The Ocean Pines Board of Directors met in the Administration Board Room on the evening of August 12, 2025, to conduct the HOA's Organization Meeting and elect corporate officers for the coming year as well as to make various appointments

Elected Officers:

• President – John Latham
• Vice President – Rick Farr
• Secretary – Jeff Heavner
• Treasurer – Monica Rakowski

Appointments:

• Assistant Secretary – Linda Martin
• Assistant Treasurer – Mark Swift
• Legal Counsel – Bruce Bright (Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A.)
• Auditors – UHY, LLC
• Parliamentarian – Doug Parks

The election of John Latham was expected, and an excellent choice. Electing Rick Farr again as Vice President was somewhat of a surprise. Heavner was seen to be the favorite for that position this year. Instead, Heavner was elected Secretary, and Rakowski was re-elected Treasurer.

Overall, OPA is again good hands for the coming year.

The only substantive issue to arise was when it came to appointments. Board member Elaine Brady questioned whether the Board should vote on those or whether the board President had the authority to pick the appointments on his own. Stuart Lakernick said the Board should vote on the appointments.

Brady turned and asked Linda Martin a question about the issue. Martin then referenced Board Resolution B-03 that states the President appoints the Parliamentarian. Problem is, B-03 only applies to "Meetings of Association Members."

After some brief discussion, the Board proceeded to vote on the appointments. All but one appointment were approved unanimously. The exception was Doug Parks as Parliamentarian. Steve Jacobs voted "NAY." Jacobs did not provide any reason for his vote.

In retrospect, Jacobs was perhaps correct. That is not to suggest Parks is not a dedicated
association member who has devoted over 10 years in volunteering - serving on the Board for seven years and on committees. Association members owe Parks a thank-you for his years of dedicated service.

The issue here is the position of Parliamentarian. It should not be held by anyone with deep, public, political support of the Board members in majority control of OPA. A less politically involved association member might be more appropriate. For example, the late Jim Trummel, a long time member of the Bylaws & Resolutions Committee, is the sort of individual the Board should seek out for the role.

There is also the legal question of whether OPA is required to appoint a Parliamentarian or if it is optional, and whether any decision by the Parliamentarian may be overruled by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Perhaps the Board should ask General Counsel Bruce Bright.

To conclude comments on the Orientation Meeting, on what hopefully is seen as an attempt at Board political humor, the NAY vote by Jacobs may see him ejected from the board "band" just a few days after Rick Farr seemed to make him a Board Blues Brothers "band" member.

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Image below from Joe Reynolds - Image Title: OPA 2025/2026 Officers Uploaded: 8/13/2025
Image Info: OPA corporate officers for the coming year, along with General Manager and re-appointed General Counsel.

Left to rignt:

• Monica Rakowski - Treasurer
• Rick Farr - Vice-President
• John Latham - President
• Bruce Bright - General Counsel
• Jeff Heavner - Secretary
• John Viola - General Manager