NOVEMBER 3, 2022
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BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
OP strategic plan to get big revamp Committee outlines values it wants to use as basis
LISA CAPITELLI/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
HALLOWEEN IN BERLIN
Hundreds of families walked around Washington and other streets in Berlin in search of candy on Halloween. There was also a Trunk or Treat in the Arctic Heating & Air Conditioning parking lot, where guests could vote for their favorite decorated vehicle.
Parks storage plan considered Some pieces of equipment could be locked away with town managing key access By Gee Williams Contributing Writer (Nov. 3, 2022) A motion to look into providing storage areas for equipment at all of Berlin’s municipal parks passed unanimously at the group’s meeting on Tuesday at Town Hall. Commission members agreed that storage areas should be provided in the coming year for specific equipment used at each of the town’s parks. The motion was proposed by Commission member Patricia Dufendach and seconded by Bruce Hyder. Commission members briefly dis-
cussed creating a membership for those residents who would have access keys at Town Hall to the storage areas at the parks. Parks Commission members discussed working with the We Heart Berlin nonprofit and the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to coordinate access to the storage areas. Similar partnerships would be explored for each of Berlin’s parks. One example discussed was for equipment needed for Burbage Park on William Street was ping pong paddles and balls. Such equipment would be accessible by a key that would be provided by the town for a small fee. Other equipment discussed that could be provided for Berlin park locations through the storage areas were horseshoes and a soccer ball. Berlin will host got a second year a
“Fall Glow Walk” at Stephen Decatur Park on Friday, Nov. 4. Registration begins at 5 p.m. and the glow walk starts at 5:30 p.m. The walk goes from the park to William Street and south on Main Street to the Worcester Preparatory School. It takes about one hour to complete and starts and ends at Stephen Decatur Park. In other business, the Parks Commission endorsed the “Just Walk Fall Scavenger Hunt” at Stephen Decatur Park in Berlin which will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12-13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through an Eventbrite online search, participants can register to participate. The walks and scavenger hunt are self-directed and include looking for mini-wellness pumpkins. See BOHLEN Page 3
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Nov. 3, 2022) The Ocean Pines Strategic Planning Committee is looking toward a revamped strategic plan as 2022 winds down. During the committee’s meeting last Thursday, chair Bernie McGorry alluded to a 50-page plan that he feels can be improved. “We’re talking about a community homeowners association that really hasn’t had a strategic plan in I don’t know how many years,” McGorry said. “I feel like I can’t push too hard.” McGorry outlined a few priorities including financial numbers and measuring success. He sees the plan as a three- or five-year outlook. According to the committee’s outline, the goals of the Strategic Plan are sustaining a strong financial position, maintaining and enhancing infrastructure, community appearance and current amenities, maintaining high levels of safety, fostering a sustained and engaged community driven by the OPA’s core values; and supporting leadership through training and development such with new hires and staff coaching. To sustain a strong financial position, McGorry provided an outline comprised of working with department heads to analyze expenses, reviewing and benchmarking pricing and processes for revenue monitoring, setting “high standards” for amenities, enhancing the “Ocean Pines experience” through the amenities, striving to have amenities off-set expenses and benchmarking OPA’s best practices to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. The committee identified six “core values”: integrity, accountability, collaboration, respect, sustainability and transparency. See FINANCIAL Page 3
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