Backstory
Okay, folks, this is getting worse by the day. HSVPOA is a community divided.
This is what has already happened. HSVPOA Management and the Board of Directors would not let us see the information that should have been available to all property owners. Our Developer, Cooper Communities, Incorporated (CCI) asked to see the CEO’s employment contract and also wanted a list of members and their addresses and emails, along with other records.
HSVPOA refused to cooperate
Our then Chairman of the Board, Tom Weiss said CCI did not have a proper purpose and refused to share the CEO’s employment contract and member list with the Developer. HSVPOA did allow “inspection” of 85 boxes of records, but would not allow copying of these records. By doing this, HSVPOA basically rendered “inspection” of said records to be a useless pursuit. Who could possibly remember every number, line, and word in 85 boxes of records?
We have a right to know how our money is being spent
CCI subsequently filed a lawsuit which was recently awarded in CCI’s favor. Judge Robert Herzfeld ruled that CCI’s purpose was not only proper, but it was most proper and that all members of the association have a right to inspect records as long as their purpose was proper.
An improper purpose would be if it was suspected a member was going to sell the mailing list or something along those lines. Basically, most purposes are proper, as WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW how our assessment fees are being used.
Inspection includes copying
Judge Herzfeld also ruled that “inspection” of records also implied the records could be copied. Unfortunately, the Judge was not able to include in his ruling that the POA must provide electronic versions of said records, when available, but did indicate that the POA SHOULD be willing to do this.
Is this surprising?
Even though it would be much more economical for HSVPOA to provide electronic versions of these records, POA management has again dug their heels in the ground and is inconveniencing every property owner that desires to inspect records, by making them come down to the POA and turn in the “Records Inspection Form”. The property owner must then wait for a call back for an appointment to inspect the records. This appointment is only granted if the purpose is deemed proper. Did HSVPOA management not read Judge Herzfeld’s ruling? Does any of this surprise anyone?
Records Inspection Form
As already mentioned, HSVPOA management has designed a “Request to Schedule Records Inspection” which must be filled out and signed by any member desiring to inspect Association records. This form serves as a stranglehold on anyone requesting to view and copy HSVPOA records. If you want to inspect the records, this form must be signed. You have no choice. According to the POA, by signing this form, you are signing away your rights to share any information you glean with anyone that is not a Property Owner.
Are they trying to hide something?
What happens if you accidentally share this information with someone you thought was a Property Owner and then later found out he/she wasn’t? Not everyone who lives here owns property. We don’t have an L mark on our foreheads or wear a shirt that says, “property owner”. What happens if you share the information with another property owner and subsequently that second party then shares with a non-property owner? Are you responsible for this? What if you are a property owner, but your wife is not on the deed? Are you not allowed to share this information with her? Is this information so top secret? The lock put on the information makes it seem like they are guarding the crown jewels. What is in there that they are trying to hide?
We are only asking questions
Could it be that the CEO has an unreasonably high compensation package? Is it possible that her bonus is exceedingly high? Could it be that it not only does not take a majority of Board Directors to fire her, but it now takes almost all of them? We are only asking questions.
Another big question that might be asked is why would the 2018 Board of Directors agree to such an exorbitant contract?
A public attempt at intimidation?
At the last Let’s Talk, Director Nancy Luehring said that if they SAW the CEO’s employment contract online, they would have reason to take recourse. Perhaps she is listening to the same POA attorneys that lost the CCI case.
More intimidation?
We have heard that we now have a situation where information was publicly shared and now this person is being intimidated and being accused of having malicious intent. The person that shared does not have malicious intent but merely believes in a free and open exchange of information and to the best of his/her knowledge, certainly did not share with non-property owners.
Can we say New Urbanism at it’s very “best”?
What is happening here is not uncommon in communities that are being taken over by New Urbanism. New Urbanism divides and splits communities. New Urbanism is authoritarian by nature, as evidenced by our New Urbanism Protective Covenants which went from 4 pages to 119 pages of restrictions. In addition, all of our governing documents have been revised/rewritten to support the New Urbanism goals of our CEO. Can we say, “rules, rules and more rules”?
Hello Board – don’t make this mistake
If the Board authorizes legal action to be taken against property owners, this will only serve to further divide an already divided community. We don’t think that property owners in this community would want their assessment dollars used to sue their fellow property owners for providing information that everyone should have had access to in the first place. If the Board authorizes such a suit, this would be another authoritarian attempt to intimidate and silence property owners.
The past few Boards, cloaked in a veil of secrecy, created the division evident within the community. It is because of this secrecy and backroom policymaking, the community is upset. Board Directors, do you really want to continue down this ill-advised path?
The Board needs to leave property owners alone when it comes to information. This information should have been publicly available from day one.
Where do we live?
So that brings us to, “where do we live”? What is happening here reminds us of some very bad things that have happened in the past in other countries – countries that were taken over by authoritarians. Just our two cents worth. Do your own research.
by Cheryl Dowden
Tom Blakeman
07/31/2019 — 10:42 am
Excellent summary Cheryl. Thanks.
Marsha
07/31/2019 — 11:17 am
POA board approves top dollars for CEO, protects her position
In a blatant and some would say irresponsible rejection of what Village property owners were saying at the ballot box, the last POA board took an unprecedented step to make it virtually impossible to fire the community’s top executive.
Just two days before votes were counted last March 21, the board changed Lesley Nalley’s contract so it now takes six of seven board votes to oust her. In the past, a board majority of four votes could terminate the contract.
The new pact, signed March 19, also increased Nalley’s salary to $210,105, a rise of $6,105, and boosted her bonus opportunity from 20 to 30 percent of her salary. Her salary is higher than most top city and school officials in Arkansas, including the governor.
All this for a CEO whose major achievement has been adoption of a half-million-dollar Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP). When the outgoing board adopted the controversial CMP at its final meeting last year, Nalley basked in the accomplishment, calling the CMP “my plan.”
An examination of Nalley’s last two contracts, released this month under court order, shows directors taking steps to keep Nalley in office, thus preserving the many “corporate” changes put in place over the last three years.
Sensing three avowed opponents of the CMP were about to be swept into power, the old board ignored an overwhelming rejection months earlier when property owners said no to Declaration changes they’d proposed. They moved forward anyway to protect Nalley.
You can read the CEO’s current contract below.
* * *
To earn a bonus of up to $63,031 each year, Nalley is asked to meet four amorphous “enterprise goals” which have no measurable targets:
• Protect community-wide property-owner value and lifestyle.
• Strengthen the financial health of the Village.
• Build property owner trust and support.
• Provide welcoming visitor experiences that encourage property ownership.
* * *
As you ponder the details of the CEO’s contract and job performance goals, keep in mind this very important fact: The CEO is the board’s only employee. What she does, how much she’s paid, how her work is evaluated – are decisions made by the POA board.
Any frustration you have should be directed at the board, not the CEO.
* * *
Here’s the CEO’s compensation contract, and attached is a table showing how her pay compares with other public and school executives.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
This agreement (“Agreement”), is made and effective as of the 19th day of March 2019, between Hot Springs Village POA (“HSVPOA”), a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas, and Lesley Nalley (“CEO”). The term of this agreement is for two years from March 30, 2019, through March 31, 2021, and can be renewed at any point during the initial and subsequent terms for successive two (2) year terms through a review first with the Board Chair and then with all Board members in executive session, with agreement of the CEO, and will be paid in full unless paragraphs 4(b) or 4(d) apply.
WHEREAS, HSVPOA desires to secure the services of the CEO and the CEO desires to accept such employment.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this agreement, and intending to be legally bound, HSVPOA and the CEO agree as follows:
1. The CEO will render full-time services to HSVPOA in the capacity of Chief Executive officer of the Corporation. The CEO will at all times, faithfully, industriously and to the best of the CEO’s ability, perform all duties that may be required by virtue of this position. It is understood that these duties shall be substantially the same as those of a chief executive officer of a business corporation and shall include but not be limited to the following:
a. HSVPOA explicitly grants the CEO authority over operational and personnel matters, in accordance with governing policies in effect at the time of the execution of this Agreement.
b. The CEO shall serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Board, privy to all meetings and correspondence, except where such discussion is specific to the CEO’s performance.
c. The CEO job description in effect at the time of the execution of the Agreement will remain in effect during the course of this Agreement and any extensions thereof except to the extent that the job description is amended by mutual agreement of the CEO and the Board.
2. COMPENSATION
a. In consideration for these services as CEO, HSVPOA agrees to pay the CEO a base salary of $8,080.96 bi-weekly, which is $210,105.00 annualized or such higher figure as shall be agreed upon at an annual review of her compensation and performance by the Board. This annual review shall occur simultaneously with HSVPOA annual reviews. Compensation increases will be determined by fair market value survey results from a reputable compensation specialist or professional experienced in compensation surveys hired by the Board to provide compensation information. The CEO may elect to defer such portion of his/her salary to the extent permitted by law.
b. Each calendar year the CEO shall be eligible to receive performance bonuses up to 30% of base salary in addition to, or in lieu of, a cost of living or merit increase. The amount shall be determined by the Board, based upon the CEO Performance Evaluation Policy, which established performance criteria in support of the overall health of the corporation. Any annual bonus shall be paid in a lump sum the first pay period following the close of the audited books.
c. Quarterly and annual evaluations shall be conducted using enterprise goals as defined prior to January 1st each year.
3. BENEFITS
a. The CEO shall be entitled to 21 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) each calendar year, subject to increase by the Board. PTO will be accrued, used and paid out in accordance with the Association’s policy 302 in the 2019 Employee Handbook. PTO paid out at termination will be calculated at the final rate of pay.
b. The CEO will be offered Life Insurance in accordance with policy in effect for HSVPOA, currently set for a maximum benefit of $300,000.
c. The CEO will be eligible for short term/long term disability benefits in accordance with current policy. The premium for these benefits will be added to the base salary for the CEO to receive benefits at a non-taxable rate.
d. The CEO is eligible to participate in the HSVPOA employee 401(k) program in accordance with current policy.
e. The CEO may attend business and educational meeting and other outside community activities benefitting HSVPOA. Attendance at such meeting shall not be considered PTO. The expenses incurred during such meetings and activities in the furtherance of HSVPOA’s interests, shall be paid or reimbursed, according to established policies.
f. Dues to professional associations, service organizations, and clubs that serve to further the interests of HSVPOA shall be maintained.
g. HSVPOA’s general liability insurance policy shall cover the CEO for all acts done in good faith throughout the term of this contract.
h. HSVPOA will pay the Medical and Dental premiums for the CEO and spouse. Other voluntary benefits such as vision insurance, additional life insurance, and other voluntary Cafeteria Plan elections will be paid by the CEO.
i. The CEO will be eligible to receive $300 per month for a car allowance, and
j. An annual golf and fitness pass shall be provided to the CEO and spouse for the purpose of fostering community and business relationships.
4. EMPLOYMENT TERMINATION & SEVERANCE
The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Agreement and the CEO’s duties hereunder. Such action shall require a minimum of six out of the seven members of the Board voting in favor of termination of the Agreement. Abstentions from such termination vote shall be counted as a vote against terminating the Agreement. Any such Board-approved termination shall become effective upon written notice to the CEO or at such later time as may be specified in said notice.
a. Upon such termination, HSVPOA shall continue to pay the CEO’s then monthly base salary for the remaining duration of this agreement. In addition, HSVPOA will pay to the CEO as severance her bi-weekly base salary for an additional four (4) months or the CEO’s first day of new employment, whichever is earlier. For the period during which such payments are being made, HSVPOA agrees to keep the CEO’s group life and health insurance coverage paid up and in effect. Any severance payments are conditioned upon the CEO executing a release of all claims which shall include an agreement not to solicity any HSVPOA employees for a period of one year following the termination of the Agreement, a confidentiality agreement, and a non-disparagement agreement.
b. The severance arrangements described above will not be payable in the event that the CEO’s employment is terminated because the CEO has been charged with any felony criminal offense, a misdemeanor criminal offense related to fraud or violent crimes, maleficence, or is convicted of any offense involving fraud, theft, deceit, or similar offense, or for cause. “Cause” shall include willful failure to comply with reasonable policies, procedures, standards, essential duties and responsibilities of the position, or directives of the Board that are in accordance with this Agreement; unethical conduct; or any other material breach of the Agreement. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon CEO’s death.
c. If HSVPOA is merged, sold, or closed, the CEO or HSVPOA may terminate this agreement, with the same severance arrangement described in Paragraph 4 (a).
d. Should the CEO elect to terminate this contract for any reason other than as stated in Paragraph (c), she shall give the Board Chair a minimum of 60 days’ written notice. At the end of the notice period, all rights, duties and obligations of both parties to the contract shall cease and the CEO will not be entitled to severance benefits.
e. If the CEO accepts any of the severance benefits described herein, the CEO shall to extent not prohibited by law be deemed to voluntarily release and forever discharge HSVPOA and its officers, directors, employees, agents, related corporations and their successors and assigns, both individually and collectively, from any and all liability arising out of employment and/or the cessation of said employment. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall prevent the CEO from bringing an action to enforce the terms of this agreement.
f. Contract renewal terms shall be considered and completed no later than March 31st of any contract year. This Agreement and all its terms and conditions will automatically renew with the same terms, if not otherwise amended or terminated accordingly by written notice. Contract revisions may occur at any time, upon agreement of both parities.
5. The CEO shall maintain confidentiality with respect to information received in the course of employment and not disclose any such information. The CEO shall not, either during the term of employment or thereafter, use or permit the use of any information of, or relating to HSVPOA in connection with any activity or business and shall not divulge such information to any person, firm, or corporation whatsoever, except as may be necessary in the performance of duties hereunder or as may be required by law or legal process. Likewise, all Board members who were or are privy to the terms of the agreement will consider it a confidential personnel record and subject to related Bylaws and policies. In addition, the CEO shall not, directly or indirectly, for one year following the termination of this Agreement for any reason: solicit, employ or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, any person who is or was an employee of HSVPOA at any time during the term of this Agreement or in any manner induce or attempt to induce any such employee of HSVPOA to terminate her employment or engagement as such with HSVPOA.
6. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and contains all the agreements between them with respect to the subject mater hereof. It also supersedes any and all other agreements or contracts, either oral or written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as otherwise specifically provided, the terms and conditions of this contract may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties, provided that before any amendment shall be valid or effective it shall have been reduced to writing and signed by the Chair of the Board and the CEO.
7. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this contact shall not affect is other provisions, and this contract shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had been omitted.
8. This agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, representatives and permitted assigns. Neither party may assign any interests of this Agreement without the express written consent of the other party provided, however, that HSVPOA may assign this Agreement to any corporation into which HSVPOA may be merged or by which it may be acquired.
9. This agreement shall be construed and enforced under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Arkansas.
10. Any controversy, dispute or disagreement arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration, which shall be conducted in Central Arkansas, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court have jurisdiction thereof.
This contract signed the 19 day of March, 2019 by our mutual signatures below.
(Signed by)
Tom Weiss
Lesley Nalley
Robert Busse
07/31/2019 — 11:28 am
You can not take a contract or document to your lawyer for clarification or interpretation. Nor can you take a budget or accounting information to your accountant for questions. They are not members.
And if one raises a ruckus or loud protest over something you have seen or copied you are susceptible to action by the POA (loss of privileges) or a lawsuit for using the information in a way that is detrimental to the Association. Is this and the above information in line with the judge’s ruling? Certainly not.
Folks the longer we sit back and let things like this continue the longer it will take and the harder it will be to correct and get back to common sense municipal governance that is by the people and for the people and not for a few power hungry people, who if you don’t agree with them your not going to be heard.
Thanks, Cheryl for presenting the facts in a mature, non-aggressive form.
Minn Daly
07/31/2019 — 11:33 am
Excellent presentation! We are divided by people who do not value the intelligence of property owners HSVBOD/CEO! NO Property Owner should be threatened for sharing info that should have been published outright by the BOD/CEO. A judge ordered that this info be shared! What is this BOD thinking? Are they trying to destroy this community to protect information that THEY determine is secret? Seems like a DEEP SECRET community to me, like the deep state it will be exposed. I will not be a part of. We all need to stand up for our rights. Support those that receive information that is our right to have. Support the fact that we have VOICE @ our meeting useing respect for all. We are the community owners! Respectfully, Minn Daly
Anonymous
07/31/2019 — 11:58 am
We will be next to Baltimore soon
Anonymous
07/31/2019 — 1:22 pm
Here is another way someone calculated Leslie Nalley’s salary using the raw figures the POA is trying to hide but have leaked out anyhow:
She makes $142 per HOUR.
That does not include her life insurance, medical benefits, or the car allowance.
It is well over a thousand dollars per day.
Not counting her expense account.
You could hire the governor of Arkansas and the city manager of Hot Springs to administer this community of 13,000 residents and still have money left over.
And she has it set up so she can’t be fired unless six of the seven board members agree.
And she did it all without using a gun and mask.
I’m signing this anonymous because Nalley is threatening to have POA lawyers come after anyone using their First Amendment rights to criticize a public figure through revealing something that ought to be public knowledge in a free society. It is “malicious” by her way of thinking–meaning legally actionable, is my guess. The POA legal staff probably came up with that approach and we paid for them to do it. It will be drawn from that 67% pool of our money that goes to Nalley and her outrageously high-paid bureaucracy.
Gene Garner
07/31/2019 — 1:41 pm
I understand the form the POA requires Villagers to sign before accessing our records, contains the following statements.
By submitting this request, I acknowledge the following:
1. I am a member of HSVPOA, as defined in Article III, Section 1 of the Association’s Declaration.
2. I have determined that the information requested is not readily available on the Association’s member website: http://www.explorethevillage.com/members.
3. I am seeking access to these records for my own knowledge of Association affairs.
4. I will not make these records available to those who are not members of HSVPOA.
5. I will not use the information to harm the Association or others.
The “form” that the BOD has created is not based on any legal requirement. What does #3 mean, does it infer you can’t talk about our books & records with other members? And on #5, who decides what is harmful, the BOD?
This is another attempt by the BOD to control what we know about their activities and to warn us they still have the power to make the rules. But let’s read what the judge decided in the recent CCI v. HSV POA case, here is an excerpt of Judge Herzfeld’s decision;
“The reasons stated by COOPER are not only proper, they are among the most proper reasons possible: examining the expenditures of the corporation of which they are a member and communicating with their fellow members. The relief sought by COOPER through their Motion for Directed Verdict is for the Court to find that there is a proper purpose and allow them access to inspect the corporate books and records of the organization to which they belong.”
Judge Herzfeld made it a point to include “communicating with their fellow members” and that doesn’t exclude Hot Springs Village People as a forum.—Gene
Anonymous
07/31/2019 — 2:56 pm
Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Anonymous
07/31/2019 — 2:58 pm
Sharpen your pitchforks and make your torches time to storm the castle
Karen Daigle Lundberg
07/31/2019 — 4:11 pm
Excellent article, Cheryl. I hope this gives people a lot to think about. Beautifully written.
Anonymous
07/31/2019 — 8:48 pm
This nonsense has to be stopped . How can we justify paying this person more than the Governor of this State and all of those other jobs that have been mentioned in all of these comments. Why are we putting up with this non sense??? I will remain anonymous for now but I am angry and may become more aggressive if I do not see more people willing to raise some holy hell and get this fixed.
Mary Szczepaniak
08/19/2019 — 3:44 pm
If you want to raise joly hell, why are you hiding behind anonymity? To do so rips away any credence to what you have to say.
Kirk Denger
07/31/2019 — 10:04 pm
The truth is not harmful, it is positive. Hiding the truth is harmful to the association. The POA is still hiding the truth because they did not produce the past 2016 CEO contract (only the 2018 and 2019 contracts were provided) after 13 days of being in contempt of court. Today is July 31 st and the POA is still in contempt of court for not providing members with complete requested information 22 days after the request was made by myself, a member of the HSVPOA.
Kirk Denger
08/06/2019 — 9:37 pm
The 2016 Ceo contract was made available to me 8/5/2019.
Kirk Denger
08/06/2019 — 11:33 pm
I received the 2016 CEO contract 8/5/19.
Frank Shears aka Bubba
07/31/2019 — 11:57 pm
Excellent article Cheryl. Very informative and well written. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.
Regards
Mike F
08/01/2019 — 5:45 am
Very good food for thought here. Thanks, Cheryl.
Anonymous
08/01/2019 — 8:37 am
I don’t usually get upset about political matters. I just ignore them. This new information about Lesley’s salary and benefits is simply infuriating! I don’t usually care about how much anybody makes as long as they are contributing and the corporation or business entity is happy with their performance and actually afford to pay the price.
This is not the case in HSV.
Lesley has contributed nothing. She has divided our Community. She has injected angst into our daily lives. Her pompous arrogant posture on matters that are important to property owners is causing new investors to walk away and current property owner to put up for sale signs. Lesley has done more to destroy our Village in the 3 years she’s been here than anyone has sitting on the BOD.
The BOD, the legacy members are spineless incompetent cowards who have only their personal agenda in play. Add to this, we now have another “lying jackass”, Tormey Campagna, who promised us “property owner representation” to get our votes, and then suddenly turned his back on us. Don’t know how he can sleep at night. Traitor!
If some collective/group, comprised of Property Owners, who want to right all of these wrongs, somehow, in the courts or otherwise, you can be certain that I will contribute to this cause, in body, soul and pocketbook to the extend of my abilities.
That’s how pissed off I am.
Lesley: You need to leave HSV.
Legacy BOD members and Tormey Campagna: You all need to resign your posts so that we the people can place the operations of HSV back into competent property ownership hands.
I absolutely HATE what’s happening.
And YES – I’m writing anonymously because we all know what would happen to me if Lesley and her goons found out who I was.
Anonymous
08/01/2019 — 12:10 pm
Wait till everybody finds out what the c o o and CFO make it salary
Anonymous
08/01/2019 — 6:59 pm
Salary Grades 10 and Above
Low Mid High
Grade Hour Annual Hour Annual Hour Annual
10 $ 20.04 $ 40,881.60 $ 25.05 $ 51,102.00 $ 31.32 $ 63,892.80
11 $ 22.05 $ 44,982.00 $ 27.56 $ 56,222.40 $ 34.45 $ 70,278.00
12 $ 24.25 $ 49,470.00 $ 30.31 $ 61,832.40 $ 37.89 $ 77,295.60
13 $ 26.68 $ 54,427.20 $ 33.35 $ 68,034.00 $ 41.68 $ 85,027.20
14 $ 29.34 $ 59,853.60 $ 36.68 $ 74,827.20 $ 45.85 $ 93,534.00
15 $ 32.28 $ 65,851.20 $ 40.35 $ 82,314.00 $ 50.44 $ 102,897.60
16 $ 35.51 $ 72,440.40 $ 44.38 $ 90,535.20 $ 55.48 $ 113,179.20
17 $ 39.06 $ 79,682.40 $ 48.82 $ 99,592.80 $ 61.03 $ 124,501.20
18 $ 42.96 $ 87,638.40 $ 53.70 $ 109,548.00 $ 67.13 $ 136,945.20
CEO As directed by the board through annual salary reviews
Grade 18’s
Jamie Caperton
Tom Heffer
Liz Mathis
Gary Meyers
Jason Temple
Grade 16
Shawnee Cooper
Grade 15
Cheryl Dunson
Renee Haugen
Stephanie Heffer
Magdy Hussein
Stacy Hoover
Jason Miller
Ricky Middleton
Grade 10
Brad Meredith
Example: Grade 15 – Cheryl Dunson. Assuming this position was at the mid-point of that salary range, in the world of real estate, this one individual would have to sell $3,000,000 in gross sales or at the current average selling price 14 houses a year just to cover her salary and this doesn’t
account for benefits.
Kirk Denger
08/02/2019 — 11:15 pm
So that’s where our doubled assessments, extra 3 million per year, are going!
Anonomous
08/04/2019 — 3:20 pm
But, but, but……. Ricky Middleton, Grade 15, HSV Chief of Police earning almost $103,000, by his own admission, doesn’t have any authority in the Village. He can only enforce the law, so he can’t stop people who run the gates or ask to see their POA membership card. They aren’t breaking the law, it’s a POA rule they are breaking, and he only enforces the law. Wonder then…, the roads and streets in the Village are PRIVATE, belonging to us, the POA. So how can he stop and fine people for speeding or other violations on our private property roads? Aren’t those rules and posted speed limits just POA policy and rules?
…..duh……
Annnooonnnnooomous.
Anonymous
08/05/2019 — 5:50 am
The compliance police serve at the pleasure of the Chief of Police. The Chief serves at the pleasure of the ceo. The village can be overcome by the ner’ do wells any given holiday. All that stands between us and totally being overrun by the freeloading is policy. The “law” does not exist. The Chief has no teeth. Party on because the kids have found themselves the coolest little place to go and harassing old people is sport. Fun fun fun.
Kirk Denger
08/06/2019 — 10:08 pm
We ALL, just recently, now serve at the pleasure of the CEO, It is called the CMP. However, the CEO is only the nemesis of the “Master” of the “CMP”, Andreas Duany, the Cult leader of the Congress of New Urbanism, our new master we now must “serve”.
anonymous
08/09/2019 — 1:00 pm
Wow our Chief of Police makes that much money, for what??? He does nothing , and nothing for his department. He is the biggest joke of all, and is a puppet to Lesley. Chief Middleton hasn’t been on the streets in over 25 years, heck he can’t even tell you some laws because he has to look them up first. Try to go meet him at the police station, he won’t because he is a coward and always has his lieutenant do it. Chief needs to go!!
Kirk Denger
08/20/2019 — 5:03 pm
Our Police Chief has served on the streets of HSV for over 25 years. As the Chief for the last 7 years, his job is to operate the police force, which he does with the heart of a servant.
Anonymous
08/01/2019 — 1:04 pm
I think we must start protests! Picket lines, etc. maybe it will affect home values for a while, but if we don’t do something now, we may go bankrupt! We need to take a stand, show our displeasure and mean it. Union workers have done this for years with results even if they could have lost their jobs. At some point it’s up to us!
Anonymous
08/02/2019 — 5:42 am
The Board has crossed the line. I guess all of our efforts will seem futile. But make no mistake, until the village is given back to the people there will be no white flags. Property values be damned.
anonymous
08/01/2019 — 6:49 pm
yes, we need someone with know how to get something going that will oust these people…….entire board and Lesley . I do not know how to do it but I know we have people living here who do have the know how. Please step up and lets get something going asap. I must still remain anonymous for now as well. I did not come here to retire to get involved in this kind of crap but may have to put the gloves on soon. They are tearing what was once a paradise down. And my main question for the moment is WHY????
Cliff
08/04/2019 — 5:51 am
Power and lust for more power and money are the only reasons.
anonymous
08/01/2019 — 6:57 pm
we must oust all of these people now. Board and CEO. Is there someone out there who knows how to get something started. I do not know how. I did not retire here to deal with kind of crap and must remain anonymous for now but I am getting close to taking the gloves off. They are destroying what was once a paradise and I cannot understand WHY???
Anonymous
08/02/2019 — 6:03 pm
I understand that if anybody says anything derogatory about Leslie Neely they will be fired is that lawful I don’t know I would like a response
Sue
08/03/2019 — 10:47 am
In organized crime syndicates occurs. Rackteering
anonymous
08/09/2019 — 12:55 pm
Chief Middleton is telling his employees the same thing. If anyone says anything bad about him then consider yourself fired. What a great work envirnoment that sets up
Mac
08/04/2019 — 5:50 am
Not sure we are all that divided.
Most people with any common sense at all would be outraged at this travesty.
142 dollar an hour “ceo”to turn our village into a sad mess with pocket homes scattered about, a lodge that will never be built, a town center that will never be built, high density housing that will never be built, golf losses mounting each and every year, crummy subsidized restaurants, crumbling club buildings, lax security and wide open non-functioning gates, non-residents laughing on the way to our boat ramps with their children and coolers full of beer for a fun day on the lake (why pay for what is already free?), a silly small cocktail pool that no one will use, fees for everything you might ever want to do and always increasing, massive infrastructure issues ignored for years, armed police at board meetings, no bike lanes, rec center employees departing and services reduced (can I get a towel?), limits on speaking at board meetings, secret and illegal meetings by committees that should not even exist, forced indoctrination of new board members, attempts to punish anyone who speaks out, open defiance of a judge’s decision, obfuscation at every turn, lies and more lies, property values declining, very weak levels of new construction, pathetic marketing plan and even more pathetic implementation, mismanaged contracts, horribly inept legal counsel (you could not find a weaker team), open hostility to anyone “not on board” with the CMP, a wasted $500,000 for a plan that will NEVER be implemented here and that will NEVER work if attempted, committees who do nothing other than place post-it notes on whiteboards, malfeasance at every level. One could go on and on.
This was once a great place to live. It sadly no longer is.
anonymous
08/04/2019 — 8:24 pm
Hard hitting comments by Mac buy sadly all true…..we are doomed unless we find a way to stop this insanity.
Kirk Denger
08/04/2019 — 9:11 pm
I could not agree with you more Mac, well said and right on. Please do not hesitate to go on with your train of thought.
Anonymous
08/05/2019 — 6:18 am
Mac, You need to take all that energy and join one of our committees.
Kirk Denger
08/06/2019 — 9:29 pm
An illegal puppet committee is not one of OUR committees.
Gary Godfrey
08/09/2019 — 8:21 am
This is one of the reasons we left the Village three years ago after living there for 15 years. Past boards were getting very uncomfortable for us. Plus the increase in prices for about anything and everything. Didnt trust them. So we moved back to the home state. To bad it was a great place to live. Hope things can turn around for the people in the Village.
NittyGritty
08/05/2019 — 5:13 pm
There ARE enforceable TRESPASSING laws for private property. If it’s not public land and you don’t own it, you’re trespassing! If you are avoiding the law while tresspassing, you are a CRIMINAL TRESPASSER. It seems to me that at least one liberal church in the village is confusing its attendees about the difference between a documented immigrant and a criminal trespasser.
Anonymous
08/05/2019 — 7:40 pm
I’m not sure what you say Nitty.
The Church is making the attendees confused or the Church is confused themselves about the difference between a documented immigrant and a criminal trespasser.
Can you share a little more information here?
NittyGritty
08/06/2019 — 10:00 am
Obviously, both.
Kirk Denger
08/06/2019 — 11:12 pm
The parable of the merciless servant illustrates the meaning of “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” a petition included in the Lord’s Prayer. Anger can be righteous, but when we let it harden into resentment it becomes a poison that blocks the grace of God from flowing into us and through us.
NittyGritty
08/06/2019 — 11:23 pm
Kirk, Jesus was not saying that it’s a good thing to trespass. The Vatican City has guarded walls all around it.
Kirk Denger
08/07/2019 — 9:02 pm
The lord’s prayer predates Jesus.
NittyGritty
08/08/2019 — 5:34 pm
Kirk, Jesus was the first to speak the Lord’s prayer. Trespass is not good…otherwise, what is there to forgive?! But forgiving sin does not mean that we are to condone it. Jesus said “Go, and sin no more.”
Kirk Denger
08/08/2019 — 9:37 pm
Cast your net on the other side.
Randall Bright, Sr.
08/06/2019 — 9:16 pm
Who is “anonymous? “Why “anonymous?”
😆😅😐😃laughable😆😅😄😃
Thank you Mac for pointing out specific examples of questionable decisions by our current/past BOD and CEO. Those who developed/agreed to our CEO contract de$erve our ang$t. Obviou$ly, they had limited experience and knowledge in comparative data analy$i$.
Appear$ our CEO and HSVPOA attorneys designed it to reward and protect only one.
There is no doubt that we (property owner$) are in an unfortunate situation.
We have a fox is watching the henhouse.
Note: Bonu$ goals should be SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE and OBJECTIVE. Not one in the current contract meets this criteria.
Minn Daly
08/08/2019 — 9:38 am
Question! What did Mr Weiss & legacy BOD get or achieve for the changes in Board members needed to terminate CEO from 4 to 6? What board members were in discussion of contract or terms of contact with CEO? What member of the board even suggest they ask for attorneys advice on this contract? What reasoning went into these changes? What was & are the agenda for this BOD to do this knowing how the vote had been cast, knowing how the divisions are within the village. Is it about destroying this community? Is it about corruption? Is it about creating legacy for themselves? Is it about quid pro co? What has the CEO suggested,promised, already accomplished for LEGACY members? Who on BOD knew that ACC rules were not valid in Garland/Saline County? Who on this BOD cares that a Saline county JUDGE’s ruleing is not followed? Greatest of all question is who on BOD cares that they are suppose to represent the owners of this Community? What was accomplished with these changes? Who on this BOD cares that you can’t tell a paying owner that they have a right to take privilege away from an owner or make threats to them. Answer. BOD arrogants, lack of integrity, intelligence & they do NOT care about the community. They care for themselves! What’s in it for them! Legacy members should resign. Respectfully, Minn Daly
george roser
08/08/2019 — 8:12 pm
Folks, you won’t like this but I suspect very few of the salary complainers have any experience with large businesses, either member owned non profits or profits.
I worked for several large member owned non profit utilities plus consulted for both types of organizations; profit and non profit. I was privy to higher level salaries. At one member owned utility the personnel at the executive level had our compensation packages posted in the local newspaper once a year. Our salaries were backed up by PROFESSIONAL salary surveys, not just what a Board paid us.
Six months ago someone asked me what was fair compensation for the CEO position. I said $200,000 plus an incentive package. I believe Bella Vista is somewhere in that range. I suspect people referring to politician salaries are using them because that’s the only info they can easily obtain over the internet. They are in no way germane. Top level politicians have all kinds of help and make very few real decisions of their own accord. Hell, they could go to sleep for 3 months and no one would know the difference.
Many of you think the POA is top heavy, that’s just not true based on my experience. In fact, they recently combined the Utility Managers position with the COO position. I’ve never seen that. It saves some money, I hope it works.
Some of the facts discovered here disturb me in several areas.
++The CEO Salary doesn’t bother me a bit. If the Board would authorize a salary survey, which should have been done in the first place, I think we’ll find its in the ball park.
++Changing the CEO contract just before a new board takes over is not right.
++ Goals to earn bonus. I agree they are nebulous. I thought that when they were developed over two years ago and mentioned it to “someone” The answer I got was “well this is first time we ever had any goals of any kind” How do you run an organization this large with no measurable goals and objectives.
++ Lets have a CEO salary survey and end the controversy.
++ Do we have an attorney who advised the Board they should challenge the release of the CEOs contract. If so, maybe he/she should be fired or return their fee.
++ Many Village people cry ” we are not a corporation and should not be run like one.” Nonsense. Do you think corporate experienced Board members would make some of the mistakes I’ve seen since moving here? :: Hiring a CEO without a salary survey; allowing the POA to be run with no Goals and Objectives over such a long period of time; Allowing poorly written, non measurable goals; etc. Blindly accepting the CMP; I’m assuming we sought legal advice before we decided to fight releasing information and not after the decision was made.
I think we would be better served if we had more corporate or big business types on the board.
A corporation makes a profit. We have to make reserves. Whats the difference; they both require large business experience to effectively meet those targets. How many people are living here because their corporation paid a decent salary and pension? If they hadn’t made a profit you wouldn’t have received those benefits. Even large non-profits use the tools outlined here.
George
Phil Lemler
08/10/2019 — 9:49 am
Perfect … George!
anonymous
08/09/2019 — 9:05 am
george, your comments look like a plant to me. Nalley is being paid at least $100,000 too much. She needs to go away.
george roser
08/10/2019 — 10:56 am
anonymous, I have issues responding to people who don’t use their names. I used mine, why can’t you? I’ll give it one more response. I am not a plant, I don’t know Nalley. In my opinion she’s done some good things. However the CMP was about the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a long time. We do need a strategic plan but the CMP is not a strategic plan with measurable objectives.
I do have knowledge of executive type salaries, benefits, incentives, etc. Apparently you do not. Power plant operators working with me made a $100k with overtime. They didn’t have college educations and their jobs didn’t require any fiduciary or financial responsibility. In today’s world $100k is not a huge salary for professional positions.
Why not push the Board for a professional type salary survey conducted by well known consulting firms who have no ax to grind. Would you and some others in this forum even accept it? I doubt it because if it came in her salary was reasonable you would just find fault with the survey because it didn’t support your narrative. If the survey did not support my narrative , I would accept it and just assume I am out of touch. I would fight to get her salary in line with the survey or get a new CEO.
anonymous
08/11/2019 — 6:26 pm
george, with all due respect to you and your thoughts on this issue……..you are way off base if you really believe our “CEO” may deserve what our BOD has agreed to pay her. She is robbing us and doing nothing that someone of that pay level should be doing. I will remain anonymous on this issue for now. I have published my name of many other issues that have been discussed on this and other websites about all of the crap. I still want her and the current board gone. It is almost stuff that you really cannot make up. And my main question is still WHY???
anonymous
08/11/2019 — 6:28 pm
george, with all due respect to you and your thoughts on this issue……..you are way off base if you really believe our “CEO” may deserve what our BOD has agreed to pay her. She is robbing us and doing nothing that someone of that pay level should be doing. I will remain anonymous on this issue for now. I have published my name of many other issues that have been discussed on this and other websites about all of the crap. I still want her and the current board gone. It is almost stuff that you really cannot make up. And my main question is still WHY???
I may have already said something like this but it needs repeating. POST IT!!!!
Kirk Denger
08/13/2019 — 11:34 pm
Large member-owned non-profit utilities send board member ballots to members with one candidate prechosen with one position to be filled. If you return your completed ballot, you are promised to have a chance to receive $200 off your utility bill. Is this the kind of organizational dictatorship you are recommending for our community roser?
Kirk Denger
08/13/2019 — 11:35 pm
All members, meet at the next board meeting, the third Wednesday of this and every month to evaluate the HSV BOD and tell those Board members who will not listen to the overwhelming majority of property owners, that we oppose the CMP and that we will replace illegal Board members by a majority vote at a member’s meeting.
Joseph Vlasek
08/16/2019 — 10:34 am
Nalley as CEO of HSV has a salary of almost TWICE what the Gov of Arkansas makes counting the Bonus she will male sure she get’s. This Is Criminal! Investigate her….Investigate the Board!
Mary Szczepaniak
08/19/2019 — 2:15 pm
There is no way to messure her goals, so, of course she will get her bonus.
Anonymous
10/14/2019 — 3:53 pm
I particularly don’t like the “short and long term disability benefits being added to salary so as to avoid pay taxes.” And who has ever worked for a corporate entity where your spouse gets corporate benefits? Something is very wrong here. I’m thinking of an acronym now that begins with an I as and ends with an S.
Anonymous
10/14/2019 — 6:22 pm
What acronym R you talking about?
Anonymous
10/20/2019 — 12:01 pm
Who does every taxpayer pay every year to fatten the pockets of yhose who work for us?