Post by Veritas on Jan 13, 2024 14:33:58 GMT -7
GLA Seeks To Raise Assessments and Fees by 10%
On Thursday, January 11, 2024, the Glastonbury Landowners Association (GLA) Finance Committee presented a 2024 draft budget.
Finance Committee members present were: Director Jewel Weiczorek, Doug Gill and Alicia Dearing.
Additional GLA Board members present were: Tim Brockett, John Carp, Claudette Dirkers, Leslie Everett and Jack Sutton.
Board members absent were Jaylyn Jensen and Scott Stomerowski.
Director Doug Gill, in close cooperation with President Alicia Dearing, created a 2024 GLA draft budget that would dramatically increase landowner assessments and increase spending for work, normally done by volunteers. Gill and Dearing recommended that assessments and all Project Review fees be increased by 10%. In 2023, the GLA raised assessment fees by 8%. Dearing spoke passionately, and at length, about how board members should never touch any landowner funds. All of the work normally done by the GLA Treasurer should be contracted out to a third party, she argued. Dearing stated that there would be "less risk" for directors, and in the end, the board would "save money". She never presented any evidence of how 'money would be saved' by increasing spending.
Unlike previous yearly budgets, this one was not balanced. After increasing assessments and fees by 10%, almost $20,000.00 was left unspent. Doug Gill argued that $20,000.00 was just 10% of the budget and provided only a thin margin for overspending.
President Dearing recently voted no for a proposal to fill two empty directors' seats on the GLA Board. She was joined in her opposition to new directors by Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, and Leslie Everett. Previously, President Dearing pushed through the 20-Vote Edict, which would have reduced the current board to just 8 directors. The GLA was forced to rescind the 20-Vote Edict in November 2023.
Director Jewel Wieczorek resigned as Treasurer on January 5. Her resignation was effective immediately and she was removed from the GLA website listing as GLA Treasurer, without delay. On January 9, Wieczorek clarified that she meant to give a resignation date of February 1st. She was reminded that state law (MCA 35-2-442), does not offer Non-Profit Corporate Officers a chance to rescind or modify their resignations. Nonetheless, Wieczorak believed that she was not violating the law and still considered herself treasurer at the Finance Committee meeting. Nevertheless, she allowed Gill and Dearing run the entire meeting.
Dearing and Gill also budgeted funds for a yet unnamed HOA management firm to take over all GLA Administrative, Secretarial, and Treasurer duties this May. Dearing reasoned that both the secretary and treasurer volunteer positions could be eliminated by contracting the indispensable work to outside agencies. Director Brockett reminded the board that he was willing to accept either the secretary or treasurer position. He also stated that he was opposed to raising assessments because so many landowners in Glastonbury depend upon their Social Security checks for their primary income.
Director Dirkers queried Director Carp about a possible sale of land where the Quonset Hut for sand storage is situated. The Community Property Committee that he chairs has been exploring this possibility to supplement soaring road expenditures. Road spending was $61,000. over budget in 2023. Carp replied that a sale could bring in $300,000.00 to $500,000.00, once an engineering review was completed and current septic restrictions lifted. Initially, Carp sided with Brockett and opposed an assessment increase. Later in the meeting, Carp changed his mind and reasoned that since Social Security was increasing 7%, landowners could use that to pay for increased assessments.
The Finance Committee, consisting of Alicia Dearing, Jewel Wieczorek, and Doug Gill, voted unanimously to approve the 2024 GLA draft budget with the deeply embedded 10% assessment and fees increase. More than a little surgery will be needed to balance the budget and remove the assessment and fee increases. Director Alicia Dearing also voted to approve an 8% rise in assessments in 2023.
The GLA Board will vote on the final budget at their monthly board meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Landowner comments are welcome and may be presented at the meeting. The GLA website calendar states "The GLA Board is scheduled to meet at 7 PM at Emigrant Hall and via Zoom and Phone. Meeting ID: 619 079 2223 Call-In #: +1 720 707 2699 Password:2023".
The 2024 Draft Budget has not been released to landowners yet. However anyone may request a copy by emailing the GLA Board at info@glamontana.org Emails sent to info@glamontana.org are shared with all directors. Comments, for and against the proposed 10% assessment and fees increase are read and can influence the final board vote on January 17, 2024.
Finance Committee members present were: Director Jewel Weiczorek, Doug Gill and Alicia Dearing.
Additional GLA Board members present were: Tim Brockett, John Carp, Claudette Dirkers, Leslie Everett and Jack Sutton.
Board members absent were Jaylyn Jensen and Scott Stomerowski.
Director Doug Gill, in close cooperation with President Alicia Dearing, created a 2024 GLA draft budget that would dramatically increase landowner assessments and increase spending for work, normally done by volunteers. Gill and Dearing recommended that assessments and all Project Review fees be increased by 10%. In 2023, the GLA raised assessment fees by 8%. Dearing spoke passionately, and at length, about how board members should never touch any landowner funds. All of the work normally done by the GLA Treasurer should be contracted out to a third party, she argued. Dearing stated that there would be "less risk" for directors, and in the end, the board would "save money". She never presented any evidence of how 'money would be saved' by increasing spending.
Unlike previous yearly budgets, this one was not balanced. After increasing assessments and fees by 10%, almost $20,000.00 was left unspent. Doug Gill argued that $20,000.00 was just 10% of the budget and provided only a thin margin for overspending.
President Dearing recently voted no for a proposal to fill two empty directors' seats on the GLA Board. She was joined in her opposition to new directors by Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, and Leslie Everett. Previously, President Dearing pushed through the 20-Vote Edict, which would have reduced the current board to just 8 directors. The GLA was forced to rescind the 20-Vote Edict in November 2023.
Director Jewel Wieczorek resigned as Treasurer on January 5. Her resignation was effective immediately and she was removed from the GLA website listing as GLA Treasurer, without delay. On January 9, Wieczorek clarified that she meant to give a resignation date of February 1st. She was reminded that state law (MCA 35-2-442), does not offer Non-Profit Corporate Officers a chance to rescind or modify their resignations. Nonetheless, Wieczorak believed that she was not violating the law and still considered herself treasurer at the Finance Committee meeting. Nevertheless, she allowed Gill and Dearing run the entire meeting.
Dearing and Gill also budgeted funds for a yet unnamed HOA management firm to take over all GLA Administrative, Secretarial, and Treasurer duties this May. Dearing reasoned that both the secretary and treasurer volunteer positions could be eliminated by contracting the indispensable work to outside agencies. Director Brockett reminded the board that he was willing to accept either the secretary or treasurer position. He also stated that he was opposed to raising assessments because so many landowners in Glastonbury depend upon their Social Security checks for their primary income.
Director Dirkers queried Director Carp about a possible sale of land where the Quonset Hut for sand storage is situated. The Community Property Committee that he chairs has been exploring this possibility to supplement soaring road expenditures. Road spending was $61,000. over budget in 2023. Carp replied that a sale could bring in $300,000.00 to $500,000.00, once an engineering review was completed and current septic restrictions lifted. Initially, Carp sided with Brockett and opposed an assessment increase. Later in the meeting, Carp changed his mind and reasoned that since Social Security was increasing 7%, landowners could use that to pay for increased assessments.
The Finance Committee, consisting of Alicia Dearing, Jewel Wieczorek, and Doug Gill, voted unanimously to approve the 2024 GLA draft budget with the deeply embedded 10% assessment and fees increase. More than a little surgery will be needed to balance the budget and remove the assessment and fee increases. Director Alicia Dearing also voted to approve an 8% rise in assessments in 2023.
The GLA Board will vote on the final budget at their monthly board meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Landowner comments are welcome and may be presented at the meeting. The GLA website calendar states "The GLA Board is scheduled to meet at 7 PM at Emigrant Hall and via Zoom and Phone. Meeting ID: 619 079 2223 Call-In #: +1 720 707 2699 Password:2023".
The 2024 Draft Budget has not been released to landowners yet. However anyone may request a copy by emailing the GLA Board at info@glamontana.org Emails sent to info@glamontana.org are shared with all directors. Comments, for and against the proposed 10% assessment and fees increase are read and can influence the final board vote on January 17, 2024.