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Elections Committee wants to return to on-line voting
The Ocean Pines Association’s Elections Committee is looking for changes in Board Resolution M-06 that will make it easier for the OPA to allow for electronic online voting in annual elections to the Board of Directors, successfully deployed in 2022 but abandoned last year. The committee wants to return to e-voting in this year’s Board election, while retaining the paper ballot option for those who prefer it. The committee is actively pursuing an East Coast vendor to replace Election Trust, a Washington state based company that handled last summer’s ballot count. ~ Page 11
Six directors oppose rewrite of ethics/ conduct policy
Although all of his peers had already said they will not support it, Director Steve Jacobs has introduced a new version of Resolution B-08 to establish a code of conduct for the Board of Directors. Jacobs presented the draft for a first reading during the Feb. 17 Board meeting. It didn’t go well. All six of his colleagues said they don’t want the proposed policy to come up for a second reading. ~ Page 16
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Ocean Pines ............... Pages 1-25 Lifestyles .................. Pages 26-30 Business ............................ Page 32 OPA Finances ................. Pages 33 Opinion ..................... Pages 35-37 Captain’s Cove .......... Page 38-51
March 2024
www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress
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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY
COVER STORY ASSESSMENT RELIEF AND LAST-MINUTE TWEAKS
Board approves 2024-25 budget with lower assessment
Jacobs votes against 2024-25 OPA budget
By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors approved an $18.513 million 2024-25 Ocean Pines Association budget during its Feb. 17 monthly meeting, with the bottom line unchanged from the second iteration of the budget that emerged after review sessions conducted by the Board and Budget and Finance Advisory Committee. The budget passed 6-1, with Director Steve Jacobs in opposition. Operating revenue and expense is budgeted at $15.26 million, bulkhead expense at $1,177,213, and other capital expenses, including general replacement reserve spending, roads, drainage and new capital, budgeted at $2,076,916. Interest and assessment allocations to reserves is projected at $3,409,002. There was no change in lot assessments from the two earlier iterations of the budget, which lowered it from To Page 4
By ROTA L. KNOTT Contributing Writer he Ocean Pines Association should raise some amenities fees in the fiscal year that launches April 1, Director Steve Jacobs argued during a Jan. 17 discussion about the fiscal year 2024-25 budget. Jacobs, the lone dissenter in a 6-1 vote to approve the budget, said the OPA should increase aquatics fees and raise rates for boat slip rentals. “I’m not sure this is as good as we could do,” he said of the budget. He said aquatics fees aren’t paying the bills for that amenity and Yacht Club boat slips are underpriced. Last year, the OPA was able to attract a full complement of lifeguards to work at the pools, but that coupled with an increase in the minimum wage, resulted in increased expenses. “We were spending more money for lifeguards, and we had more lifeguards,” Jacobs said. To Page 3
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Board approves it it 6-1
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Last-minute changes to racquet sport membership fees ~ Page 7
Open Thursday - Sunday for our 40TH SEASON! ALL NIGHT HAPPY HOUR ALL MONTH LONG. h a r b o r watc h r e s tau r a n t. c o m
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