THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

MORE NONSENSE REGARDING CORRESPONDENCE TO THE BOARD, A FAKE DOCUMENT REQUIREMENT PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR TO REVIEW WPA RECORDS, AND NOW OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON TELLS A RESIDENT THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE OFFICE AND FILL OUT THE FAKE FORM TO EVEN GET ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS!!!!! LOOKS LIKE HARASSMENT TO ME!

The picture provided above was selected by The Wedgefield Examiner and not the resident writer. My words: This is nothing more than harassment, brought to you out of thin air by board secretary McMillin, condoned by community liaison Anderson, and since the entire board was copied, the blind eye of board members failing to provide FAIR, LEGAL, GOVERNANCE.

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Do you have information, or an opinion - agree, or not, you can email The Wedgefield Examiner at wedgefieldexaminerthe@yahoo.com. We'll remove your name to protect the innocent, and publish it. P.S. If you would like your name published, please note that on your email, otherwise we leave your name out.

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Readers, a few days ago I published an email that this resident writer had sent to the board requesting document review. In the email, she noted the records she would like to review, and stated proper purpose for the review. She had met all the requirements of our bylaws, and SC non profit law regarding review of records. Board secretary McMillin, after no answer from the board for three months, sent her an email informing her she was ignorant of policy, and the requirement to come to the office to fill out a form and then, and only then, would he address her in writing. This form NEVER EXISTED UNTIL THAT TIME, and even if you believe it did, it only addresses file review. The undaunted resident then writes the board via email, and asks that some questions be answered, and again, like never before, she is instructed that she must come to the office and fill out the form for file review! We'll start at the beginning of this request with her email. Here is her email:

On Sunday, April 22, 2018 7:57 PM, constance downs <constancedowns559@msn.com> wrote:

Michelle,

Please send a copy of this email message to all board members and place a copy in the correspondence file? And would you please send me a confirmation that you received this message and forwarded it to all members?

Thank You.

Board Members;

I read the following message on the HOA website and have several questions. I would appreciate it if someone responded to ALL these questions thoroughly and in a timely manner. My questions are in BOLD. Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation.

Canal dredging update

We had a meeting with canal lot owners on March 6th to bring everyone up to date on the canal dredging project.

We are asking for voluntary contributions of $4000 per canal lot to go with the reserve funding the WPA has set aside for dredging per our agreement.

Please tell me where I can find this agreement in writing. I would like to read and review the conditions.
I want to know the date of this agreement.
Who was present during this meeting?
Who developed and wrote this plan?
Who was in agreement of the plan?
Who opposed?
Who signed this plan?
and when and how the residents of Wedgefield were informed of this agreement. I have been to nearly all board meetings and keep detailed notes. I don't recall this specific agreement being discussed or coming up for a vote. I read the minutes on the HOA website and there is nothing documented regarding this agreement. Perhaps I'm overlooking the obvious?

The meeting was well received and the fundraising has been going well. As of this writing we have raised $117,300 towards our goal of $200,000. Last Tuesday, John Walton announced that he collected $126,300 toward the dredging project.

Which number is accurate?
And who set the goal of $200,000?

Other questions: The last dredge cost well over a million dollars.

How much money did the HOA promise to contribute toward the 2018 dredging project?
Who came up with this number?
What other reserves will be exhausted to pay for the dredge? As of February 28, 2018, the canal reserve had a balance of $146,518.25.

If canal lot owners have a goal of $200,000 and are contributing $4,000 each, (a number I believe is $1,000 lower than the last dredging contribution of $5,000 per lot owner), that means there are 50 canal lot owners. I recall a number of 81 canal lot owners. Where can I find the correct number of canal lot owners?

I am NOT opposed to the HOA contributing to the dredging project as long as it's reasonable and ALL residents, (both canal lot owners and non-canal lot owners) are well aware of this "agreement" and have had a chance to voice any concerns and ask relevant questions. Thank you again for your cooperation.

The existing permit expires late this year so we need to get everyone's contribution in as soon as possible. If we can reach our goal by mid May we will be able to get this project done this winter! So please get your contributions in if you haven't already. You can drop them by the office, give it to any committee member or mail it to...

Wedgefield Waterfront Property Owners

1284 Georgetown Hwy

Georgetown SC 29440

Thanks for your support

The Water Amenities Committee

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HERE IS COMMUNITY LIAISON ANDERSON'S ANSWER. NOTE, HE HAS SENT IT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD.

----- Original message------

From: Adam Anderson

Date: Mon, Apr 23, 2018 11:58 AM

To: Michelle Blythe;constance downs;

Cc: Jacky & Judy Walton;Bob Garrison;Peggy Phillips;John Walton;Steve Vasey;Butch Williams;Keith Johnson;

Subject:Re: Fw: Posting on website Message from Constance Downs

There is a correspondence request form in the office that you will need to fill out. As soon as you are able to do so I will get you the answers to your questions.

Adam Anderson

Community Liaison
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HERE IS HER EMAIL RESPONSE TO ANDERSON, AND THE ENTIRE BOARD:

From: constance downs <constancedowns559@msn.com>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2018 2:02 PM
To: wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com
Subject: Fw: Fw: Posting on website Message from Constance Downs

Hi Michelle,

Please forward a copy of my response to Adam Anderson to all the board members. I realized he responded to my message via his personal address and didn't catch it until I sent my message. I'm resending my response to him via the board address to expedite an appropriate response. Thank you.

Please confirm receipt of this message and that all board members received it. Thanks so much.

Connie

From: constance downs <constancedowns559@msn.com>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2018 12:26 PM
To: Adam Anderson
Subject: Re: Fw: Posting on website Message from Constance Downs

Adam,

Where is the form in the policy book? I will print it off my computer. What section? Date of implementation?

I also plan on requesting review of the correspondence file so I can see how other residents have filled out these forms.

Sent from my LG Mobile
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Readers, the following comments are those of The Wedgefield Examiner. I have not asked the resident writer to agree, or condone what I am about to write.

We have reached the height of disfunction in our governance. The punitive, secret, against all policy - SC non profit law, our bylaws have been violated, and real communication shut down by a few on the board who must have something they are afraid to have revealed in records regarding the current dredging effort, and the illegal path toward dredging including the spoil site. This action by McMillin and Anderson - both canal committee members, should be an indication of how far some will go, while shutting out the eyes of residents. If you don't care about the dredging and spoil site, you should care about open, above board, governance.

Think about it. During the April board meeting I'm told that vice president/legal chair Garrison reported that members were not to call or email board members through the board members' private phone, or email addresses. Good move, except that message has been repeated over and over by this board, and yet they continue individually to serve favored members who contact them privately. I'd dare to say that we have a resident lawsuit against this board for their unpredictable, favored treatment of certain residents, and hidden abuse of those residents that they would like to shut up, and for sure not ask questions, and seek answers through review of records. Let's see whether the balance of the board reads the emails, takes notice of McMillin's homemade document requirements/demands, and questions Anderson's willful following down this illegal path. Don't hold your breath. By the way, if you do write the board with questions, see if you receive notice that you can't just send an email anymore, you have to go to the office and fill out McMillin's homemade form. Own property, but don't live here, or only live here part time? Well, get in your car, or hop a plane, and come fill out McMillin's form, or community liaison Anderson won't answer you. Better yet, you should be storming the board email with the resident writer's questions! "Where is the form in the policy book? I will print it off my computer. What section? Date of implementation? "

NOW, AND FOR A LONG TIME, YOUR BOARD HAS BEEN HIDING, AND WE CAN'T BE HEARD.

Monday, April 23, 2018

THE WPA APRIL MEETING - THE CANAL REPORT.

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Readers, articles are going to have to be quick, and short. I've verified information about the April WPA board meeting by talking to a couple of the mere nine members who attended the meeting. Today, we'll quickly deal with the water amenities report, as it relates to the canals, and dredging.

It was reported that a little over $126,000 has been collected to date. The deadline for collection is May 1st., or the 15th, depending on what individuals heard, or read. $126,000 at $4,000 per lot, would indicate that approximately 30 of the 79 lot owners have voluntarily committed financially to the dredging. What is keeping lot owners from making a commitment? No one has told us. I wonder if the committee should consider holding a meeting for all members to attend, with the agenda item of discussion being "what are your concerns if you haven't contributed". I'd be interested in hearing lot owners' reasons. I'm sure everyone of the lot owners would like to see the canals dredged.

I would like to see them dredged, and would pay whatever the price, as long as:

*The association assessed me. They can lay the expense on me, under our current governing documents.

*There must be a plan for the future - not a last dredge as this short sighted committee has suggested. We are one storm away from the benefit life of a dredge, being silted in and left standing with the conditions of today. Have any of you bothered to ask the board what their intentions are regarding the canal reserve, after this dredging? If they have an answer that is favorable ask them to put it in writing, and somewhere in policy

*I don't see how I can participate in the current dredge as the path to this point has been one illegal, twisted tale. I'm a Wedgefield resident first, and a canal owner second, and I can't participate in something that harms my overallcommunity yesterday, today, and far into the future, because we are setting harmful, illegal precedent for the future governance of Wedgefield's governance.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

LETTER TO THE BOARD REQUESTING REVIEW OF THE CORRESPONDENCE FILE

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Readers, if you have been following the blog you'll know that this was a necessary step. I don't have a lot of time to go over all the detail again. Please go back and read:

"Thursday, April 12, 2018

A RESIDENT WRITES THE BOARD MULTIPLE TIMES, TO REVIEW THE SPOIL SITE RECORDS. THEY DON'T ANSWER FOR MONTHS, PRETEND THEY HAVE, AND THEN SECRETARY MC MILLIN WRITES AND TELLS HER THAT SHE IS IGNORANT ABOUT PROCEDURE, AND A FORM, THAT NEVER EXISTED UNTIL HE APPARENTLY MADE IT UP, AND DRAFTED IT HIMSELF!"

I was unable to attend the April WPA board meeting, but have talked to two residents who did attend the meeting. Your board did not report this resident's letters to the board under the community liaison report, or discuss the board secretary's sudden addition of a requirement necessary to review records - a requirement that did not exist under SC non profit law, or our governing documents. HERE IS MY LETTER TO THE BOARD:

April 22, 2018

TO: WPA BOARD

FROM: Madeline Y. Claveloux

RE: REQUEST TO REVIEW THE CORRESPONDENCE FILE

FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 THROUGH MAY 1, 2018

CC: The Wedgefield Examiner

As a member in good standing, I am requesting to review the Correspondence File from September 1, 2017, through May 1, 2018. I would like to come to the WPA Office on Tuesday, May 1^st., at 11:00am to review the files. I am making the request under the terms of SC Non Profit Law, and the approved procedures noted in our governing documents.

Statement of Proper Purpose, as noted as a requirement in the above noted documents: In general, I am very concerned about the method of members securing a response from the board. I have followed the three-month effort of a resident attempting to secure approval to review the spoil site records, and was astounded to see a response from our Board Secretary, adding additional unapproved requirements, prior to access to the records. What was even more alarming was that the Board Secretary chastised the resident stating they were ignorant of policy – a policy that never existed, and therefore never was brought to the board table, motioned, discussed, published on the website for resident comment, or voted on at a second board meeting, and approved.

I look forward to your response, and approval of my request.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

RESIDENT, AND WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER EDITOR, MISSED THE WPA APRIL BOARD MEETING. CAN YOU HELP PROVIDE INFORMATION

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We had another medical emergency resulting in a hospitalization in our family, and I missed the April WPA board meeting. If you attended, and are willing to share what happened at the meeting, please write it up, and send it to me. I'll be happy to post it, with, or without your name.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

THERE WERE ALMOST 2,000 VISITS TO THE BLOG ON APRIL 13TH. LOOKS LIKE MCMILLIN DRAWS A CROWD AS HE "MAKES HIS OWN GOVERNING DOCUMENTS UP". IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THAT READERS WERE ALSO GOING BACK TO THE REPRINTED ARTICLE PROVIDED BELOW.

BRADY, THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER MASCOT SAYS, "LISTEN, WE KEEP BEING TOLD NO ONE READS THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER. THE EDITOR, HAS SAID MANY TIMES THAT IF THE WPA BOARD WOULD JUST GOVERN ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, IN THE BEST INTEREST OF WEDGEFIELD, THAT SHE COULD SHUT THE BLOG DOWN. LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE BLOGGING FOR A LONG TIME, BASED ON WHAT THIS BOARD KEEPS CHURNING OUT TO GET THINGS THEY WANT! SO, I'M LEFT SAYING, STAY TUNED."

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Readers, as you read through the reposted article, look at the quote from Supreme court justice, Antonin Scalia, "The constitution is not a living organism. It is a legal document, and it says what it says and doesn't say what you want it to say." Wedgefield residents are governed by board members like Anderson, who says this about our governing documents - our constitution, our attorneys, and our courts: "Our covenants are weak, judges are lazy, and attorneys are greedy". This kind of governance has reached the point that McMillin makes up new rules, for "certain residents", and Anderson backs them up by ignoring the issue, and attacking those who dare to write their concerns.

HERE IS THE REPOSTED ARTICLE:

Saturday, May 13, 2017

ATTEND TUESDAY'S WPA BOARD MEETING AS A MEMBER CONSTITUTIONALIST. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE WEDGEFIELD YOU'LL HAVE TO BECOME ONE. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR BOARD DEFIES RATHER THAN ADHERES TO OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

It is time to stand up, and let other residents know that you are concerned. Your comments, agree or not, are welcome, and will be published without your name. Send your emails to:  wedgefieldexaminerthe@yahoo.com

The Wedgefield Examiner is concerned that this board by the manner in which they operate - demonstrated month after month, and the manner in which they speak, have little regard for our governing documents. With the exception of one, eight of the board members at the board table have been there for 5 - 7 years. What is wrong? This board has demonstrated that they have little regard for our governing documents, through their actions, and their words. Yet, every part of our governing documents call for each board member to serve through those very documents in behalf of our community.

If you attend meetings, you've often heard this phrase from Garrison, "I'm not inclined", "in the board's view", most often said when there has not been any public discussion, or vote from the board table. Really, you have to be at the meetings, or follow the documentation. Imagine a board sending the follow communication to a resident, "Our covenants are weak, judges are lazy, and attorneys are greedy".   This was taken from correspondence to me, from board community liaison, Anderson. Our covenants have become weak because our board does not follow them. Our governing documents are our constitution. Supreme court justice, Antonin Scalia said, "The constitution is not a living organism. It is a legal document, and it says what it says and doesn't say what you want it to say." This is Wedgefield's problem. Our covenants, and by-laws don't say what the board wants them to say, so they ignore them, circumvent them, all to the detriment of Wedgefield.

This board has been failing to fulfill the primary function of the board. Yet, our governing documents charge them numerous times to follow the covenants, and by-laws. I've taken the time to highlight those areas for you.

"PURPOSE

Section I: These are the By-Laws of the Wedgefield Plantation Association, hereinafter referred to as The Association, a non-profit corporation existing under the laws of the State of South Carolina, which has been organized for the purpose of preserving the natural setting and beauty of the Development, of establishing and preserving a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design for the Development, and of conducting the affairs of the Plantation for the benefit of the property owners in a manner which will maintain the high standards of the Wedgefield Plantation Subdivision within Georgetown County, South Carolina. This includes enforcing the Covenants of the subdivision and these By-Laws, the maintenance of the Association's property, if any, and the acquisition of property. "

"CODE OF ETHICS (NOTE: Every board member must sign)

Appendix IV-1

Directors shall act with scrupulous good faith and candor. They will avoid even the perception of conflict of interest, favoritism and acting out of self-interest.

Directors shall uphold and safeguard the Bylaws, Conditions, Restrictions and Policies governing Wedgefield Plantation Association."

"CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Personal Beliefs: We recognize that the Board Members may hold a wide range of personal beliefs, values and commitments. These beliefs, values and commitments become a conflict of interest if they prevent Board Members from carrying out their Board responsibilities and/or if the Board Member’s relationship with Wedgefield Plantation Association is used to further these beliefs and commitments. " NOTE: Our president fails us miserably here. What has happened is that he has not served us according to our governing documents, but has served our spokesperson/vice president/legal/compliance chair Garrison's personal beliefs, values, and commitments, with
outrageous mob style, bullying tactics! Every board member at the board table is as guilty as president Walton, and Garrison, when they vote unanimously on so many motions, without consideration of our governing documents, limit information to residents, and sit by as members who ask questions are bullied, and abused. This board has failed us with the current issues of golf course, and canals, while allowing cover ups, lies, and even forgery on prior legal cases, to get their way.

"PRESIDENT- JOB DESCRIPTION
The role of the association President is wide in scope. The ultimate goal of the Board of Directors is to increase the overall standard of living of the membership and to increase the value of the property within the association. The President is charged with leading this effort. " NOTE: President Walton has harmed us by his silence, erratic gavel pounding, and his failure to bring real agendas to the table- complete minutes to the records, his cover up of fact, and his use of his presidential powers to name Garrison to key committees as chair, and if not chair he sits on most other key committees.

"WEDGEFIELD PLANTATION ASSOCIATION POLICY MANUAL
POLICY MANUAL
PURPOSE:
The Board’s responsibility is to develop policies and procedures that interpret the values, perspective, and interests of the general membership. The WPA Policy Manual is the primary source of these policies and procedures for the effective operations of the Association. The Policy Manual is a fluid document which under goes periodic changes to accommodate the management of the Association.
These policies and procedures are to guide the Association in fulfilling the intent of the

(a) Bylaws
(b) Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions
(c) Architectural Review
(d) Generally Accepted Accounting Practices
(e) Governing Laws
(f) Good Business Practices "

NOTE: Your board has circumvented the intention of the policy manual. Under the longevity of this president, and 7 other long standing board members, they have reorganized the policy manual twice, illegally - didn't follow procedure in the manual itself, to change or add new language, and in most cases failed to make change that interpreted our governing documents. The policy manual is intended to serve as the day to day operation manual using our governing documents as the course of legal action. What is worse, even when they change it to suit their agenda rather than the best interests of Wedgefield, they often don't follow their own corrupt document.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
The Board of Directors of Wedgefield Plantation Association is responsible for assuring adherence to the “Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions” for Wedgefield Plantation and for maintenance of the common areas within the Plantation, i.e., maintenance of roads, drainage, and grounds. The Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility to protect and enhance the value of homes and the quality of life of the residential community. " NOTE: I'm not spending time on the violations here. This board is the problem. Go back to the beginning of the blog and read. Everything is documented, and this issue alone would take me that much space and time to discuss the problems here.

"ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE 1. CREATION

1.01 Planned Unit development
Wedgefield Plantation is a private residential development designed as a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which has been approved by the Georgetown County Planning Commission and the Georgetown County Council. The Planned Unit Development provides a comprehensive plan for the overall development of Wedgefield Plantation.
1.02 Administration
The Wedgefield Plantation Association (WPA) has created an Architectural Review Committee (ARC). The ARC may establish such rules, regulations, procedures, guidelines and reasonable fees as are necessary to achieve its purpose and objectives.
1.03 Purpose of the Wedgefield Plantation Architectural Review Committee o Preserve the natural beauty of Wedgefield and its settings,
o Continue Wedgefield as a pleasant and desirable environment,o Establish and maintain a harmonious design for the community, o Promote and protect the value of properties within the Plantation.
1.04 Objectives:The architectural and design approval process is directed toward attaining the following
objectives:

1.04.01 Preventing indiscriminate, excessive, or unsightly earth moving or clearing of property. Removal of trees and vegetation which could cause disruption to natural water course or scar of natural landforms. “See Section 5.03.”
1.04.02 Ensuring that the location and configuration of structures are visually harmonious with the terrain and vegetation of the surrounding properties and structures.
1.04.03 Ensuring that the architectural design of structures and their materials and colors are visually harmonious with Wedgefield Plantation’s overall appearance, history, and cultural heritage, with surrounding development, natural landforms, native vegetation and with development plans.
1.04.04 Ensuring that any development, structure, building, or landscape complies with the provisions of this document." NOTE: Take a drive through Wedgefield. This committee, a KEY committee of the board fails every day. Look back at the pictures on the blog. Talk to the man who had the complaint about the shed, and his 10 month journey to be heard, all the while he was harassed by Garrison at meetings, supported by president Walton, and your board, including the ARC chair, as they sat on their hands, and failed to discuss or call on our governing documents, which the resident quoted every time. Drive by the tractor on the vacant lot in Wedgefield.
NOTE: Residents, please read the following very carefully. The current community liaison is charged with the duty of bringing the reality of our governing documents to us in written communication, according to our governing documents. What kind of representative of this critical function is he when he puts this in writing, "Our covenants are weak, judges are lazy, and attorneys are greedy".
Community liaison Anderson is not fulfilling his duties. Instead he stalls the resident who has inquired, fails to answer, or insults the writer. Never, does his answer quote the governing documents!

"COMMUNITY LIAISON

1. ADMINISTRATION

1.01 Purpose:
The Community Liaison Committee position on the Board of Directors has been established in accordance with Bylaw Article IX, Sections 1 & 2, to coordinate with other Board members in the following activities:
1. To provide a written reply to communications (information request, complaint, concern or question) submitted to the Board of Directors by residents and members.
2. Determine with regard to governing documents as to whether the written communication is valid and in accordance with the following:

Friday, April 13, 2018