Tuesday, May 6, 2025 was one of the more interesting days over the last couple of decades when it comes to the Worcester County Commissioners. The date might not live in infamy, but it certainly was memorable.

The day involved two events. A regular morning meeting of the Commissioners, followed by a Public Hearing on controversial aspects of the County budget. The former expected to be rather normal; the latter expected to produce fireworks.

Fireworks because Ocean Pines Association board members and many property owners intended to go to Snow Hill for the evening Public Hearing to protest. Their concern? What they saw as an attempt by some Commissioners to make ratepayers in Ocean Pines foot the bill for sewer and water service financial losses in other areas of the County.

As it turned out, the regular morning Commissioners meeting produced the fireworks while the evening public hearing became a dud for those Commissioners hoping to tap into the wallets of people in Ocean Pines.

Let's dispense with the evening Public Hearing first.

To quote from a post to OceanPinesForum.com by County Commissioner Chip Bertino, "During his budget presentation at the top of last night's meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said that after considerable staff review, Option 3 was not feasible because it was contrary to county code and that bond counsel advised against transferring debt across service areas."

Option 3, otherwise known as the option to ripoff ratepayers in Ocean Pines, was pushed by Commissioners Mitrecic, Elder, Fiori, and Purnell.

They sat silent after Young said what they wanted to do was illegal and might adversely impact County bonding. Regardless, don't be surprised to see some new version of the "ripoff option" next year when the Commissioners may be looking for $6 million or more to support service areas like Glen Riddle where, unlike Ocean Pines, residents do not pay what is needed to support their systems.

Of the four commissioners promoting the financial ripoff of Ocean Pines ratepayers, Mitrecic and Fiori were far from quiet about the same issue during the morning Commissioners meeting. Fact is, Mitrecic and Fiori acted unhinged, personally attacking Commissioner Chip Bertino in angry voices.

Mitrecic accused Bertino of flat out lying during a Town Hall Meeting held by Bertino and Commissioner Jim Bunting.

Fiori accused Bertino of trying to "ruin" his businesses. Fiore demanded an apology.

Fiore yet again tried to act like a prosecuting attorney in a criminal case, angrily demanding Bertino answer his questions - to no avail.

Bertino remained calm.

Their issue is apparently over whether the Commissioners voted on some motion or not and what was included.

Bertino's written presentation at the Town Hall meeting contained the following statement that is the core of the outrage expressed by Mitrecic and Fiori.

"To make up the entire deficit, a majority of Commissioners (Elder, Fiori, Mitrecic and Purnell) vote to require ALL SERVICE AREAS - regardless of debt contribution - to repay the shortage amount in equal shares. This equates to about $32 per ratepayer per quarter on top of any other rate adjustments that are necessary within a service area."

Prior to the Bertino/Bunting Town Hall, Bertino made it very clear the Commissioners had not voted on any specific rate structure. His comment, quoted above, reflects his accurate view that by voting to propose only a single option for the then upcoming public hearing, the net effect was what he told attendees at the Town Hall meeting.

Semantics aside, any reasonable person listening to what Elder, Fiori, Mitrecic and Purnell had to say in the past could only conclude their clear intent was to produce a budget that would see Ocean Pines ratepayers foot the bill for much of the losses in other districts like Glen Riddle.

The loss of composure by Mitrecic and Fiori was rather disgraceful.