Post by Donna Lash-Andersen on Jul 20, 2020 15:23:21 GMT -7
Summary of July 13, 2020 GLA Board Meeting
GLA President Newman Brozovsky officiated at another five-hour board meeting on July 13, 2020. Brozovsky is known for conducting prolonged meetings. Similarly, Directors Jean Carp and Ed Dobrowski are known for leaving board meetings early, Carp arrived late, missing the Special Meeting to appoint a new SG director, and departed early around 10:15 pm, while Dobrowski disappeared about 9:40 pm. Carp has yet to participate in a full-length board meeting.
Special Meeting
New South Glastonbury (SG) landowner, Erica Stone, was appointed to complete Director Ken Hurley’s term during a Special Meeting held for that purpose. Hurley officially resigned from the board on July 10. She will serve until the November GLA Annual Election.
Note - Stone has participated in board email votes since the meeting. She was not present for the July 13, 2020 meeting when she was seated.
A motion to elect Director Jerry Ladewig as vice-president, the other position vacated by Hurley, failed when eight directors voted against her nomination. President Brozovsky then announced that the position would stay open until the November election.
Note - Section VII D of the GLA Bylaws states that “All vacancies in any office shall be filled by the Board of Directors without undue delay …”.
Regular Meeting
North Glastonbury (NG) landowner Chad Stone asked, for the second time, that military veterans like himself, be relieved of their GLA assessments in perpetuity during landowner input at the beginning of the regular meeting. Stone first thanked Director Gerald Dubiel for working with him and then forcefully asked the board to follow the lead of Park County, who has already agreed not to collect real estate taxes from military veterans. The 5-5 tie vote showed that the board did not agree.
Note - The motion was to begin a process to look into the possibility of this. Newman said the motion may need to be reworded and presented at a future board meeting. It is not clear if Park County is giving veterans a 100% exemption from property taxes.
Note - The motion was to begin a process to look into the possibility of this. Newman said the motion may need to be reworded and presented at a future board meeting. It is not clear if Park County is giving veterans a 100% exemption from property taxes.
President’s Report
To the surprise of about half of the board, President Brozovsky opened his presidential report with reasons why be believed Director Tim Brockett should be censured for his “Conduct Unbecoming,” a topic Brozovsky added to the agenda at the start of the meeting. Brozovsky claimed two things: first that Brockett had voted to violate the Covenants, and second, that Brockett had created potential legal liability when he failed to disclaim himself from the board in an article on the Glastonbury Community Forum. No one questioned, nor did Brozovsky explain, just what the legal liability was, nor did he cite any details when Brockett allegedly voted against the Covenants at some unknown time. Secretary Charlotte Mizzi claimed that Brockett’s article might jeopardize the ongoing mail-in voting on the proposed changes to the Bylaws.
In the article, Brockett identified himself as a GLA board member, offering his suggestions about voting on the 25 proposed changes. Brockett countered that he had a right to express an opinion and to communicate with his constituents. He also stated that he sees the censure action as a continuation of an effort to remove him from the GLA Board. Click here to read Brockett’s article.
Carp’s motion, seconded by Dobrowski, to censure Brockett carried 8-1. The voting was in effect secret because it was done with paper ballots and texting by those directors who attended by phone. Contrary to past board practice where a director read the ballot and another (often the Ombudsman or a member from the audience) tallied the paper ballots and the president announced the results, the paper votes at this meeting were handled only by Administrator Karleen McSherry. McSherry read, tallied and announced the voted results.
After the vote, Director Andrea Sedlak said she was concerned because this matter had not come to the Legal Committee before the Board and that the unilateral action taken by the Brozovsky flaunted the Bylaws. Director Claudette Dirkers concurred and said that the board is supposed to act as a whole, yet this pattern keeps repeating. Sedlak then cited the Bylaws which require that the board shall in all cases act as a Board.
By phone, former GLA Treasurer Mark Seaver said he believed that Brozovsky and Mizzi were the Shadow Board behind the censure initiative, just as they were the Shadow Board behind the events which had motivated himself to file a lawsuit against Brozovsky, Mizzi, and the Association. Seavers also reprimanded Newman for his unilateral spending of money on legal fees and threatened yet another lawsuit if this practice continued.
Board discussion about a rental agreement with the NG Teaching Center (NGTC) for the use of Liberty Hall to hold GLA meetings, became so jumbled that the board stopped all debate until a written proposal is received from the NGTC. Confusion began when Secretary Mizzi, who also sits on the board of the NGTC, a satellite of the Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), reported that the rental fee for board meetings would be only $50/month. She later doubled the rental rate to $100/month and said that price would include Board and committee meetings. Per Mizzi, GLA would also be responsible for the installation of a phone line at Liberty Hall for a cost of about $60 and for the monthly fees estimated to be about $37.50. The obfuscation increased when Carp, along with Directors Aija Mara Accatino and Gerald Dubiel, who, like Mizzi, also sit on the Teaching Center board, said they did not recall the facts, as Mizzi had professed. Mizzi said that she was only the NGTC messenger.
In the third and final part of his president’s report, Brozovsky asked for board approval to pay for mowing costs for the soccer field in NG, until it is determined if GLA is legally obligated to maintain this property. GLA holds a conditional recreational use agreement for the property, which is owned by CUT. In the past when soccer games were held there, GLA mowed the fields and maintained the property. Now that there is no organized recreational use of the area, the question is, “Who should pay for maintenance?” The motion by Dobrowski, seconded by Dubiel, to approve mowing funds carried, with a single “No” vote from Brockett.
Project Review Committee Report
A move to appoint Dirkers to the Project Review Committee failed with a tie vote. She consistently attends Project Review meetings and does research and extensive editing for the committee. As before, when voting was performed with paper ballots and texting, it was not possible to know how individual directors voted. Nevertheless, it can be noted that most tie votes track a division on the board created by the six directors who are members of CUT and the six who are not.
A rambling debate about a Project Review application for the construction of a non-compliant and non-approved structure on Lot 64 in NG, lasted nearly an hour. Construction on the virtually complete project is on hold pending a cease and desist order from GLA’s attorney.
GLA approved the project as a 15-foot high garage and storage structure without plumbing almost two years ago. However, the new structure was built with three suites on the first floor with individual exterior doors and two suites on the upper level, that are accessed by a single stairway. The owner claims that the structure will be used by his family, and that the unconventional division of space is needed to meet the social distancing related to the Corona Virus.
As the discussion wound down it appeared that the owner will likely agree to restrict the future use of his 20-acre parcel to one subdivision rather than two, provided the board allows the current structure to remain intact. For this to be accomplished, the owner will need to apply for a variance. Variance reviews are initially handled by the Project Review Committee and then reviewed by the GLA Board.
The board also approved a new five-parcel subdivision in NG, recommended by the Project Review Committee, with little discussion. Access to the new parcels would involve a shared road and driveway.
Issues about the location of a SG garage and cabin, which were found to be in violation of property line setbacks, are being resolved by the adjoining owners. It is expected that the resolution will involve a lot line adjustment.
Treasurer’s Report
The board did not accept or approve the end of June 2020 GLA Financial Reports presented by Treasurer Carp after Dirkers alerted the board to three errors which Dirkers labeled as egregious. Dirkers, who is known for her attention to details, said the three discrepancies demonstrate serious concerns about GLA finances. After Jean Carp explained that she could not answer questions about the report or the alleged mistakes because the accountant had prepared the report, Directors Dirkers and John McAllister asked who was really in charge of GLA finances. Though Carp responded that the Bylaws defined her responsibilities, the body language of those with questions, suggested that the concerns about how the GLA finances are being handled, had not been addressed. Carp was appointed to the position of treasurer in mid-winter after contending she could handle the job based on her business experience.
Carp also reported that recently the GLA bank account has been overdrawn several times. The reason given was that receipts for charges made by officers, excluding herself and employee McSherry, were not handed to her. Unlike past board policy where only two officers had access to the GLA accounts, the current board gives all four officers the right to write checks against the GLA accounts. Since it is known that former Vice-President Hurley did not write checks for GLA, Carp was ‘pointing the finger’ at Brozovsky and Mizzi for failing to keep her informed of their expenditures. Carp warned that unless she starts to get the receipts to keep things straight, the GLA proposed loan application for chip sealing the paved roads in NG could be at risk.
Directors have not been able to discuss and iron out other accumulating financial concerns since Carp’s appointment last February. On more than one occasion, Carp promised and then failed to call a Finance Committee meeting as requested by the board.
Note - Carp resigned as Treasurer, but not as a director, on July 14, 2020.
Carp also reported that recently the GLA bank account has been overdrawn several times. The reason given was that receipts for charges made by officers, excluding herself and employee McSherry, were not handed to her. Unlike past board policy where only two officers had access to the GLA accounts, the current board gives all four officers the right to write checks against the GLA accounts. Since it is known that former Vice-President Hurley did not write checks for GLA, Carp was ‘pointing the finger’ at Brozovsky and Mizzi for failing to keep her informed of their expenditures. Carp warned that unless she starts to get the receipts to keep things straight, the GLA proposed loan application for chip sealing the paved roads in NG could be at risk.
Directors have not been able to discuss and iron out other accumulating financial concerns since Carp’s appointment last February. On more than one occasion, Carp promised and then failed to call a Finance Committee meeting as requested by the board.
Note - Carp resigned as Treasurer, but not as a director, on July 14, 2020.
Governing Documents Committee Report
Recent edits, as recommended by the GLA attorney to Rule 2.01, passed 7-3 with a motion by Mizzi and seconded by Carp. This rule was first approved late last fall by the previous board and is labeled by some landowners the “gag order,” Rule 2.01 prevents board members from discussing board business with their constituents. No details of the newest edits were given at the meeting. Dirkers called for time to conduct a landowner review of the updated rule, but President Brozovsky claimed that because the rule governs only board member’s behavior landowner review and approval was not needed to implement these impactful changes. The three ’no’ votes were cast by Dobrowski, Dirkers and Brockett.
Committee Chair Sedlak also reported, that to date, about 80 members have voted on the 25 proposed updates to the GLA Bylaws. The 80 votes are close to reaching quorum needed to certify the mail-in voting results. The voting period ends July 18, 2020.
Committee Chair Sedlak also reported, that to date, about 80 members have voted on the 25 proposed updates to the GLA Bylaws. The 80 votes are close to reaching quorum needed to certify the mail-in voting results. The voting period ends July 18, 2020.
Secretary’s Report
Speaking for Secretary Mizzi, Administrator Karleen McSherry reported that the summer GLA newsletter has an article about regulations for shooting and noise in Glastonbury. However, no further details about the ‘why’ or ‘what’ of the regulations were made available at the meeting.
Minutes for the February 17, 2020, the March 9, 2020, and the June 8, 2020 Board meetings were approved subject to edits that will be submitted for the second time by Dirkers. McSherry explained that she had not yet had time to work with the edits from Dirkers. The delay in providing meeting minutes for board approval can be explained in part by a change in the workload for the administrator. McSherry added the treasurer’s responsibilities to her job when Mark Seaver resigned as treasurer last November. McSherry also writes the board meeting minutes for Mizzi, the GLA Secretary.
Note - McSherry left for a month-long vacation a few days after the BOD meeting. She also went on a “working” month-long vacation in February ostensibly to assist her aging parents.
Minutes for the February 17, 2020, the March 9, 2020, and the June 8, 2020 Board meetings were approved subject to edits that will be submitted for the second time by Dirkers. McSherry explained that she had not yet had time to work with the edits from Dirkers. The delay in providing meeting minutes for board approval can be explained in part by a change in the workload for the administrator. McSherry added the treasurer’s responsibilities to her job when Mark Seaver resigned as treasurer last November. McSherry also writes the board meeting minutes for Mizzi, the GLA Secretary.
Note - McSherry left for a month-long vacation a few days after the BOD meeting. She also went on a “working” month-long vacation in February ostensibly to assist her aging parents.
Road/Management Committee Report
The road report was given in large part by John Carp because Road Committee Co-chair Dobrowski had already exited and then called in later to assist. Discussion about Dobrowski’s unilateral decision to tell the road contractor to create the SG spring roadwork order and then to do the work without Board approval at a cost of over $20,000. showed that his action was not well-received by his fellow directors. Per the Bylaws, the road committee must get board approval to accept roadwork bids, and the Board, not the committee, must pass resolutions to pay invoices. Since their co-chair appointments to the road committee last November, both John Carp and Dobrowski have approved road invoices without any foreknowledge of the Board.
Note – 67% of the 10.5 miles of platted roads in SG were not even touched by Chad Standish, the GLA road contractor, per Dobrowski’s spring roadwork order.
Note - Contrary to past board policy, John Carp is the first non-director and non-landowner to co-chair the road committee. The board justified Carp’s appointment as Co-Chair of the Road Committee because he is a legal representative for a NG landowner. One of proposed changes to the Bylaws will clarify that legal representatives can vote and seek board positions, or in John Carp’s, case hold a key committee position.
In what appeared to be an effort to override Dobrowski’s refusal to maintain all High South roads (there has been no service to many High South roads in two years), the Board asked Brockett to meet with Chad Standish, the Glastonbury road contractor, to create a draft work order and a bid for road maintenance. Brockett, a former GLA Vice-President and road committee member, had already submitted his review and list of needed maintenance, but the road committee (under influence from Dobrowski and Carp) took no action. Brockett said he found it ironic, (now that he has joined the Mizzi world of holding a board censure), that while he was censured at the beginning of the meeting, he was now being asked to help fulfill the responsibilities of the road committee.
After Brockett offered to replace Dobrowski as road chair, a move that was not accepted, Brockett clarified that he is willing to evaluate High South roads as a service to his constituents, but not as a way to support the rampant hypocrisy of board affairs. Dobrowski has missed numerous board and road meetings and is known for not voting on important issues.
Carp then explained that the reason he did not seek board approval for the mag chloride repair work several weeks ago on Capricorn and Gemini, was that it was part of the original work which the board had approved. He also revealed that the additional road grading and rolling was done by Standish at no extra cost to GLA.
Numerous landowners who drive the section of Capricorn and Gemini that had been treated with mag chloride, believe that Standish failed to properly crown and smoothly grade the dirt roads before the chemical application. It is known that when water stands in depressions or potholes on roads treated with mag chloride, that water will dissolve the salt treatment and deepen the potholes. Above normal rainfall may also have contributed the need for the untimely road repairs.
Carp next mentioned a $700 cost overrun associated with the use of a water truck for the Mag Chloride work. He casually suggested that GLA should just pay the additional charges because Standish had not sent an invoice for the Mag Chloride repairs. Dirkers disagreed with paying this second cost overrun (the first overrun was for $5000) for Spring roadwork in NG. Some directors tried to disregard her point. Then, McAllister intervened and insisted that contract overruns should not be paid unless the parties negotiate a new contract. The motion by McAllister, seconded by Gerald, not to pay Standish the extra $700 passed 8 to 1. Dobrowski abstained. Though Carp urged the board to reconsider the non-payment decision and warned that GLA might lose its road contractor with such a move, the board stood firm.
Note – Former Treasurer Regina Wunsch reported at the June 8, 2020 board meeting that the 2019 NG gravel road costs were 172.89% over budget. She also reported that the 2019 NG Mag Chloride costs were 137.54% over budget.
McAllister, referring to Dobrowski and Carp’s departures from protocol, as well as the numerous cost overruns for roadwork, slippery and shoddy and unlike anything he had ever seen. The fact that we cannot see the road invoices is “ … incredibly slip-shod. I am sick of this guy taking us to the cleaners. It is not professional” stressed McAllister. McAllister added that he has run a professional contracting business and he knows well how professional contracting business practices work.
Note – 67% of the 10.5 miles of platted roads in SG were not even touched by Chad Standish, the GLA road contractor, per Dobrowski’s spring roadwork order.
Note - Contrary to past board policy, John Carp is the first non-director and non-landowner to co-chair the road committee. The board justified Carp’s appointment as Co-Chair of the Road Committee because he is a legal representative for a NG landowner. One of proposed changes to the Bylaws will clarify that legal representatives can vote and seek board positions, or in John Carp’s, case hold a key committee position.
In what appeared to be an effort to override Dobrowski’s refusal to maintain all High South roads (there has been no service to many High South roads in two years), the Board asked Brockett to meet with Chad Standish, the Glastonbury road contractor, to create a draft work order and a bid for road maintenance. Brockett, a former GLA Vice-President and road committee member, had already submitted his review and list of needed maintenance, but the road committee (under influence from Dobrowski and Carp) took no action. Brockett said he found it ironic, (now that he has joined the Mizzi world of holding a board censure), that while he was censured at the beginning of the meeting, he was now being asked to help fulfill the responsibilities of the road committee.
After Brockett offered to replace Dobrowski as road chair, a move that was not accepted, Brockett clarified that he is willing to evaluate High South roads as a service to his constituents, but not as a way to support the rampant hypocrisy of board affairs. Dobrowski has missed numerous board and road meetings and is known for not voting on important issues.
Carp then explained that the reason he did not seek board approval for the mag chloride repair work several weeks ago on Capricorn and Gemini, was that it was part of the original work which the board had approved. He also revealed that the additional road grading and rolling was done by Standish at no extra cost to GLA.
Numerous landowners who drive the section of Capricorn and Gemini that had been treated with mag chloride, believe that Standish failed to properly crown and smoothly grade the dirt roads before the chemical application. It is known that when water stands in depressions or potholes on roads treated with mag chloride, that water will dissolve the salt treatment and deepen the potholes. Above normal rainfall may also have contributed the need for the untimely road repairs.
Carp next mentioned a $700 cost overrun associated with the use of a water truck for the Mag Chloride work. He casually suggested that GLA should just pay the additional charges because Standish had not sent an invoice for the Mag Chloride repairs. Dirkers disagreed with paying this second cost overrun (the first overrun was for $5000) for Spring roadwork in NG. Some directors tried to disregard her point. Then, McAllister intervened and insisted that contract overruns should not be paid unless the parties negotiate a new contract. The motion by McAllister, seconded by Gerald, not to pay Standish the extra $700 passed 8 to 1. Dobrowski abstained. Though Carp urged the board to reconsider the non-payment decision and warned that GLA might lose its road contractor with such a move, the board stood firm.
Note – Former Treasurer Regina Wunsch reported at the June 8, 2020 board meeting that the 2019 NG gravel road costs were 172.89% over budget. She also reported that the 2019 NG Mag Chloride costs were 137.54% over budget.
McAllister, referring to Dobrowski and Carp’s departures from protocol, as well as the numerous cost overruns for roadwork, slippery and shoddy and unlike anything he had ever seen. The fact that we cannot see the road invoices is “ … incredibly slip-shod. I am sick of this guy taking us to the cleaners. It is not professional” stressed McAllister. McAllister added that he has run a professional contracting business and he knows well how professional contracting business practices work.
The last item in the road report was a committee recommendation that Dirkers be re-appointed to the GLA Road Committee. She has a long history and experience as a road committee member and as a Board member attendee. With Paper ballots and texting, Dirkers appointment carried 8 to 1.
Closed Session
The board began its closed session agenda on legal updates shortly after the regular meeting adjourned at 11:36 pm.
Next board meeting is set for Monday, August 10, 2020.
Next board meeting is set for Monday, August 10, 2020.
Meeting Reports
Download the meeting Agenda with emailed motions here.
Download the meeting Financial Reports here.
