An Ocean Pines resident has threatened a lawsuit over a “task force” established by the General Manager of the Ocean Pines Association (OPA). The “task force” meets behind closed doors with OPA GM Bob Thompson to advise him on various aspects of running the association, which is more like a small municipality than it is your typical homeowners association.
During public comments at last Wednesday’s OPA board meeting, Pines resident Joe Reynolds requested that the board direct Thompson to open the meetings to the public.
The matter was discussed by the board, but a motion to open the meetings failed by a 6 – 1 vote. After the motion failed, Reynolds threatened a lawsuit, claiming that the GM’s action was a violation of the Maryland Homeowners’ Association Act.
When asked for an explanation of why the meetings are closed, OPA board president Tom Terry gave the following explanation:
This committee is composed of volunteers who advise the General Manager. They advise. They do not have the power to spend money or set policy. That is the responsibility of the (OPA) board. Our meetings are open to the public.
Ocean Pines has a strange governing structure. Structured as a homeowners’ association, the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) acts in many ways like a municipality. It has its own police force; its own utilities; its own parks department. The OPA levies taxes, but they are classified as “assessments”.
2 comments:
I have lived in this community for over 20 years as a full time resident. If I had known then what I know now this would be the last place I would choose to reside. Over the past ten to fifteen years our fearless leaders act like the Gestapo or the idiots we have in Washington. All they know is tax and spend and you get very little bang for the buck. It should be taken over by the county and eliminate the bottomless pit of money that they continue to increase by way of assessments. Most residents are retired and on a fixed income and the $843.00 with future increases are absurd. If the amenities were run as a business most would be shut down.The golf course has lost a major number of members as well as the enclosed pool along with a continuous drop in the use of the yacht club.
I'll bet it was to discuss that special entrance road deal they are doing wity Burbage and Steen on the south side
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