OPA Candidates Express Views At Community Forum; Ballots Mailed To Property Owners Next Month

BERLIN – Candidates shared their views on everything from fiscal responsibility to facility usage at a forum this week as the Ocean Pines Association prepares for its annual election.

All seven candidates running for the two available seats on the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) board of directors participated in a forum at the community center June 24. The recent management presentation outlining the idea of allowing community groups to use Pines facilities in exchange for performing community service proved to be a hot topic. Candidate Tom Herrick said the concept seemed to discourage amenity use.

“Let’s not solve the problem with making more problems,” he said.

Though it’s been reported that the community center receives thousands of requests from groups interested in using space there, Herrick says when he comes by in the afternoons there are no lines of people waiting to get in. If there is such a demand for space, community groups should be able to use room in other facilities.

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