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Published On: 3/5/15

Ocean Pines General Manager Critical Of Golf Decision; Board’s Due Diligence Questioned

By: DispatchAdmin via Maryland Coast Dispatch

BERLIN – A week after members of the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors agreed to hire Landscapes Unlimited, the association’s general manager questioned their decision to begin negotiations with the golf management company.

During Saturday’s regular meeting of the board, Thompson voiced concerns about the lack of research conducted by the board prior to the decision to replace Billy Casper Golf–the company that’s managed the course for four years–with Nebraska-based Landscapes Unlimited.

“It does not appear we did our due diligence,” Thompson said. “I think it’s important to note that.”

Thompson prefaced his comments by saying that he didn’t mean to be adversarial but felt he had the responsibility to approach the board because he was being questioned by the Ocean Pines Association membership.

“I’m concerned that we made a decision to go in a different direction and I think I have a responsibility to at least ask the board as a whole to clarify some things for me,” Thompson said.

Thompson said that though the board did site visits and reference checks on Casper Golf before it was selected to run the Pines course, the same was not done before the decision to hire Landscapes Unlimited. He said by not doing its homework, the board was jeopardizing the longevity of the course as well as impacting its members and employees.

“We didn’t do a background check or visit any of the Landscapes Unlimited courses,” Thompson said.

He said he also sought clarification on what would happen to the course’s current employees when Casper’s contract expired April 30. Although Landscapes Unlimited officials indicated they would like to keep some of the staff in place, Thompson said he wasn’t sure what that meant.

“I’m a little concerned here and I’m just not sure how to answer my membership,” he said.

Thompson said the board’s move to hire Landscapes Unlimited without thoroughly researching the company was simply an oversight.

“I think it’s important we understand that because if we make a mistake now and recognize it, it’s not the mistake that matters it’s what we actually do in light of making it,” Thompson said.

Dave Stevens, president of the board, said there had been no oversight. He also said the board was negotiating a contract with Landscapes Unlimited and would not reopen the uation process. Stevens said Thompson was challenging a decision that had already been made.

“If I see something that’s a concern who do I bring it up to?” Thompson replied. “The board. That’s what I’m doing.”

Stevens said if Thompson was concerned he should have said so before the board voted to enter contract discussions with the new company.

“You’re not bringing it up to the board you’re bringing it up to the public,” Stevens said. “If there was a time to bring this up, it was during the uation process, not afterward.”

 

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