THE CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST IN CLEARWOOD by Valerie Cawley January, 18, 2014 Remember when Board directors, Baker,Budde, Doucette and Bies, voted to throw out the Ratified 2014 Budget at the September 7, 2013 Board Meeting? They were in support of an illegal “challenge’ to the ratification of the Budget by Baker who opposes HOA State Statute RCW 64.38.025, and we have lost count of the attorneys who have told them that they must follow the law. What does their action mean to the community? It means that there is no Budget for 2014. It means that the Board must go back to the 2013 Budget. It means that any planned projects approved in the 2014 Budget will not go ahead: there will be no new roof on the pool; no pool & spa filters; no pool resurface; no spa resurface; no new sprinkler system at Reichel Beach; no upgrades at the ballfield; no new water meters or setters; and no replacement for the 93 Ranger. All of these items are listed on page 5 of the 2013 Voter Pamphlet. But it is worse than that! Without the Water Tier Increase outlined in the 2014 Budget, which would have cost the average user $7 a month, there is no new funding for the Water Reserves just when we need to drill a new well. Where is the ($500,000 or more) coming from? The Water Reserve Fund is almost depleted? Baker told the Board today that she will be spending what is left in the Water Fund, and then taking from the General Reserve Fund. This Board has no plan to fund the Reserves, only to spend everything we have. Who is complaining? This Board has turned a deaf ear to member concerns. At the Board meeting this morning Deborah Baker was busy outlining all her plans for 2014 projects for the coming year, until Bob Owen reminded her that by throwing out the out the 2014 Budget she also threw out the membership-approval to go ahead with projects in the 2014 Budget. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights but it was clear that she is looking for ways to get around the CC&Rs again. There is still time for the four dissenting directors Baker, Budde, Bies and Doucette to remove their motion to overthrow the 2014 Budget and put the community finances back on track, but they are unlikely to admit that they were wrong. Frustration is mounting among those of us who love Clearwood and hate see our property values deteriorating because one irresponsible volunteer is controlling the Board and three other directors are caught up in the folly. What are we going to do about it?
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 23:59:32 +0000