This evening we had our second attempt at making quorum. We achieved 50 members present - just 4 shy of the required 54. The board claimed not to have powers in the governing docs to reduce quorum. As a last ditch alternative, Chris Gillies refused the option of allowing an informal vote to proceed, and stepping down if he lost. Option 2.4 was motioned and seconded again by the members and a third meeting will be scheduled on January 28th 2013. Here is the second installment of the good, bad, and the ugly:
THE GOOD:
Our turnout was still impressive and many folks volunteered to walk the community the weekend prior to our third attempt on January 28, 2013.
The community got to meet Lola. She actively approached folks before, during, and after the meet. She was reminded during the meet that she must continue to triage the bleeding of our homeowners dues, just as she did in 2011 when she cooperated with neighbors and the board to return thousands of dollars in maintenance fees. We are still bleeding Lola. Keep up the good work.
our Management Company has dropped their "all inclusive" rate to $6000 from $6600 monthly. On an unrelated note, there were only half the number of our Management Company staff from the previous meet in November.
our Management Company has radically modified there collection fees which may indicate that we may no longer be 10s of thousands in the hole for an upside down collections policy that went unnoticed by the board for over four years. Congratulations for shifting Management Company before the board had to go about the burdensome task of busting out a calculator.
Chris Gillies has chosen to come into compliance with the community documents and will no longer accept payments for services from the folks he represents. I commend Chris for setting an example for the members he represents - it must have been kinda rough to charge your neighbors fees and collections for not following the community documents while at the same time being payed to ignore a bylaw that protected Directors from conflict of interest. Welcome to the fold Chris. This may be a turning point for you and I.
Hugh (the gentleman who ran against Chris Gillies) was very vocal this evening and showed a demure and intelligence that pinned our President against the ropes on several occasions. While his writing style and grammar may not bode well for some, Hugh can certainly hold his own and take lead for positive change. I would give my left arm for the tact he has.
Many folks voiced their concerns this evening, and I thank them all.
Leslie Darrington called out the Management Company for not posting the A-Frame signs on Westwind Blvd on the day of the first and second annual meets notifying members, "HOA Meeting Tonight". I'm certain this will help make our numbers on January 28th.
Finally, a neighbor brought in a collections bill for $400+ dollars that was a culmination of a long battle between the board and our Management Company. Our Management Company has recently forgiven the bill, and the neighbor owes nothing! This is a result of our efforts ~ holding the board accountable to a standard of sensibility. Congratulations everyone.
THE BAD:
The board has made very little progress on bids for new management firms in the month since our previous meet. Steve Wadding has ruled that no other Management firm will be considered until the advisory committee has created an appropriate RFQ format. Under questioning from Hugh, Steve admits that this process is completely new, and has never been used in the history of our community. Meanwhile the advisory board sits on quotes and schedules for service from 3 of the top 10 management firms in Phoenix.
Without RFQ, or any other competitive bids, the board voted to accept a revised our Management Company contract for one year.
Steve Wadding refused to address the bleeding of $60K+ in association dollars over the last several years by an upside down collections policy. He characterized the data I presented to him, the board members, the lawyers, and the folks in the community as distortions, lies, and without reference or fact. I suppose I won't go running home to my Mommy knowing that our Management Company has only recently taken the appropriate steps to drastically reverse their collections policy. Meanwhile Steve can further wallow in his laziness and ignorance - his efforts to acknowledge that change is no longer necessary. How embarrassing for the other board members to have to sit in his shadow.
THE UGLY:
Me. That's right. I embarrassed my wife this evening and for her sake I can no longer attend these meetings while Steve remains President. He has the knack of bringing out the worst in me. So much that a neighbor I met for the first time today had to tell me to shut-up. THAT'S NOT TO SAY I WON'T SUBMIT MY ABSENTEE BALLOT THOUGH ON JANUARY 28TH, or walk the community the weekend prior to entice greater turnout. Certainly the folks at the meeting today held there own and didn't need my outbursts. In fact, I may have squelched some very productive dialogue with my outbursts. My apologies to everyone. I assure you that absent Steve Wadding's close proximity, I am a warm and charming person.
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