The Wedgefield Examiner attended the WPA November 21st Open Board Meeting. The following information has been provided by my notes, to the best of my ability. Verify the information for yourself, by going to the WPA website. The board's tape of the meeting should be posted. All comments will be printed in red and identified as such.
Eight of the nine board members were present at the meeting. John Walton was absent. Originally, the agenda for the meeting was posted on the WPA website, as The Wedgefield Drainage Project. At the last minute, the gate house was added to the agenda on the website. The Wedgefield Drainage Project was discussed in the first part of the meeting, and a article was posted on the blog regarding the project, earlier.
Once again, your board does not have three bids. They have two. Mc Millin, mentions the fact that 3 were contacted, and they only got two bids. President Walton says that it is desirable to have three bids, because your board would like to insure that costs are reasonable????? Once again, as your board did earlier in the meeting regarding the Wedgefield Drainage Project, they make a motion, to proceed with less than three bids, because they are under $3,000. Garrison wants to know for the record, that bona fide attempts were made. Someone says the one bid, DeMarchi's old bosses bid, is only good for 45 days. DeMarchi says, he talked to him in the last few days, and he'll extend the time period.
McMillin says that he spoke out against this project in the past. He says the gate house has water damage, and mold. They proceed through the bids. It appears the specs provided to the contractors, are in stages, and require the contractor bid on each stage. The prices are reviewed. One of the contractors is DeMarchi's old boss. Anderson says the pricing on at least one bid is ridiculous. Some board members ask to see the specs provided to the contractors. Johnson even asks if the same scope of work was provided to every contractor.
Garrison asks DeMarchi, regarding the bid from his former boss, whether that bidder owns lots here, and is in arrears on his assessments????? DeMarchi says that he doesn't, a partnership owns the lots, that they are trying to collect on. Garrison asks DeMarchi, if his former boss is one of the partners???? DeMarchi fesses up and says he is a partner. Garrison says he doesn't want to be awarding contracts to a party that they are trying to collect assessments on.
Ebert wants to know what we are going to be using the gate house for. Some one says they won't be manning it. Ebert wants to know if they should tear it down????? Garrison says it is part of the landscape. McMillin says due to the roof, as he sees it, it has structural defects. Someone says they bet the work is expensive and MAYBE THEY SHOULD DO IT IN HOUSE!!!!!!!. Johnson says there should be a SCOPE OF WORK THEY CAN ALL AGREE ON?????? Some begin to suggest we do this. Others suggest we do that. Cline says they need to decide what we are getting bids on. Garrison says they need to reject both bids. McMillin seconds it. Johnson says he is willing to look at it with a couple of people. DeMarchi wants to know what Johnson objects to in the specs????? Garrison says in the least they should get the windows in. Doors and door jams come into the discussion.
At one point McMillin says water has been running down the inside wall for about three years. They mention mold in the walls, and mold under the carpeting. McMillin wants to prop up a wall and replace the original wood with treated wood. Some say that doesn't have to be done. McMillin says he'll get volunteers to do it. DeMarchi jabs someone verbally saying that they let it go for about 4 years.
In the end there is no settlement on our poor condition gate house. President Walton pounds the gaveland closes the meeting, AND DOESN'T EVEN OPEN IT UP TO RESIDENT COMMENTS, as he usually does.
COMMENTS:
First, the gatehouse and associated brick walls, are the beauty in the entrance to Wedgefield. If the gate house were to be neglected to the point that tearing it down, or letting it deteriorate to the point that some on the board have (long timers), it is a disgrace. We are almost to the point that the TV show Myrtle Manor, should be contacting us to film here. How can your board allow cement benches, fountains, and some of their other ridiculous projects, mismanage an ASSET to this degree, without anyone saying THIS IS A PROBLEM? There is far more than one problem, and many others, with this cohesive, know it all board.
They lack any kind of planning, let alone solid planning. They lack any kind of solid, professional procurement of vendors, spec development, real sealed bids, or awarding of contract process. Everyone of these board members fail in their duty of honest review of information, prior to a vote. Remember, they were sending the specs around the table the night of the meeting, written it appears, by DeMarchi. Who at that board table is a licensed commercial contractor in the state of SC? I don't believe that we have such a person on that board.
How can the bids be truly sealed, when DeMarchi has obviously talked to his former boss? How can the bids be sealed, when they vote in advance to the supposed opening of the bids, to move forward, because someone knows the bids - 2, are under $3,000?
They keep putting out bids in stages. Some list all the stages and ask that the bidder bid on each stage. Others, they just put out this little bit, and later, that little bit. It all looks like they can't get bidders, because they abuse them. You abuse good credible bidders, keep them from bidding, because you allow it without question.
Remember, this project was awarded to President Walton, in conflict of a document every one on the board signed. It was urgent, 13 months ago. After President Walton gave the contract back, because after months of denying it, every board member who voted to give him the contract, was in conflict of interest, according to a document they all signed, as stated by our board attorney. Your board paid him (President Walton) for the windows he bought for the gate house and stored them, for months. Now, we are so poorly managed that we get to the board table and find out that once again, DeMarchi's OLD boss is bidding (He was the highest bidder when President Walton was awarded the contract.), and his partnership group, is so in arrears in assessments, that the board is taking dramatic steps to collect. YOUR BOARD TREASURER, is involved!!! Garrison, as Legal Chair, is no hero in this, when he asks if the bidder is the same guy that owes so much. He has played this snake like, winding game too often! Go back to the dock, and conflict of interest board meetings and listen to what he does when others question. This board appears to be afraid of each other, or lacks the ability to figure out how to get out of a card board box, let alone administer our association. I forget myself, they are counting on residents being the IDIOTS, that DeMarchi says he is tired of legistating for. Now, they are thinking about putting VOLUNTEERS in a mold infested building???? Hope the insurance company doesn't get wind of this.
NEXT THE BOARD MEMBER WITH THE VACANT LOT VIOLATION, HAS NOT ONLY, NOT CLEANED UP THE LOT, HE HAS ADDED MORE FURNITURE FOR HIS BON FIRES. YOU REMEMBER THE "NO BURNING, NO EXCEPTIONS" BOARD - EXCEPT IF IT IS ONE OF THEIR OWN???? REMEMBER, BOARD MEMBER CLINE SAID TAKE PICTURES AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. I WROTE THE BOARD AND IT WAS TURNED OVER TO ARC (JOHNSON), AND LET'S LOOK AT GIVING A CONTRACT TO MY EX BOSS, (COMPLIANCE) DE MARCHI!!!!!
