Post by Poor Richard on Jan 29, 2020 21:12:34 GMT -7
Assessments are Late, Admin Assistant Gets Promoted
The Glastonbury Landowner's Association (GLA) Board of Directors recently raised the yearly assessment charged to landowners by 6%. Initially they tried for 10% but that was rejected. Then they tried for 5% which they discovered to be not evenly divisible by four and thus incompatible with quarterly payments. So they finally settled upon 6%. The Covenants state that 10% is the maximum amount that assessments can be raised in one year.
The Administrative Assistant, Karleen McSherry was given a promotion and a new title; Administrator. Earlier the GLA Board justified the 6% assessment increase by stating that McSherry deserved a 13% raise. It is not clear if she has received that yet. In 2019 McSherry received $16.00 an hour, paid holidays, a week's paid vacation, auto mileage reimbursement and was able to work from home on a schedule that suited her.
The GLA directors are volunteers and must cover their own expenses to attend meetings and perform their duties.
Normally yearly assessment invoices are mailed in early January and due at the end of January. This year, 2020, they are not expected to be mailed until February 5th or so. The delay appears to be caused by Director Mark Seaver quitting in anger as Treasurer last November. His replacement, newly elected Chris Desborough, quit the same position and resigned from the GLA Board after just a few weeks. The GLA Treasurer's job is the most demanding and time consuming volunteer position. It requires 20 to 40 hours a week, working within a byzantine system and with people who may not trust you. It is more difficult and carries more responsibility than the paid Administrator position.
The Administrative Assistant, Karleen McSherry was given a promotion and a new title; Administrator. Earlier the GLA Board justified the 6% assessment increase by stating that McSherry deserved a 13% raise. It is not clear if she has received that yet. In 2019 McSherry received $16.00 an hour, paid holidays, a week's paid vacation, auto mileage reimbursement and was able to work from home on a schedule that suited her.
The GLA directors are volunteers and must cover their own expenses to attend meetings and perform their duties.
Normally yearly assessment invoices are mailed in early January and due at the end of January. This year, 2020, they are not expected to be mailed until February 5th or so. The delay appears to be caused by Director Mark Seaver quitting in anger as Treasurer last November. His replacement, newly elected Chris Desborough, quit the same position and resigned from the GLA Board after just a few weeks. The GLA Treasurer's job is the most demanding and time consuming volunteer position. It requires 20 to 40 hours a week, working within a byzantine system and with people who may not trust you. It is more difficult and carries more responsibility than the paid Administrator position.
One other GLA Director resigned; newly elected Alicia Roskind of South Glastonbury. Roskind quit before she was able to attend her first meeting of the 2020 GLA Board last December. Currently two director's positions are open; one in North Glastonbury and one in South Glastonbury. The GLA has advertised for volunteers and may appoint one or two as two year directors at the February 10th Board meeting at Emigrant Hall. Interested individuals should email the GLA with a short letter detailing their qualifications.