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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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The Wedgefield Examiner is back to business as usual. I can write what I need to write, and haven't promised anyone I'll stay silent for an event. What brought this headline about? I've had three calls from residents regarding the by-law change on your proxy. The first resident stated that they didn't know what they were changing, and asked where they could go to see the original. The second caller asked me why the board hadn't presented the by-law change on the proxy the way it had always had been? The third caller, a seasoned resident, who has expressed concerns about this board for a long time, asked what the board was up to?
Before we go further, I'll remind residents - long term and new, that you need to take these things to the board via written communication to the board, or at least put your concerns in writing to the blog, on this issue, and all others. You will never help to make a change if you keep hiding. I love to hear from you, but you have to get past your fear of what the board will do to you, or how your neighbors will shun you for speaking out. Quite frankly, I've survived, and have a nice full life - yes with friends.
I've done my homework, and it doesn't look pretty. First, on this year's proxy, you only have what the board wants you to know - the change they want. That is blindly vote with them, and not have the information that you need to make a good decision. What do I mean? For all the years - 13- that I have lived here, when a by-law change was proposed on the proxy/ballot, you were provided TWO pieces of information. First, you had the opportunity to read the by-law printed as it currently exists, and second, the by-law with the changes printed in bold. You were able to compare, think objectively, and vote. There is no requirement in the governing documents that says this is what it has to be, but it is precedent, a term your board has used many times. You may be at the place if you have "friends" on the board, that you say "well if it is not a requirement what is the problem?". It gets worse my fellow residents.
The by-law in question has been changed once before. A resident - not the board as in this case, submitted a by-law change that required the board hire a CPA for accounting. The resident submitted it three years in a row before it passed, but each year the numbers climbed to final approval as residents appeared to become more skeptical of what your board was doing. I say what your board was doing, because it is pretty much the whole board, as we sit today with most of the board in office 3-9 years.
Next, to provide to my self, and you, the current by-law as it stands without the change, next to the proposed by your board by-law with the change you are to vote on, I went to the WPA website, and looked for the current reading. It appears that the by-law change that was approved by your fellow residents a few years ago, HAS BEEN REMOVED, UNDER YOUR BY-LAWS. IT DOESN'T EXIST FOR YOU TO REVIEW. I've checked the WPA website twice today, and I asked another resident to check, and it isn't there. I have the current reading on my blog, because I wrote about it as it was happening, and was approved.
I'VE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW.
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL BY LAW: "The Treasurer shall have custody of all property of the Association including funds, securities and evidence of indebtedness. He/she shall keep the books of the Association in accordance with good accounting practices and shall perform other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as may be required by the Board."
HERE IS THE WAY IT READ WHEN RESIDENTS VOTED IT IN A FEW YEARS AGO: "The Treasurer shall have custody of all property of the Association including funds, securities and evidence of indebtedness. He/she shall along with the Board contract the services of a Certified Public Accountant to keep the books of the Association in accordance with good accounting practices and shall perform other duties incident to the Office of Treasurer as may be required by the Board." THIS IS THE INFORMATION YOUR BOARD DID WANT YOU TO SEE ON YOUR PROXY BALLOT, OR IN THE BY-LAWS PUBLISHED ON THE WPA WEBSITE. I BELIEVE THEY TOOK THE CHANGE DOWN ON PURPOSE, IT IS JUST TO COINCIDENTAL!
HERE IS THE MALARKY, AFTER HIDING INFORMATION FROM YOU, THAT THE BOARD WANTS YOU TO "BUY - COUNT ON THEIR DECIPTION", AND VOTE "YES" ON THIS YEAR: "The treasurer shall have custody of all property of the Association including funds, securities and evidence of indebtedness. He/she shall along with the Board, contract the services of a Certified Public Accounted and/or other qualified personS as determined by the Board to keep the books of the Association in accordance with good accounting practices and shall perform other duties incident to the Office of Treasurer' as may be required by the Board."
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
1) VOTE NO TO THEIR SNEAKY BY-LAW AMENDMENT NOW. AS YOU VOTE "NO" REMEMBER YOUR BOARD IS SO COMPLACENT IN THEIR UNRULY HANDLING OF YOU, OUR FUNDS, AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, THAT THEY HAVE THE PAID OFFICE SECRETARY MAKING ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, A PART TIME BOOKKEEPER MAKING ENTRIES, AND A CPA THEY PAY $150/MONTH TO CLOSE THE BOOKS. THE BOARD HAS HIRED THAT SAME CPA FOR TWO, IF NOT THREE YEARS, TO AUDIT HIMSELF. THE 2018 BUGET IS $2500 ON TOP OF THE $150 A MONTH TO AUDIT HIMSELF. THE BOOKKEEPER IS $4,000. THE SALARIES, WHICH CAN ONLY BE OUR ONE PAID STAFF PERSON, WHO ALSO DOES FINANCIAL ENTRY IS $18,000. HOW MUCH OF HER TIME IS ALLOCATED TO FINANCIAL WORK? THE HOURS FOR THAT ONE POSITION, ALONG WITH THE SALARY HAS INCREASINGLY GONE UP, SINCE YOUR BOARD DECLARED THEY ARE SAVING US MONEY. JUST HOW MUCH IS THIS BOARD SAVING YOU, OR, ARE THEY COVERING SOMETHING UP, AND NEED THIS STRUCTURE?
2) VOTE NO FOR MCMILLIN NOW. HE IS PART OF THIS SCAM. HE IS ELECTED TO GOVERN OPENLY AND HONESTLY, AND HE ISN'T, AND HASN'T BEEN GOVERNING THAT WAY FOR YEARS. HOW MUCH IS HIS PROCLAIMED SAVINGS WHEN HE VOTED FOR THIS BUDGET? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET RID OF ONE OF THIS BOARD'S CREW!
3) WRITE THE BOARD, ASK THAT YOUR LETTER BE PLACED IN THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE FILE, AND REPORTED ON AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING BY THE COMMUNITY LIAISON, AND STAND UP DURING RESIDENT COMMENTS AT THE BOARD MEETING, AND BRING THIS OUT IN THE OPEN.
