Post by Town Crier on Apr 29, 2024 7:07:15 GMT -7
Special Board Meeting Cancelled - Landowners Denied New Directors
The Glastonbury Landowners Association (GLA) Board voted to cancel the Special Meeting of the Board scheduled for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Led by Leslie Everett, a staunch opponent of filling vacant director seats, seven of the ten directors approved a motion to cancel the April 30 Special Meeting and reschedule it. Director Everett wrote:
The GLA Bylaws require that board vacancies be addressed within 30 days of the vacancies occurring. In January former GLA President Dearing scuttled Director Dirker's efforts to fill vacant board seats. Directors Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, and Leslie Everett voted against a motion to begin the process to hold a Special Meeting to fill open director positions. Directors John Carp, Doug Gill, Tim Brockett, and Jack Sutton voted to fill the vacancies. Dirkers' yes vote made 5 yes to the 5 no votes. The vote was tied, and the motion was defeated. Dearing quit as president in late January. President Doug Gill abided by the Bylaws and made filling vacancies a priority. The board was often tied at 5 to 5. Any change could tip the balance of power.
In voting that went on late into Sunday night, directors Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, John Carp, Jack Sutton, and Alicia Roskind Dearing voted to cancel the April 30 Special Board Meeting. The motion to cancel virtually eliminates any chance of the two empty director seats being filled before the Annual Election in November. The Bylaws allow 60 days to notify landowners and receive nominations. The Bylaws also state that if the "vacancy occurs less than four months before the next Annual Election, the replacement should be elected in that Election". Intentional delay and a loose reading of the Bylaws may prohibit any vacant seats from being filled before November.
The 2023 Annual Election saw the 20-vote decree being used to limit the number of candidates who could win a seat on the GLA board. Candidates who garnered less than 20 votes were deemed as lacking general support and thus prevented from earning a director's position. That decree was suspended, but not cancelled. Then President Dearing strongly defended it and vowed to use it for the next Annual Election. Director Everett supported her and argued that her reading of the Bylaws showed that vacancies did not need to be filled. Ten directors were deemed enough and legal.
Director Dearing has long supported turning all GLA work over to paid professionals. She was and remains a strong proponent of hiring an outside management firm to conduct GLA business. Her cadre of supporters agrees. For now, landowners will be denied a chance to see fresh faces and willing volunteers attempt to revitalize a divided and stagnant GLA board.
Out of deep concern that landowners and directors have not had ample time to consider the candidates or prepare for a special meeting— I would like to bring forward this motion. I believe that this alternative allows us to act expeditiously while allowing for better notification to landowners and directors.
MOTION: That the special meeting of the board currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:30pm MT for the purpose of electing new directors to the GLA board be cancelled and rescheduled to a date/time agreed upon by the board by vote.
The new special meeting date/time will be selected to allow at least 10 days for both landowners and board members to be notified of the meeting, the candidates and have the opportunity to review their bios/interest statements in advance of the special meeting.
Upon a second, I vote yes.
MOTION: That the special meeting of the board currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:30pm MT for the purpose of electing new directors to the GLA board be cancelled and rescheduled to a date/time agreed upon by the board by vote.
The new special meeting date/time will be selected to allow at least 10 days for both landowners and board members to be notified of the meeting, the candidates and have the opportunity to review their bios/interest statements in advance of the special meeting.
Upon a second, I vote yes.
The GLA Bylaws require that board vacancies be addressed within 30 days of the vacancies occurring. In January former GLA President Dearing scuttled Director Dirker's efforts to fill vacant board seats. Directors Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, and Leslie Everett voted against a motion to begin the process to hold a Special Meeting to fill open director positions. Directors John Carp, Doug Gill, Tim Brockett, and Jack Sutton voted to fill the vacancies. Dirkers' yes vote made 5 yes to the 5 no votes. The vote was tied, and the motion was defeated. Dearing quit as president in late January. President Doug Gill abided by the Bylaws and made filling vacancies a priority. The board was often tied at 5 to 5. Any change could tip the balance of power.
In voting that went on late into Sunday night, directors Jewel Wieczorek, Jaylyn Jensen, Scott Stomierowski, John Carp, Jack Sutton, and Alicia Roskind Dearing voted to cancel the April 30 Special Board Meeting. The motion to cancel virtually eliminates any chance of the two empty director seats being filled before the Annual Election in November. The Bylaws allow 60 days to notify landowners and receive nominations. The Bylaws also state that if the "vacancy occurs less than four months before the next Annual Election, the replacement should be elected in that Election". Intentional delay and a loose reading of the Bylaws may prohibit any vacant seats from being filled before November.
The 2023 Annual Election saw the 20-vote decree being used to limit the number of candidates who could win a seat on the GLA board. Candidates who garnered less than 20 votes were deemed as lacking general support and thus prevented from earning a director's position. That decree was suspended, but not cancelled. Then President Dearing strongly defended it and vowed to use it for the next Annual Election. Director Everett supported her and argued that her reading of the Bylaws showed that vacancies did not need to be filled. Ten directors were deemed enough and legal.
Director Dearing has long supported turning all GLA work over to paid professionals. She was and remains a strong proponent of hiring an outside management firm to conduct GLA business. Her cadre of supporters agrees. For now, landowners will be denied a chance to see fresh faces and willing volunteers attempt to revitalize a divided and stagnant GLA board.
