Facts about Board elections
Our Board election process is relatively simple and well documented, and is the same one we’ve used for many years with exception of cursory background checking. Nothing else of significance has changed. With so much misinformation being posted, it’s time to get the facts straight. Here’s a summary with additional details/rationale to follow.
1. Per IV-4 of the Bylaws, Board ballots must be mailed at least 20-days prior to the Annual Meeting. These ballots, including profiles, are simultaneously posted on the web site for all to see.
2. The Board election ballot package also includes the Year-End Financial Report and the budget for the new year. Thus, the mailing date is constrained by when we get Financial data (“actuals”) for the prior year, which isn’t available until after the year ends. CPI then compiles and submits the data to us in by January 15th, from which we create the YE-Statement by January 20th. Approval of the new budget must also await “Actuals” from the prior year to know how much is rolled-over or banked from the previous year. Thus, the earliest we can get the package to the Printer is Jan 20th, giving them 10 days to get it mailed by Jan 30th: 22 days prior to the earliest AM date.
3. The ballots were not included in the newsletter mailing last year, nor have they ever been. In fact they were mailed on January 29th. The Newsletter (Fall) mailing includes the Request for Nomination. It can’t include ballots since no one has yet been nominated.
4. Background checking of contractors was suggested by a property owner at the Board meeting of March 16, 2021, and was unanimously approved by the Board. Since this was a definitive way to do Board screening per our 2006 Code of Conduct, Board member screening was included.
5. Our original Bylaws, as well as CC&Rs, were written by our Developer primary for their benefit as evidenced by imposing that 2/3 of all property owners must vote to constitute a quorum and giving the Developer 9 votes per acre versus 1 vote per acre for us. This requirement was easily met by the Developer, but is virtually impossible for us to meet, now or ever. We’ve never gotten more than 35% to cast a vote in any election since 2006 when the Developer relinquished control to us. 16 years of polling is surely enough to conclude that 35% of our owners are all that we can ever expect to vote, as an indication of all of the owners who care. What else can we do when we must first meet a quorum requirement to change the quorum requirement? In regards to the 2019 Bylaws update, 21% cast votes with 91% voting “yes”. This made it very clear that the overwhelming majority of our proactive and most effected Owners favored the changes, so we utilize it to serve the best interests of our most important Owners, as if it was approved.
6. The requirement for the Board to elect a nominating committee was deleted in the Bylaws since it was clearly intended to apply only to the initial Board. Nomination screening has been done by the Board at large ever since.
7. No, we’re not being denied an active Board President. Brian Cox, our Vice President, has been filling in and has done a great job. I have been assisting him and will regain my full position soon.
As for the loan we made to the POA, it was certainly within our purview to do, and there was nothing secret about it. If there are any further questions specific to this issue please send them via Webmail.
Yes, we ARE looking at the rules, and looking at them very carefully, and our schedules are fully compliant.
If any specific examples of reckless spending is evidenced by the Year-End Statement we welcome any questions or clarifications anyone would like.
Except the Annual Meeting. Most of the meetings there are only a few. But when we had them at a location very rarely did anyone but the Board attend.