Teen's Candidacy for Piney Orchard Board in Question

A teenager running for the board of directors in Piney Orchard has received a warning that his candidacy may not be permitted due to his age.

Josh Korbelak, 14, is one of five people vying for one of three seats and recently appeared at a candidates’ forum before community members. But Josh’s mother, Stacy Korbelak, said she received a call this week from the CEO of Piney Orchard’s property management firm that an objection had been raised. 

According to Stacy Korbelak, officials from Frederick-based Property Management People (PMP) received a written legal opinion from a third party stating that anyone under age 18 is not permitted to serve on a board of directors in Maryland. She said PMP officials would not disclose who presented the legal opinion and declined to cite the specific law on which the opinion was based.

Ed Thomas, the CEO of PMP, declined to comment when contacted by Odenton Patch. Stacy Korbelak said Thomas is seeking to set up a face-to-face meeting about the issue as soon as possible.

Josh Korbelak decided to run for the board of directors after coming across a piece of mail soliciting candidates from the community. He approached his parents with the idea of running and they initially resisted, believing that it might be against community rules. Stacy Korbelak reviewed the community bylaws, but found nothing addressing the issue of age.

“I said, ‘go ahead and put your name in the hat, and if you can’t run, they’ll tell you,’” she said. Shortly thereafter, Josh Korbelak received a certified letter saying his candidacy had been approved.

During the candidates’ forum, Josh Korbelak said he felt qualified to run because he had experience working on political campaigns and was involved in the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils. He is also an honor roll student at Arundel High School and is active in the theater groups there.

Josh Korbelak has lived in Piney Orchard virtually all his life; his parents moved to the community when he was three months old.

Stacy Korbelak said she does not know who is seeking to prevent her son from running, but suggested it is someone from the community.

“I would be interested to know who has time to seek a legal opinion,” she said. “I don’t know who it is, but I have to assume it’s someone from the board. The fact that they’re afraid of a 14-year-old kid, it’s kind of funny.”

Josh Korbelak was one of five candidates who appeared at a “meet the candidates” forum on March 15. None of the other candidates raised an objection to his candidacy that evening, and he received compliments from several members of the community.

Stacy Korbelak said her son was approached by board member Lou Carloni, who inquired as to whether Josh would be interested in serving as chair of a youth advisory board rather than a full board member. Josh Korbelak said his preference would be to serve on the full board. 

Carloni did not respond to a request for comment. Stacy Korbelak said Carloni has been invited to the meeting with Thomas and the Korbelaks.  

Acting board president Peg Waters, who is running to continue on the board, declined to comment. Other candidates Ron Grossman, Joy Zalaznick and Jeff Andrade did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.

A review of the Piney Orchard bylaws offers no specific guidelines on who is eligible to be elected. The bylaws state that all nominations shall be made by a nominating committee consisting of five members of the community. 

The election will be held April 12 at 7 p.m. at Piney Orchard Elementary School.