Community News and Perspective by Tom Harris, Associate Editor
All four incumbent members of the SCPOA Board of Directors nominated themselves this year to serve another two-year term. There were no challengers again this year, so an election will not be necessary. The Sentinel agrees with most SCPOA community members that the current board continues to do an excellent job of keeping dues from rising, keeping meetings on point, and keeping their agendas free from outside controversy.
The Sentinel attended the December 17, 2024 board meeting. Six members were present with Melissa Stever attending by Zoom. Board president Karen Paul reported that the 2025 annual meeting notice will be sent out in January. She also reported that the property owners’ dues will stay the same for 2025.
Board member David Dudley announced that it was time to end the debate over whether to discontinue seeking a replacement management company and stay with The Management Trust (TMT). During the discussion before voting, Melissa Stever stated her desire to continue to seek a new manager. The majority of the other board members however, wanted to move on, pointing to the fact that this issue has been on the agenda discussion for 18 months!
Ms. Stever seemed disappointed with the decision and raised the possibility that some board members might be influenced by personal rather than business considerations. President Paul said her stance is based on business rationale only and that other management companies are more expensive than TMT, and she cannot support spending more on a management company. It was the observation of the Sentinel that other board members gave ample reasons that support a business rationale rather than a personal one.
For example, board member Rob Kirkpatrick commented on the issue of financial mistakes made by TMT, and raised by Ms Stever. Mr. Kirkpatrick stated that, when investigated, the mistakes did not amount to all that much, and were corrected. Board member Meredith Blain and board treasurer Dennis Janca agreed.
Another board member mentioned certain actions by TMT concerning SCOPOA procedures in dealing with delinquent property owners’ accounts. Board Treasurer Dennis Janca pointed out that SCPOA policy states that the board MAY perform certain actions regarding this issue. The policy does not say that the board WILL or SHALL perform them. So, TMT is following SCPOA procedures in this regard. Other board members explained that for the years 2018 thru 2021, it was the then-SCPOA boards that did not follow these procedures, and that the present board is still trying to sort out the confusion caused by them.
For forty-five minutes, Ms Stever continued to bring up issues that she raised many times in the past – all of which were dispelled by further investigation by other board members. Ms Stever stated that she would continue searching for a new management company, regardless of how the board voted. The other members agreed that was her right. President Karen Paul finally called for a vote, and the measure to keep TMT and discontinue the search for a new manager was passed 5-2, with Melissa Stever and Devon Beesley voting “No”.
Other agenda items included the motion to approve the recent Reserve Study which found SCPOA’s reserves are 128% funded. The vote was 6 Yes, and 1 abstention.
The editors of the Sentinel would like to extend a “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” to all its readers. We look forward to serving you in 2025 with news and information concerning your property owners’ association.
Community Blog 