After hitting a bump, POA board needs to focus on big picture and get the new GM involved; plus fresh virus figures for Arkansas cities
Yesterday’s surprising board decision to fire its chairperson was the first real blemish on the new POA board of directors.
From the most charitable viewpoint, one could suggest Diana Podawiltz was impeding the board because of her dominant personality. A less charitable view would be this board needs to grow up and consider how its actions will look to property owners before it acts.
Booting Podawiltz out of her chair at the head of the table smacks of the same tactics employed a year ago by the last board and former CEO when they kicked Dick Garrison off the board and threatened to oust Podawiltz.
The overriding notion POA directors have to accept is it is the property owners who elect and dump (by not re-electing) their representatives, not the board or top managers.
What the POA desperately needs today is stability and direction.
It won’t get the former if directors are always looking over their shoulders. One way to ease this fear would be to adopt a bylaw saying it takes at least five votes on the seven-member board to oust a member.
As to direction, this board has done a good job of meeting the goals set forth as candidates last winter. They’ve done a good job on transparency and discussing issues in a public setting.
The next and more important step is to draw a vision for Hot Springs Village. This will take time, but it is the primary task for any board of directors.
The vision should be presented to property owners so they can accept or modify it, and ultimately get behind it so everyone is on the same page. After the CMP fiasco and years of drifting, Villagers want to know where we’re going.
Governing is always hard and messy. This board was bound to hit some bumps and it has.
The best thing it could do in the wake of Podawiltz’s resignation is to tell Charles King, the new general manager, it’s time to step up and start being the boss. He’s been virtually invisible in his first two weeks on the job.
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An updated count of coronavirus cases in Arkansas cities has been released. As of Aug. 10, it shows 57 positive cases have been found in Hot Springs Village, a rise of 13 in seven days.
While the rate of infection – 39.8 cases for every 10,000 people – is still dramatically lower than just about anywhere else, the rise shows we’re still at risk.
The state acknowledges its testing hasn’t been achieving its goals, so the number of cases may actually be higher.
A story in yesterday’s Washington Post said more than 70 vaccines are being developed. Here’s how they stand:
- Phase 1 – 15 are being tested in a small number of healthy, young persons to assess the safety and the correct dose.
- Phase 2 – 3 are broadened to a larger group, including some at higher risk.
- Phase 3 – 7 are being tested in thousands of people to check their effectiveness and safety.
- Approved – None have been determined to provide benefits that outweigh known and potential risks.
Stay safe, and wear your mask. Here’s the latest list:
By Former Board Director, Frank Leeming, 8-14-20
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David Sintich
08/14/2020 — 7:24 pm
The first item I would like to see accomplished is the Gates. A local vendor stated that the guards were told to admit non-residents by the previous leadership. It is even advertised on the radio station per the previous leadership. Now it’s time to change. The beaches, pool and courts are ours. What business’s will be effected, none. One hairdresser ? Everything else is frequented such as the ‘GOOD’ restaurants, golf courses and pre Covid Woodlands. The lakes are stocked by our fishing clubs and several other residents. Our lakes are being emptied by freeloaders !! If our lakes aren’t private the roads going to them certainly are. Take our Village back for the Villagers. And vendors get work passes that should NOT allow them in at any other time. Strengthen our gates, get a vendor to put a vehicle pass system in, which the previous leadership screwed up and have the land lords of rental property do a better job screening people to prevent problems as in the recent few days and before.
Sindey
08/16/2020 — 5:45 am
Right on the money. These townies swarm in and use all our amenities without paying a dime. We have no gates now.
What a crazy policy.
Agree that this is the single most important issue. Without gate security what do we have? Nothing.
Walter
08/14/2020 — 9:04 pm
Very disappointed in the board for it was Diana that fought for us when she was the minority. What did the new board expect? The fight she took on deserved the chair. And to oust her. Shame on the new board. She is why you are in the majority. Are we going to be bobble heads when it comes to decisions. Now 4 openings for the next board. Maybe we need some fresh voices. Not the same old rerun board members.
Greg
08/14/2020 — 11:28 pm
why is the covid update
for the village not posted on the
village weekly digest that comes
out every friday???????
maybe someone at the poa will see this and act..
HSVP C
08/15/2020 — 8:13 am
Greg, good question.
Lorri Street
08/16/2020 — 3:11 pm
In last Tuesdays HSV Voice paper a Villager was reported in the obituary section as dying of COVID and pneumonia complications. If you’re not a subscriber of the Voice you wouldn’t know.