GLA Corruption Taints Fall 2018 Election | Glastonbury Community Forum

GLA Corruption Taints Fall 2018 Election Oct 29, 2018 20:39:00 GMT -7 chris likes this

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Post by Admin on Oct 29, 2018 20:39:00 GMT -7

GLA Board Corruption Taints Fall 2018 Election

This past weekend had the Glastonbury Landowners Association Board(GLA) scrambling as news of candidate Ron Price's withdrawal spread. Citing ongoing family medical issues Price told the GLA Board that he was withdrawing his candidacy. Only three other candidates are running for three open board positions in North Glastonbury. Thus the remaining three candidates would be assured of victory even if only one landowner voted for each. Why is that a problem and what caused the GLA Board to panic?

Several long term members of the GLA Board subscribe to a shared idea of just who is "fit" to serve with them. They have a secret and growing list of "enemies"; landowners who under no circumstances should ever be allowed to serve on the GLA Board. The person at the top of the "enemies" list is Val O'Connell and she is also a candidate for the GLA Board in North Glastonbury. If Price withdrew from the race, Val would win by default. This was a totally unacceptable outcome for several current GLA directors. A few other directors discussed the possibility of urging a write-in candidate and Claudette Dirkers name was mentioned. The enemies list subscribers saw a better and time honored way of filling Price's position with someone they approved of. They spoke of convincing Price to stay in the race just to prevent Val O'Connell from winning in November. Then Price could resign in January and the new GLA Board could appoint someone to fill out the remainder of his two year term. By the end of the weekend Price reluctantly agreed to remain a candidate.

This "bait and switch" tactic has been employed in the past and was frequently used to insure that the old-timers maintained a solid majority on the GLA Board. It corrupts the process of a fair election and deceives landowners who do not end up getting served by the winner they voted for. The existence of a secret "enemies" list further debases elections and the GLA Board. A director summed up the situation well. "The GLA Board must like you before you can win an election" he stated.

How do you get on the list of undesirables? Thinking for yourself and challenging the status quo is a good start. Being smart and questioning the way the GLA operates helps as well. Criticizing certain long term Board members will also get you on the list. Suing the GLA will earn you top rankings on the "enemies" list and guarantee that you will never be allowed to "win" an election in Glastonbury. Val and Dan O'Connell frightened the GLA Board severely in 2014 and quickly moved to the top of the list with their blizzard of lawsuits. The Board subsequently lost their legal liability insurance coverage. The O'Connell's were asking the court to install them as directors. The Board was so fearful of sharing power with the O'Connell's that they seriously discussed dissolving the GLA corporation.

At least one fall 2018 candidate in South Glastonbury was asked to run so "enemies" could not earn a spot at the director's table. It appears that candidates Kathleen Rakela, Ed Dobrowski and Clare Parker have all earned a spot on the "enemies" list after they had the audacity to sue the GLA. All three ran in the 2018 spring election and fared badly. By contrast Ed Dobrowski and his mom, Clare Parker were previously elected to the GLA Board with healthy margins. That was before they sued.

Director Leo Keeler from South Glastonbury remains positive and hopeful. He is urging all North Glastonbury landowners to write in a vote for Claudette Dirkers. Then if Ron Price wins and suddenly resigns Keeler believes that Dirkers should be appointed in his place. Keeler earned his board position in a similar scenario in 2016. His term ends in November though and he will not have a vote on a possible Price replacement.

GLA Corruption Taints Fall 2018 Election Oct 30, 2018 10:11:30 GMT -7 Admin likes this

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Post by chris on Oct 30, 2018 10:11:30 GMT -7

The French have a saying, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," which translates in English to "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

Such is the case of the Glastonbury Landowners Association, certain directors and their behind-the-scenes handlers whose objective is to maintain complete control of the association at any cost, at the financial and emotional expense of each and every landowner who is forced by their governing documents to support their insanity through payment of assessments. There are numerous postings on this forum by myself and others documenting the facts of these transgressions so I refrain from further commentary in this regard, except to remind readers and the GLA board of the definition of insanity - "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

The roguish political machinations described by Admin in the above report are spot on, and have frequently been used by said scoundrels to maintain domination. This is nothing new but only reinforces the prevailing insanity.

As a landowner and resident of North Glastonbury for ten years who, in good faith, has participated in GLA meetings and activities in hopes of effecting positive change, I have concluded that until more landowners get off the couch and take a more active role in their association, a minority of power brokers will continue to insure that their "status quo" reigns supreme. Until the board of directors stops alienating and marginalizing volunteer landowners, effectively shutting them down or out, the association's management will continue to suffer and deteriorate.

Regina Wunsch and Leo Keeler from South Glastonbury are retiring from service on the board after numerous positive contributions to the association both before and during their terms. Thank you both! I hope the landowners in South elect new directors with equal qualifications, not just more bench warmers or place holders for the status quo.

North Glastonbury landowners are urged to write in Claudette Dirkers for director, especially when considering the corruption described above and historically practiced. Claudette has been one of the most effective and involved volunteer landowners on various committees of the board and has proven herself to be a critical thinker, researcher, planner and contributor.