The Board of Directors voted 4-2 (Cooney, Bryant, Bateman,
Shelton supporting; with Leeming, Atkins not supporting) to hold secret
meetings on the subject of Property Owner liability (Association finances). This is not only a violation of the Board
members fiduciary responsibility to the Members (Owners) but a direct conflict
of the Board’s own Shared Value “Open Communications”. This is becoming common practice of persons
in responsible positions to disregard those rules they don’t want to
honor. Every Member should write to the
Board member supporting these closed meetings and alert them to the fact that
the Members are capable of understanding the finances that are their obligation
and Members don’t need Directors who may poses lesser knowledge or experience
making secret decisions behind their back.
I take particular exception with Director Cooney’s assertion
that businesses have closed meetings excluding “owners” who stand liable for
financial decisions. And yes, Mr.
Cooney, the Property Owners are just that, the OWNERS. All moneys obligated by the Association
represent a liability against every lot in the Association. The POA staff is employed to execute
functions of the Associations and meet responsibilities to the Owners. The GM, Mr. Twiggs, is employed by the Board
on behalf of the Property Owners to manage the day-to-day operations in a
manner to minimize Owners’ costs while maintaining and preserving the
Associations assets and providing services.
In short these “closed door meetings” are about “taxing” Members and
spending Members money.
Director Shelton is in error in his assertion that this
represents appropriate cause for “closed door” meetings, while the only cause
for “closed door” or “executive sessions” meetings is for employee disciplinary
actions or legal actions. There are no
other reasons for “closed door” meetings.
I do not see any knowledge base on the Board that is not
replicated throughout the Association and in many cases Members posses’ greater
knowledge and experience in these matters than any Board member. Considering the statements by either Cooney
or Bryant, it is ludicrous to imply that the Members cannot understand the
subject matter of these meetings.
Board actions relative to the future of the Association is
of prime importance to all Owners who have varying financial investments in
this Association and stand responsible for financial liabilities.
The Board should immediately rescind their decision to meet
behind closed doors, honoring their own Shared Value for Open Communications,
and announce meeting times and places so all Property Owners interested can
attend. Furthermore, no decisions
should come out of this task force that expands the financial liability of
Property Owners without consensus.
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