SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST OUR WPA PRESIDENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION (LLR)? YOU'LL BE THE JUDGE. THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE LLR AND ON FILING IS PROVIDED AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE

President Walton, after signing a Conflict of Interest Statement, as required by our governing documents, bid on, and accepted a contract, to repair the gate house.  A sitting board member challenged a vote to award the contract under concern for conflict of interest.  Your board, except one, all who had also signed a Conflict of Interest Statement, awarded him the contract.  Walton sat by, while the WPA Legal Chair, Garrison called the questioning MORONIC.  I wrote to the board on Feb. 24th, asking how any board member could have voted to approve a contract with our President's business, having each signed the "Conflict of Interest Statement". I received a inappropriate answer from the board Community Liaison.  On March 4th, I wrote the board and asked President Walton to answer the question himself, in writing.  If it were me, I would have answered a request of this seriousness, immediately.  He has not.

During a meeting within the last year, as bids on another project were being considered, President Walton reported that a bidder had sought information unscrupulously and that such behavior, if reported to the LLR, could result in a fine, or more if proven.  Additionally, during our last road repair fiasco, a resident turned the road contractor into the LLR, and the contractor was sanctioned after an investigation.

Consider the fact that our President bid, obviously knowing he had signed the Conflict of Interest Statement.  He began with "unclean hands".  Additionally, as President, bidding on a project when he has intimate, first hand knowledge of the building to be repaired, budget, etc., he has unfair advantage, etc.

Why can't we trust that if our President didn't act in good faith, the rest of the board would have?  In my humble opinion, they haven't demonstrated that ability in the past.  You'll note that it took the action of a resident in the road complaint to the LLR, that your board failed to take.  Walton was on that board and voted to contract with the contractor, despite, calls of ridiculous judgment at the board table.

This board can appear to answer to no one, and cover for each other.  If you proceed your complaint should be against Walton.  While many on the board who have failed to acknowledge the very document they signed, hold various licenses, you may not be able to make complaints against them.

The Wedgefield Examiner has transcribed portions of the minutes from the meeting where your board harassed the questioning board member, and voted to give Walton the contract.  You can find the transcription by going to the bottom of the blog, 2013, and selecting Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - "Conflict of Interest - Lack of Common Sense & Ethics - The Gate House Fix"  In all cases, go to the WPA website and review the tape of the meeting.

Your board counts on you remaining mute.  I am aware of at least one resident who will be filing a complaint.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE LLR, FILING A COMPLAINT, AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT FOLLOWS