By Former Board Director, Frank Leeming, 4.15.20
New board majority initiates immediate change, elects outsiders to key roles
The new POA board majority executed a coup today, showing it means business.
After Diana Podawiltz was elected board chair (defeating Tormey Campagna in a 5-2 vote) and Lloyd Sherman was unanimously elected vice-chair, the board broke with tradition and elected two non-staff persons to the key roles of board secretary and treasurer.
Former director Marcy Mermel was elected board secretary, pushing CEO Lesley Nalley out of the spot. Villager and business executive Dan Aylward was elected board treasurer, defeating CFO Liz Mathis. Mermel and Aylward were elected on 5-2 votes.
Mermel was also named board parliamentarian, replacing director Nancy Luehring, effectively erasing all remnants of the old board power structure.
The action took place after the last regular meeting of the old board and after newly elected directors Tucker Omohulndro, Dick Garrison, Kirk Denger, and Sherman were sworn in.
The officer votes effectively demoted Nalley from her position as an ex-officio member of the board and made clear the new board majority will be steering the POA in a new direction.
Podawiltz said she intends to have informal board work sessions on the first two Wednesdays of each month.
Click here to subscribe to Frank Leeming’s email list.
***
Editor’s note: Coup: a notable or successful stroke or move.
Thank you for reading. Let us know what you think by commenting below. Please be sure to bookmark this website so you do not miss any updates.
Click here to visit our Private Facebook Group.
ARCHIE FIELDS
04/15/2020 — 2:07 pm
I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE NEW BOARD AND OFFICERS TO GET THINGS IN ACTION TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE VILLAGE AND ITS PEOPLE THANKS BOARD MEMBERS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE PROGRESS ARCHIE FIELDS
Julie
04/15/2020 — 2:09 pm
Finally a board that gets it! We have been ruled from the roost for so long I wasn’t sure if anyone remembered how things were supposed to work around here.
Apparently they did remember.
Great News!
Keep up the good work you new board members.
Much to do still, but this is a fantastic start.
FANTASTIC.
Mike G
04/15/2020 — 2:14 pm
Outstanding! It’s just about time the village was represented by people that are all about the village and not all about themselves! Keep up the good work guys!
Vikki Powell
04/15/2020 — 2:24 pm
Houston we have lift-off! Clearly the new board was strategizing before the meeting today and their opening actions sent a clear message that changes are going to happen. New board members, you have my support. I’m proud to have you in place. Prayers and blessings.
Moe
04/15/2020 — 2:42 pm
Absolutely. We must support the new board. And we need to acknowledge when they do well, like these actions taken today.
I applaud them for their swift action and courage.
It seems like we have a board now that truly understands it is the board, not some person with a phony title, that runs the place.
Now, if they can get rid of all the deadwood next we can move forward.
And without the silly mountain bike trial, too.
What were they thinking?
Janet Rowe
04/15/2020 — 3:36 pm
The Mountain Bike Trail was off the table almost 2 years ago. The Trails Committee did not support it and we took it off the list. Apparently the CMP Committee was not aware of that. I was rather surprised when it was brought up like it had been new business for them.
Scott
04/17/2020 — 12:20 am
Darn, I was a little quick getting my mountain bike turned up.
Kathy Henderson
04/15/2020 — 2:50 pm
So happy! Thank you new BOD members along with our new secretary and treasurer! Let’s get going!
Douglas P.
04/15/2020 — 3:04 pm
This requires a celebration! So ……….
I put liquor bottles in every room. Tonight, I’m getting all dressed up and going Bar hopping! I’m told that if you place a drink in each hand, you can’t accidentally touch your face!
Congrats to the new fearless BOD!
I might just have to take down my FOR SALE sign!
WOW! What a great day for HSV!!!!!
YAY!
04/16/2020 — 11:40 pm
Douglas P., I hope you do stay…What a delightful sense of humor! Cheers!
George R
04/15/2020 — 3:15 pm
Finally!!!!! Board members that keep their promises.
Now get rid of that traitor Campagna.
A great day for Villagers
Tom Williams
04/15/2020 — 3:28 pm
Things worked out just like I wanted , great job new board .😆 now we are on the road to get our village back to the way it was intended.
George K Phillis
04/15/2020 — 3:41 pm
It was so exciting watching the professionalism and precision our new board members demonstrated as they executed the demolition of a dictatorship today. It was like a well trained flight of Huey pilots going into a hot LZ and pulling off a difficult mission without a hitch.
I have great admiration for our new board members. Please give them ample time to do what is needed to restore the Village to a thriving community with everyone united in that goal. It will not happen quickly however I am confident they will get the job done…….let them know we all support them and we will be understanding that it will be a long process to correct all the deficiencies/problems created by Nalley and a spineless BOD.
Scott
04/17/2020 — 12:28 am
My college roommate flew a Huey. What a job. Scary.
George K Phillis
04/15/2020 — 3:51 pm
A new Sheriff and Posse has arrived in HSV!!!!! A glorious day indeed!!!
Robert Busse
04/15/2020 — 3:57 pm
Doglas P., you are a hoot!! I think I’ll join you in my home. If we get more readers to comply, we can have a well deserved party!!
Kidding aside, this new Board, within 30 minutes of being seated, has shown Villagers and Nalley, who will be running the show and at the helm of the ship in the coming year. They immediately indicated that they are not afraid to take quick action, make bold moves, and that they have already rolled up their sleeves ready to work. A special meeting this coming Monday, I am confident will reveal additional actions that will get things rolling on a new, better course than we have been on for a while now.
We all must be patient though. They can’t change what has taken 5+ years to create, in a few months. We must be supportive, but do not be afraid to give them input in a positive, constructive way. We must work “together” to make the changes that are needed to have what we all want; a successful, prosperous, harmonious community ready to face the challenges of the future and have a good chance at winning.
I want to congratulate and thank the new Board for volunteering to take on this leadership role and pray that the wind is always at their back and God’s grace is always with them in this gigantic challenge they have taken on. Good Luck!
Minn Daly
04/15/2020 — 4:01 pm
Congratulations to our NEW BOD! Outstanding on first day of meeting together. You all are awesome! Minn Daly
Mj
04/15/2020 — 4:55 pm
From a former property owner who fled HSV 1.5 yrs ago.
Ok LN…
Its too late to for you to leave with your head held high as I suggested previously, SO do the next best thing…tuck your tail between your legs, get on your belly & slither out of town!
Congratulations to the new Board on the important decisions made today!
Cathleen Richardson
04/15/2020 — 6:12 pm
Good news this newly elected board seems to really want to better HSV. I, and the majority of homeowners thank you and are excitedly looking towards our future here.
sbm
04/15/2020 — 6:14 pm
it takes a village❤️😷
Andy Kramek
04/15/2020 — 6:22 pm
I would like to add my congratulations on a job well done, and well begun. Thank you Diana, Lloyd, Tucker, Dick and Kirk for so swiftly undoing some of the more egregious mechanisms by which the “ceo” sought to exercise control. The “ceo” should never have been Secretary anyway and having her buddy the “cfo”act as treasurer was akin to having the fox guard the hen house!
Kilroy
04/15/2020 — 6:33 pm
This board accomplished more in 30 minutes than any board in history of HSV. Damn!
Let’s sit back and cheer them on now. ‘Nuff said.
steve bylows
04/15/2020 — 6:39 pm
New Board members and Diana – thanks for having a Plan and being decisive.
All Board members – thanks for supporting Lloyd as the VP.
Steve
Arthur Jamison
04/15/2020 — 6:45 pm
Fantastic!!Great news. Finally. Exciting!!
Mark
04/15/2020 — 8:13 pm
Outstanding! Clean house.
Patrick McNamara
04/16/2020 — 12:47 am
Lesley Nalley ~~this is a clear sign that your shameful time is up as HSV CEO
Chipmunk
04/16/2020 — 7:55 am
Me thinks, along with the rest of the chippy and squirrel population of the Village, that Village Queen Rat won’t give up easily. No doubt she and her rodent supporters, you know, all those former board members, committee members, Village “friends”, the ones who have been supporting and adoring Queeny and her CMP dynasty for the last six years, probably had an emergency meeting last night.
We all know how rats operate. They sneak around in the dark of night when no one is looking and do their damage which is only to be found when day breaks. In fact there’s probably a meeting already set between the rats and their lawyers to develop a counter strategy of some sort. Expect a retaliatory attack no later than the April 20th special board meeting the new team has set.
Moe
04/16/2020 — 9:00 am
exactly why they need to reassign her…get her out of the “ceo” position…eliminate that position …
it must be done.
Pamela
04/16/2020 — 2:59 pm
Congratulations to all of our new board members and the others in their new positions. We now have the governing board members that can actually work together and make good things happen for us.
The Villagers do wish you well in making the changes that will make Hot Springs Village a beacon in the retirement villages of America. We will more than happy to work with you to accomplish your goals. Please keep us involved so that we may help in establishing our great golf courses, restaurants, and businesses to meet their financial goals.
We do pray that you keep the Balboa Building and make it successful again as it once was with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. We need people that are well qualified with years of experience in running the restaurant and the bar area. We have very good staff members running the bar now that care. The building and the view of the golf course and the ponds are a delight. It was always such a comfortable place to visit.
We do think this new board had the ability to make Hot Springs Village financially sound again and it will be exciting to watch!
Best of luck to you all.
Chad Baggett
04/16/2020 — 7:59 pm
Excellent news!