THE WPA APRIL MEETING - THE CANAL REPORT.

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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, 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.

LETTER TO THE BOARD REQUESTING REVIEW OF THE CORRESPONDENCE FILE

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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, 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.

  

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

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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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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.  

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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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, 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

1. 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

1. (a)  Bylaws 
2. (b)  Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions 
3. (c)  Architectural Review 
4. (d)  Generally Accepted Accounting Practices 
5. (e)  Governing Laws 
6. (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. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 1.04  Objectives:The architectural and design approval process is directed toward attaining the following 
   objectives: 

1. 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.” 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 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.   
5. 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". 
6. 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. 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: 
   1. a)  the Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions 
   2. b)  the Bylaws 
   3. c)  the Policy Manual "
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   5. Residents, you have to become constitutionalists!  You have to do your searches, learn our Wedgefield constitution, stand up and confront the board, write the board, and get them out of here.  They aren't doing what our governing documents charge them to do.  They are performing under a conflict of interest - Garrison's interest, and it is causing the destruction of our beautiful community, impeding our chances of moving forward legally, and ethically, for the golf course & canals.  They are acting against "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. "  Under Garrison's hammer hand they want you to believe our governing documents say what he wants them to say, not what they offer us in real solutions.  Once again, remember what Supreme Court Justice Scalia said, "The Constitution is not a living Organism.  It is a legal document, and it says what it says and does not say what you (Garrison) wants it to say."  You have to become a constitutionalist for Wedgefield, because Garrison has lead this board so far down a destructive path that we have board members convinced like Anderson that ""Our covenants are weak, judges are lazy, and attorneys are greedy".  
   3. 
      

THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER HAS HAD OVER 1,000 VISITS TO THE BLOG IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. MC MILLIN'S FAKE POLICY FORM FOR REVIEWING WPA RECORDS IS PROVIDED. THIS DOCUMENT NEVER WAS USED, OR APPROVED, UNTIL HE DECIDED TO DEVELOP IT, AND TELL THE RESIDENT THAT THEY WERE IGNORANT OF THE POLICY. REALLY?????

HOW DOES YOUR BOARD ALLOW MC MILLIN TO HOLD THE LEADERSHIP ROLES OF BOARD SECRETARY, AND GROUNDS CHAIR, WHEN HE CONTINUES TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF RIDICULOUS, CHILDISH, ILLEGAL MOVES?

HERE IS THE DOCUMENT WHICH EXISTED NO WHERE UNTIL NOW, AND IF IT HAD GONE THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS, AS AN ADDED REQUIREMENT TO REVIEWING RECORDS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MOTION TO ADD IT TO THE POLICY MANUAL, A VOTE AND DISCUSSION AT THE BOARD TABLE, POSTING ON THE WEBSITE BETWEEN FIRST, AND SECOND READING,

AND

THOSE STEPS NEVER HAPPENED!

RESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER ANDERSON SENDS A SNARKY LETTER TO THE WEDGEFIELD EXAMINER REGARDING THE ARTICLE IMMEDIATELY BELOW THIS ONE.

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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, before you read this post you have to go to the article posted immediately after this one titled:  

"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!"

Resident/board member Anderson sent the following email to me, and the resident writer noted in the article mentioned above.  Please take the time to read through Anderson's letter, and I will respond after.  HERE IS ANDERSON'S LETTER:
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"Madeline,

You have a blog post currently up that flat out calls me a liar. During my report I said someone   (I said I couldn't off top of my head remember who) responded to the email request for Mrs. Downs to review spoil site records.

Also, don't know if you remember in the March board meeting when Adam listing my email request in his community report?   Jacky or Bob asked him if it was answered and he said yes..... I was shaking my head no and he was pressed and claimed one of the board members answered it, he was sure he saw it.  When no one backed his lie, he scapegoated former secretary Lee claiming her response invited me to come in any time to review the records. Clearly a lie. Jacky was supposed to look into it after the meeting and get back to me.  I never heard back from anyone." It should be noted that I attended the March WPA board meeting, and this is exactly what happened (Madeline Y. Claveloux)

I went back in my email and found that it was indeed responded to by BW (Note: The Wedgefield Examiner removed the board member's full name.) on February 21st, at 8:58 am. His response was very cordial and clear. If something happened with the office secretary (as I suggested at the March meeting) and the response did not make it back to Mrs. Downs, that does not make me or BW (Note: The Wedgefield Examiner removed the board member's first name.) or any of us a liar.

Here is the email….

BW (Note: The Wedgefield Examiner removed the board members full name)

Just give me a time next week after 5pm

Thanks, BW (Note: The Wedgefield Examiner removed the board member's first name)      

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 21, 2018, at 8:58 AM, Lee Cote <wedgeassoc.com@frontier.com> wrote:

\

Lee Cote

Secretary to the Board

Wedgefield Plantation Association, Inc.

1956 Wedgefield Road

Georgetown, SC 29440

843.546.2718

843.546.4027 fax

On Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:02 AM, constance downs <constancedowns559@msn.com> wrote:

Good Morning Lee,

Would you please pass this message to all board members.  Thank You.

I would like to set up an appointment to come to the HOA office to review the maintenance records on the spoil site.    I'm looking for as far back as 2009 or 10. Please let me know what is convenient for you.

Thanks again Lee......

Connie Downs, 492 Francis Parker Road......

I can assure you no one cares if you or Mrs. Downs wants to review these records or not. Knock yourself out. I firmly believe you have the right to review anything in that office. My only response to you would be to refrain from putting inaccurate or sensationalized  information on your blog. It only hurts the neighborhood you claim to love.

I will wait for your apology………

Adam Anderson"

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First, it will be a cold day in Wedgefield - never been that cold, if you are waiting for an apology from me, as the Wedgefield Examiner editor, regarding this fiasco. The facts in the article containing the resident writer's emails, speak for themselves. Your actions during the March board meeting - I attended it, are depicted as they occurred. If you had been doing your job as community liaison, you wouldn't have sat THEN and then stated today, "During my report I said someone   (I said I couldn't off top of my head remember who) responded to the email request for Mrs. Downs to review spoil site records." You would have verified the record during the meeting, by going to the correspondence file, and providing the information. Additionally, by the March meeting, the resident writer had written several times, with no answer, or acknowledgement of receipt of her letters by the board. Even as recent as today's offensive writing to the blog, you provide a short line sent by board member BW, and as community liaison, fail to provide documentation that anything was sent to the resident writer over a three month period, when the resident's emails to the board obviously went unanswered. This is further evidenced by McMillin's ridiculous, tainted with illegal fabrication of governing document policy - the form, email who tells the resident writer, "There is a formal request form at the office for review of documents, that must be completed by you. Since you have not done so or are ignorant of this requirement, I will continue to await your response before any action by me as secretary is required. You may stop by the office during regular business hours to fill out this form. - Larry McMillin"

It is unbelievable that you dare to drag BW into this, as though he was unwittingly called a liar by the resident writer, or myself. Mr. Anderson, go back and read the article you are so upset about, and clearly show the quote where his name is mentioned by either of us. I, unlike you, will not wait for a retraction from you, because there is no quote for you to pull, and provide. I suspect that you wanted to pull more residents to your miserable "sad song", by bringing BW into it for your own purposes. BW has been a respected resident in this community for all his efforts to solve the golf course mowing situation, and since his arrival on the board he continues to promote interest and enthusiasm to assist the golf course and restaurant effort, that can only benefit Wedgefield.

I suggest that you, and your fellow board members take time to reign board member McMillin's run amuck, illegal fabrication of governing documents and policy, and general establishment of his own ego ridden "kingdom", called Wedgefield.