ELIZABETH BONIN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Both full-time and seasonal residents of the White Horse Park campground subdivision in Berlin have claimed that verbal harassment and one case of physical assault has torn apart the once friendly community.
By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff Writer
(Oct. 24, 2019) Claims of verbal harassment and physical assault involving the seasonal and full-time residents of White Horse Park have only added to the drama of year-round occupants seeking permission to continue living in the seasonal community.
The case of five full-time residents will go to the Board of Zoning Appeals, presumably in the second week of November, where they will argue that Worcester County government waited too long to enforce the seasonal residency rules required by the park’s current zoning status.
As it stands, the community’s zoning stipulates that residents may only occupy their properties for 30 consecutive days, or an aggregate of 60 days, between Sept. 30 and April 1, while they may live there full-time throughout the other months.
However, following the county commissioners’ decision in September not to rezone the parcel, residents who violate the zoning standards could begin receiving fines of up to $1,000 a day after Nov. 1.
As for the assault case, full-time resident Bob Harrison said an altercation between himself and Melissa Peters, acting president of the board of directors at the park, occurred just prior to the Sept. 21 board of directors meeting at the park.
“They opened the door at 10 and I started to go through it,” Harrison said. “She [Peters] jumped in front of me and put her hands on me. As soon as she did that, I pushed her out of the way and walked in.”
Harrison filed charges against Peters two days later. The case will be tried on Dec. 6. Peters is charged with second-degree assault. She declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Donna Linkins and Jeff Zablocki, both seasonal residents, alleged that there have been overdoses and hard drug deals amongst the full-timers and their visitors in the park, but Lt. Ed Schreier with the Worcester County Sheriff’s office stated that the office has not investigated any controlled dangerous substance cases in White Horse Park in over a year.
What the seasonal and full-timers can at least agree on is how divided the community has become.
“It feels like the North against the South,” Harrison said.
Zablocki said seasonal owners fear the park rules will be controlled by a minority population.
“At the last meeting, it was the equivalent of how Democrats and Republicans act,” Zablocki said. “There is no working across the aisle.”
Zablocki said that the full-time residents in the park was “the best kept secret in Ocean City” and questioned why the full-timers brought attention to their illegal residency.
“They’re the ones that told the county they were living there and asked permission at the same time,” Zablocki said. “If you know what you’re doing isn’t accepted or legal, why would you ask permission?”
Zablocki clarified that he doesn’t have a problem with the full-time residents themselves, but feels it’s unfair for them to have rights and privileges if the same are not granted to the whole park.
“I feel bad for people,” Zablocki said. “I truly do. But it’s an all for one or none for all.”
Seasonal resident Bob Seeders said he fears that the full-time usage of the water and sewer will wear on the equipment. In addition, the conflict between the residents has interrupted typical community life.
“It’s been such a disrupting thing that our board of directors can’t actually hold a meeting,” Seeders said. “The last meeting was actually cancelled.”
The sign at the entrance to the park states that the October board of directors meeting is cancelled. According to Seeders, the board of directors has been booed and verbally harassed by full-time residents at meetings. Linkins the full-time residents harassed and bullied the past two board presidents until they resigned, leaving Peters as the acting president. She added that some of the bullying and harassment has been directed at seasonal residents, leaving them in fear of retaliation.
“Why are 50 people holding this entire park hostage?” Linkins said.
She also questioned the reliability of the full-timer’s claim that they do not have the means to move.
“These people aren’t as destitute as they make it out to be,” Linkins said. “Some of them own two properties and they plan on splitting their properties in the winter so they don’t have to leave. Now, that being said, there probably are a few hardship cases, but the county has also reached out with services to assist them.”
Zablocki confirmed that he owns two properties in the park. Linkins defended the actions the park board of directors have taken to enforce residency rules.
“They’re just trying to keep low with the county and keep everything appeased so our park doesn’t get closed full-time for the winter,” Linkins said. “They have to do what the county at this point tells them to do to enforce and monitor this full-time living.”
Zablocki agreed with the county’s decision to enforce seasonal residency, even if they chose to shut the park down.
“I’ll defend whatever the county decides,” Zablocki said. “But whatever they decide, I hope it’s for all of the park and not just a portion of the park.”