02-27-2017, 10:46 AM
The meeting started out with the lack of a recording secretary per our bylaws. The board didn't state why she wasn't there at a very important meeting. There was debate on the legality of moving forward w/out the recording secretary. Mtgs have been shut down in the past over this and mtgs have proceeded when the majority consensus was that recording devices would suffice. Bylaw Article IX - Sec 4 (a) 3 was read by a member contesting the legality of proceeding: "Ensure minutes of every board and membership mtg are taken by a recording secretary from an independent professional secretarial service having no other connection with the Association." Some wanted to ensure that all business done would be legal and not a waste of everyone's time if determined illegal, null and void.
The membership wanted the mtg to continue and the majority were impatient whether it was legal or not to hold the mtg. Then there was negotiation that no voting would occur, that we would simply receive information. The VP interjected herself into the summary of the motions and kept confusing matters which ate up a lot of time. I wasn't sure at first where we ended up. The angry former rep from FB sitting next to the mic had a loud and shocking outburst during this time. He also called some guy "whiner boy". The VP failed to call him Out of Order. There was voting going on during the mtg so there you go, legal or not.
The mailbox powerpoint presentation was informative. Here's what I took away from my perspective and I welcome anyone else who attended the mtg to weigh in.
First the board said they were sorry about being premature. They stated people were sending in their $ bc they want mailboxes. They even showed copies of 2 ballots w/personal notes on it (They blacked out the lot owners name) to prove to us that people want mailboxes. They failed to mention how they were handling the monies coming in still. Still not addressing that there are members who don't know the status has changed since the ballot was received w/a demand for payment by June 30th.
The mailbox project is far from being introduced to the membership as a completed pkg. The committee welcomes any and all input from members. They didn't have an answer to a question on whether those 20 acre parcels have deed restrictions or not. They are going to hire an atty to interpret "Special Assessments" in our bylaws. The VP said the atty result will be discussed at a future board mtg. There are no options for home delivery. There was no argument by anyone that HPP needs more mailboxes. Some have mailboxes at Keaau post ofc and are happy w/that. Some don't want to have to go through the trouble of changing their mailing addresses.
They said the USPS presented it to the board as an all or nothing deal, 1 bx per lot = 100% purchase of the 8,800 mailboxes. 8,800 x $150 = $1,320,000.00. In situations where members own multiple lots, the VP said you'd only pay for what you use which left many of us confused since they said it's a 1 bx per lot deal. Mailbox money will be kept in a separate acct. The preliminary proposal was submitted to the Honolulu USPS sometime ago and there's been no response yet. They'd like grant writers to assist in this effort and welcome voluntary donations.
The VP said HPP will control the keys! Members said "No!". They discussed a 4 way stop at the arteries onto the main drags at the mailbox locations. A member stated that the board has no authority to be involved in the mailbox issue. Their job is to focus on the maintenance of our roads and easements. Another member questioned their authority and that same angry former rep from FB had another volatile outburst, he was tired of the naysayers!, and again wasn't called Out of Order by the VP. In lieu members boo'd his behavior.
Discussion turned to the idea of forming a membership committee to take over the mailbox project w/1 board member involved, Patrick Murdoch, from the board's mailbox committee since they have done a lot of work already. That members would do all the research. The board wouldn't relinquish that power and requested that members join their committee. A few did. But it's not a membership committee.
Member question came up about the CS, road striping and reflectors. No it wasn't me. She said the CS work on Shower and 23rd looks awful. They took photos. How are they going to fix it? The GM replied that they can't help if people tear it up driving recklessly. Someone commented a dirt road would hold up better than that. Discussion came up of neighbors taking down license plate #'s, or putting cameras up. She spoke about the safety hazard on rainy nights w/no striping or reflectors. There was no real response by the GM or board to very important questions. FACT: CS is a failure and they need to stop putting this crap down on our roads and wasting our $$$$ and our road crew's time = neglect of our roads and easements. SIDENOTE: new dist 5 rep at a Kaloli Pt NW mtg this past Fri, is now calling CS "road hardening". Changing the name doesn't change the fact that this product is a failure, nor justifies the price we are paying beyond the $$$ itself.
Another member asked whether the CS contractor had a license. The board didn't know and the newest male rep replied that we're a private subdivision so it doesn't apply to us. The member asked if that meant if he did work in HPP, that he didn't need a license? Bottom line, the board didn't know whether the CS guy we're doing business with has a professional license or not! And he's been working w/our board and GM since 2015. I'm sorry but this is so very unprofessional of the board handling our biz this way, not to mention reckless. Who's at stake? The Association.
A member came forward asking when the board voted for the extra road burden fees. They said 2012 and a member said that was wrong info. The ofc staff looked it up in the minutes and sd it wasn't done in 2012. The man wondered if the board would reconsider this bc of the hardship it will impose on him. They told him to come to a board mtg to discuss it. (I posted this in an earlier post: It was voted on Jun 2016 and the rates are lower than what we rec'd w/our road fee bill)
There were no financial handouts at the mtg. A member got up and asked the Treasurer when he and the board are going to provide the membership financial information as required in our bylaws. That the bylaws calendar states we should've received it in the mail Aug time frame last year. There's been no FREE handouts at any membership mtg in several months. He didn't know anything about that and asked specifically what kind of information. Another member yelled out, financial spread sheets. The treasurer said he'd look into it.
A member formed a membership committee to research the inequity of road fees. Those that live on paved roads vs dirt roads shouldn't pay the same. I know there are some who have only 1/2 acre lots who feel there is inequity as well.
There was a power point presentation by the Treasurer on the Bond. Including pre Bond and post Bond info. Rep names were named, minutes were quoted from that time frame. I left at 7 PM after arriving before 3 PM. I was told someone who was involved w/the Bond spoke later. He said he wasn't sure what the point of the Treasurer's presentation was. He went over some main points about how the bond came about but unfortunately most of the members had already left.
The membership wanted the mtg to continue and the majority were impatient whether it was legal or not to hold the mtg. Then there was negotiation that no voting would occur, that we would simply receive information. The VP interjected herself into the summary of the motions and kept confusing matters which ate up a lot of time. I wasn't sure at first where we ended up. The angry former rep from FB sitting next to the mic had a loud and shocking outburst during this time. He also called some guy "whiner boy". The VP failed to call him Out of Order. There was voting going on during the mtg so there you go, legal or not.
The mailbox powerpoint presentation was informative. Here's what I took away from my perspective and I welcome anyone else who attended the mtg to weigh in.
First the board said they were sorry about being premature. They stated people were sending in their $ bc they want mailboxes. They even showed copies of 2 ballots w/personal notes on it (They blacked out the lot owners name) to prove to us that people want mailboxes. They failed to mention how they were handling the monies coming in still. Still not addressing that there are members who don't know the status has changed since the ballot was received w/a demand for payment by June 30th.
The mailbox project is far from being introduced to the membership as a completed pkg. The committee welcomes any and all input from members. They didn't have an answer to a question on whether those 20 acre parcels have deed restrictions or not. They are going to hire an atty to interpret "Special Assessments" in our bylaws. The VP said the atty result will be discussed at a future board mtg. There are no options for home delivery. There was no argument by anyone that HPP needs more mailboxes. Some have mailboxes at Keaau post ofc and are happy w/that. Some don't want to have to go through the trouble of changing their mailing addresses.
They said the USPS presented it to the board as an all or nothing deal, 1 bx per lot = 100% purchase of the 8,800 mailboxes. 8,800 x $150 = $1,320,000.00. In situations where members own multiple lots, the VP said you'd only pay for what you use which left many of us confused since they said it's a 1 bx per lot deal. Mailbox money will be kept in a separate acct. The preliminary proposal was submitted to the Honolulu USPS sometime ago and there's been no response yet. They'd like grant writers to assist in this effort and welcome voluntary donations.
The VP said HPP will control the keys! Members said "No!". They discussed a 4 way stop at the arteries onto the main drags at the mailbox locations. A member stated that the board has no authority to be involved in the mailbox issue. Their job is to focus on the maintenance of our roads and easements. Another member questioned their authority and that same angry former rep from FB had another volatile outburst, he was tired of the naysayers!, and again wasn't called Out of Order by the VP. In lieu members boo'd his behavior.
Discussion turned to the idea of forming a membership committee to take over the mailbox project w/1 board member involved, Patrick Murdoch, from the board's mailbox committee since they have done a lot of work already. That members would do all the research. The board wouldn't relinquish that power and requested that members join their committee. A few did. But it's not a membership committee.
Member question came up about the CS, road striping and reflectors. No it wasn't me. She said the CS work on Shower and 23rd looks awful. They took photos. How are they going to fix it? The GM replied that they can't help if people tear it up driving recklessly. Someone commented a dirt road would hold up better than that. Discussion came up of neighbors taking down license plate #'s, or putting cameras up. She spoke about the safety hazard on rainy nights w/no striping or reflectors. There was no real response by the GM or board to very important questions. FACT: CS is a failure and they need to stop putting this crap down on our roads and wasting our $$$$ and our road crew's time = neglect of our roads and easements. SIDENOTE: new dist 5 rep at a Kaloli Pt NW mtg this past Fri, is now calling CS "road hardening". Changing the name doesn't change the fact that this product is a failure, nor justifies the price we are paying beyond the $$$ itself.
Another member asked whether the CS contractor had a license. The board didn't know and the newest male rep replied that we're a private subdivision so it doesn't apply to us. The member asked if that meant if he did work in HPP, that he didn't need a license? Bottom line, the board didn't know whether the CS guy we're doing business with has a professional license or not! And he's been working w/our board and GM since 2015. I'm sorry but this is so very unprofessional of the board handling our biz this way, not to mention reckless. Who's at stake? The Association.
A member came forward asking when the board voted for the extra road burden fees. They said 2012 and a member said that was wrong info. The ofc staff looked it up in the minutes and sd it wasn't done in 2012. The man wondered if the board would reconsider this bc of the hardship it will impose on him. They told him to come to a board mtg to discuss it. (I posted this in an earlier post: It was voted on Jun 2016 and the rates are lower than what we rec'd w/our road fee bill)
There were no financial handouts at the mtg. A member got up and asked the Treasurer when he and the board are going to provide the membership financial information as required in our bylaws. That the bylaws calendar states we should've received it in the mail Aug time frame last year. There's been no FREE handouts at any membership mtg in several months. He didn't know anything about that and asked specifically what kind of information. Another member yelled out, financial spread sheets. The treasurer said he'd look into it.
A member formed a membership committee to research the inequity of road fees. Those that live on paved roads vs dirt roads shouldn't pay the same. I know there are some who have only 1/2 acre lots who feel there is inequity as well.
There was a power point presentation by the Treasurer on the Bond. Including pre Bond and post Bond info. Rep names were named, minutes were quoted from that time frame. I left at 7 PM after arriving before 3 PM. I was told someone who was involved w/the Bond spoke later. He said he wasn't sure what the point of the Treasurer's presentation was. He went over some main points about how the bond came about but unfortunately most of the members had already left.