An Open Letter to Swansboro Country Property Owners Association Members

January 20, 2023 Swansboro, California

Dear Swansboro Country Property Owners Association Members:

We are writing to you regarding the upcoming Swansboro Country Property Owners Association Board of Directors Election. We are four candidates running as a team to implement change in how the current board governs our association. We ask for your vote for ALL four of us for the four open Board positions: Meredith Blain, David Dudley, Karen Paul, and Melissa Stever.

The current Board is comprised of a super majority of six, all of which follow the dictates of the president without any discussions or debates. If all four of us are not elected, the current Board will continue to be the super majority and will not share information with, nor allow input from, any minority board member(s). This occurred in 2021 when there were three minority board members, (out of seven) and in 2022 with just a single minority Board Member (whose term expires next month; the remaining three expiring positions are currently held by members of the super majority).

We are committed to doing what is best for the community and feel that having diversity on the board provides healthy debate and decision-making. We are still four individuals with different ideas and backgrounds: the process of running our campaign has given us the opportunity to work through our differences together and, while we don’t always agree with one another, we consistently collaborate for a better solution. We will collaborate with the existing board members and, once we are elected, intend that ALL Board Members will feel free to express their opinions. Respect. We know the SCPOA Board is allowed to listen to all members’ ideas for actions being considered. We also know that any final decision we make will be made will be the most prudent business decision and in the best interest of SCPOA. We also have all experienced rude behavior at association meetings. Our questions have been dismissed and/or remained unanswered. If elected, we will make sure all voices in the community are heard and address all issues brought before us.

Transparency. Each of us have requested information from the Board and The Management Trust on numerous different occasions and have been told we are not allowed access, even though our bylaws and/or the laws of California specifically state all members are entitled to access the information. The requests have included such things as copies of bids, quotes, applications for insurance as well as insurance policies, payments made by the POA, and others. If elected, we will make all financial transactions that are permitted by law available to all members in a timely manner. Honesty. We are all volunteers in the community, holding a variety of positions. On numerous occasions we have sworn oaths and we have kept our promises. If elected, we will provide information, accessibility, as well as responses to all issues presented to us. We will give honest and complete answers. Here are a few issues we all agree on:

• Station 75 of the Mosquito Fire Protection District is the center and safeguard of our community. Those who work and volunteer there provide real, lifesaving and critical services to our community. Their existence helps preserve property values, keeps the community safe and helps us all save money on our homeowners insurance. We will fully support the fire department and the chief.
  
• The airstrip, ponds and roads are valuable assets for the entire community and provide tangible value to our Association and individual properties. If elected, we will not deny SCPOA members the use of a common area for its designated purpose.
  
• Our annual dues can be reduced by limiting spending. We all received the Bylaws and DC&Rs when we purchased our properties. They outlined the expectations, and we believe the charm of Swansboro should be maintained by limiting changes, such as adding new amenities that could bring new expenses and crime into our neighborhood.
  
• All expenses, including those required to maintain the roads and common areas, and all new projects will be fully discussed in public meetings, and thoroughly vetted. This includes future maintenance, utilities, and insurance for consideration by the board. If new projects are requested, we are in favor of receiving input from the full community and ensuring a thorough and complete financial analysis be done prior to any money being spent. This analysis will be fully open to all community members. After months of requests, the current board has posted information on the new structure on the SCPOA.info website. Funds committed to the building by the SCPOA Board have been spent even though the County had not approved a permit for the structure (Permit #0361694 applied for on 12/19/22).
  
• An informal survey on social media revealed that members wanted a say in the decision to proceed, however no community input contrary to their own views were accepted by the current board. The current board states that no dues increase will be necessary, however a reduction of expenses in the amount of $59K (amount committed for the building) would have provided for a reduction of 2023 dues by $85 per parcel. We are not debating prior dues reductions; just making a point the dues could have been lowered.
  
• We agree that now is not a good time to spend. The rate of inflation may require our association to pay significantly higher prices for materials and services in the future and spending should be limited now. If the current board is allowed to continue, it will be an open invitation to continue spending. We have asked for recent financials and received only partial information that was dated October 31, 2023. The financial statement shows more than $269,000 in cash. Our reserve funds should be placed in interest bearing accounts and be reviewed often to get the maximum benefit that we can without risk. In addition, requests for access to the recently approved budget have been denied. Due to excess spending, it is our opinion that the current board is not qualified to make prudent financial decisions and therefore are not good stewards of our finances. All board members have a fiduciary responsibility to all SCPOA members, not just a select group of friends. You can learn more about us at our website: oneswansboro.com Once again, thank you in advance for your consideration!

Vote: Blain, Dudley, Paul, and Stever!
Bring our community back together!