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Search committee to meet in closed session on May 11

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 19, 2018) Search Committee Chairman Ken Koroknay wagered last Friday that the Ocean Pines Association would have enough board of director filings by the May 10 deadline.

As of press time, three applications had been received and at least five are required during this election cycle. Association bylaws require “two more than the number of vacancies to be filled,” which this year totals three.

If not enough candidates file, the bylaws state, “the board of directors shall attempt to solicit sufficient candidates to bring the total number to at least two more than the number of vacancies to be filled. The additional candidates’ applications shall be submitted to the secretary before the ballots are submitted for printing.”

Koroknay said he believes there will be enough interest.

“It’s no secret that it’s been a challenging half-year or so for the board, but my own view is I think a lot of the stuff that has come out has offered a window for some candidates to come in and say, ‘I think we can turn a corner and start something new,’” he said.

“If think we’re getting interest,” Koroknay continued. “If I had to bet … I would bet that we’re probably going to have [several] candidates.

Following the candidate filing deadline, Ocean Pines Association Secretary Colette Horn will have several weeks to verify the eligibility of each applicant before a formal announcement is made, on or before June 1.

Koroknay said his committee would meet in closed session on May 11 to discuss the applications.

“We will have the delivery of the candidate application forms to the search committee, and we will look them over, review them, take control of them, and deliver them to [Horn],” Koroknay said, adding the closed session was necessary because of “confidential information” on application forms.

Bylaws require candidates to be property owners in good standing, which means current on assessments and free of any violations.

“It’s still confidential information as to who the candidates are until Dr. Horn delivers those, certified,” Koroknay said. “Personally, I would look at Resolution M-09, which is the resolution for the search process, and it’s very clear that you’ve got to respect the confidentiality of the candidate applications. For me, that’s the justification for going into a closed session.”

Koroknay said he talked to association President Doug Parks, who advised him to open the meeting, offer public comments, and then go into closed session.

Elections Committee Chairman Steve Habeger said he believed the closed session was justified, based on language in the Maryland Homeowners Act.

“If you’re having a committee [or] subcommittee task force, it’s pretty broad,” Habeger said.