RESIDENT WHO WROTE THE BOARD WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FINANCIAL REPORT, SHARE THE BOARD'S ANSWER

The Wedgefield Examiner published a resident's letter to the board regarding WPA financial reports, on April 25th.  See the article to review the resident letter.  The board has responded, and  the board's answer is provided below.  As always, the resident's name has been removed.

From: Kathy Phelan

Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 8:21 AM

To: '

Cc: adam anderson ; Jacky & Judy Walton ; Al DeMarchi ; Robert Garrison

Subject: RE: 2015 Financial statement errors

Dear ,

Our staff office manager has gone through and re-categorized the financial statements to reflect the errors you pointed out in your letter. Thank you for your concern and interest in Wedgefield Plantation.

Adam Anderson

Wedgefield Plantation Association

1956 Wedgefield Road

Georgetown, SC 29440

843-546-2718

843-546-4027

Email: wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com

Website: www.wedgefield-plantation.com

TAKE A DRIVE ON EVERY ROAD IN THE ASSOCIATION - FLOWERS AT THE FRONT GATE CAN'T COVER UP YOUR BOARD'S FAILURE TO PROTECT THE BEAUTY OF WEDGEFIELD

If you take a drive through the association, you may find it difficult to believe board member, Mc Millin, when he says we look the best in the area.  Our disheveled mess, doesn't rest on McMillin's shoulders alone.  It rests on the heads of every board member, and their failure to maintain even minimum standards of basic upkeep.

*The growth on vacant lots is knee high.  You don't have to drive by the one next to me, take a ride down John Green, and look there.  In my case, I've weed wacked the over growth that is invading my flower beds, and got my reliable weed killer out, to try and stop the invasion. Grounds Chair, McMillin, Better Homes and Gardens, won't be coming for your advice.  You purchased 30 small flags for the holidays.  Set them in one of these lots, and see if they are even noticed.  

Take a ride on each of the canal lot roads, and count the boats and trailers in each yard.  Last time I did, one lot had 5 boats, and   if you ever checked, some of the boats are not even registered to the lot owner.  They are allowing family and friends, who aren't allowed to park their boats in their associations, to park in ours.  Months ago, during a board meeting, Legal/Compliance Chair/Vice President, Garrison, stated that there weren't suppose to be more than two, and the board was going to have to start dealing with the problem.  When would that be?  For those that only have two, take look at the old rugs, pails, and debris sitting around, like a derelict bait shop.  You might notice this on John Green.

During the last Annual Meeting, Secretary, Cline said there wasn't suppose to be anything stored on vacant lots.  At a later meeting, Legal/Compliance Chair/Vice President Garrison began to talk about ADJACENT lot situations - the owner has a lot with a home on it, and owns the lot next to it.  He felt they might have to take a look at that.  Maybe, his hand picked Compliance Committee will come up with a solution that will benefit Garrison, and McMillin, who own vacant lots adjacent to their home.  A review of our covenants' language does not parse words to include ADJACENT situations.  In the mean time, we are left with the following on vacant lots, adjacent to the owners home, with no action from the board.

YES, WELCOME TO FARMVILLE USA

THE TRACTOR IS BACK AND HAS BEEN FOR AWHILE

Board Member, McMillin, has now moved all the crap pictured here, to the back of his ADJACENT LOT, and added salvaged dock drums, from the mess that some of your Water Amenities Committee pulled from the river, onto our landing.  The story McMillin told about how the debris got to the landing, is as credible as the one he told about the silver car going 60-70 miles an hour near the gate house, or the one about he and President Walton, hiding in a closet, listening to a former president asking the office staff to erase portions of an official meeting tape.  

When you drive in and out of the association, look past the flowers, and ask yourself, how this board had money to spend on fountains, many expensive benches, legal fees and gates for bulk storage of soil and mulch, and left us with this two year mess?

BOARD, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE ACTION, AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP?

THREE NEW ARTICLES WERE ADDED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS

A RESIDENT WRITES THE BOARD ABOUT OUR WPA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A letter, sent to the board, and shared with The Wedgefield Examiner, is provided below.  As always, the resident's name has been removed.


WPA Office <wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com>

Subject: 2015 Financial statement errors
Priority: Normal Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 5:33 



Kathy, please make copies of this email and distribute to each Board member and the WPA correspondence file.

I have been reviewing the 2015 Financial statements for Account 41210: Current Assessment Late Fees, and I find that there are errors.

In the January statement, the published monthly value is $20.00, and the published YTD value is $20.00 - We charge no late fees for payments in this month.

In the February statement,  the published monthly value is $200.00, and the published YTD value is $480.00 - We charge no late fees for payments in this month.

In the March statement, the published monthly value is $880.00, and the published YTD value is $1,160.00.
Certainly, an error in the YTD values for January and February will change the published YTD value for March.

But the March monthly value of $880.00 appears inconsistent with the published value of $17,725.00, (Account 40050: Current Year Assessments) 
(880/20 = 44 lots/units) and 17,725.00/500 = 35.45 lots/units)


Please confirm the findings in this email, and supply me with an explanation if my findings are incorrect.

THE APRIL WPA GROUNDS REPORT

I attended the April meeting, and have listened to significant portions of the tape.  I relate what occurred to the best of my ability.  As always,  please listen to the tape, to verify for yourself. The tape is available at The Wedgefield Times, and at the WPA website.  Comments will be inserted in RED throughout the article, and at the end.

As always, Grounds Chair, McMillin has a lengthy report.  McMillin, begins with complementing his volunteer group with the fine job that they have done in the spring flower planting.  He goes on to say that he feels that Wedgefield looks better, and more professional, than any place in the area (???????).

Next, he reports that there are problems with the irrigation system.  It can be repaired for $260.00 + tax.  A motion is made, and passed to approve up to $280.00.  Additionally, he reports that he would like to purchase a control panel.   There is a $1,000.00 in the budget for irrigation.  Southern Lawns diagnosed the problem, and can install it.  He says they are certified, and not just guessing, which may have been the case in the past.  Since I attend most meetings, and heard him brag about the former crews' abilities, it could appear that when he is done with you, he'll work to destroy your reputation publicly.  During the March meeting, when a board member presented a problem, he suggested that the board do to that vendor, what he did to Great Lawns, and someone on the board told him not to talk about it.  Why, did his actions lack integrity?

He then moves on to discuss the storage area for mulch, soil, etc.  During the March meeting he reported that he had been in conversation with Georgetown Water and Sewer, to use the area at the end of Governor Johnston road, for storage of bulk purchases of these items, which he says will save money in supplies.  At that time, he said that it would only cost the association $l.00 a year, and that the utility company's attorneys would put together a contract.  Now, he says that the company wants the WPA to pay the legal fees, associated with the contract development.  I couldn't determine whether the utility had added a requirement for a gate, or not, but he says that he has checked with East Coast Fencing, and they have quoted him $300 for a gate, at the entrance of the area.  He went to Tractor Supply, and for $150.00 and a couple of poles, the gate could be put in with volunteer labor. He also mentioned that a survey of the area had been requested. Next, he says since the condo administration group - the WVA, has the same grounds group, that they will benefit from this site for storage, and he feels they should pay half of all the start up costs.  President Walton, said that the WVA is meeting on May 2nd, and he will bring it up.  There is no motion made on this item at this time.  This portion of McMillin's report begs for a few questions.  First, in almost every new and great idea, he claims that we will be saving money, if only we do what he suggests.  In many cases, as his plan develops we are informed that it will cost more, "but boy, it will be worth it."  As in this case, we now have legal fees, gates, and maybe a survey expense, and now, he'll drag another group, the WVA into shared expense, if he can.  Can't the grounds vendor buy in bulk?  I forget myself, McMillin and his volunteers will do much of this work.  How free is all this volunteer labor?????  We'll see more expense later, as we move into the next section of his report.  The other important question is, what is he doing to possible candidates for board?  A boards key function is to govern, provide administrative oversight, - not do manual labor.  Many on this board have taken this volunteer - we do it all, to half baked projects, poorly implemented projects, that cost us more, and violate common sense, fail to secure and maintain our concrete assets adequately, and ignore our governing documents.   Will future candidates for the board be made to feel that they have to dig ditches, pound nails, etc., in order to serve?

McMillin states that THERE IS NO UPDATE ON THE GATEHOUSE.  Surprise, surprise, it has only been two years in process, with violations to conflict of interest,  health and safety, and the board members involved keep moving onto their next newest and greatest, without finishing what they started.  How is all that volunteer construction working for all of us, on a major feature of entrance to our association?  A few flowers don't hide the deterioration of this asset.  Our president, Jacky Walton, is responsible for this mess.  He failed to serve in his administrative role, when he violated the conflict of interest document HE SIGNED, and bid on the gate house fix, and everyone of the board who voted to award him the contract, violated their duties, and brought this much delayed project,  to the mess it is. 

His next topic, speed bumps, adds considerable length to his report.  He says that he has researched the cost of adding speed bumps coming in, and going out of the front gate.  He suggests 4 speed bumps at a cost of $305.00 each, for a total of $1,220.00.  He says that it is dangerous for him, his volunteers, and the grounds vendor crew, to work in that area - something has to be done.  There have been many complaints about the speeding in that area.  He makes a motion to approve 4 speed bumps, for a total of $1220.00.  THERE IS A LONG SILENCE.  HIS FACE TURNS RED.  HE LOOKS DOWN.  Finally, Johnson seconds the motion.  Garrison asks where the numerous complaints are, because they haven't come into the office.  He says that if the only people complaining are landscape people working around there, that it is not legitimate.  McMillin, says that he'll get the complaints.  He says that he has almost been harmed working out by the gate house.  That a silver car, leaving the stop sign area on the circle GOT TO 60-70 MILES PER HOUR, by the time they reached the gate house area.  Garrison tells him that he can't track that speed.  It could appear that McMillin turns to fabrication of fact, when he wants, what he wants.  I wish, IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY that his statement is true, that he would have named the make and model of that silver car.  I'd like to buy a car that can get from almost zero, to 60-70 miles per hour in that short distance, in that area!  I'd love a car with that kind of performance!  The discussion goes on about his plan.  Garrison questions why we would inconvenience the majority, for a minority.  Speculation then begins, as to what per cent of the population are violating - speeding.  Someone says they think 30%, another thinks 60%.  Another suggests that someone stand out there and count the offending cars.  Someone suggests that cones be put out when volunteers, or the landscape vendor is working in the area.  Someone else jokingly suggests filling the cones with cement.  McMillin, waves his hand in the air, and withdraws the motion until next month.

At the end of the meeting, during resident comments, a resident asks if they had considered wearing fluorescent vests, like road crews do?  It appeared to be shoved aside by McMillin, and there was more ridiculous discussion from the board table.

You have to attend the meetings regularly to get the real flavor of how each of these board members react to discussion.  For instance, if you had been at this board meeting, you would have admired Garrison's bringing the discussion back to reality.  He questions the facts of McMillin's statements of numerous complaints.  Great, if you recall, in the last year, or so, DeMarchi wanted speed bumps, with claims of numerous complaints, yet on examination of the correspondence file, like this time, there were none.  I respect what Garrison says in the moment of controversy, but having followed him overtime, he doesn't vote the way that he speaks in those moments.  What do I mean?  Remember the Water Amenities fiasco?  Garrison said that he did not want the old dock to end up in our back yard - the canals.  The committee pulled it into the canals and left it there for months.  Each month, when the Water Amenities report was given, Chair, John Walton failed to report on that aspect.  When J. Walton was asked from the board table, by the ONLY board member who would dare to question at the time, Garrison would jump in again with what he wouldn't have, etc.  In the end the whole event was a miscarriage of any kind of sound governance, and Chair Walton, and his crew did what they wanted.  Garrison did the same thing with changes to the burning policy THAT YES AGAIN, McMillin, proposed months ago.  Garrison told me himself, that it would not be approved, at second reading.  Like the dock, he initially said the right thing, let it SIT for months, and came back and offered pretty much the same thing, through his select committee (surprise, surprise -NOT), and it passed! 

We have to consider putting speed bumps in for volunteers now?  Wait, McMillin did mention the safety of the grounds vendor.  Why don't they do what the previous grounds vendor did for years?  They came with their own signs, posted outside and inside the gate, and didn't seek an academy award for their drama!

NEXT:  THE COMPLIANCE REPORT

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOORS ARE LOCKED. ANOTHER HOME IN WEDGEFIELD WAS ENTERED, AND ITEMS STOLEN

Today, a resident told me about a robbery on John Green Lane.  It seems that a male on a bike with a empty back pack, was observed in the condo area.  He must have caused some suspicion, as someone in that area called the police.  When the police drove around a little later, they saw the individual, and stopped him.  The back pack was examined, and contained phones, and computers.  Some of the items belonged to a resident on John Green.  The residents were away from their home, and had left their doors unlocked.

If you remember, in March the board reported that six unlocked cars had been entered, and electronics, and other items taken.

I have reported the John Green Lane incident according to what I was told.  The individual who told me about it, was trying to help, and make me aware to be sure and LOCK my doors.  The story is provided in the hope that it will serve as a heads up to others.

Please be as observant, as the person who called the police.  

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE APRL WPA MEETING

Six board members:  President Walton, Garrison, Johnson, John Walton, Anderson, McMillin, were present for the April 21st meeting.  15 residents were in attendance.

Highlights are presented below.  Reports will follow in a few days.

*February and March minutes were presented for approval.  The approval was halted twice, speedy corrections were made in the office, and copies handed back to the board, and they were approved.

*A resident, using one of the two 5 minute opportunities available to residents, spoke about the stop sign at the circle, requesting that the board consider placing a yield sign in place of the stop sign.  The resident had received a ticket for failure to stop, after the board had asked the authorities to monitor our roads.

*Legal Chair, Garrison reported the WPA will be auctioning 2 lots that they had acquired after residents had failed to pay their assessments.  An ad has been placed in the Georgetown Times.

*Road Chair, Anderson reported that he, and Earth Works have reviewed the conditions of our roads.  A priority list has been developed.  Earth Works have the specs prepared for request for proposal.  Bids should be ready for consideration, by the May meeting.

*The Grounds report was long, and spiked a lot of discussion.  We'll provide a full report later (OPINION - TO CONVOLUTED TO DISCUSS IN HIGHLIGHTS).

*Compliance Chair, Garrison presented the proposed changes for the Policy Manual, for second reading. A full report will be provided in a separate article. Opinion, same as noted above.

Full reports, will begin to be published this weekend.

MANY OF THE ACTIONS OF THIS MEETING HAVE CAUSED ME TO ADD THE FOLLOWING PICTURE.  DON'T WORRY, IT WON'T OFFEND YOUR BOARD, AS YOU'LL SEE  DURING FULL REPORTS, YOUR BOARD, PARTICULARLY THE COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE, DOESN'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGING "POOR TASTE"

THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER, THE BLOG "NO ONE READS", CELEBRATES 45,000 VISITS TO THE SITE!

PLEASE NOTE:  WE WILL BEGIN POSTING ARTICLES REGARDING THE APRIL WPA MEETING, BY END OF DAY ON THURSDAY!

A RESIDENT WRITES THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER REGARDING INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER CLAIMS THAT NO ONE READS THE BLOG

The Wedgefield Examiner, over time, has had declarations, from, and outside the board table, that no one reads The Wedgefield Examiner.  I've had board member, DeMarchi, call it "trash", at the end of a board meeting.  A resident, tied to the board, sitting with Concerned Citizens, who rallied around a website they developed (in the past and still exists), claimed the blog, was harming property values.  Yet, he had his Concerned Citizen team, cheering him on. Board member, McMillin, claimed in a writing to the Georgetown Times, that his family was offended, by what the blogger wrote (The Wedgefield Examiner), about him, and rationalized that that is why his family member made the disgusting HUGE SIGN, with my address on it, that he hung on his house.  How would anyone know, if no one, especially board members read it?  Why, if the board, doesn't read it, did I get a letter from the office this month, regarding an article that I had written, if they don't read it?  Why is this board, so concerned about it, that individual board members, keep speaking out, and acting on it, if no one reads it?

I attend meetings, listen to and transcribe their very own meeting tapes, AND ALWAYS refer you to the tapes to listen to their own MISGUIDED, SELF PROMOTING (AT TIMES), WORDS.  Trust me, in my humble opinion, if I violated truth, they'd have their hand picked attorney, on my door step.  These words, are my words, and do not reflect the opinion of the letter writer.  He/she, has their own question and opinion.  I've removed, as always, the identity of the writer.  If you are skeptical, it is not as McMillin, once claimed, my friend, JD, who he claimed, couldn't get over the dredging.  My claim is, that this board, it could appear, can't get over themselves, and their own words.  

As you read the resident letter, you may note that your board often leaves numbers out.  The board has their own stream of communications, where they could validate their options, and in the case of the Wedgefield Wragg (every member receives it), they  could provide you, critical numerical information.  For instance why, when you review the Wragg, didn't the Drainage Report, which discussed The Pond Project, tell us how much of our money, the board spent on it?  Why weren't we told how much the new landscaping vendor, was contracted for, in the Grounds Report?  Why, when 2015 assessments were discussed in the Treasurer's Report, weren't we told the total amount outstanding?  Why, when we were provided a Legal Report, that discusses what will happen to us, if we don't pay our assessments on time, weren't we updated with what is happening with the lawsuit against the canal lot owner, who refused to pay their dredging assessment, and YOUR BOARD VOTED TO SETTLE IT, AFTER GREAT LEGAL EXPENSE, AND HAVEN'T REPORTED THE TOTAL COST, OR THE FINAL SETTLEMENT?  Forget about numbers in the Wragg for a minute.  Your board, failed to post the proposed changes to the policy manual, immediately following first reading, during the MARCH meeting.  We, as residents, are suppose to have them published, in a timely manner on the WPA website, following first reading, so that we can write and comment, before they vote, at the following meeting.  Since the board failed to do that, wouldn't you think that they would have taken the time, first, to publish a COMPLIANCE REPORT (They didn't publish one.), and use the one vehicle - the Wragg, that every resident receives, to post the proposed changes?????  That failure, could appear to be just more of their cover up.   Here is the resident letter.

REMOVED NAME Madeline Claveloux

Subject: Re: the challenge that no one reads your Blog?

Priority: Normal Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 6:47 PM Size: 4 KB

Hi Madeline I suggest you ask the WPA “Very Important People” (VIP)  how many people access the WPA website monthly for any  reason! And how many those members access the “passworded” areas. I asked long ago, if there was a counter (internal or external)  and none existed!  Dave Hastings said “NO” at that time. And I still believe that  is still the case. Nor do we know how many people uses the Marina!  Same  situation, no counter! We do know that 12 children showed up at the recent Easter egg  hunt!

TWO NEW ARTICLES WERE ADDED ON THE 8TH AND 9TH. NEXT, HOW MUCH DID THE WORK ON THE POND JUST OUTSIDE THE GATE, COST US? HOW SOUND WAS THE BIDDING PROCESS?

NOTICE TO WEDGEFIELD CAR OWNERS, AND DO YOU KNOW THE DANGERS YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE CAUSING TO OTHER RESIDENTS, AND THEMSELVES?

First, the board reported at the March meeting, that six cars in the condo area, had been entered, and electronics, etc., stolen.  The cars, it was reported, had all been left unlocked by the owners.  It appears, that if you lock your cars, you may be left alone, no windows, etc., were broken, for entry.  Just something to consider.

Last weekend, Easter weekend, we, and our children, and probably grandchildren, were out and about the plantation, enjoying the holiday weekend, and spring like weather.  When you hand over your car, or golf cart to young people, do you have any idea how they are using the privilege once they leave your immediate area?  In the case of golf carts, are you sure they are old enough to be both legal and safe?  Two instances, observed during the weekend, cause question.

The first occurred on Wedgefield Rd, around the intersection with Francis Parker.  I was driving out of the plantation toward the circle.  The golf cart had been moving slowly, and jerking, and swaying from the very edge of the road, to over the middle.  There was a young female at the wheel, who appeared to be in the 10 + year old range, a passenger in the front, and two in the back.  Some were young males.  The problems presented by her driving kept me focused on her.  The boys in the back, appeared to be yelling at her, to alert her that there was a car behind her, and pointing at us. She appeared to pull over in an effort to stop, hitting the grass area.  As we slowly began to try and go around her, she swayed into the middle again, and almost into our car.  It appeared as we went around her, that her erratic driving was caused by the fact that her legs may have been two short to comfortably reach the pedal.  She kept trying to move forward on the seat enough, to reach the pedals, apparently causing her to unintentionally move her hands on the wheel.  My husband wanted me to stop the car, so he could get out and ask them where they lived, and follow them home.  I was not willing.  I have witnessed to often, children driving golf carts, who endanger themselves, those of us unfortunate enough to be near them when you allow them to take these unsupervised joy rides with their friends, and our property.  If an accident had occurred, who would you have blamed?  The driver of the heavy car, or the young children, in the much smaller, open, easy to tip over, golf cart?  Please evaluate, who you allow to leave your yard, in your golf cart.

The second situation occurred on Easter weekend, after 6:00 PM.  I was out on my back porch with a cup of coffee.  I heard the acceleration of a car motor, and looked up across the canal, where the sound was coming from.  At the same time you could hear loud laughter, and yelling.  It appeared that the dark green SUV, had either come out of a yard, or off the circle, at the end of Pine Grove Lane, as it quickly accelerated.  The laughter, and yelling came from two males, who were laying down, and riding, holding on the rails, ON THE ROOF OF THE SUV.  The windows in the front of the vehicle were open, and it appeared that there was a passenger, in the front, with the driver.  They slowed abruptly for the curve that takes you from Pine Grove Lane, unto William Screven, and then rapidly accelerated, as the road straightened.  By the time I was able to run through the house to the front yard, I was unable to get their license number, or I would have called the police, and reported them.  The area I just described has many, many, dog walkers, some quite elderly.  We also have some very young, well supervised children, who ride their very small bikes, with their parents.  None of them would have had a chance, when that vehicle accelerated, after coming off that circle, or the curve.  Do you know who owns this SUV, and allowed irresponsible youth to drive it, endangering all of us, and the two males, riding on the roof?  What makes this OK?

LETTER FROM THE WPA OFFICE, REGARDING FAILURE TO POST PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POLICY MANUAL, FOR RESIDENT REVIEW AND COMMENT

The following appeared in my email inbox, on April 6th.  The first reading of the proposed changes took place during the March 17th board meeting.  The WPA Board updated their official web page with the proposed changes, on April 6th, the day the email was sent to me.   I did not write the board.  I did publish an article regarding the board's failure, once again, to follow the policy manual, on April 1st.  Quite frankly,  the board tells me that no one reads The Wedgefield Examiner, so why bother to notify the blog.  The board should be notifying all of us, that they will delay a vote at the April meeting, because they haven't followed the policy manual.

Kathy Phelan <wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com>
wedgefieldexaminerthe@yahoo.com
Madeline Claveloux <mclaveloux@sc.rr.com>
Subject: Policy Changes
Priority: Normal Date: Monday, April 6, 2015 9:24 AM Size: 2 MB
Attachments: Changes to policy 3-24-2015.pdf (2211.9 KB)
Mrs. Claveloux,

Just for the record I did post the 1st reading Policy Changes on the website the day after the March board meeting and then accidently deleted it by me when I was working on the site. My apologies for the inconvenience. I'm not perfect and accidents do happen.

I have also attached a copy for your review.

Kathy Phelan
Office Secretary
Wedgefield Plantation Association
1956 Wedgefield Road
Georgetown, SC 29440
843-546-2718
843-546-4027
Email: wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com

First, whether our paid staff put it up, and deleted it by mistake, this is Garrison's responsibility, to see that it is there.  After all, he holds two titles, as it relates to following our governing documents.  He has been named Compliance Chair, and Legal Chair, a ridiculous move by our President, who has the privilege of appointing the chairs.  It looks like a conflict of interest to sound governance.  Our paid staff, is often made the fall guy, for this board's ridiculous moves.

You'll need to go to the WPA website, and view the proposed numerous changes for yourself.  When I wrote the article on April 1st, I was concerned about those changes centering on signs and fires.  Today, as I reviewed the changes, it left me with a firm conviction that they were driven by this board's need to cover for board members, who were violating our governing documents, as they stood, prior to these accommodations.

HERE IS WHAT WEDGEFIELD RESIDENTS WERE TOLD IN THE WRAGG, PRIOR TO MC MILLIN'S DESIRE TO BURN

"NO DUMPING 

NO BURNING 

NO EXCEPTIONS"

Here is the proposed change.  I was right when I thought it included "POTS".  The following is a direct quote from the WPA website.

"COMPLIANCE-BURNING

SECTION V

COVENANTS

3. COVENANT #7 OUTSIDE BURNING

Relating to Covenant # 7 (noxious or offensive activity) as pertaining to outside burning, the following restrictions and definitions shall apply:

1) Open burning of trash or yard debris shall be prohibited at all times.  Trash will be defined as garbage, paper products, styrofoam or any similar materials.  Yard debris will include leaves, branches, clippings or outdoor dead plant materials.

2) Contained fires in firepits, burn barrels or pots used for recreational purposes or cooking, outdoor fireplaces and grills shall be permitted."

The board mentions Covenant # 7.  Here it is.

"No noxious or offensive activity shall be carried on upon any lot, nor shall anything be done thereon tending cause embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood.  There shall not maintained plants or animals, or thing of any sort whose normal activities or existence is in any way noxious, dangerous, unsightly, unpleasant or of a nature as may diminish or destroy the enjoyment of the other property in the neighborhood by the owners."

Your board can't change the Covenants.  They can be assisted, through sound judgement, through a procedure, change, or adapt the policy manual, in an effort to provide sound governance.  The proposed fire policy, appears to violate the very heart of the intent of Covenant #7, to accommodate McMillin.  Here is the evidence.

Intended to "embarrass, cause discomfort, annoyance, and nuisance", as it has an individual resident's house number painted on it. "As may diminish or destroy the enjoyment of the other property in the neighborhood by the owners thereof".  Read covenant # 7.

"or thing off any sort whose normal activities or existence is in any way noxious, dangerous, unsightly " - Covenant # 7

Violates Covenant #7, as noted in the other two displays.  For one board member who wanted to burn, when we were told,

"NO DUMPING 

NO BURNING 

NO EXCEPTIONS" 

This board, who likes to speak to their cohesiveness, is about to vote to violate not only Covenant #7, but their responsibility to sound governance, in the general benefit of the association, to accommodate, one stubborn, self serving board member's wishes, in my not so humble opinion.  If they are left to their usual devices - "we'll vote for his project, then he'll vote for mine", our association will continue on the decline, that they are constantly accelerating.  Later, if some one of sound judgement, tries to take it back, they'll call all of this precedent.

We don't have time to cover the signage proposed changes, but you'll note that they have been violated in the pictures presented above.

LATER TODAY: 1. THE WPA OFFIICE WRITES TO ME, REGARDING THEIR FAILURE TO POST THE PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES. WHY DID THEY WRITE? I DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T WRITE TO THEM, AND THEY ALL CLAIM THAT NO ONE READS THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER! 2. WE HAVE SOME DANGEROUS ACTIVITY OCCURRING ON OUR WEDGEFIELD ROADS. DO THESE YOUTH, COME FROM YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

WONDER DOG BRADY, SAYS, "STAY TUNED"

PART III, OF THE WPA MARCH MEETING: IS OUR WPA COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE IGNORING THE VERY POLICY MANUAL, THAT THEY CHANGE AGAIN, AND AGAIN, TO SUIT THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND WANTS?

Compliance Chair, Garrison presented at least two policy manual changes, during the March meeting.  The changes were in regard to burning, and signs.  I was at the meeting, and I took notes, but I searched the WPA website today, and couldn't find them.  Here is what the policy manual states, regarding changes:

4.02 A motion to change the Policy Manual must be presented at an open Board meeting, posted on the WPA website for resident comments, and NOT voted on until the following Board meeting. 
I'm not surprised that they weren't listed.  I checked the obvious places on the site:  Home Page, Information from the Board Page, the Approved Policy Manual (note:  There is a grid listing all of the changes, on this page.)  We had this problem before, with many of the current board members.  They just kept voting changes for months, without publishing them, and giving residents the opportunity to comment.  When it was brought to their attention, they mass reproved them in one meeting.

Here is a Wedgefield knock, knock joke.  Knock, Knock, What happens to a resident who writes the board, regarding transgressions BY BOARD MEMBERS, of the governing documents?  Sorry, but true, you get a new policy to accommodate, the offending board members' transgressions.

When board member, McMillin wanted to burn in an ugly pot, on his vacant lot, after he had sent invitations to the "burn", he went to the board table, and tried to change the policy, before the party, despite the fact that there weren't any complaints in the correspondence file, and no mention of problems during the board meetings.   Board member, DeMarchi, declared that "he was tired of legislating for idiots, who break all the rules".  Just another addition to the knock, knock, joke.  Here is what we had all been told,  in the July 2014 Wedgefield Wragg, previous to McMillin, bringing the change to the table.

"NO DUMPING 

NO BURNING 

NO EXCEPTIONS"

During the time that we were awaiting the board's changes in behalf of board member McMillin, he held several "burns" in his ugly pot.  In fact, it still sits there with wood in it, ready to go today.  Since I was at the board meeting, I heard the first reading, and I believe the word "pot" is contained in it.  I can't verify it for you, because your board hasn't followed the policy manual, that they are changing again, in behalf of a fellow board member's whims, and haven't published it, for our review.  Remember, the old saying, "a chicken in every pot"?  If your board passes this change to the policy manual, we'll change the saying to "a pot in every Wedgefield yard"!

WOULDN'T YOU LOVE THIS NEXT TO YOU?

IT COULD BE COMING TO A YARD NEAR YOU, THANKS TO A VOTE BY THIS BOARD!

The board also had a first reading, for a policy manual change, regarding signs.  I had written the board, regarding board member, Walton's signs on boats, that were making his street look like a used boat yard.  Again, I can't provide the specific change in language, because your board has not posted it.  Here is the picture, I had sent to the board.

After I wrote the board, it could appear, that board member, McMillin, had decided to punish a resident who had the audacity, to write the board, about transgressions by a board member.  He then placed the following signs it his yard, and on his vacant (not really) lot.

One, might think that he is testing just how far this board will allow him to go, as he violates policy, and strikes back at residents, who speak out.  It doesn't appear that he was concerned about this board sanctioning fellow board members, because the next sign, was crude, rude, and disgusting.  HERE IT IS:

I'm so use to the cover up game this board plays, that I didn't bother to write the board.  Your board, covered it up at the board table, I believe calling it a Christmas display.  It wasn't.  McMillin  lives on William Screven, as I do, and the painting has my house number painted on it, and was crafted by one of his family members.  I always tell you when something is a rumor.  The rumor is that several members of this board, met with   McMillin about this sign, for almost 3 hours, and he refused to take it down.  No self discipline, or honesty from this board.  In fact, in the case of the Santa SIGN, nothing but a cover up, from this gutless board. If it were anything else, and this board found this sign so appropriate, and unoffensive, perhaps they will ask McMillins' family artist, to paint one of these SIGNS, with Santa crapping on a house with their address on it, and hang it on their WEDGEFIELD PLANTATION ASSOCIATION HOME, in their pride, of their governance, in behalf of residents.  Other wise board, you truly are governing in a self service, to each other, gutless, ruthless, manor, and doing a poor job of covering it up.  Who are the IDIOTS, board member, DeMarchi?

Where is Legal Chair/COMPLIANCE CHAIR (conflict), Garrison?  Why hasn't he seen to the publishing of these proposed changes, to our policy manual? Is it because he is aware that they are as self serving to individual board members, as they are?