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We’re barreling toward September 29th, and the Special Meeting and some folks are still wondering why we’re doing this. The answer is simple. We believe that the board is not acting on our behalf, as a fiduciary, i.e. as people who look out for our best interests in managing Greenbrook.
At one time or another they have,
· Failed to respond to respectful questions about our finances such as the $4 million debt;
· Taken on projects such as landscaping with little opportunity for advice and consent from the homeowners;
· They have shut down questioning at meetings or threatened to. They start meetings with threats of a shutdown which puts a chill on legitimate discussion;
· They have instituted a Draconian regime of fines up to and including daily fines for homeowners doing things that have been accepted by previous boards, such as hanging flowerpots;
· They have tried to shut down, through fines, lawful door to door canvassing which is protected by the First Amendment.
In this moment they are trying to limit the requests made in our petition from four to two and they have attempted to change, or in some cases gut, the amendments we have proposed, something that the homeowners through debate at the annual meeting have the sole right to do.
The board’s latest gambit arrived in mailboxes on Monday. I sent a certified letter to the board last week reminding them of their fiduciary duty to run the special meeting without interfering. To their credit, the board almost restored three of the four original petition points, but substituted one of their own.
· There is still no oath of office which the people petitioned for; and
· There is no Code of Ethics that stipulates removal of board members for some violations such as failing their fiduciary responsibilities. In place of a Code of Ethics, they have drafted a Civility and Ethics Commitment that is so weak even they call it “aspirational.”
· The board has drafted legal language for limiting the quorum requirement, as requested;
· They have drafted language limiting the annual increase of the HOA fee without an override, as requested.
The board’s attempt at drafting language ahead of the meeting is wrongheaded because it attempts to settle the matter without homeowner involvement. The board tries to jump ahead in time taking away your right to debate the issues. Only once the people have spoken should any legal language get drafted to accurately reflect the will of the people. We believe this effort attempts to skirt the board’s fiduciary duty to let the people’s voice be heard.
They’ve also notified us that due to a 1983 amendment to the bylaws, we cannot vote them out of power at the Special Meeting. Our response to that is just because an amendment got registered at Land Court, does not make it legal.
We are in the final week of this slog, and I know some of you are tired of it; some of you call me up to encourage us to fight on. I honestly don’t know how this is going to turn out because there is an atmosphere of fear right now in the community. But what I am sure of is that the way we govern ourselves is antiquated and in need of updating and this is the opportunity to set a new path for Greenbrook.
Opportunity is a funny thing. It rarely comes with a perfect message or messenger and some of you have pointed this out to me personally. That’s okay because that’s politics. But politics is also about often having to put aside the perfect and encourage the good. That’s what we’re trying to do. Our proposals are not perfect, but they open a door to other possibilities.
Please come to the Special Meeting on September 29 at 7 pm at the clubhouse, to make your voice heard.
Thanks!
If you’d like to reach me: Denis@BeagleResearch.com or denis@greenbrookperspectives.com
Phone: (617) 901-2072 or (617) 302-6332
email: info@greenbrookperspectives.com
Executive Members:
Jason Wolfe
Lisa Dean
Arman Barseghyan
Michelle Sullivan
Pat McMahon
Can be reached at info@greenbrookperespectives.com
You can also just reply to this post.
Or just say Hi when you see me on the street with Rooster the Wonder Dog.
UNSUBSCRIBE ANY TIME BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO ME WITH JUST THE WORD “UNSUBSCRIBE”.
You can also express your opinions to the board any time at GreenbrookOffice@AOL.com
Bye for now.
I just want you to know how much I truly appreciate all of your hard work and you have my support Denis.