BERLIN – The top focus for the Ocean Pines Association going into the new year is a review of the organization’s structure.
The Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors has agreed that its top priority is addressing organizational structure. Board members want General Manager John Bailey to make whatever changes he needs to improve the efficiency of management. That could entail anything from hiring an assistant general manager to repurposing existing staff.
“We want to free him up to do what he’s really called to do as a general manager and not put out all these little fires everywhere,” board member Steve Tuttle said.
In a meeting Friday, the board confirmed that organizational structure was its top priority while other major concerns included the budget, improvements to the country club and IT/financial reporting. In an interview after the meeting, Tuttle said it was time for Bailey, who’s been in Ocean Pines slightly more than a year now, to use his extensive homeowners association experience to implement some changes. Doug Parks, president of the board, agreed. He pointed out that Bailey had inherited the existing organizational structure and had made it work but might be able to recommend some improvements. He said Bailey should consider the association’s future operational requirements and how to best meet those requirements.
“If it requires change in the organization, change in the resources, then you have to consider that and we have to consider supporting you.” He said. “That’s the idea.”
Parks said that at the end of the day, the association’s general manager should be its top official.
“The GM should be up here, he should be that front face, that executive, that’s interfacing with the press, and kind of general oversight rather than that ‘I’m down here in the weeds,’ that kind of stuff,” Parks said.
Board members want Bailey to identify what he needs to move the association forward.
“Tell us what you think you need in order to carry out your future vision for the operation of OPA…,” Parks said. “We have to think long-term. We have to look at what is required. When we’re not sitting here anymore, did we do our due diligence or were we an impediment to moving forward? I’d like to think we did our due diligence and hopefully provided some opportunities to grow and move forward.”
Bailey said that while Ocean Pines had accomplished much during the past year there were still enhancements to be made.
“At 50 years old as an association, a lot of things are going well,” he said. “There are some things we can tweak and make better.”