(April 27, 2017) A huge crowd by Ocean Pines standards turned out for last Thursday’s special meeting to oppose change at the adults-only Oasis pool and succeeded in convincing the board of directors to scuttle that proposal by a 5-2 vote.
The ripple effect of that meeting continued to be felt during Monday’s work session, as the board discussed a half-dozen agenda items related to the Oasis pool and Family Fun Night, an event authorized by interim General Manager Brett Hill and subsequently overturned by the board.
Despite not being able to vote during the work session, the directors learned that new lounge chairs had already been ordered for the Oasis pool and sidewalk repairs were coming to the Swim and Racquet Club, where conditions were said to be unsuitable for seniors.
Director Cheryl Jacobs asked about securing a waiver from the county to allow later hours at the Oasis pool to facilitate the return of Family Fun Night there on Wednesday. Objections to the event were largely based on its move to Sunday nights.
She said the directors received a letter that suggested a county request went further than what was necessary, as it also included additional hours for a Twilight Swim at the Oasis pool until 8 p.m. on Monday nights.
“I think the letter went beyond what we had talked about,” Jacobs said.
Board President Tom Herrick defended Hill and said the request simply cast a wide net to see what was possible. He said the association had not gotten a reply from the county and further discussion should be postponed until that occurred.
“Until we find out exactly what hours we are allowed to stay open … I don’t know how we can proceed,” Herrick said.
Hill said he asked for a variance that would cover several previously held events, also including earlier opening times. He said a reply was expected soon and programs and hours of operation could be discussed further during the regular board meeting on Saturday.
“Obviously, a lot is going to be determined by how the county responds to our request,” Director Slobodan Trendic said. “If the county does not allow for those extended hours and the board still wants to have the family time, then we have to figure out a way … to do that.
“The consensus here, from my perspective, is I’d love to see the family fun time continue and hopefully it can resume at the previous hours and slots,” he continued. “If the county’s reply is negative, then we need to reconvene as a board and define something, obviously in coordination with the [advisory] committees.”
Addressing complaints of lounge chairs that were easier for seniors to get in and out of being removed from the Oasis pool, Hill said he had already purchased 20 chairs using funds allocated for pool furniture.
Jacobs broached the subject of the walkway leading to the Swim and Racquet Club pool, where the Wednesday Family Fun Night was moved. She said residents reported unsafe conditions there, as well as at a nearby bench that was rusted and missing a seat.
“It’s clearly a safety issue – particularly for children,” she said.
Jacobs asked for the parks and recreation committee to review amenities at Ocean Pines parks and for public works to address any lingering safety issues.
Hill said he was waiting on bids for the sidewalk repairs and that aquatics workers had also mentioned safety concerns.
“As far as the [bench] at Swim and Racquet, that’s the first I’m hearing of that, so I’ll put in a work order on public works,” he said. “I’ll have a work order open on that today.”
Jacobs also inquired about the new pirate ship playground near the Oasis pool. She wondered if it was installed in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety guidelines and whether it had been presented to Ocean Pines insurance carriers.
“I’ve had a resident come to me and say that they previously were in the insurance business and, looking at it, they would never have covered it,” she said. “That raises a concern to me.
“I think it would be appropriate to provide a report to the board so that we can feel comfortable that its been addressed from a safety perspective, the fact that our carrier is OK with it, and finally, I want some legal opinion about what kind of signage we’re going to have there,” Jacobs continued. “Of course, I know you can’t necessarily protect yourself from everything … but there are certain steps that must be taken first to put people on notice.”
Hill said the playground was not finished and had already been moved from the location where it was originally installed because it was too close to the surrounding fence. He said there wasn’t enough synthetic mulch to meet safety standards, but more would be delivered this week.
Permit review had not been completed, he said, because the structure is not finished. Hill said Ocean Pines also sought a legal opinion on signage at playgrounds.
Jacobs said she still had some trepidation.
“You always want to figure whatever can go wrong is going to go wrong, and so you need to protect yourself up front,” she said. “Otherwise, you’ve put yourself in a position where you are being negligent. You don’t want to be in that position.”
Trendic asked for board review of Ocean Pines’ application for a liquor license for events at the Swim and Racquet Club pool. He said Hill made that request without notice to the board.
The liquor license was sought for Family Fun Nights.
“This is another thing that we learned at one of the previous meetings and through public comments,” Trendic said. “Before something like this occurs, I would like to see the aquatics committee involved.”
He said committees were often being ignored when “they are the first ones that we should go to for advice and recommendations.”
Director Doug Parks said poor communication was a recurring issue.
“It would be nice to know these things ahead of time,” he said. “I think the other part of the communication aspect of it is, we do need to involve the committees. Get their opinions. They’re there for a reason.”
Jacobs agreed.
“Is this one man’s opinion about what’s right … or is it something that you need more feedback to know what is community’s pulse about these kinds of things?” she asked. “That’s where the opinion and input from our advisory committees play a big part.”
The ripple effect of that meeting continued to be felt during Monday’s work session, as the board discussed a half-dozen agenda items related to the Oasis pool and Family Fun Night, an event authorized by interim General Manager Brett Hill and subsequently overturned by the board.
Despite not being able to vote during the work session, the directors learned that new lounge chairs had already been ordered for the Oasis pool and sidewalk repairs were coming to the Swim and Racquet Club, where conditions were said to be unsuitable for seniors.
Director Cheryl Jacobs asked about securing a waiver from the county to allow later hours at the Oasis pool to facilitate the return of Family Fun Night there on Wednesday. Objections to the event were largely based on its move to Sunday nights.
She said the directors received a letter that suggested a county request went further than what was necessary, as it also included additional hours for a Twilight Swim at the Oasis pool until 8 p.m. on Monday nights.
“I think the letter went beyond what we had talked about,” Jacobs said.
Board President Tom Herrick defended Hill and said the request simply cast a wide net to see what was possible. He said the association had not gotten a reply from the county and further discussion should be postponed until that occurred.
“Until we find out exactly what hours we are allowed to stay open … I don’t know how we can proceed,” Herrick said.
Hill said he asked for a variance that would cover several previously held events, also including earlier opening times. He said a reply was expected soon and programs and hours of operation could be discussed further during the regular board meeting on Saturday.
“Obviously, a lot is going to be determined by how the county responds to our request,” Director Slobodan Trendic said. “If the county does not allow for those extended hours and the board still wants to have the family time, then we have to figure out a way … to do that.
“The consensus here, from my perspective, is I’d love to see the family fun time continue and hopefully it can resume at the previous hours and slots,” he continued. “If the county’s reply is negative, then we need to reconvene as a board and define something, obviously in coordination with the [advisory] committees.”
Addressing complaints of lounge chairs that were easier for seniors to get in and out of being removed from the Oasis pool, Hill said he had already purchased 20 chairs using funds allocated for pool furniture.
Jacobs broached the subject of the walkway leading to the Swim and Racquet Club pool, where the Wednesday Family Fun Night was moved. She said residents reported unsafe conditions there, as well as at a nearby bench that was rusted and missing a seat.
“It’s clearly a safety issue – particularly for children,” she said.
Jacobs asked for the parks and recreation committee to review amenities at Ocean Pines parks and for public works to address any lingering safety issues.
Hill said he was waiting on bids for the sidewalk repairs and that aquatics workers had also mentioned safety concerns.
“As far as the [bench] at Swim and Racquet, that’s the first I’m hearing of that, so I’ll put in a work order on public works,” he said. “I’ll have a work order open on that today.”
Jacobs also inquired about the new pirate ship playground near the Oasis pool. She wondered if it was installed in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety guidelines and whether it had been presented to Ocean Pines insurance carriers.
“I’ve had a resident come to me and say that they previously were in the insurance business and, looking at it, they would never have covered it,” she said. “That raises a concern to me.
“I think it would be appropriate to provide a report to the board so that we can feel comfortable that its been addressed from a safety perspective, the fact that our carrier is OK with it, and finally, I want some legal opinion about what kind of signage we’re going to have there,” Jacobs continued. “Of course, I know you can’t necessarily protect yourself from everything … but there are certain steps that must be taken first to put people on notice.”
Hill said the playground was not finished and had already been moved from the location where it was originally installed because it was too close to the surrounding fence. He said there wasn’t enough synthetic mulch to meet safety standards, but more would be delivered this week.
Permit review had not been completed, he said, because the structure is not finished. Hill said Ocean Pines also sought a legal opinion on signage at playgrounds.
Jacobs said she still had some trepidation.
“You always want to figure whatever can go wrong is going to go wrong, and so you need to protect yourself up front,” she said. “Otherwise, you’ve put yourself in a position where you are being negligent. You don’t want to be in that position.”
Trendic asked for board review of Ocean Pines’ application for a liquor license for events at the Swim and Racquet Club pool. He said Hill made that request without notice to the board.
The liquor license was sought for Family Fun Nights.
“This is another thing that we learned at one of the previous meetings and through public comments,” Trendic said. “Before something like this occurs, I would like to see the aquatics committee involved.”
He said committees were often being ignored when “they are the first ones that we should go to for advice and recommendations.”
Director Doug Parks said poor communication was a recurring issue.
“It would be nice to know these things ahead of time,” he said. “I think the other part of the communication aspect of it is, we do need to involve the committees. Get their opinions. They’re there for a reason.”
Jacobs agreed.
“Is this one man’s opinion about what’s right … or is it something that you need more feedback to know what is community’s pulse about these kinds of things?” she asked. “That’s where the opinion and input from our advisory committees play a big part.”