What makes you think the HOA is looking out for you and not just the 3 apartment complex owners that have two of their employees on the board and have 'elected' 5 others?

Did you vote in the last POCA election? or are you just as responsible as everyone else who didn't have the time?

@Megan this is really disappointing. Maria is right, if you had a concern communicating with a particular guard, why didn't you raise it with the pool manager or community manager?

First, POCA chose Continental Pools, a top pool management company in the region, for several reasons, the chief among them being SAFETY. Continental guards undergo the same training and licensing program used by Disney and the major US water parks. The guards are licensed (as opposed to a 3-year certification), and do in-service each week to keep their skills fresh. In addition, we have more guards at the pools this season and those lifeguards are all experienced and in their twenties as opposed to teenagers.

Second, I want to put to rest this claim that the guards do not speak English. There are 25 lifeguards at Piney Orchard this season from outside the US. They are university students who have had formal training in English as part of their education, they have demonstrated English proficiency to US Embassy staff to get their J-1 Visas, they have completed their International Lifeguard training overseas in English where they were screened and evaluated, and they were further screened and evaluated in English at the Spring “Camp Continental” Pre-Season lifeguard training here in the US. Given its industry reputation, safety track record and large client base, Continental is extremely selective in selection of its lifeguards. They are doing a great job for us this season.

Hey Jeff,

I hate to break it to you buddy, but you're missing one major thing: customer service. You may not think it is important, but honestly, how many times are there safety issues? Maybe 3 a whole summer tops, so what do you think the company you hired should also focus on besides safety? I'll give you a hint; maybe cleanliness, communication and overall customer satisfaction? You have gotten these complaints, and trust me, when you're an actual Piney Orchard resident, you hear a lot. With the small interaction of people here I do interact with, I can say there have already been numerous complaints.

Just think of all the complaints that aren't being posted here or voiced through whatever stupid process you want people to go through, where in the end their voice will either get shot down, ignored, or mysteriously vanish.

@Linda, the pool company hires the best people they can find. If you go to Ocean City or any major water park you will find a large number of international lifeguards. Contrary to the article, we have several here on site this season who are US citizens, some who have worked here in the past, and one is about to become a paramedic. @Hank noted the contractual constraint with hiring guards who worked here last year.

Additionally, hiring "local kids" is not always the best approach, and we have had problems in the past with a POCA Director voting on pool contract matters when her daughter was being considered for employment and then employed on site by the pool company. Pool contract decisions should be based on what is best for the community overall and the issue of whose kids might not have a job next season should not ever be a factor.

Not speaking English is unexcusable? It's inexcusable.

The decision on the pool company was a unanimous vote of the entire board.

Amen! Once again Jeff, you really don't have many friends here.

A unanomoius vote by a Board that was appointed by the three apartment homeowners with what I believe are illegal proxies. The Board represents no one except those apartment complex owners so you get no credibility by showing that once again 3 people, for now, control the rights of all the rest of us.

Talk about third world countries. YOU are the true enemy of the state.

@Megan, for the record we follow up on every complaint and ask the patron for the pool, date/time, and description of the lifeguard (if a staff issue), so that we can follow up and address matters. I see and track all of them wtih the Community Manager, just like I did last season. But it sounds like you may be interested more in stirring up the pot with your friends who didn't like the decision to change companies, than addressing any particular incident that affected you. I don't get unhappy any more when people complain publcly - that's part of the job.. But if you're going to put something out there in public without backing up, be prepared to hear the facts and get the real story.

Contrary to your statements, you did raise safety issues as welll as issues of the staff's work ethic, and as someone who deals with this every day, who has spoken to all 32 of the lifeguards this season, and who has personally been on site at all the pools every weekend since opening, I can say that everything is cleaner, we have had no incidents, and are more on top of maintenance items than in any other season since I have lived here. My weekly punch list is less than a quarter of what it was last year.

My goal is not to make you, your friends or everyone happy -- that's an impossible task. Rather, my goal is to make sure the pools are safe, clean, well-run facilities where Piney Orchard families can enjoy themselves during the summer.

Wait Jeff you have a weekly punch list? You know it's not good to want to hurt people. Have you ever considered taking yoga?

@Jason. Even though that you don't live in Piney Orchard, I'll respond to it. State Department regulations state that those in J-1 Visa Progam "must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate in their programs" and all personally interviewed. Moreover, the company interviews them, does all training in English and they are screened twice, with both written and practical exams, and most importantly, this is a top notch company in this region with a reputation, liability, and professional standards of their own, so it is not in their interest to place someone who can't handle the job. Not once has anyone come to us to say "Guard X at this pool didnt understand what I was saying" or "I couldn't understand what Guard X was saying to me." Instead all we get are these vague and broad brush statements without much behind them apparently.

haha it's funny because Jeff knows it's true and has no answer.

@Megan, so now its cleanliness and bugs? These are outdoor facilities. We do get bugs from time to time, which is why we have the exterminators come in to the Community Center and pools regularly, and as needed in between. In fact, they are due in at the Island pool early next week. But the point you seem to be missing is that there is a process already set up for taking care of things that come up that people see. If you think a bathroom is dirty, raise it with the manager. Staff are in and out cleaning all day and we log when and who cleaned and at what time, so based on your feedback they may need to adjust the checks more frequently or they might have been due in for a check anyway. And if you spoke to a pool manager, and the matter wasn't resolved, call the property manager and give her details. We have accountablity systems built in throughout all of this, but if people don't let management know the specifics in a timely manner we can't use them to address the problem, and posting it on a blog that I don't happen to read until 5 days later is not the most efficient way to get things done.

Hey Scott, the pool across from your house is the Rotary pool, not the Island pool. We have maps at the Community center if you need one.

Pathetic response to Scott by our Board President. Never know a Board President to be so condescending to his constituency in my life. Obviously Jeff believes that he represents who he wants to represent and not the homeowners. What a pathetic excuse for a human being. BUT we get what we get when the majority of the HOA fails to vote.

@John, and if its clean are you still going to take photos and come to our meeting too? Next meetiing is on July 16 at 6:30 pm. Hope to see you there.

@Jeff. First of all, I would never judge the bathroom based on one moment in time. That wouldn't be fair. I'd only get concerned if I saw a pattern of the bathroom being filthy.

PLEASE DON'T let him, or anyone, have the last word. That is how evil wins. PLEASE continue to voice your opinion and observations. When good people do nothing EVIL wins out.

KEEP BEING WHO YOU ARE AND KEEP SPEAKING OUT!!!

Hey big man Jeff,

Why don't you stop being such a jack ass! DRD didn't hire nearly as many internationals. They also weren't regulars at the pools. In fact, they probably comprised of less than 5% of all the lifeguards working at the pools. And what does "best value" even mean? Do you know how many times I've seen these Continental pool international lifeguards biking over 5 miles to work each day? It's ridiculous. The water at the pools is filthy, the bathrooms are hideous, and they don't speak english.

P.S. Getting rid of DRD because you hate Peg Waters and wanted to put her daughter out of work is one of the most f'ed up things I've ever heard of. How do you hold a grudge that badly?

Hank hit it on the head. This Board - and you Jeff - present as politically dictitorial and corrupt as they come. ANYONE out there willing to join me in asking for a Senatorial and Attorney General's investigation into all this corruption?

Contact Senator Rosapep and demand an investigation and hearings today!!!!!

It's always a conspiracy with you guys. I am too busy to hold grudges. The contract was up for renewal and it was bid out last fall, as opposed to the past when people tried to simply extend the contract without competing it. It was extended without competition in 2008 in 2009, and in 2010, the Board overturned the Pool Commitee's recommendation not to bid out the contract, and after getting 3 hasty bids, DRD won it (even though it was over $60,000 higher than the others) for two years by just one vote which included a vote from a Director whose daughter was hired by DRD a few weeks later. Last fall, DRD had the same opportunity to compete against the top pool companies in the region. All the proposals were looked at by the Property Manager, who provided their professional input, and all the Directors reviewed the proposal, discussed and considered in an open meeting, and everyone ultimately came to the same conclusion on which one was best choice for the Association after looking carefully at all the companies in the mix. The bottom line is that Continental won on the merits of their proposal (cost and technical) and DRD's past performance was considered. So all these attacks are an insult to the staff and Directors who work hard to run the Association in a business-like manner and ensure that Members are getting the best value for their fees, which have not been increased in 4 years.

@Jeff

You just pointed out that Peg Waters voted in favor of DRD and that her daughter ended up working for DRD. You wouldn't point this out, unless you were gunning for her and trying to get back at her by going after her daughter, or rather, the company her daughter worked for. You sure earned the respect of everyone with that move!

Residents don't just care about cost you know. They want quality, good communication, and cleanliness. From what I've gathered, there have been well over 100 complaints this summer. Don't you think that's a lot?

P.S, anyone could've taken those pictures you posted. It's not hard to tell the guards, "Hey I'm coming to your pool at such and such time. Make sure it's spotless!" You took those at one pool too, not all of them. You're missing the filthiest one, the island pool. Do I need to take some pictures of the island pool and post them, or will that just get censored too?

Keep up the good work Meg.

You're on of the luck ones not to live in a community run by three apartment owners that claim to have 750+ proxies. If I would have done my homework I'd be living someplace else. Our HOA Board is a pathetic indictment of American laws and politics BUT until all the homeowners get out and vote to get rid of them we are forced to go to court just to have our names put on up for votes.

Thank you CIndy and thank you Megan and 'time for you to leave' Jeff.

And Jeff isn't making personal attacks?!? Just because he has "power" doesn't mean you should protect him. For him to be able to get away with corruption, belittling, and personal attacks simply because he is the big man is ludicrous.

Those weren't personal attacks, but rather opinions and statements from one of your fed up community members.

Censorship is censorship. I stand by my comments about what believe to be a criminally appointed POCA Board. The Board violated all of our rights by refusing to place my name into consideration when the last annual election was held and they did it, I believe, for the sole purpose of denying me an opportunity to voice my opinion. You, Tim, are doing the same things. You are giving the appearance of scewing this blog for what appears to be personal reasons. If you want to be a journalist then be one. Having worn the uniform in VietNam I believe Ihave the right to express my beliefs. I think you should look up the definition of profanity before you pass judgement.

Let's see if you print or censure this comment. Keep up the censureship and I think we should put you out of business.

Welcome to Germany.

Non-compete clauses in the lifeguard contracts, who really is making the decisions as to who gets hired? Take a close look at who is on the Board and what their real agendas are.

TJ: I'm not sure who is trying to have conversations with them. I think Megan made it clear from the beginning that she wasn't comfortable with their mastery of English to understand the basics.

She said: "I want to be able to say, "Hey, that kid is to big for the kiddie pool' or "The bathroom is filthy and needs to be cleaned" without being looked at with a blank stare."

I don't consider that a lengthy conversation.

The non-compete was DRD Pool Service's requirement for their employees -- not POCA's. The pool companies hire and place their employees. You should check your facts once in a while. Like your buddy, you haven't been to the pools in two years. What's your real agenda,@Ronald? Disrupting POCA Board meetings? Filing frivolous complaints and motions that get dismissed and denied by courts? Give it a rest with the rants and unsubstantiated claims.

Ronald,

While I do not know the exact content of the comments Tim deleted, I can assure you they were only deleted because they violated the Patch terms of service. As a Patch blogger and someone who has spoken to Tim a few times about comments on my blog, I know how heavily he bears the burden of deciding to remove comments. Even comments directly aimed at me personally and in no way related to my blog post were carefully considered before being removed.

Also, as far as Tim's/the Patch's stance on Freedom of Speech, I invite you to read some of the content and language that I am allowed to use in my blog posts.

I will stand beside you as we defend our freedoms, but as editor, Tim does have the right and responsibility to maintain his site's terms of use. And again, I know personally from speaking to him on the phone that removing comments is done as a last resort and after much thought.

Thank you for the support Jason BUT, and it is a big but, I really don't want you standing behind me if you are holding a knife to my back. Censurship is censurship whether you hide behind policies, proceedures or otherwise. Tim represents himself as a reporter and not a blogger. He is not my keeper - or your. Rights differ from responsibilities. My constitutional rights far outweigh his perceived rights to dictate what I say and what I don't say. Men, and women, far better then Tim can ever hope to be have died in order to protect those rights and censurship is equivalent to spitting in the faces and on the graves that gave the ultimate in order to protect the Constitution. Stop making excuses for the unexcusable. Either we defend the right to freedom of speech or let's just call it what it is: a pathetic excuse to control our thoughts and rights. POCA does not need Tim to defend them. WE need Tim to start printing the truth about POCA. All this gives me an uneasy feeling about Tim's true agenda and relationship with POCA. The true 'last resort' is to shut down the site rather than support anti-american censureship. After all - I am sure that Jeff and POCA would rather have less of an audience for what they are doing to all of us.

I think you've got a little too much tin foil on our head there Ronald. I can guarantee you wholeheartedly that Tim is not part of some conspiracy with the folks at Piney Orchard.

As one of those people who has helped to protect your rights for the last 13 years (and counting) I find people like you laughable who scream about violated rights, yet have very little understanding of just exactly what those rights are. Further, I find it offensive that people like you love to invoke the shed blood of my brothers and sisters in an attempt to tug at people's heartstrings because you lack a credible argument otherwise.

For the record, I am no grammar nazi. I'm have my daily dose typos and the occasional misspelling. However, you shoot yourself in the foot when you cannot even choose the proper word that your entire argument is based on. Censure and censor are two completely different things and the word censureship is not listed in any major dictionary. The word you would be looking for is censorship.

Now as to freedom of speech, while it is a right, it is not limitless. Try yelling bomb on an airplane next time you fly. You'll soon find out that your right to freedom of speech doesn't quite cover that. Second, your right to freedom of speech doesn't necessarily carry over to private entities of which the Patch is one. There are clearly posted terms of use for this site. By posting on this site, you voluntarily choose to abide by them. If you wish not to abide by them there are plenty of other places for you to freely voice your opinion.

This site is very much like a house. If you come in my house, your free speech only goes so far. You say things that I don't want said in my house and I'm well within my rights to tell you to shut it or leave.

Thank you Scott. I filed a complaint with the administrators of the Blog and it appears as if no one's comments are being deleted. Tim does a great job most of the time and I understand what he is trying to do but we all have a right to speak out minds about the pathetic excuses we have for Board Members. Board Members that wouldn't be there if the HOA would get out there and vote rather than role over. Reminds me of pre-war Germany and Hitler's rise to power.

I would rather you stand up for your constitutional rights that include Freedom of Speech. If this is a blog and not press then go to court and file for a restraining order to prevent Tim from doing this. Otherwise consider other legal remedies.

News or gossip? Which does the PATCH really represent?

@hank, the lack of maturity shown in your comments and the fact that you violated the Patch TOS, makes me glad that you are not lifeguard at the Piney Orchard pools this season.

Just ignore Jeff and do what you can to make sure others get the message. He really needs to go.

@Jeff? Lack of maturity?

You say you have a "weekly punch list" and "Also, Ukranian is not going to get you very far at our pools - you can stick with English." How is that mature? You're just some crazy power hungry jack-a. Can I say jack-a? Or will that get this censored?

The way that you present and carry yourself is appalling.

@hank educate yourself on what a "punchlist' is and what "best value" contracting is before you write any more. There's a great new invention called "Google" that can help you out.

Not interested Jason. The reality is that Jeff, and POCA, like presenting misinformation. His statement concerning my recent lawsuit is not completly accurate. Just to set the record straight: a Motions hearing was filed in order to hear arguments as to why the lawsuit should be dismissed. The Circuit Court originally found that the suit should stand. While it is true that a hearing was scheduled for the Motions to be verbally argued what Jeff is leaving out is the fact that I was scheduled for, and appeared for, Jury Duty with the Circuit Court on that date and so informed the Judge involved in the Motions hearing as well as POCA's attorney. Obviously POCA's attorney 'forgot' to mention that to the Court and the case was dismissed. I have since filed a Motion to Reconsider citing my Circuit Court Subpoena (sp?) and ORDER to serve jury duty as taking precendence over the Motions Hearing and believing that it sets a very dangerouse precedent for the court to dismiss a complaint when the initiating party was ORDERED to be somewhere else by the same Circuit Court. That Motion to Reconsider is still pending and, if denied, will simply mean I will file a new civil suit in order to make sure that ANYONE wishing to have their names placed into consideration for a Board Position will not be denied the right to do so because the POCA Board wants to deny the true homeowners the right to pick - homeowners even like you who obviously are kept free by better men, and women, then you.

Dear Ronald, I suggest you learn the difference between an active duty officer and a retired officer. Retired means that you are just a private citizen now. There's nothing in the UCMJ about that. For a supposed retired officer, you don't seem to know much about military regulations. As far as my branch of service, you're obviously not that observant as it is clearly listed in my profile. You can try contacting the Fort Meade directory all you want, but you won't find me listed there. However, I can tell you that I am a member of the 70th Operations Support Squadron. If you'd like the number to my commander and First Sergeant, I'd be more than happy to provide you with that. I'm sure both of them would enjoy taking time out of their busy schedules for the entertainment of some crackpot calling to complain about comments on a blog.

Thank you for your sevice and opinion. Being called a crackpot and laughable by an active duty service member most certainly gives the appearance of conduct unbecoming and should be addressed by all - expecially a retired AF Officer. I did notify the Court and that is the issue at hand. TWO Circuit Court Judges determined that the suit merited a hearing. Serving on Jury Duty should not mean giving up my rights to be heard in open court. More to come.

@Ron you are not being truthful. Here's the facts: Ronald S. Grossman, a member of Piney Orchard Community Association, Inc. (POCA) filed a complaint against POCA on Feb. 27, 2011 in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Case No. 02-C-12-167820 RO, seeking a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction restraining and enjoining POCA from “proceeding with any and all actions in consideration of the 2012 General POCA Election,” including placing Mr. Grossman’s name on the voting ballot and including his application in any mailings for the 2012 POCA elections to be held on April 10, 2012. The Court denied Plaintiff Grossman's motion for a temporary restraining order on March 1, 2012. Plaintiff amended his complaint on May 22, 2012 requesting a permanent restraining order and permanent injunction “restraining and enjoining POCA from preceding with any and all actions in consideration of the all future General POCA Elections.” In addition to equitable relief, Plaintiff requested $3,500,000 in alleged damages. On June 14, 2012 a hearing was held in open court and POCA’s Motion for Summary Judgment was granted and the Court dismissed all claims asserted by Plaintiff with prejudice. Plaintiff then filed a Motion for Reconsideration on June 21, 2012. He alleges that he told an unidentified person in the clerk's office of his schedule conflict but provided no documentation. POCA filed a Motion to Dismiss. No hearing is set.

Ron, POCA's legal file with you goes back almost 10 years -- before any of the Board members were elected and before I even moved here. In fact, in 2004, you raised the same issues you note above about the April 27, 2004 elections! Yes, I said 2004. In 2007, through your company, SPJ Consultants, you filed suit against a sitting Board Member, Lou Carloni. More recently, your complaints have been so frivolous and without merit that we haven't had to incur much in legal expenses to go through the steps to dismiss them. But perhaps you are the one who needs to explain to your neighbors why you file frivolous claims against their Association, disrupt Board meetings and cost them any money and staff attention. Tommy doesn’t need to be phased by any of your threats – we’ve all seen you do that before to other military folks in the community. Nobody is intimidated by you, so just give it a rest.

The fact is that my Motion to Reconsider is still with the court and although no date has been set as of yet my Motion has not been dismissed as of this date.

As far as your POCA records go it's ironic that you get to cite chapter and verse for POCA records but you refuse to allow any meetings to be recorded so that the real truth is know and not just your fabricated and altered verson. Suit was filed against POCA and Lou C. in the past and was settled when the POCA Board made a financial offer to me and I accepted it. I don't want you to be afraid of the big bad veteran I just want you to understand I will not go away and I will hold you accountable. Explain why you think you are god and can continue to waste POCA money. I'll stop by the Commissioner of Jurists and the Circuit Court tomorrow and see what is going on.

By the way - I have yet to see any Motion to Dismiss my request for reconsideration.

You need to go. You are a true danger to Piney Orchard and a disgrace to all concerned.

Not above criticism. Just above name calling and being 'dressed down' by any active or retired military member. You can mail the information to me at P.O. Box 4314, Crofton, MD 21113. If you put it in the mail tomorrow I should receive it by Wednesday.

And the comment about leaving reality is also inappropriate unless you are a licensed clinician. I really suggest you get a legal opinion from your commander and 1st sgt before you continue down this path.

You've shown yourself to be a liar by not supplying the information you said you would supply. Rest assured I will address the situation with the your unit first and then the I.G. if need be.

No response is needed Tommy of the 70th Operations Support Squadron.