First the lawyers on both sides of the lawsuits resulting from the last dredging would have a field day, with the information provided blatantly by this board's spokesman legal/compliance chair/vice president, Garrison during the WPA August board meeting. What was even more appalling was the fact that not one board member questioned Garrison's reports - broad statements of power - not policy, or commitment of a large amount of money - today approximately $115,000, without public meeting including a vote by the board. It shouldn't matter what your private agenda is regarding the canals or the golf course, the discussion here is our covenants, by-laws, policy manual, and legal, ethical governance. Sift through those documents for yourself, and you'll certainly discern that this board had no right to allow Garrison to speak as though the board in it's entirety, stood behind Garrison, when not one of them can, or bothered to claim that they had discussed this business at the board table in the presence of the membership, and voted. The WPA August board meeting presented a bird's eye view of how far down a slippery slope this board has taken us.
Rather than reprint all the governing documents, I've chosen to use the words of a board attorney of record - Attorney Moran, who was hand picked off and on for years, by people of Garrison's ilk - and political leanings - no dredging - the board speaks, and you don't get to question. This quote comes from a letter to the board, regarding meetings, in 2011. At the time, the board was calling a lot of CLOSED executive meetings, and then just telling the members at monthly board meetings, what they wanted to, and the resulting vote. Things have gotten even worse today, because it appears that the board has had to have been meeting, making huge decisions regarding the canals, and the golf course for Garrison to speak to consensus of the board, and even allocating a huge amount of money, without even telling us they were meeting for months! Go back to the board website, and look for yourself. Go back to the minutes, and look for yourself. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED IN 2011.
On April 11 , 2011 Bob Moran sent a letter to Jacky Walton,President, and John McBride, Legal Chair in which he specifically addressed Reorganizational Meetings.
Bob was the attorney of record and re-iterated his concerns about the Board conducting meetings in secret. He specifically mentions reorganizational meetings. His written opinion was, and I quote:
“Initially I reiterate my advice to the Board to refrain from conducting business in executive session.There are very few purposes of conducting meetings which are not open to the Membership. Members may be prevented from participating in the meeting, but they should be given the opportunity to attend. This includes the organizational meeting conducted at the conclusion of the Annual meeting and, by implication, any subsequent re-organizational meeting.”
There haven't been any meetings on the record, by the board, or committee in 2015 or 2016, let alone discussions, and a vote. Yet Garrison announces the following at the August WPA board meeting:
1) There as a meeting on August 11th of the water amenities committee, board members, and the canal lot residents
2) The plan the committee presents is contingent on a long series of steps
3) At least two thirds of the total cost of dredging will be voluntarily paid by the canal lot owners, and the WPA will not be involved in the collection of the funds.4)One third of the cost, not to exceed the amount in the canal reserve account - no borrowing, no assessment increase. The board already has the reserves set aside, and it won't be used, until, or unless the canal lot owners agree.
5)Garrison states the board unanimously is in favor of this.
6)The dredging would take place in 2017
7)Each canal lot owner will be asked to contribute $400 each to cover a $20,000 expense for studies on spoil site, and canals. Not refundable if unable to proceed.
8)Expense for dredging anticipated to be in the $300,000 - $350,000 range. It appears the voluntary participation for 2/3 of this expense would have to be collected by the volunteers, before the 1/3 reserve could be used.
Never, does Garrison say under what WPA governing documents these decisions were made, or when they were discussed by the board, and voted on. Additionally, you need to remember that above all this the board has committed WPA funds - a promise to pay, if conditions are met, under secrecy. Don't care? You need to care. The steps that our governing documents require are at stake. The future of Wedgefield's governance is at stake.
An important note to canal lot owners, from the history of Wedgefield. Canal lot owners voluntarily donated all those expenses leading to securing a permit, leading up to the 2009-10 dredging. A board, as suspicious as this one let them. Just as they were about to secure the permit, they pulled the WPA plug, and it took a judge, and a lot more money, for the judge to tell that board that they needed to allow the permit process to proceed. What are your chances when the board has ignored all legalities in the current process?
PART II - THE GOLF COURSE WILL BE ADDED LATER TODAY.
