Whether Ocean Pines will ever take lethal action against invasive Canada geese is still up in the air, although it came closer to allocating a specific dollar amount for mitigation of some kind.
During a public budget meeting last Friday, Director Tom Terry suggested the board earmark $15,000 to deal with the issue. The belief is that certain types of geese are significantly adding to pollution of the ponds at the north and south gates.
Director Bill Cordwell said the board had told “several people at several meetings” that lethal measures of Canada goose control would not be in the budget.
“Why is this being thrown in at the end of [budget talks]?” he asked.
Terry said the funds would have “nothing to do with killing” [the geese], but would instead be used for relocation purposes.
“Are we that naive?” Cordwell said.
“I’m not, Bill,” Director Dave Stevens said. “The statement [that the board was not considering lethal measures] was accurate at the time and at the time it was right. After we’re finished here it may not be accurate.”
Stevens suggested Ocean Pines hire a “qualified, certified contractor” to deal with the issue. Previously, public works in Ocean Pines had been tasked with creating “no mow” zones around the ponds, oiling eggs inside nests, and applying a product called “Flight Control” near the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial.
“Find one of those contractors, hire them and turn the problem over to them,” Stevens said. “How it happens – whether they move them to a farm or whether or not they end up as a Diakonia dinner – it’s their issue.”
Thompson said if the funds were put into the budget, the directors would have the final say on what actions would be taken, but the board had to come up with a solid number with the budget deadline looming at the end of the month.
That did not go far enough for Director Jack Collins, who asked for assurances that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services be consulted on the matter.
“Fair enough – that’s not budgetary,” Thompson said. “Any action we take has to be approved by the board. All I need is a dollar amount.”
A consensus was reached to put $15,000 into the budget as a placeholder. The directors asked Thompson to come up with a better estimate before the Feb. 25 deadline to finalize the budget.
During a public budget meeting last Friday, Director Tom Terry suggested the board earmark $15,000 to deal with the issue. The belief is that certain types of geese are significantly adding to pollution of the ponds at the north and south gates.
Director Bill Cordwell said the board had told “several people at several meetings” that lethal measures of Canada goose control would not be in the budget.
“Why is this being thrown in at the end of [budget talks]?” he asked.
Terry said the funds would have “nothing to do with killing” [the geese], but would instead be used for relocation purposes.
“Are we that naive?” Cordwell said.
“I’m not, Bill,” Director Dave Stevens said. “The statement [that the board was not considering lethal measures] was accurate at the time and at the time it was right. After we’re finished here it may not be accurate.”
Stevens suggested Ocean Pines hire a “qualified, certified contractor” to deal with the issue. Previously, public works in Ocean Pines had been tasked with creating “no mow” zones around the ponds, oiling eggs inside nests, and applying a product called “Flight Control” near the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial.
“Find one of those contractors, hire them and turn the problem over to them,” Stevens said. “How it happens – whether they move them to a farm or whether or not they end up as a Diakonia dinner – it’s their issue.”
Thompson said if the funds were put into the budget, the directors would have the final say on what actions would be taken, but the board had to come up with a solid number with the budget deadline looming at the end of the month.
That did not go far enough for Director Jack Collins, who asked for assurances that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services be consulted on the matter.
“Fair enough – that’s not budgetary,” Thompson said. “Any action we take has to be approved by the board. All I need is a dollar amount.”
A consensus was reached to put $15,000 into the budget as a placeholder. The directors asked Thompson to come up with a better estimate before the Feb. 25 deadline to finalize the budget.