02-02-2015, 01:08 PM
We've tried to be active in the OLCA since moving here 6 years ago. In our experience, very few people participate over the long haul. Most become active only when they have an axe to grind, then they disappear, only to be replaced by others who try to undo what the last group did. This Board is interested in getting 40th Ave paved and/or graded, so they wrangled enough votes to undo the membership vote of two years ago that collected funds specifically to fix lower Orchidland Drive and other chip-sealed roads.
I give them credit -- they figured out an effective plan: First, pack the board with their allies during Board meetings (where only those present -- usually 10-15 people --can vote). Next, remove two directors who opposed their plan -- directors who had been elected by the membership at large in a regular election. To do this, called a special membership based on a petition with less than the required number of signatures (Bylaws require 20 verified signatures, but they accepted 17 signatures representing 20 lots -- so theoretically 1 owner with 20 lots could call for special meetings. Strangely, when petitions with more than 20 valid signatures opposed them, they called for a Bylaws change to increase the number of necessary signatures.) Then they conspired to collect proxy votes from members who agreed with them without informing anyone else that proxy votes would now, for the first time ever, be allowed (yet in their letter, they now say "Why can't a neighbor who can't attend have a voice"). Then they waived part of an ally's outstanding membership dues so that he could run for the Board and accept an officer position (when word of this got out, the member in question paid all of the dues he owed).
Of the six sitting board members, only one was elected by the membership. At a Board meeting in two weeks, an election for 5 more vacancies will be filled, again by a miniscule number of votes.
Members who don't regularly participate in OLCA affairs are enabling the type of shenanigans that have typified this organization for the past decade.
I give them credit -- they figured out an effective plan: First, pack the board with their allies during Board meetings (where only those present -- usually 10-15 people --can vote). Next, remove two directors who opposed their plan -- directors who had been elected by the membership at large in a regular election. To do this, called a special membership based on a petition with less than the required number of signatures (Bylaws require 20 verified signatures, but they accepted 17 signatures representing 20 lots -- so theoretically 1 owner with 20 lots could call for special meetings. Strangely, when petitions with more than 20 valid signatures opposed them, they called for a Bylaws change to increase the number of necessary signatures.) Then they conspired to collect proxy votes from members who agreed with them without informing anyone else that proxy votes would now, for the first time ever, be allowed (yet in their letter, they now say "Why can't a neighbor who can't attend have a voice"). Then they waived part of an ally's outstanding membership dues so that he could run for the Board and accept an officer position (when word of this got out, the member in question paid all of the dues he owed).
Of the six sitting board members, only one was elected by the membership. At a Board meeting in two weeks, an election for 5 more vacancies will be filled, again by a miniscule number of votes.
Members who don't regularly participate in OLCA affairs are enabling the type of shenanigans that have typified this organization for the past decade.