Lloyd Sherman, November 17, 2019
Declared candidate for the 2020 POA Board of Directors
Following up on the extremely well-written and accurate document penned by Terri Jackson, I would like to add my voice and echo her assessment of what has happened to the administration of Hot Springs Village. For those who may not have seen this excellent piece from an ex-board member, take a few minutes to read it now.
Click here to read “Where has our Village Gone,” by Teri Jackson.
Some POA members continue to doubt that anything has really happened. But between the oath that board members are required to take supporting not only the Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) but the “organization”, combined with all the changes to bylaws, policies, and procedures, the board members have been beaten into submission. If they choose to take exception to the NEW policies and procedures that have been put in place, they are threatened with, or actually removed from the board. If they point out issues that need to be addressed, the same thing happens to them. If it is PERCEIVED they are interfering with the CEO’s ability to perform her job, they are also singled out. Combine all of this with the hooks intentionally placed in the CEO’s contract to ensure control remains with the POA management, and you have the perfect storm.
There has been much controversy over why and what has created the environment we find ourselves in today, but regardless of what the rationale is, we have arrived at a critical point in our history.
It has been my opinion that the initial turning point which woke up the property owners, was the introduction and rollout of the CMP. However, I believe the root of the issue goes back further than that and actually coincides with the arrival of David Twiggs and the Savannah LakesVillage plan he brought with him. Twiggs called his plan the “Master Workbook”. Reviewing both Twiggs’ “Master Workbook” and the Savannah Lakes Village plan will give you the very basis of our CMP. The CMP was really nothing more than paying a set of consultants $500K to provide us a pre-determined, not new, plan which utilizes boilerplate information and it can be found in many projects undertaken by New Urbanists, Duany Plater-Zyberk (DPZ). However, that is all water under the bridge and we now stand with a question before us. How do the property owners gain back control of the community that they moved here for?
The underlying problems with the CMP don’t have much to do with the detail in it, but rather the overall impact it has on our operations. The CMP signifies a MAJOR shift away from HSVPOA being a maintenance organization and instead transitioning into a property-development organization. The POA’s primary function should be maintenance of the existing infrastructure and amenities. This shift away from maintenance has resulted in the delay of the much-needed renovations for both the Balboa Clubhouse and Golf Course. We cannot currently afford these projects due to a lack of sufficient funds.
We have been told that several courses are following the same path and will be in need of major renovation in the next few years. Exactly what is going to change this picture to allow us to repair Balboa, let alone any of the other deteriorating amenities or infrastructure? That is a complex question and it has several paths that need to be explored. What I can tell you is that focusing many of our management resources toward implementing items within the CMP that can’t possibly work in our environment, is not the answer. When your management resources are focused and directed on development, so follows the staff.
The initial focus of the CMP seems to be on a town center concept within HSV. While this concept works in high-density population areas, it doesn’t work in a rural environment such as Hot Springs Village. Also having a CMP that looks 30 years into the future is a worthless exercise. Planning five years out is closing in on pipe dreams.
However, every time we turn around these days, we are confronted with issues that revolve around a 30-year CMP PLANNING TOOL. Even to the extent of moving this evolving document in as a governing document and requiring all committees and board members to concentrate their thoughts and actions around this evolving document is a prime example of the “controlled state” we now find ourselves in.
So, in addition to the bylaws, policies, and procedures that need to be realigned to remove the constraints, I insist that management’s focus be returned to that of a maintenance organization.
Lloyd Sherman, November 17, 2019
Declared candidate for the 2020 POA Board of Directors
Vicky Didion
11/17/2019 — 7:03 pm
Well written and on point! CEO needs to move on out of the Village!
Oh the party we will have when she’s gone!
I also believe you are exactly right about Twiggs and since CEO was involved in his previous administration here, I believe he’s pulling the strings now!
This is only !y opinion.
Monica Impellizzeri
11/17/2019 — 7:19 pm
Great article Lloyd! Sadly it’s not just the Balboa club house and course. I would love to see a true assessment of the maintenance needed on all our buildings! We need to make that a priority!
Dee Dixon
11/17/2019 — 9:15 pm
Thank you, Mr. Sherman, for your detailed explanation & your thoughtful discussion. Those of us who are newer, less involved or unsure of where to turn for adequate information do appreciate your efforts to educate us. I do hope & believe that truly a change is coming.
Elizabeth Berry
11/17/2019 — 9:17 pm
I had written a lengthy post regarding my opinion on the state of the village and the ouster of the ceo. I included my name and email address. Somehow it did not show up on this site. Before repeating what I wrote before I hope to find out what happened to my previous post. Any help would be appreciated so I don’t make any mistakes.
Anonymous
11/17/2019 — 10:33 pm
Sadly this site is censored. Honestly or dishonestly, most likely both.
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 2:03 pm
Yes it is and there have been several screen shot examples.
Anonymous
11/17/2019 — 10:40 pm
Copy and paste your lengthy-time consuming posts in the event that they are cast into the trash by this site. You may be able to use them on another medium that has not lost their scruples.
HSVP C
11/18/2019 — 8:31 am
Elizabeth, your post has not been censored. If you have a problem with something, you can contact me through this site or in the Facebook group.
Randall Bright
11/19/2019 — 7:50 pm
What is “HSVP C?”
Jennifer Hurd
11/17/2019 — 10:53 pm
I’ll admit that I know very little about what’s going on in the village. I’m trying to educate myself. I do find it interesting that you included a photo of Midtown Bryant. Because of its epic failure, we’ve seen our neighborhood, which you have to drive through to get to Midtown, go down hill and fast. That’s one reason we are moving to the village. I don’t know if this is what’s being proposed In the village or not but it did not work in Bryant. I really hate to see all the discourse that appears to be going on. I’m hopeful that it can be resolved.
Julie
11/18/2019 — 2:32 pm
You might consider doing some homework before you move here. We are heading in the same direction as the failed area near you. No doubt about it. None.
Sylvia Rummel
11/18/2019 — 7:30 pm
Jennifer, I have been in the Village since 2003. I know that you are familiar with several people that live here.
Kirk Denger
11/17/2019 — 10:54 pm
Lloyd, we are on the same side, however, DPZ is not water under the bridge, it is the same water that we are drowning in now. Baby steps.
Cindy Anderson
11/17/2019 — 11:56 pm
I agree with everything stated in this article
H David Moore
11/18/2019 — 6:06 am
Thank you Lloyd. “The controlled state”, a phrase we should all address.
Return control to the property owners, maintain “Our Village” and take care of our employees. This should be our goal, our rallying cry and our credo for the future.
Jacob
11/18/2019 — 7:54 am
Lloyd speaks for Property Owners. His thoughts and comments are in total alignment with why the majority of us chose HSV as their “RETIREMENT” community. And yes, it was the onslaught of David Twiggs and his naive, uninformed assumptions that “We The People” wanted something other than what we already have, (a peaceful quiet retirement community), that started this spiral downward into discontent. With the addition of Lesley Nalley and a puppet BOD including turncoat Tormey, it just made matters worse.
We need to elect Lloyd Shermann, Tucker Omahandro and Dick Garrison this coming election and start the process to oust Lesley and those BOD members that cannot and will not LISTEN to the voice of Property Owners.
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 5:09 pm
Not according to the last vote, Jacob. No one bought his snake oil then. The only way they will elect Lloyd now is if no one else runs or if Dinger runs again.
With Garrison’s professional skeletons, no wonder they are running together. Surprised that Tucker would join forces with either one.
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 6:26 pm
Who is Dinger?
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 7:09 pm
HSV POA election process is not secure. You cannot be 100% sure the last election rejected Lloyd. We need election reform.
https://hotspringsvillagepeople.com/hsvpoa-board-election-integrity/
Bob Busse
11/19/2019 — 11:07 am
Just to set the record straight and get Anonymous (11/18-5:09 pm) correctly informed, the three declared candidates are not a packaged slate and are all running their own separate candidacy campaign. They may have similar goals, ideas and direction for our community, but if you question each candidate they will tell you they are not connected or affiliated with the other’s efforts. I would strongly recommend to Anonymous that you do more and better research before you make erroneous assumptions and spread false information. It is happening more frequently.
Tom Blakeman
11/18/2019 — 8:24 am
Bravo Lloyd. Well said.
Minn Daly
11/18/2019 — 8:51 am
Thank you Lloyd! Amazed that this BOD continues down a path of NOT listening to members. Continue with Governance Committee, CMP plans that are totally not wanted or needed by majority of membership. Our needs is to have LEGAL representation against this BOD & CEO! We as members have been hamstrung by LEGACY BOD ineptness to function. They gave all power to CEO, who should never have had this power. Contract written for her & BOD members who approved need to be held accountable for her actions seeking legal advice on all issues connected with the CEO contract & BY-LAW change. LEGACY BOD is responsible, they failed the voters that elected them into power & HSV. We have an opportunity coming up to elect 3 NEW members to board. We need these people who are independent, understand business & love our community. My hope is that we elect & support TUCKER, DICK & LlOYD. Strong leadership is required to get this mess straightened out. Each one of these have the qualities required. We also need COOPER to be advisor on all issues with HSV. Respectfully, Minn Daly
Lloyd Sherman
11/18/2019 — 10:07 am
Just as a clarification to a comment made earlier on this post about “being water under the bridge”, did not mean we should give up the good fight. DPZ is attempting to implement an ideology of “controlling” how people live and that influence spread to our little slice of heaven. What I meant is that it has been done, but remember, what has been done, can be undone. The property owners need to engage and ensure that board members are fulfilling their wishes; not the ideology of the movement to control.
Monty Brodt
11/18/2019 — 10:46 am
Mr. Sherman, it appears to me that you are trying to turn the clock back and refuse to address the real elephant in the room. The Village cannot maintain, let alone improve or grow, with the current methods the village has been using since Cooper has left the village. Do you believe that we can save and slash our way to posterity? Do you believe that if we just tighten our belts and fire employees and refuse to accept any new projects that we will be able to maintain our beautiful
village and generate the necessary growth to maintain our financial solvency? If so, I would really like to see your plan to make this happen. If it is viable and increases the value of my home I am willing to jump on your bandwagon. You currently appear to disagree with everything that current BOD or CEO proposes yet I haven’t seen what you are countering with to improve our situation. Thank you for your efforts.
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 12:09 pm
Lloyd, you mention the oath that new board members have to take and the fact that they are “beaten” into submission and that they are threatened if they are perceived as hindering the CEO.
Couple of questions 1. We are told Sick was dismissed for breaking his oath of confidentiality, yet Diana has not been dismissed for being outspoken and obviously in opposition. So why do you think Rick was dismissed and not Diana? 2. Regardless of who gets elected to the board, how do you think changes can be made if the new board members elected have to take paths and be in submission?
Lloyd Sherman
11/18/2019 — 2:14 pm
TO: Monty Brodt – No I do not believe we can slash/save our way to prosperity and based on what I see we need an assessment increase. However, I cannot support an assessment increase until we have “tightened” our belts and our using what assessments we have wisely. That is currently not happening, nor is it allowed as part of the discussions during budgeting. It’s been pretty obvious to not only me but many that we have a totally broken revenue plan and until that is effectively dealt with, we won’t see adequate growth to help us with our current situation. Focused and effective marketing does not currently exist in the Village.
TO: Anonymous – Regardless of what you have heard about why Dick Garrison was removed from the board, it remains that it is related to not being on-board with the CEO’s plans. The same will be true with Diana. Being outspoken is not a reason to be let go from a board. The very nature of being on the board gives you the right to say what you want regarding any subject, but once something has a majority vote, then you are obligated to at least follow what was approved. This behavior is part of a larget problem where open and free discussion is not permitted unless it matches up with the powers that be. Read the Bylaws, policies, procedures, and Charters to see the breadth of the control. But with the right people on the board who are not followers, what has been done, can and will be undone!
Anonymous
12/03/2019 — 8:24 pm
Lloyd, This is your best, clearest and detailed statement of intention so far in your campaign. Of particular interest to the Property Owners is your statement, “what has been done, can and will be undone!” God speed!
Anonymous
11/18/2019 — 3:26 pm
You will get my vote!
bill
11/18/2019 — 5:08 pm
Wayfinding is included in poa budget, the balboa club is still rotting. ceo financial priorities are misplaced. no increase in dues
Maurice
11/18/2019 — 8:06 pm
Way finding is something necessary for any organization to be successful. I applaud the board for including it as a budget item. If we can’t find our way, how will we know where we are headed? This is much more important than, say, fixing a culvert. Or paving a road.
Wayfinding will help us all know that we are headed in the right direction. We need pocket neighborhoods, a lodge, apartments on the lake, a vibrant town center, shops, new restaurants, the new pool, golf cart lanes, more pickle ball courts, a new marina, and a more openness to visitors to HSV so that all will discover the beauty that is ours.
All the naysayers on this site will scare away people who might be considering moving here. But wayfinding will help overcome this negative bias. We will be able to show the way to those who are ready to buy here.
However, I do agree that golf is important and we should fix up our courses and the crummy clubhouses and restaurants. That is doable and will help. A simple surcharge on each round will insure that those who benefit most pay the most.
We can be part of the new urbanism and can be more like The Villages if we just find our way. They are very successful. We should copy them. Which the CMP is trying to do. Thus, we all need to support the CMP. And our hard-working board and strong CEO.
I called them at The Villages to see if they have a paid position of wayfinder. They pretended not to know what I was talking about, but I am pretty sure they just were holding tight to secrets that have made them the success they are.
Every two years The Villages sells as many homes as our entire HSV has. So, I ask you, what could be wrong in trying to copy their success?
Sure, it will cost a lot, but worthwhile thing doesn’t??
Ok. There you have it. I support the CMP without reservation. And I support paying more each month to help. We will all benefit once the CMP is implemented fully and completely as stated in the plan. Our dues should be like the ones in The Villages. They are 145 dollars a month. If we can be like them for that much I say it will be a good deal.
George Sorrell
11/19/2019 — 4:39 pm
To Maurice, Sir, thank you for your candor and opposing views. It takes courage to state your views when it would appear you are in the minority. This kind of courage is rarely seen on this website and I for one would like to encourage others to speak up and provide their own opinions without the use of profanity and personal attacks. But, I must say I totally disagree with your conclusions.
Comparing the HSV annual Fee to The Villages fees is apples to oranges. I assume it is your thought that these fees cover the same amenities. They do not as has been revealed in previous posts.
Trying to compare the lifestyles of The Villages in Florida to HSV is apples to feathers. There is no way to list all the reasons they cannot be compared. I lived in Florida 22 years. I wouldn’t care to live in The Villages if it were free. Urban sprawl is the best way to describe The Villages and I have been there on many occasions. I loved Florida but never once considered The Villages as a place I would care to live.
I do believe HSV needs better marketing to a vast existing audience that if they heard our story would love to live here and enjoy the lifestyle if offers. Clearly HSV is not for everyone and many would prefer the life offered in The Villages. But that’s ok. We are not a “one size fits all” community. We are special for special people. We also are not in a position to absorb thousands of new residents in a short period of time.
While I totally support a robust marketing plan, I don’t support a plan that perceives the CMP as the future. I believe we should market HSV exactly as we are. We are laid back, highly distributed with a vast amount of elbow room. We are a “live and let live” community. Or at least, we once were. If we market exactly what we are, people will come. The most obvious caveat, we must first solve the infrastructure problems.
In conclusion, I will also say that if it ever appeared the current CEO was working hard to “save” our Village and would listen to reason instead of just trying to build an empire, I would be more supportive. Also, a bit of humility, honest admission of mistakes with stated corrective actions would go a long way to restore confidence in this management. I can’t think of a better example of cold rage than the article just published called “HSVPOA doesn’t want you to see or hear what goes on”. The notion that an employee can demand one of their bosses to publicly apologize is beyond understanding especially since the battle is over an expressed “personal opinion”. People are allowed to have personal opinions.
Anonymous
12/03/2019 — 8:40 pm
The Villages wholeheartedly rejected the DPZ CMP, unlike our miserable idiot BODs.
Maurice
11/19/2019 — 9:16 am
We need the manufactured home idea as stated in today’s Voice. This will help fill our empty lots. These homes have a bad reputation but it is how The Villages began.
We can learn a lot from The Villages. And this is one example.
Part of the CMP should include manufactured homes if it does not already.
Pocket neighborhoods could pop up in months rather than decades. Get these lots productive.
Why wouldn’t we do this????
Just make sure they are tied down for strong winds.
George Sorrell
11/21/2019 — 4:26 pm
I think the concern would be building a ghetto of the future. I actually like the idea but the concern would be the appearance of an ugly trailer park in our midst.
In Florida, there are some really cute, well-cared for parks of this nature. The landscaping is well maintained and attractive. I’m not sure how this is controlled, but I must also warn not all the Florida trailer parks are nice. They have some dumps as well. Not to sound like a snob, people who cannot afford to live here should not come.
Anonymous
11/19/2019 — 9:49 am
NIMBY
HSVP J
11/19/2019 — 11:19 am
Nothing wrong with being a NIMBY.
Rayjay
12/01/2019 — 4:36 pm
I just moved here last August. I like it fine so far. I hope we don’t get a lot more people moving in because then your going to have to put in traffic lights! That would be a bummer!