By Greg Ellison

Staff Writer

(Aug. 15, 2019)

While highlighting a significant economic turnaround experienced during fiscal 2019, Ocean Pines Association President Doug Parks credited a variety of parties for assisting in flipping the script to take the net operating fuAssistant Treasurernd from a seven-figure deficit in 2018 to a six-figure surplus currently.

“I think everybody in this room and … in the organization needs to applaud themselves,” he said. “As a community, we should congratulate ourselves because we, collectively, helped with the economic turnaround.”

During the Ocean Pines homeowners Annual Meeting on Saturday, Parks said without the participation of members who lending strong support to the array of amenities provided in Ocean Pines, the changes enacted that resulted in financial improvements would have been unlikely.

In addition to heaping praise internally, Parks pointed out another crucial element that brightened the financial outlook.

“The other part of it too, if you remember, [was] the forensic audit,” he said.

Parks said OPA members could request a copy of the audit by emailing Executive Secretary Michelle Bennett at mbennett@oceanpines.org. Name, address and phone number must be included.

Diving further into fiscal improvements, Parks expressed gratitude for the assistance of former Assistant Treasurer Gene Ringsdorf in finalizing updates to a reserve study.

“He did an outstanding job, along with the Budget and Finance Committee, in bringing the reserve study up to date with all the assets that we have,” he said. “I can’t stress the level of importance in having that reserve study accurate.”

Parks said the improved budget figures occurred during a change in leadership, with Chief Financial Officer John Viola taking the reins as general manager in late March. In June, a six-month extension was negotiated to allow Viola to serve through Dec. 1, while a permanent replacement could be found following the resignation of former OPA GM John Bailey in February

“We took that, as a board, as a challenge to try and figure out how do we transition from the situation we had to a situation where we hopefully go forward,” he said. “I won’t go into all the details but I think the results, now, are speaking for themselves.”

Again acknowledging the team effort involved, Parks said OPA leadership worked hand-in-hand with staff to drive the financial comeback.

“I think the staff needs to be commended on their involvement in helping turn Ocean Pines around as well,” he said.

Additionally, Parks applauded two individuals who filled voids left by resigning board members.

“Jeff Knepper and Tom Piatti were asked to help the community … get through the business of Ocean Pines,” Parks said. “Their contributions over the past several months have been many and I … wanted to publicly thank Jeff and Tom for stepping in.”

Further fueling the change in outlook, Parks said town hall meetings held in March and last November proved instrumental in garnering community input.

Parks said plans are to gauge membership interest in holding future town hall meetings to foster community brainstorming.

Regardless of upcoming pursuits, Parks said a multitude of projects were initiated during 2019, including: replacing the golf course clubhouse and cart barn, upgrades to the administration building to increase footage for police operations and construction of a new craft building.

Among the bright ideas enacted during 2019, Parks noted improvements at the Beach Club.

“If you haven’t been there, it’s really nice,” he said. “There’s a new bar area there that allows for more patrons to be able to sit down and take a look at the ocean.”

The revamped layout came in the wake of the Matt Ort Company taking over food operations at the Beach Club and Yacht Club, Parks said.

Looking to continue the successful partnership, Parks said the OPA board has reached an agreement, in principal, to retain the Matt Ort Company to operate food and beverage operations.

Switching the channel, Parks said new contact terms were recently reached with Mediacom.

“I know Mediacom is a sore subject [and] I hope nobody has any objections because I won’t be able to get out of the way fast enough,” he said. “Our agreement … is to let them bring their services through our easements and rights of way. It’s not a retail agreement [or] a pricing agreement.”

The contract allows Mediacom to use easements to access individual customers, Parks said.

“Can we push them to try and better their service?” he said. “I think we should have that discussion and I’m open to suggestions.”

On a related front, Parks said the OPA Board is in contract discussions with Comcast for a comparable agreement.

“We’re in final negotiations for a contract to allow Comcast to access those very same rights of way and easements to provide their services,” he said.

Comcast had approached the board with a slightly different pitch, Parks said.

“About 18 months ago, Comcast offered to provide services in exchange for a guarantee that all 8,452 homeowners sign up for basic cable, which would’ve increased your assessment by $360,” he said.

Although not enthused with the earlier terms, Parks said the current negotiations appear to be near completion.

“We’re in lengthy discussions with them right now and hopefully we’ll be able to bring that in,” he said.

The annual meeting also provided Parks an opportunity to revisit the Ocean Pines 50th Anniversary celebrations held last year.

The yearlong slate of celebrations included a parade, golf tournament, community day and sock hop before culminating with a gala at the Yacht Club.

“I just wanted to point out a special thanks to the 50th Anniversary Committee … and specifically [Chairwoman] Jenny Cropper Rines for her involvement in organizing all these activities,” he said. “It was a wonderful celebration that we should be proud of.”