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OPA Briefs

(April 27, 2017) The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors discussed the following items during a work session in the community center on Monday:
Capital purchases
Interim General Manager Brett Hill introduced three capital purchase items, but made no specific requests.
Two new platform tennis courts were presented in January at an estimated cost of $120,000, plus an unknown amount for stormwater control. Hill said engineering work showed that stormwater mitigation would be minimal and said the estimate was now $130,000. The board consented to allow Hill to draft a request for proposals.
Hill said Golf Superintendent Andre Jordan requested a riding mower to trim the greens, which had been done using push mowers. Hill said the changeover would save the association about $20,000 annually in labor costs.
The directors agreed to defer the decision until the regular board meeting on Saturday and said golf advisory boards would be consulted. Several board members worried about the decline in quality if the greens were not mowed by hand.
Hill said estimates for a proposed 4,000-square foot expansion of the sports core pool facility came back double what was budgeted. He offered a smaller expansion, roughly 1,000 square feet, which would be used for after-school programs.
The directors asked that board advisory committees be consulted on the matter. Hill said he would provide estimates for cost and usage for both proposals during a board meeting next month.
Homeowner discounts
Director Slobodan Trendic said he and other board members learned from resident emails about a new 20 percent across-the-board discount at all Ocean Pines clubs for dues-paying members.  
He took issue with the lack of communication with the board and suggested the discount program could lead to huge losses.
Director Cheryl Jacobs added her concern, saying the program was introduced after board budget discussions.
Hill said the promotion would not have an impact on the budget. The overall discount was favored instead of limited happy hour promotions because they had failed to hold diners at facilities like the Cove at Mumford’s Landing, he said.
Board Vice President Dave Stevens defended the plan, saying Ocean Pines needed to try new things to attract homeowners and residents. He said the association took a similar risk in lowering rates at golf course.
North Gate beautification
Jacobs said she received resident complaints of poor conditions at the North Gate entrance. Director Pat Supik agreed with that assessment, saying on a good day she wanted to introduce a couple of sticks of dynamite to the structure.
Hill said weeding and planted was scheduled there, but he was reluctant to invest significant money because there was talk of an interchange upgrade near the North Gate because of the new health pavilion on Route 589. He said funding to improve the North Gate could be available from the state if that happened.