HSVPOA Board Chair rejects volunteer, Linda Anderson, from serving on the Governance Committee
Armed only with a passionate desire to make a difference, I applied to fill an opening on the Governance Committee. The primary reason I applied was to have the opportunity to work with the attorneys to assist in changes to the bylaws.
Governance Committee interview was a chastisement for daring to express differing opinions
Unfortunately, with what transpired, it appears that not only was a decision made to exclude me from serving on this committee, but the decision most likely was made before the interview even occurred. The rejection appears to be based solely on my political opinions on the CEO’s New Urban Agenda for HSV.
On October 18, 2019, I optimistically met with the self-appointed Chairman of the Governance Committee, Cindi Erickson and committee member, Nancy Luehring who is also a Board Member. It quickly became apparent that my optimism was misplaced and that the so-called interview would be more of a grueling interrogation. I was not prepared for what developed. Within a few minutes, it was clear the purpose of this meeting was only to show the committee’s disapproval of my opinions regarding the leadership decisions of the four old-guard Board of Directors and CEO.
Chairman Erickson and Member Luehring had prepared in advance of this meeting, all of my letters to the Editor published in Hot Springs Village Voice. They then proceeded to berate and challenge the views that I had penned in these letters. The committee members said my statements were unacceptable and simply not true. I could only understand their actions as I saw them.
The “interview” became a tirade of discussions on our opposing viewpoints. In addition, I felt like I had been thrown into the “lion’s den” because it was obvious there was little agreement between us.
It appears that this so-called-interview was more of an effort to shut down my opposing viewpoints and not an interview to serve the community on the Governance Committee. What became apparent was there was a determined effort to chastise me on my viewpoints.
The committee seems to believe community members cannot maintain confidentiality
The most astonishing revelation was their belief that members should not be on this committee because of confidential information. I suggested a confidentiality agreement that they vetoed. These Committee Members consider themselves having a superior ability to maintain confidentiality over other property owners.
What kind of information needed to be kept so secret? Why was I even invited for an interview? Was this meeting only called for reasons of brow-beating me for my past expressions of opinion and to discourage me from voicing opinions that do not go along with the old-guard board and CEO’s New Urbanism CMP? Maybe diverse opinions are not welcome.
The two old guards admitted that Board Members have an overload of work with their liaison positions in the committees. If so, why would they not welcome Property Owner assistance? The only reason I can think of is they possibly feel that the more Property Owners involvement there is, the more difficult it is to control the desired outcome.
Committees were restructured in order to fully implement the CMP
We do know that part of the preparation for the implementation of the CMP involved the restructuring of the committees to support the CEO’s New Urban Agenda Comprehensive Master Plan. Before the Amendment Changes were voted down, the committees went through realignment.
On Nov 14, 2017, in the Hot Springs Village Voice, the CEO said: “Committees continue to be an important element of our success and are being re-aligned, where needed, to support the comprehensive master plan strategies.”
On March 27, 2018, in the Hot Springs Village Voice the CEO was quoted as saying, “the language in both the CMP and Development Code “would be adopted with the understanding that revisions to other governing and operating documents, including the Declaration, protective covenants, bylaws, policies, committee charters, staff procedures and other ‘will also be forthcoming and required to ensure maximum return on the plan’s investment.”
The Governance Committee is focused on changing bylaws in order to further the implementation of the CMP and shut out the desires of the community. They want to run the Village as a Corporation with very little input from the community. This creates a divided community. It is obvious dissenting opinions are forbidden.
Old-guard Board doesn’t seem to understand the reason for the community division
The old-guard board does not seem to understand what has caused so much division in the community. Due to this division, the Board is faced with overwhelming challenges and it appears they have circled the wagons to make the corporation all-powerful. This desire to wrest all control from the community and instead concentrate it in the hands of a CEO-controlled Governance Committee wreaks of a power grab, unlike any ever seen in the Village.
It is never a good thing for communities when their governing authorities abuse their powers to shut out property owners who have dissenting opinions. This has been happening in Hot Springs Village ever since our CEO’s predecessor introduced a plan based on the ideology of New Urbanism into a rural and peaceful community of mostly retirees.
This community is seriously divided and will continue to be divided as long as our Board of Directors prop up our CEO’s Comprehensive Master Plan by any and all means necessary. That includes removing Directors who have dissenting opinions that differ from the CEO. It has happened more than once.
Governance Committee adopted in violation of governing documents
The ultimate power of HSVPOA’s governing system lies in the Governance Committee. This is the committee that is seated with three board members and the CEO to make recommendations and give advice to the remaining three board members who do not sit on this committee. It is a power play against differing opinions on how to move Hot Springs Village forward. The committee meets in private, there are no minutes released to property owners, they set the board agenda, and control the revisions to our Governing Documents. They also control the creation of policies affecting property owners. The Governance Committee was conceived and adopted in violation of numerous Governing Documents.
By Linda Anderson, October 28, 2019
Editor’s Note
It appears the ugly truth about the Governance Committee which is in control of HSVPOA is: If a property owner is not ‘Goose Stepping’ on the CEO’s Yellow Brick Road to her New Urban CMP Oz you will be rejected and ostracized from participating in the governing activities of Hot Springs Village.
The Governance Committee definitely does not reside “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. The CEO’s Governance Committee needs to be disbanded and replaced with full board participation in all issues affecting Hot Springs Village. Think public board work sessions. No more secret Governance Committee meetings conducted by the CEO and her loyal 2018 Old Guard Board members.
Keep all HSVPOA meetings open to the public except those in which sensitive executive sessions are warranted. The bylaws define and limit the reasons for these closed meetings.
Jayne
10/28/2019 — 5:11 pm
Linda, thank you for attempting to serve. I cannot believe their actions!!!!!!!
cindy
10/28/2019 — 5:42 pm
This cannot continue happening. Something needs done NOW!
Dave
10/28/2019 — 7:28 pm
Now you see why I wouldn’t join any committees when asked by many. Maybe after these stooges are tossed out after the next vote. And have their feeble minds realized that they too are “only” residents and will be again very very soon as there is no way any rational thinking adult would ever what them to ever sit on anything besides a chair in their own home. They have become power crazed little dwarfs following anyone they can to feel important and not realizing that soon, they will be all by themselves accept for a few dedicated cheerleaders that still believe in fairies.
Anonymous
10/29/2019 — 8:43 am
And they berate you for not joining a Committee.
Reminds me of trying to get on a jury.
If you’re dumb and have no knowledge of what crime has been committed then you are their choice.
Julie
10/28/2019 — 8:31 pm
The CMP, the POA board, and the “ceo” are ruining HSV with impunity.
Sam Taylor
10/28/2019 — 10:12 pm
I have no doubt that to these people opinions are more important than qualifications. The results are quite predictable given their history of continuing to attempt to shut off any opposition to their plans of grandeur.
Minn Daly
10/28/2019 — 11:19 pm
Linda thank you for shareing your ordeal with BOD members Erickson & leuhrling. How very sad that supposedly these two think that HSV community members thoughts are all in step with their concepts. They do not, have not, listened to majority of membership. They do not like ideas other than thiers. Thank goodness that you are smart enough to know HSV is not as big as the state of Rhode Island, as one of these BOD members did or think you are the head law enforcer as the Chair person did when she tried to eject a HSV member Steve Rust for calmly speaking within his 3 minutes allowed by the rules at a BOD meeting, with 5 members of HSV police in attendance & 2 including the Chief ready to eject before the other members voiced NO! How sad this community is being ruled As a socialist society within the staff picking committee members that fit thier concepts as to what HSV should be within thier secret governance committee. This is HSV within Arkansas a state in USA. We are NOT a Socialist society. We still have free speech, an the rights to voice & wright our thoughts & suggestions. Who would want to participate in any forum like this? Perhaps next time you go to perform a volunteer task with good deed intentions with this group you should take in legal council. This is why we support seeking legal attention to all things this legacy BOD is doing. HSV is now a buyers real estate market because of the negative leadership & distrust they continue to pursue. I applaude you for wanting to serve this community, but until the leadership changes & a NEW BOD is voted in, your intelligence level is so superior, above current occupants, feel graced that you were spared Thier arrogance. How sad they call themselves leaders! We have opportunities coming up shortly with BOD elections to make needed changes, supporting Tucker, Loyd & Dick. Let’s make that change & take back our community. Respectfully, Minn Daly
Anonymous
10/29/2019 — 8:23 am
Minn Daly, yes.
Anonymous
10/29/2019 — 8:01 am
Unfortunately. I am not surprised. Thank you for attempting to serve. Bottom line is you scare them. You stand up for transparency and won’t toe the line. Change is going to come.
Warren
10/29/2019 — 10:22 am
Good for you Linda. It seems to me as though they think this whole Village is their personal little bee hive that they want to shape just to suit the Queen.
Tom Blakeman
10/29/2019 — 11:53 am
Linda,
Thank you for making an attempt to serve. The outcome you have described is not surprising.
The only way this cancer will be cured is to cut it out through replacement of all those offending. Unfortunately, this may take a long time.
Anonymous
10/29/2019 — 12:00 pm
Linda, my good neighbor – you have dodged a bullet!
There is absolutely no need for a Governance Committee within the current politically charged environment of HSV.
What we need is a Board and POA Manager that are in tune with the wants and needs of the Membership. Until we assemble a BOD that have their priorities aligned with those of the majority of Property Owner and we remove the overpaid, incompetent, arrogant, anti-property owner CEO, no Governance assembly will have any impact on those issues that are most important to Property Owners.
Appreciate your willingness to help but you’d really be better off just enjoying life.
The leadership and CEO of HSV are completely out of tune and out of control and it will take at least 2 more BOD elections before we can impact their reckless methods of operation.
The legacy members of the BOD and turncoat Tormey must GO!
Lesley must be removed from office.
It’s that simple.
Ken Betz
10/29/2019 — 12:00 pm
Linda Anderson – Excellent. Agree, the HSV leadership has an agenda and any diverse opinions are unwelcome. This is witnessed by your appointment to the Governance Committee being decided well in advance of your interview with them. You were a, “Dead Duck” from day one. Anyway – – just a conversation starter but perhaps the division in the community may not be all that great? Seems to me, most of the division is between the people who reside here and the Old Guard BOD. The resounding defeat of the Amendment Changes last Fall and the results of the BOD election last Spring, speak volumes. The attempt to oust two duly elected new Board Members has not gone unnoticed in our community. So, our community might be more cohesive than one might initially think. Invite others here to chime in with their thoughts – Best to all – – KB
Wanda
10/29/2019 — 7:12 pm
Linda, THANK YOU for your COURAGE to face the Lion’s Den! It becomes very obvious that the CEO and her leaders are NOT in tune with the residents of HSV. This seems like a rehash of what is going on in Washington DC. We need to DRAIN THE SWAMP! You have been a very courageous young woman who has the utmost respect for the people of HSV. Thank you for standing up and voicing what many of us believe. May you continue to stand your ground. This is very import to the health of our beloved community.
steve bylow
10/30/2019 — 8:32 am
Thanks for taking the initiative to try and help. Also, thanks for sharing your recent experience of what happened during the interview process. It is helpful to have recent data points to share with our neighbors that reinforce the fact we still have a significant problem and an excellent solution of three strong candidates for 2020.
HSVP C
10/31/2019 — 10:46 am
This comment is from Attorney Richard Snell. Permission to post was given.
“Here is why this is so wrong:
“Governance Committee???; Truly, what is it?
“If Linda is correct in stating the focus/purpose of this group then it is nothing but a government-sanctioned lobbyist organization, a power play. Three directors and the CEO, along with conforming property owners, deriving bylaw and policy provisions which then persuade/strongarm the three remaining directors; i.e. lobbyists with governing power. Obviously, wrong on many fronts. But why?
“Here is why. The CEO, who is obviously a very strong-willed person, has the obligation to enforce the laws/policies/directives of the BOD. Currently, that directive is to implement the CMP. Although the CEO wanted the CMP enacted in the first place, it is now, nevertheless, the “law of the land”. Nalley not only desires to, but is now duty bound to, follow the CMP guidelines. What an easy fallback for her. So how do you do it? A “Governance Committee” with favored appointments, sanctified by the BOD, to oppose opposition, and ultimately push the CMP to full fruition (most likely with unanimous committee approval).
“It should be obvious that a “free thinker” or a “nonconforming” person, such as Linda, would be ostracized from committee participation. This will not change until there is elected a new board with views of opposing, or significantly modifying, the terms of the CMP.
“One more thought: I would assume that the HSV corporation has an attorney either on retainer or one to turn to for legal opinions. That attorney should have the obligation to make sure the enacted or proposed laws and policies are within the governing by-laws and documents. if the attorney should be of the opinion that an action or proposed action is not sanctioned he should so advise and suggest remedies. The attorney opinion is only instructive and not presented as one of power to enact. The ultimate decision is one of the BOD to take attorney advice or not. As Linda described the purpose of the Governance Committee it is the same as, or a usurping, of the attorney’s duty but with the power of strong-arm tactics compelling enforcement. This is another reason the Governance Committee should be disbanded.”
Robert Busse
10/31/2019 — 10:55 am
This posting by Linda should be sent to the “Voice” and printed. This incident clearly shows the determination that the existing majority Board has for controlling our governance and the membership. The majority Board, in its effort to tamp down the absolute ultimate power claims and insists that is “only” advisory in nature. Do they really think that membership is so unaware to know what a ridiculous statement that is? With the CEO, the Board President, and at least one other Board member making recommendations to a few others directors and they want us to believe that the influence this committee has on the whole Board is minimal and should be of no concern. By rejecting Linda’s application to the committee, it is clear that this committee wants its recommendations to the Board to be 100% to insure total control and their decisions are followed, with no opposing opinions. What happened to Linda in her sincere interest in getting involved is a travesty, but is not surprising knowing how dictatorial, unethical, and down right uncaring the majority on this Board, along with the CEO, have descended to.
Stephen Rust
11/02/2019 — 8:50 pm
If the governance committee were made up of non board members as it was originally designed and if they did what their original purpose was (evaluate the board as individuals and as a whole) then the governance committee would be good.
If our by-laws were changed back to what they were before our Board got hold of them, and if there were a provision put in both the by-laws and Articles of Incorporation that required a vote of the property owners to change these documents then no Board could again go in at will and make changes as we have seen. That’s how we kept the Board and CEO from changing the Declarations and taking control of the village (we voted down amendments).
Also if there were a provision in our by-laws that allowed for removal of a director by vote of the property owners then we could have removed some of these directors that are ignoring the property owners.
Maybe you should ask the Board Candidates if they are in favor of the board keeping control of and being the only ones that can amend by-laws and Articles and remove directors or would they be in favor of property owners being able to control that. Our problem now is a board and CEO that property owners can do nothing about except wait until board election and try to get directors elected that will listen.
A reminder of the title of the article “Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely”. Many of us voted for three directors in 2018 and have regretted our vote. We voted again in 2019 and many have regretted at least one vote.
I know many may think if we get the right three in 2020 everything will be alright. “Power Corrupts”. That means everyone. Do you want the Board to continue to have too much power.
BTW I have asked the candidates the questions I suggested. One was in favor of the board, rather than property owners, having the power of changing by-laws and dismissing directors. One ignored my questions stating they sounded like campaign rhetoric. Even when I assured the candidate I had no intentions of being a candidate the questions were still ignored. On candidate invited me to meet and discuss the questions.
I don’t know about you but I’m in favor of property owners having some control that could help prevent us from getting back into the situation we are now in, if indeed we are able to get ourselves out of this situation.