NOVEMBER 14, 2024
Board Meeting
(Open Session)

Meeting Summary

Date:  November 14, 2024  

Time:  6:37 PM  

Location: The Barn at Power Ranch

 

Attendees

– Board Members

– Community Association Members

 

Agenda Summary

  1. New Business: Budget Discussion
  2. Resignation of Board Members
  3. Community Concerns and Feedback
 
  1. New Business: Budget Discussion

– The meeting commenced with a focus on the budget for 2025.

– The Budget Finance Committee, along with the Knolls and Village Committees, has been working on budget recommendations.

 

The proposed budget includes:

  – Master Budget: 0% increase for 2025.

  – Knolls Community Budget: No greater than 6.1% increase.

  – Village Budget: 20% increase due to higher expenses, particularly in landscaping.

– A mid-year budget review was suggested to reassess financial standings and adjust as necessary.

– Discussion on cost management strategies, including vendor negotiations and improving facility profitability.

– A motion was made to approve the budgets as presented, which passed with a majority vote.

 

Key Points Raised:

– The Village’s 20% increase is attributed to previous lower increases and current expense trends.

– Concerns were raised about the use of well water and its legal implications.

– The committee is working on reducing a $3.8 million burden to $1.2 million through various financial strategies.

– The introduction of a new General Ledger (GL) code for pest control expenses was noted.

 

  1. Resignation of Board Members

– The Treasurer, Matt Harrison announced his resignation, citing a toxic board environment and ungrateful community feedback as primary reasons.

– The Treasurer expressed frustration over social media criticism and a lack of support for board initiatives.

– A motion was made to appoint Kristi as the new Treasurer, which was seconded and approved despite some community concerns about her past interactions on social media and defaming board members.

Resignation Statements:

– Matt Harrison emphasized the need for community support and respect for board members’ efforts.

– Another board member, Crystal Glaim also announced her resignation, expressing disappointment over the board’s dysfunction and community negativity.

– The President, in a display of emotional manipulation, echoed similar sentiments, prodding the community to feel guilty about their behavior and reminded them how lucky they are to have “someone like me, with my background,” as if losing his brilliance would be a tragedy of epic proportions...(we will miss an elementary school art teacher talks a great talk but has a history of quitting and bullying other homeowners if he doesn’t get his way – but will we, though??)

 

  1. Community Concerns and Feedback

– Community members expressed alarm over the overall atmosphere of the meetings.

– Concerns were raised about the management company’s effectiveness and its role in the ongoing issues within the community.

– A call for unity and constructive feedback was made, highlighting the need for community members to engage positively with board members.

 

Closing Remarks:

– The meeting concluded with a reminder of the next scheduled meeting on December 9, 2024, where further discussions and potential replacements for the resigning members would take place.

– A town hall meeting was proposed to address community concerns more directly.

 

Conclusion

The meeting highlighted significant challenges within the Power Ranch, particularly regarding budget management and board member resignations. The discussions underscored the need for improved communication and support from the community to foster a more collaborative environment. 

Detailed Narrative

The meeting, held on November 14, 2024, began with a focus on the budget for the upcoming year, with various committees presenting their recommendations. The atmosphere was initially professional, but as the discussion progressed, tensions began to rise, particularly surrounding the resignation of three board members, including the Board President, Gordon Engstrom.

 

Gordon’s tone throughout the meeting was notably condescending, especially when addressing the concerns and frustrations expressed by homeowners. He frequently dismissed their grievances, looking at his phone while homeowners spoke, suggesting that the issues faced by the board were largely a result of the community’s lack of support and understanding. This attitude was evident when he remarked on the “toxic environment” of the board, implying that the homeowners’ criticisms and negative comments were the primary catalysts for his decision to resign. He characterized the community as dysfunctional, suggesting that it was not just a few individuals but a collective failure to appreciate his efforts on the board.

 

As he announced his resignation, Gordon expressed his frustration with the community’s response to board decisions, particularly on social media platforms. He indicated that the ungratefulness and hostility from some residents had drained his motivation and energy but failed to acknowledge or accept any accountability for the current situation. His comments suggested that he felt personally attacked and unappreciated, which he believed contributed to the board’s dysfunction. He conveyed a sense of betrayal, implying that despite the hard work and dedication he had put into his role, the community’s reaction had rendered his efforts futile.

 

Gordon’s remarks often shifted the blame onto the homeowners, framing them as the root cause of the board’s challenges. He urged the community to reflect on their behavior and attitudes, implying that their lack of constructive engagement was detrimental to his ability to function on the board effectively. His condescending tone suggested that he viewed the homeowners as naive or uninformed, further alienating those present who were seeking to voice their concerns.  This became evident at the end of the meeting when he abruptly adjourned it just as a homeowner’s representative began to speak.

 

The culmination of his resignation speech was marked by a call for unity and understanding, yet it felt disingenuous given his earlier remarks. Instead of fostering a collaborative environment, his comments seemed to deepen the divide between the board and the community. By placing the onus on homeowners for the board’s struggles, Gordon not only justified his departure but purposefully left many feeling dismissed and undervalued.

 

Overall, the meeting highlighted a significant disconnect between the board and the community, exacerbated by Gordon’s condescending attitude and blame-shifting. 

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