A lot of people continue to be troubled by Moore County Board of Commissioners Chairman Nick Picerno’s previous membership in the Dormie Club.

To understand these concerns, it is important to keep in mind the close relationship between the Dormie Club and Pine Forest, and the fact that the Pine Forest zoning application is currently under consideration by the board. Both projects have the same owner, and Dormie depends on approval of the project in order to have use of the Pine Forest wastewater treatment plant.

That being the case, why did Mr. Picerno not feel the need, at any point during the lengthy Pine Forest public hearing sessions, to mention that he had previously invested $120,000 in a Dormie membership?

Confronted by a reporter from The Pilot, Mr. Picerno initially said his Dormie membership was ended “long before” he announced his candidacy for commissioner. But when confronted with evidence to the contrary by another reporter, Mr. Picerno admitted that in actuality he did not pay the $120,000 Dormie membership until after he had filed as a candidate, and that he remained a member until after he was elected to the board. He has to date not offered to produce any sort of documentary evidence of the termination.

Several questions seem reasonable to ask. What was the exact date on which the Dormie membership was terminated? What were the circumstances of the termination? Was all of the money refunded at once? What Dormie rules were in effect at the time regarding the refund of membership fees? Were any special concessions made for Mr. Picerno in view of his position as a commissioner?

These are urgent questions that Mr. Picerno will surely want to answer and document before he votes on the Pine Forest zoning application.

Joe McDonald, President

Save Our Sandhills

Pinehurst