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The ’shut up’ rule at Laguna Woods Village
August 26th, 2008, 4:00 pm · 4 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
The Watchdog puts forward, for your perusal and edification, this missive from Laguna Woods Village rabble-rouser Mike Curtis:
The Golden Rain Foundation Board is meeting this Wednesday (Aug. 27), in the Board Room, at 1PM, to reconsider the new rules forbidding the community from speaking in response to committee reports and discussion items. This is a “special meeting” - so special, they have not publicized it! They also have not published their revised rules for the community to review - nothing but the original version is on the web site. They did finally post a minimal agenda this morning.If the “Shut Up!” rules go through, you will be limited to only a 3-minute period AT THE END OF THE MEETING and for 2-minutes when a motion is on the floor - provided you fill out a card in advance and it gets “randomly” (HA!) picked by President Bob Miller. No one would be allowed to speak in response to committee reports (e.g. Treasurer’s Report) or during discussions of the Board.IF THIS NEW SET OF RULES GOES INTO EFFECT, YOU WOULD NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING UNLESS SOMEONE HAPPENS TO MAKE A MOTION.
This stinks! This has got to be the worst GRF board yet … blind to resident’s comments, conducting illegally closed meetings, stupidly attempting to make 5-year million dollar contracts with unknown vulchers (opps, I mean mulchers), approving under-the-table letter agreements with PCM paying them thousands per month with no strings attached, and lapping tongue kisses on Milt for his junk rules such as this one.
Please plan on attending this Wednesday at 1PM and voice your opposition to any such new rules. We don’t need them. We don’t need roadblocks and barriers - we need a new Board!
Thanks!
Mike Curtis
4 Comments
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You can always overthrow the Board and replace them. It is called a recall.
I would urge the homeowners to begin the petition drive to replace the Board.
Do not let them limit your rights. Get a copy of the bylaws and see what percentage is needed to call a special meeting. Generally 5% of the homeowners. Get the signatures calling a special meeting to oust the board and vote in the new people that stand for what is right.
The GRF board is not elected by the members. They are elected by the housing mutuals (3: Third, United, Towers). This is a hugely complex CID and the simple answers don’t work here. Yes, we can do a recall but we are already being sucked dry by the management company and we have to pay “all costs” on both sides. We have 18,000 residents overall. We are going to have, at some point, the IRS walk in here and take out some top managers in chains and along with them some of the board members who have been complicit in their behavior a la Enron. We are not all little old ladies who dither and we are working toward a solution but in the meantime we need the attention and to be taken seriously by law enforcement, legislators and the media to get the word out. Thus far John Campbell, Chuck DeVore and Sheriff (Corona) have been absolutely unresponsive. The DA and AG as well. The management company and GRF don’t care about by-laws, CC&Rs or any other rule including the IRS, State and Federal (RICO) codes.
The relationship between the organization and its members is a civil matter that most government entities are unable to touch.
It is like a neighbor dispute and until it results in a criminal offense they will not get involved.
If recalling the Board is not in your rights as a homeowner then that is a serious matter and I would strongly suggest moving to a Community that allow members to vote.
I have overthrown a homeowners association in the past based on mismanagement and lack of reserve funding for stability of the members. It was not easy and the members that were put in place had a difficult time themselves getting a handle on the situation and elected one of the old members back on the Board.
I do wish you and your Community the best.
Curtis,
If this is so important to you, then you should run for the Board. Perhaps you may find out what a thanksless position it really is. But don;t worry about that so much, it’s only the investment of you and everyother owner in you complex.
The suggestions to recall, in my opinion is not a bright idea. When this is in progress, it can bring the business of your HOA to a screeching halt.
You are best advised to retink your position with your isues and attempt a different dialog with the Board.
Good luck!