However, this is not about being a great neighbor, it is about the  resident elected Board members. I for one voted for them because I believed they would represent the community on the board.  I understand that they by themselves cannot get things passed if the Pulte board members oppose.  However, that doesn't mean they rubber stamp all decisions. 

In last two board meetings the lack of support for the resident requests by  our resident Board members is appalling.  The latest example of this blatant disregard of representation is when over 200 residents sign a petition to place an item regarding communication on the January 2010 agenda. This petition was give to the Board at the October 2009 board meeting.  When the agenda for the January 2010 meeting was posted the residents request was disregarded.  When the Board was asked why it was left off the President responded that the board did not want to place it  on the agenda. One board member said they were working on a survey to be given to all residents.  This appears to have been said just to appease the residents who were at the meeting.  Otherwise the survey would have already been sent to the residents, analized and discussed at the January board meeting.  Three months is ample time to complete this task.

It takes one member to place an item on the agenda.  When over 200 plus residents sign a petition to have something placed on the agenda our resident board members have a duty to ensure the item is discussed.  Our resident Board members failed in there duty to represent the residents.  This is not the first time this has occurred but it is the most blatant lack of representation I have seen by any board member on any board I have been associated with.

Having said this, I believe the resident board members should resign immediately and let someone who will listen to the residents be appointed. The residents need representation on the board not two more Pulte employees.

Many in the audience think that means residents.  This is not the case.  The Board represents property owners i.e. Pulte Corporation.  They are the major property owner in the community and have the majority of Board members. This will remain the case for hopefully only a couple of more years. Until the residents have the majority of the Board don't expect things to change.  This is a good community and the residents just have to wait for the time when we are in control.

Please let me explain my rational so you may better understand my thinking. First, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR POWER. At the last board meeting I suggested the Board appoint a committee to assist them in drafting a policy on guest usage of the facility and budget issues. The board members, including both homeowner members, did not support this suggestion. After the meeting I went to one board member and asked why they are opposed to committees to assist them on the finance and the guest policy. I was informed that he did not want to give up his authority.

The Board should realize that this community has a lot of talented individuals who could assist the Board in making suggestions on budgets and other hot issues. By worrying they would lose power indicates their lack of understanding of good management practices. Regardless what a committee proposes, the Board has the final authority on all decisions.
Failure of the Board to take advantage of this talent is very shortsighted and does not provide the community with the best possible management.

Second, I indicated the ego problem. In the April board meeting the issue of guest use of the facility was discussed. Based on that discussion, a board member and or staff prepared a proposed rule change. This proposed change was approved for posting at the next board meeting. Needless to say the proposed change did not sit well with the members. Thankfully, as one or more board members said we listen to your concerns and prepared an amendment. That amendment was substituted with another amendment that incorporated portions of the original proposal. The President then read what the new proposal would be. Several members in attendance asked that it be posted for review. Our own homeowner members of the board did not heed to the members request. I had the feeling that they wrote it and they were not willing to post the new proposal since the last posting caused such uproar. Don’t want to go through that again.

Lastly, the knit picking by the Board. Although I am not completely sure what is needed to form a recognized group I do know that the Board is violating the Civil Code. For them to say a group is not approved because the treasurer’s name is omitted while at the same time board members violate state law is preposterous.

I do appreciate the hard work and effort of our board members. I know what they face since I  was elected to a community service in the past. Lets not get caught up in our power and egos. Lets all work together and make this a better community. The Board’s having a “going it alone mentality” can only adversely affects the Community. Let the Board use the members that are willing to help to provide assistance. Don’t shut them out.

The purpose of the Guest Policy for Glenbrooke Community Association is to ensure the facility availability to the members.

Accompanied Guests: Guests may be sponsored by a resident for a nominal fee of $10.00 per adult, per visit, in the Association recreation facilities. Recreation facilities include, pool, spa, tennis and bocce courts, billiards and fitness center.

(To read the entire policy, click HERE).

I am strongly opposed to this proposed Guest Policy

During the April board meeting the issue of guests using the workout facility was discussed.  I asked Leo what the problem was and I was informed that one resident was bringing guests almost daily to use the workout facility and they were thinking about adopting a policy to address this. The use of the rest of the facility was never brought up.  Unfortunately, the staff who put this proposal together used the shotgun approach rather than dealing with the issue.

As indicated in the April meeting the issue was the workout facility.  This issue could be addressed without charging our guests for using the facility. Before I could use the workout facility I was required to be trained on all the machines.  I believe this was opened only to residents.  We were to receive a stamp on our card to prove we have attended the training.  I don't see how a guest received the training which was required. If I have a guest I am sure he could go a day or two without working out on machines.  There are other ways to work out if they must.  They could go to a local gym and pay if they had to use a treadmill.

Therefore the only policy needed is:

1.  Only residents are allowed to use the workout facility.  This should be the policy already for liability reasons.

2.  All residence must attend the training on the machines before they can use the workout facility.  Again this is for liability reasons.

In closing, I again want to strongly oppose this policy.  We should not be a fee collecting organization. We should support a close knit community who welcomes our neighbor's friends and family without charging them to enjoy our unique way of life.