Ocean Pines board votes to terminate several standing advisory committees after heated public comment

The Ocean Pines Association Board voted to terminate seven standing advisory committees on a motion introduced by Director Jeff Hefner, a decision that followed a sustained public-comment period in which many residents urged the board to preserve the volunteer panels.

The motion, carried by voice vote, names the committees slated for termination as aquatics; bylaws and resolutions; communications; environment and natural assets; golf; marine activities; recreation and parks; and strategic planning. Hefner said the intent is to shift to ad hoc working groups and temporary task forces that focus on discrete assignments, arguing that the association’s professional staff now has the depth to handle operational work while volunteers concentrate on targeted projects.

Why it matters: Residents called the committee network an institutional memory bank and a key channel for community input. Multiple commenters, including long-serving committee chairs, said standing committees shepherded projects such as water testing, oyster restoration and community events, and cautioned that eliminating them would reduce transparency, oversight and volunteer engagement.

At the public-comment podium, Keith Kaiser (28 Moonshell Drive) framed committees as "the purest form of self governance," noting volunteers donate time without pay and help the board maintain a link to residents’ priorities. Committee chairs and members gave specific examples: Donna McElroy said the Marine Activities committee organized a water-quality testing program and an oyster-cage project with about 120 cages that will report results Oct. 23; Linda Yurchi highlighted the Communications committee’s role creating the Ocean Pines Good Neighbors program and the season kickoff event; Gary Miller and others detailed recurring committee contributions to amenities and safety projects.

Board debate reflected the split. Supporters of the motion, including Director Hefner and Director Stuart Lakernick, said the change would allow greater flexibility, expand participation through clubs or ad hoc groups, and better leverage staff expertise. Opponents urged a slower, collaborative process. Director Steve (role label) recommended tabling a wholesale repeal and convening the Executive Council and committee chairs to craft a transition; he said any structural changes should be part of a broader plan rather than a rapid elimination.

The board also initiated a first reading to repeal the board resolutions that currently establish those advisory committees (resolution IDs cited by board materials), as required by the association’s procedural rules. The repeal will return for a second reading at a future board meeting.

What the board said it will do next: Directors indicated they will pursue transition steps, including creating ad hoc groups and communicating how residents can participate going forward. Several speakers asked for a public forum and a deliberate timeline; others said they will consider running for the board if committees are dissolved.

The meeting record shows the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; a specific roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript. The board proceeded with a first reading to repeal the committee-related resolutions and moved on to other business.