3/21/2007

What a fine mess
A Commentary by Chip Bertino

"A fine mess you've gotten us into this time!"  I'm reminded of that immortal line from the comedy greats, Laurel and Hardy, as I think about the status of the Ocean Pines Community Center and the community as a whole.  Here we are a year and half after property owners voted on a referendum to build the facility and not only isn't it built, its costs have escalated, it has become the subject of a lawsuit and it is now going back to referendum.

Why?  It's easy to point the finger of blame, there is such a cast of characters that all you have to do is look in any one direction and find someone you think is at fault:  the OPA Board of Directors, the S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Ocean Pines) group, the contractor, the lady walking her dog and the list goes on.  All, some or none of the above may be the problem depending on your point of view. 

The Ocean Pines Board of Directors has done itself no favors in the way it has handled this project.  Motivated to construct a new facility, they did what they felt was necessary to get the 2005 referendum passed.  It was only going to cost about $3.9 million.  Forget about whether that was for a turnkey facility or if that was for an unfurnished, unlandscaped, or incomplete shell.  Last fall the construction figure was revised upward to $6.1 million before being scaled back to $5.4 million.  That's a heck of a jump by anyone's standards.  All sorts of reasons were given for this increase including the rising costs in building materials and the aftermath of Katrina.  Come on, let's face it the reason for the cost increase was poor initial planning and a reluctance on the part of the board at that time to tell the membership what they needed to hear and not what the board thought they wanted to hear.  No doubt the failures of previous referendums to build a Community Center were on their minds as they set about to get as many "YES" votes as possible. 

Plans for the building were scaled back from the design put forth in an earlier referendum, which many referred to disparagingly as a "Taj Mahal."  So, the result was a plan that looked good on paper, at least to a slim majority, that didn't cost an exorbitant amount and that would pretty much fill the needs of the community.  So we were told.  The problem was that more attention and effort was spent on how to "sell" the concept to the membership than making sure what was sold was accurate, complete and forthright.  In hindsight, the question becomes, what were they thinking?

Let's put all the cards on the table here and not mince words.  There is a perception that Ocean Pines property owners don't like spending money.  How has this stereotype taken hold in the minds of many?  Could it be because there is a vocal group who would prefer to avoid paying for facility maintenance; who would prefer not paying for meeting space and who would prefer to have the community at large underwrite the cost of their beverages and meals when they belong to a club that meets at an Ocean Pines facility?

So in a charged environment where just the murmur of raising annual assessments sparks hues and cries and has sent OPA Board members over the years scurrying for cover and eventually raising a white flag, what should board members have done if they felt it necessary to undertake a major project like the Community Center?

Hindsight is a wonderful advantage in any situation and can certainly be applied here.  It would have been extraordinarily helpful if the OPA Board had identified and gotten behind just one major project, applying its energy to get it completed.  Instead many items have been added to the discussion resulting in Board and community distraction and providing ammunition for those who believe the Board is out of control.    Let's review some of the major efforts that the Board has attempted to tackle in the last couple years.  There is of course the Community Center.  Then there's the expansion of the marina facilities at the Swim and Racquet Club.  Let's not forget the pool enclosure or the resignation of the previous general manager, and the subsequent search for and hiring of a successor.  And just to add a cherry on top of all this, annual assessments have jumped up $150.  That's quite a lot to get your arms around, whether you're a member of the Board or a property owner.

So what happens now?  Well, clearly there will be a referendum on whether OPA can spend an additional $1.5 million to complete the project.  How the vote will go is anyone's guess.  But let me lay out a scenario. 

Property owners will not be voting on the merits of whether Ocean Pines needs a new Community Center.  They will use the referendum as an opportunity to show their support or lack thereof for the Board's actions on a number of issues not all related to the Community Center: the aforementioned pool enclosure, the marina expansion, the assessment increase, the handling of the golf facilities, the overall conduct of the current Board and anything else with which a property owner is frustrated.

Those who voted no last time will vote no again.  Nothing during the time of the last vote has changed their minds.  If anything, what has transpired has only strengthened their resolve.  A number of property owners who voted yes in 2005 will vote no this time.  They'll do so not because they don't believe in the project, but because they feel things are out of control.

Opponents of the project can make a strong argument, unwittingly, yet certainly, supplied to them by the OPA Board.  All opponents have to say is, "look how they bungled this project.  The price went up nearly 100% from the last vote.  How do we know the Board has gotten it right this time?"  Of course supporters of the project will claim there will still be costs if the project is cancelled, maybe upwards of over $1.5 million.  No matter the results of the vote, there will be no winners.

What a fine mess indeed.  But unfortunately, that's where we are.  You have to hand it to Laurel and Hardy.  At least they knew how to find a happy ending.

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