By Former Board Director, Marcy G. Mermel, 3/16/2020
After several exchanges with the POA, Board Chair, Cindi Erickson, emailed me on March 14th, reminding me that the current [Board] policy reads that “No provision will be made for replacement ballots.”
She also explained that when checking back a couple of days earlier, the “no-ballot-received” inquiries for properties in good standing were only 8 – however, I was told that there were other inquiries that had been satisfactorily resolved.
We acknowledged that Renee Haugen had made sure I was on the “mailed” list and checked as well with the Vendor. Cindi felt that given these circumstances and ongoing activities, she saw no need to deviate from the policy, and as my last resort, I should let her know if I would like to “appeal this policy affirmation with the board.”
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My response was as follows:
Yes, I understand Renee has done her best to track my ballot package through the printing/distribution/holding company’s records. I also understand that the bad address envelopes have been checked to make sure mine was not one of them. And statistically, if the bad ballot packages group is less than 1%, that is considered very good.
No, Cindi, I do not wish to get involved in some official appeal process with the board- that would waste all of our time and still would not magically produce the ballots- I just want to be able to vote.
There are 9 days left. I am going to hope and pray that in fact my ballots were processed and the USPS comes through. At this point, I am resolved that there is no other choice.
Some good News?
I did speak with Election Chair, Mr. Yeric, and he now knows who the Ballot Vendor is.
Also, being on the Election Counting Committee myself, I asked him if I could bring my laptop and run an unofficial spreadsheet of the final tally of the bundles after the CFO inputs them into her spreadsheet for a “double check” of the final numbers. He said, “I don’t think so.”
Mr. Yeric feels we must trust the system in the room that day. I trust Mr. Yeric unequivocally, so that is what I will do.
I don’t know why the board decided not to have someone (e.g., the Vendor, a volunteer, or a Village attorney) deal with ballot issues this year. If there are 8-plus issues that the POA knows about that remain unresolved, and others that have been resolved, I’m not sure if that means there are really very few or really many more out there that have just not bothered to contact them.
No matter what, I believe everyone that is interested enough to contact the “powers that be”, and willing to sign a legally notarized affidavit, should be allowed to vote.
8 days and counting…Next year we can start earlier and do better…
By Former Board Director, Marcy G. Mermel, 3/16/2020
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Walter Chance
03/16/2020 — 5:31 pm
Thank you for the update. I hope the process can be improved by adding provisions for ballots not received. This can be done by printing in order of name/address/ or legal. There also should be ‘early voting’ and proxy voting. Last but not least is transparency of the process.
Linda Anderson
03/16/2020 — 7:22 pm
Without Trust or Transparency from the leadership, property owners will not be comfortable with this election until it is finalized. Unfortunately if ballots become questionable, then there might have to be a recount. In the event that the POA decides NOT to allow the ballot committee to count votes due to the corona virus, I submit that this committee meet out doors, place tables 6 feet from each other ( The required distance between individuals ) and count the vote. This vote is crucial and should not be stopped for any reason.
Standing together LTD will prevail.
Julie
03/17/2020 — 6:39 am
There is no trust be anyone in the POA. None whatsoever.
Jerry Carroll
03/17/2020 — 9:16 pm
With good reason.
Kirk Denger
03/16/2020 — 7:54 pm
By all means, Marcy, “appeal this policy affirmation with the board.” It will be crucial in changing next year’s voting policy.
Sally
03/17/2020 — 5:31 am
The “POA” is clearly dysfunctional.
Ralph
03/17/2020 — 8:57 am
The little “ceo” is not to be trusted. Incompetence reigns supreme throughout the salaried employees of the POA. The board, except for one member, is ridiculously out of their league and should be deeply ashamed of the harm they have caused, but, apparently, they are too ignorant to even know what they have done.
It is truly a sad situation. Watch carefully for any shenanigans regarding the current voting…they are not to be trusted in any way shape or form.
Anything they do or say is not to be believed…..just warning you all ahead of time…they will try something to delay or invalidate the voting…
Jerry Carroll
03/17/2020 — 9:18 pm
Shame? They know know no shame. Where you been?
Sam Taylor
03/18/2020 — 12:07 am
It would be an absolute farce to appeal to the sitting board in order to get a replacement ballot. There is no way that group of FOUR would vote to give someone they know leans toward non-legacy board positions! They have proved that over and over when it comes to voting sitting directors off the BOD, appeals to being turned down for an information request, etc. They are not open to openness or fair play. Let’s hold our breath for any other unethical practices taking place before we hear the election results.
John S Romine
03/19/2020 — 11:59 am
I have not received ballots. I always vote. CHeck and see if my ballot was lost, or whatever. I did not get it.
I want it. Send another or call me. and I will come get it. NOW.
John S Romine
03/19/2020 — 12:00 pm
I have not received ballots. I always vote. Check and see if my ballot was lost, or whatever. I want a ballot. Send another or call me and I will come get it. NOW.
John
03/20/2020 — 12:05 am
It is beyond my comprehension how they run elections here. There seems to be no way to verify who got ballots and who did not. The adminstrations attitude seems to be If you did not get one then it is your tough luck. I hope the new directors will make a change that will insure we have a fair and honest election process.