Perrone addresses water quality, mailbox clusters

(Nov. 22, 2021) Ocean Pines Association President Larry Perrone on Saturday said an anomalous test was to blame for false reports that elevated levels of human waste were found in community ponds.  

Also on Saturday, Perrone gave an update on mailbox clusters, and thanked outgoing Elections Committee Chairperson Steve Habeger for his years of volunteer service.  

About a month ago, Perrone said former Environment and Natural Assets Committee member Marty Clarke “made an allegation on social media that this Board was hiding test results from the community regarding testing that had occurred in the ponds.” 

Perrone said he addressed the matter this week with the committee, but also wanted to supply an update to the larger community.  

“This board receives a lot of allegations on a routine basis and normally we just don't respond to them, but this one I think was a little more serious,” he said.  

Perrone said he and Association Vice President Colette Horn received a call from former Board member Tom Janasek last December, “advising us that a recent test done on the ponds indicated that there was a high level of human waste in the pond.” Janasek had been the liaison to the Environment and Natural Assets Committee. 

“The initial report indicated that it was most likely an anomaly because the number was so high,” Perrone said. “We agreed at that point to go ahead and have the test redone, and we would wait and see what the second test result showed.” 

He said a second test was done, but the Board never received the results.  

“About a month ago, coincidentally the day after Director Janasek had resigned, Marty Clarke made these allegations on the Ocean Pines Forum that the Board had the results and that the Board was hiding these results. And in fact, in one email [Clarke] indicated that the Board was negligent for not putting up barriers or fencing around the ponds,” Perrone said. “Clearly, the Board had not received the results.” 

Perrone said he received environmental reports this week from testing done on Sept. 19, as well as from initial testing done last year.  

“And as expected, the second report indicated that ... there was an anomaly and there was no problem regarding human waste in the ponds,” he said. “It was very disappointing that these allegations were made against this Board and the general manager that we were hiding these results. I wanted to clear that up with the community.” 

Perrone said he gave copies of the reports this week to Horn, General Manager John Viola, and Director Amy Peck, who is the current liaison to the Environment and Natural Assets Committee. He said additional copies would be made available to any Board member who requested them.  

“I wanted to make sure the community understood that this Board did not hide anything from anybody, contrary to Mr. Clarke's allegations,” Perrone said. 

Also on Saturday, Perrone gave a brief update on mailbox clusters.  

“There's been a lot of discussion in the community, and rightfully so, about the conditions of the mailboxes,” Perrone said. “The issue with the mailboxes at this point has been turned over to Congressman Andy Harris's office to address. 

“We submitted a constituent's authorization form yesterday to Congressman Harris's office, [and] he has a staffer who will work directly with the United States Post Office,” Perrone continued. “We sent them the constituent form along with a spreadsheet of all of our cluster boxes, and then in addition a group of photographs … showing the current conditions of the boxes.” 

Perrone said the Post Office would next survey the boxes with representatives from Ocean Pines Public Works, “and see if we can put a plan together to try to get these things either replaced or properly maintained.” 

“At this point, this issue lies with Congressman Harris's office, and we'll see what they're able to do for us,” he said.  

Perrone also thanked Habeger, who has led the Elections Committee since 2018. On Friday, Habeger announced that his term was up and that Carol Ludwig would become the new chairperson.  

“I wanted to express the Board's thanks to Steve Habeger, who as of yesterday turned over the reins of the Elections Committee to Carol Ludwig. Steve's been the chairman for the last five years and he has done an outstanding job and [is] a man of the highest quality and integrity,” Perrone said.  

“While we understand he wanted to move on to other things, he's going to be sorely missed as the chairman of the Elections Committee,” Perrone continued. “I saw Steve yesterday and thanked him, but again wanted to officially and formally thank him on behalf of the Board and the community.”