with Doug Parks and Colette Horn both leaving because of term limits. Elaine Brady is the first — and See THREE Page 2
Berlin budget closing in on revenue gap Current tax rate included, but changes still likely with public hearing on horizon
CINDY HOFFMAN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
ROCKING OUT
Kids enjoy the many craft stations during Berlin’s Spring Celebration last Saturday.
Protest promised at Sat. board meeting By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (April 13, 2023) The next Ocean Pines Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for April 15, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Golf Club. “Do it for Gavin” supporters have announced they plan a
protest outside of the board meeting in reaction to OPA President Doug Parks’ comments during the March meeting. Parks focused his president’s remarks on the aggressive tactics that some advocates for “Do it for Gavin” had been taking. While he took no issue with tar-
geting businesses and conducting protests and boycotts, he raised concerns with some actions turning aggressive, including “bullying of the business staff, bullying of children at school and threatening organizations, customers and OPA board members. Their actions See SUPPORTERS Page 2
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (April 13, 2023) With a public hearing scheduled for later this month, the Berlin mayor and Town Council are still trying to find ways to reduce the town’s budget deficit, but the message coming from them remains that residents should expect to pay more. During the first reading of the FY24 tax rate ordinance during the mayor and council meeting on Monday, Mayor Zack Tyndall praised his colleagues and the department heads for the work they have done so far to pare down what was a much higher deficit originally, but couldn’t yet offer solid figures for the residents on the new tax rate. “Some form of an increase this fiscal year (is very likely) but we don’t know what that looks like as a whole,” he said. “Costs are just too fluid right at this moment that I don’t have a recommendation (right now). “We’re trying to get our heads around certain costs. We want to mitigate the deficit as much as possible.” See BERLIN Page 3
The Area’s Premier Physical Therapy Clinic
NOW 2 Great Locations to Serve You! Spelled Different Because We Are Different® FYZICAL-DELMARVA.COM
Fyzical of Ocean Pines 11204 Racetrack Rd, Suite 101 • Ocean Pines, MD, 21811 410-208-1525
Fyzical of West Ocean City 12472 Sea Oaks Ln, Unit 1 • Berlin, MD 21811 410-747-3522