1. The power of positive thinking. Speakers on both sides of the term limits amendment expressed their views thoughtfully and reasonably. No histrionics, no predictions of doom, just carefully considered, well-crafted debate. It made me hopeful that we might be able to conduct business in a more productive way going forward. Fingers crossed.
2. Delegates showed up on a July 4th weekend to provide a quorum and produce a 2/3 majority vote. They showed up or sent Alternates, putting an end to charges that delegates don’t care, aren’t informed about the issues and can’t be trusted to decide for themselves if officers deserve to be elected beyond their terms, or any other issue brought to them for a vote.
3. Stunts, the fallback of desperate people, failed to thwart the vote on ending term limits. It never ceases to amaze that people who can’t get their way by legitimate means resort to stunts (“Let’s have 10 delegates slap their delegate cards onto the stage to force a delay in the vote on term limits”) or lawsuits to grab power they are unable to earn by winning elections.
4. Ed Black got some long overdue recognition for his dedication to the Village. The delegate who said Ed has served loyally even without holding an officer’s title, leading three committees that need his skills, spoke volumes. Ed has as much knowledge as anyone in the Village, maybe more, and deserves our gratitude and perhaps a nomination for an officer’s position.
5. We pulled back from voting to allot money to another lawsuit until we at least understand the costs and charges with a reasonable expectation of holding up in court. We have been burned by lawsuits: the Clubhouse lawsuit cost us $700,000, and the suit against UCO for $392,000 (filed the same day and with the same baseless claims that lost the plaintiffs the recall vote against UCO President Dave Israel) is hurting us every month because of legal costs and disruption to the business we should be doing for the benefit of the Village. We may well vote to support efforts to fight the developer’s ridiculous fence and general disregard for the Village, but at least we’ll think it through beforehand.
All in all, it was a good day, with few of the usual flashes of unnecessary drama. We saluted our veterans and honored our country's independence. We voted to end term limits for all officers. They will have to earn re-election, and delegates will take more seriously than ever their responsibility to vote for the best candidates, whether veteran officers or qualified new faces that emerge over time to take the reins. We spoke our minds, listened to opposing opinions without coming to blows -- and rejected once again the most hostile and negative forces among us. Happy Fourth of July weekend to all.
Hallelujah!
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful for all the wise, responsible, productive Delegates who came to work this morning, they showed they are flexible and forward looking. They were not intimidated by meeting vandals who come only to disrupt and damage our democratic process. The vandals contribute nothing, never have, never will. No doubt they will be back with accusations that are empty, inaccurate, and totally without merit. Stay alert my friends.
ReplyDeleteI watched the delegate meeting on our blog. Again, thanking David and the staff behind him that we have this wonderful technology. This meeting was very productive with the exception of the delegates that gave up their vote. Shame, shame on them. They showed their true colors.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to unite and fight for the future of Century Village. One dollar a month would not break us.
your comments are spot on!!!i would love to know who you are so maybe to convince you to join a committee or run for office.
ReplyDeleteI was glad to see the restraint of the Delegates and Officers on the Reflection Bay legal funding issue. By routing this matter through the various UCO committees, a greater level of clarity, financial control and mission specificity will be reached. I do not blame the members of the Proactive Committee for attempting to use the Great Fence as a way of quickly obtaining homeowner money to continue their "perpetuity" battle, but just handing over money to them is not, in my opinion, appropriate.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that the ongoing "perpetuity" battle, and the encroachment, easement and property damage problems that are sure to come, are separate issues. As a stakeholding homeowner whose home does not abut the construction site, I have no problem paying for my share of the legal costs associated with the ongoing construction, but the "perpetuity" matter belongs to the Proactive Committee, and the homeowners who share and support their interests.
If I am going to pay an extra dollar per month, I want that dollar entrusted to, controlled, and managed by UCO, an organization which represents the interests of ALL CV homeowners, and which is accountable, indirectly through my Delegate, to me.
At yesterday's Delegate Assembly, Mr. Israel warned that the Developer "is in no mood to be magnanimous". Just so. The bad blood made between the Developer and the Proactive Committee, who proport to represent ALL CV homeowners is now going to bite us ALL in the ass. One buck a month is a small nibble. I can live with that. But please, no more lawsuits.
I agree with Don's analysis. PRPC should note it will take more than crying for money to "Save the Village" to be effective. Who, how, when, where, what.
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