Entrenched Board’s Expensive, No-Budget Projects Spending, likely to Raise Your Dues

Context and Opinion by Tom Harris

The purpose of this article is to inform the dues-paying residents of the Swansboro Country Property Owners Association (SCPOA).

If you haven’t voted, please vote. If you value your money, your vote really matters in this election.

This SCPOA board election has turned into a political power struggle between an entrenched board and their candidates (Pullin, Stick, Gregson, and Barney coalition) and their challengers (Dudley, Stever, Blain, and Paul) who wish to serve. The outcome will affect us all. If the entrenched board stays in power, the entrenchment will deepen, and encourage them to exercise their will even more. Based on their record of non-budgeted spending on expensive projects, dues will most likely increase and the membership division will grow.

To paraphrase one member’s astute observation on Nextdoor, “It’s about entrenched power and some people will not see it. It’s good to acknowledge the good work of many, and I support that as well, but to continue to insist no one else should serve, throwing labels and accusations out there, makes no sense. The chilling effect on anyone else having a view is beyond the pale as well. I for one am ready for a change, too. Too much-entrenched power up here. And it’s not healthy or helpful.”

Examples of throwing labels and accusations out there and creating a chilling effect and non-budgeted spending follow:

It has come to the attention of the Sentinel that Swansboro residents are being led to believe yet another phony issue concerning the 2023 SCPOA election.  That is, the four new candidates who are challenging the status quo will attempt to, “Dismantle the playground”. This issue is being pushed, in spite of the fact that not one of the challengers has ever mentioned any such thing.

Do not be fooled by the attempt of the current SCPOA board and their supporters to toss other non-issues into the conversation which are nothing more than diversions from the real issues facing dues-payers in this election.  Such as:

• The lack of respect and outright hostility shown by the current SCPOA board and their supporters towards the Mosquito Fire Department and Chief Rosevear.  The goal of the candidates who challenge this practice is to restore normal relations with the department and chief and return board meetings to the fire station where they have been held for over thirty years. This move will help encourage dues payers’ participation in the decision-making process. Think about this: there are members of the current SCPOA board who apparently spend every waking hour on social media airing their and others’ dirty laundry, and yet claim the board meetings can’t be held at the fire station for… privacy concerns?
  
• The lack of transparency in dealing with financial matters concerning large expenditures for which dues-payers will end up paying.  This lack of transparency and public input is manifested in the two huge expenditures already approved by the current board: the redundant access to the airport tarmac – costing over $34,000 – and the ongoing expense of the “Community Building”, aka tool shed – with costs beginning at over $50,000. Not only were these two huge expenditures off budget, but the ongoing costs of the Community Building make it highly unlikely that dues could be reduced any further.  This policy speaks of a lack of respect for the opinions (and dues) of residents.  The stated goal of the challenging candidates is to bring concerned dues-payers into the decision-making process by listening to and respecting their views.
  
• The lack of peace and harmony and the continuing divisiveness within our community that is generated by the two issues above.  One glance at some of the rhetoric on any local social media site will confirm this fact. The goal of the candidates who challenge this divisiveness is to cooperate with all legitimate local organizations, consider the views of all residents, and restore harmony and peace to our community.

For a discussion of these and other relevant issues, please go to (oneswansboro.com)  for more information.