By Greg Ellison

(Nov. 26, 2020) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors approved two capital purchases for grounds equipment and reviewed the formation of a work group to update association bylaws during its meeting on Wednesday.

General Manager John Viola presented a pair of capital purchase requests from OPA Public Works for a John Deere tractor and a rough mower for the golf course.

“Public Works needs this tractor to save on labor and do the cleaning of the ditches for the drainage,” he said.

The equipment was included in the current fiscal year budget, but prices have increased in recent months following the covid-19 pandemic, Viola said.

“We have [three] bids now and it is approximately $35,000 higher than we had in the budget,” he said.

Viola said contingent on board approval the tractor could be obtained in under two months.

The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase from Atlantic Tractor for roughly $150,000.

Turning to golf maintenance needs, Viola said although not included in the current fiscal year budget a new mower would be required to continue properly maintaining fairway roughs.

“One of the problems we have … the rough for one reason or another was very high but not anymore,” he said. “We made sure to keep that rough low, but with that said, we need the proper equipment to do it.”

Viola said the purchase would be a replacement item and update a pair of outdated models currently in use.

“One is basically for parts,” he said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase from Turf Equipment Supply Company for roughly $66,000.

Director Colette Horn also updated the board on the formation of a work group to review and update association bylaws.

Horn said the  raBylaws and Resolutions Committeeised the issue in its annual report that was submitted during the recent Executive Council meeting.

The committees’ report, while noting the bylaws were last updated in 2008, recommended areas to analyze for possible revisions would include election processes and precisely defining what constitutes an “informal” board action.

Horn noted OPA legal counsel has made a comparable suggestion over the last few years.

Horn proposed forming a work group to accomplish the task that would include board members Camilla Rogers and Doug Parks.

Parks, who is currently the board liaison for Bylaws, said he relished the idea of working with Rogers and Committee Chairman Jim Trummel.

“I think we’ve got some momentum on that [and] certainly, I’m looking forward to serving,” he said.

Potential changes to Ocean Pines Association Bylaws would require the approval of members through a referendum.