Annual Member Meet 2012: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly

We had a great turnout at the 2012 Annual Member Meeting, and change is coming. Here are some of the highlights of yesterdays meeting:

The Good

For the first time in seven years, Absentee ballots were collected for election of a board member.

Our quorum numbered 56 (absentee ballots + in person - outstanding fines = 56 owners)

The vote was rescheduled for December 10 for which a quorum of 53 needs to be met. If we sustain this energy, we can replace one of the three board members.

Our Management Company indicated that it may eliminate it's collection fees and instead roll them into there all-inclusive fee of $6600. This is good news since in 2011, the association spent $31,658 to collect $37,388. This means that of every $100 collected, our Management Company and its lawyer kept $85. The move may mean more of the collections are kept in the associations account.

Several member emails were collected. They will be invited to join westwindavondale.nextdoor.com and to invite their neighbors. This will be a terrific way for us to maintain communication in the community and foster a sense of neighborliness.

At the proceeding board member meet, the board voted to expand it's count from 3 to 5. This created 2 vacancies. Invoking 3.6 of the bylaws, the board promoted Julie Jones, and Delores Ortega to the board. I can vouch that both Julie and Delores are sensible, committed members of the community.

The Bad

The meeting was attended by two association lawyers, and 13 employees of the Management Company. Sigh...

At the proceeding board member meet, the board voted to expand it's count from 3 to 5. This created 2 vacancies. Invoking 3.6 of the bylaws, the board promoted Julie Jones, and Delores Ortega to the board. I know I already counted this as a Good, but I can't get over that this yet another instance where the board locked up terms without an election. The move may serve to discourage some of our members from showing up again on Dec 10th, or running for directorship.

Our Management Company attempted to defend the extraordinary $6600 management fee as an "all-inclusive" cost that creates more predictable administrative cost over time, and provides overall cost savings. Yet the board admitted that it hasn't substantiated this claim by comparing bids from other vendors.

The Ugly

Overall the mood was angry. And it certainly didn't feel good to be there. President Wadding showed that he has no sympathy or tolerance for concerned members.

Many members had the opportunity to speak, and it's certainly evident that the current board and management company is fostering resentment - not communal outreach and neighborliness.