The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

November 2008 ISSUE

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts!

Flash Report: New Look United Mutual Unusual Business or Business As Usual

Posted By Maxwell Bendarien October 14, 2008 11:51 AM

Just elected at the organizational meeting for United Mutual are

President: Lloyd Foster
First VP: Bevan Stronm
Second VP: Marv Rosenhaf
Secretary: Linda Wilson
Treasurer: Paul Vogel
Executive VP: Milt Johns:
Assistant treasurer: Janet Price:
Assistant secretary: Patty Kurzet
Assistant secretary: Chris Trapp
Assistant secretary: Wendy Panizzia - for the purpose of representing United in Small Claims Court
Assistant secretary: Scott Dunham for the purpose of representing United in Small Claims Court

The last six are all property management company (PCM) employees, including Trapp, an attorney working for PCM and Scott Dunham, risk manager for PCM - Guess how is in control?

Connie Grundke nominated Mike Curtis as Treasurer from the floor, but was called out of order by Milt Johns. "This is a board meeting and it is out of order to have nominations from the floor."

Mike Curtis asked if he could self nominate. He was told yes and he did so to raucous applause from the audience.

Bevan Strom said that all the work and discussion is done in committees and little, if any takes place at the board meeting. Members are invited to speak at committee meetings and not at board meetings. Of course, the issue is that by design, a HOA/CID board of directors has a fiduciary responsibility to engage in public discourse with residents on issues dealing with association affairs: with supporters as well as critics. Denying this right to certain homeowners, or placing restrictions can be construed as a breach of fiduciary responsibility So, while there are 11 board members who go to different committee meetings, not many residents can get to each and every committee meeting.

Consider that even directors have difficulty getting the right information at the right time:

Mike Curtis asked about insurance coverage. He received a large stack of papers before today's meeting, and as he read through them and said he never saw the word "United" anywhere on the documents. He asked, "who pays the deductible on the director's insurance?"

Rather than answer the question, Vogel told Curtis he should go to Milt Johns or Scott Dunham and ask that question.

Curtis explained that at 8:30 this morning he had called Dunham, PCM employee and risk manager for the corporation. Dunham refused to take his call.

Foster told Curtis that "this is not the proper place to debate this issue. It isn't on the agenda and cannot be discussed." Vogel continued to tell Curtis to go to Johns or Dunham for the information.

Johns responded that Curtis should put any questions he has in writing and either mail or use e-mail to Trapp, preferably e-mail, so they can reply as "succinctly" as possible.

In the past, Curtis has been required to communicate through a single point of contact

Seems like the New Look United Mutual is merely Business As Usual

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