Chesapeake Ranch Estates Election Sat. 7/21

[PKelly601]

What is going on in CRE with this election?

CRE has a lot of potential for being a great community but it has a bad reputation. But, it has a lake with a beach, 2 bay beaches, clubhouse, etc.... I've always thought the community fees were a bargain compared to what communities charge around Baltimore-DC for nothing in return.

So, increasing the fees by $109 makes sense. CRE could use that money to improve the beaches, roads and security, etc... maybe even re-build the long lost pier on the bay. But wait..... none of that money is for capital improvements? If not, what is it for? The proposed budget looks extremely wasteful and was poorly explained to the membership.

Instead, there is a resolution to charge $800 every time a house/property is sold to pay for capital improvements. First, that is illegal and against current bylaws (details below). Second, it's not the buyer who is going to pay, it will be the seller (no buyer would agree to that). Why should a seller pay for capital improvements that benefit ALL members. Why shouldn't ALL pay? The reason -- it's easy to get CRE members to agree/vote for someone else to pay (people buying/selling homes in CRE) than to ask all to pay.

Why is none of the money we pay being used for capital improvements like fixing the beaches?

Either I just don't get it or something very crooked is going on.

The resolution to establish a special fee for capital improvements imposed when a property within CRE is sold violates the POACRE Bylaws listed below. Without legal change to the current Bylaws, neither the Board nor the membership or CRE by vote may recommend and/or approve the imposing of a fee on a limited number of CRE members.

The Bylaws refer to specific fees only and does not permit the creation of new types of fees to be paid only by certain categories of members. In the Bylaws, Article VI, Sec. 5, the Board’s Powers and Responsibilities include the following.

g. Recommend that the membership approve the amount of maintenance and operations fees.

n. Establish user fees, new construction fee, penalty fees and bond requirements.

Article X, Sec. 2, states that the Budget revenues include authorized annual fees plus available funds from the previous year.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Are you aware that CRE is one of the larger employers in Calvert? CRE has many on the payroll and many on a retirement roll.

I know. I heard $12000 for a server. Well when it includes workstations and software, it is more reasonable.

Several thousand for cameras. OK. We don't have cameras and vandalism cost many thousands a year. If people would/could control their kids, then maybe we wouldn't need video surveillance. If Calvert County Juvenile Services would put some of the kids that are caught away, maybe the problem would get smaller, but they haven't as of yet, and I don't expect them to anytime soon. So CRE is left trying to identify and prosecute or file suit against the parents.

There is no sense of community. CRE owners own and pay for all the amenities. The families need to teach their kids that they are destroying stuff that the family has to pay to replace. Very few show up for community activities. There is no sense of belonging despite the efforts to create events to do just that.

I agree the budget is too course grained, but the average CRE resident doesn't care anyway and wouldn't read it if it was explained in excruciating detail.

I suggest that if you think you can do better, contribute, or help in anyway, sign up. The majority of positions are voluntary and it is only a very small group of people that do the vast majority of the work. They have thankless jobs and receive nothing except complaints and an occasional pat on the back.

 

[residentofcre]

What is going on in CRE with this election?

CRE has a lot of potential for being a great community but it has a bad reputation. But, it has a lake with a beach, 2 bay beaches, clubhouse, etc.... I've always thought the community fees were a bargain compared to what communities charge around Baltimore-DC for nothing in return.

So, increasing the fees by $109 makes sense. CRE could use that money to improve the beaches, roads and security, etc... maybe even re-build the long lost pier on the bay. But wait..... none of that money is for capital improvements? If not, what is it for? The proposed budget looks extremely wasteful and was poorly explained to the membership.

Instead, there is a resolution to charge $800 every time a house/property is sold to pay for capital improvements. First, that is illegal and against current bylaws (details below). Second, it's not the buyer who is going to pay, it will be the seller (no buyer would agree to that). Why should a seller pay for capital improvements that benefit ALL members. Why shouldn't ALL pay? The reason -- it's easy to get CRE members to agree/vote for someone else to pay (people buying/selling homes in CRE) than to ask all to pay.

Why is none of the money we pay being used for capital improvements like fixing the beaches?

Either I just don't get it or something very crooked is going on.

The resolution to establish a special fee for capital improvements imposed when a property within CRE is sold violates the POACRE Bylaws listed below. Without legal change to the current Bylaws, neither the Board nor the membership or CRE by vote may recommend and/or approve the imposing of a fee on a limited number of CRE members.

The Bylaws refer to specific fees only and does not permit the creation of new types of fees to be paid only by certain categories of members. In the Bylaws, Article VI, Sec. 5, the Board’s Powers and Responsibilities include the following.

g. Recommend that the membership approve the amount of maintenance and operations fees.

n. Establish user fees, new construction fee, penalty fees and bond requirements.

Article X, Sec. 2, states that the Budget revenues include authorized annual fees plus available funds from the previous year.

I'm not sure I understand your reasoning... I wish you had been at the finance meetings and the board meetings when the General Manager was getting this all passed through committee and through the Board...

I may have voted for it to go to ballot [If I did, I am sorry] but I voted against Resolution #6 when I carefully considered it as a ballot issue. The last sentence of the ballot issue has nagged me and still bothers me... it says that the board may raise the amount of the Capital Improvement Fee annually.... but it doesn't cap the amount that the Board can raise it...

Most people would like to believe that the Board would be frugal with other member's money but let's face it... there may come a day when a dollar to the board may be a penny and they may decided that it is only fair that since your property has amortorized over the years, CRE should get a fair percentage and take $8,000 instead of tiny $800... and there is nothing in this Bylaw that would stop them. So I voted against it for that reason alone.

We have to be careful how our governing documents are worded. If we pass a poorly worded resolution, we are still bound to the wording regardless of the intent.

I read you letter when it came to the Board. I hope you will find time in your busy schedule to assist the Board with at least a project or two. We do from time to time need research done. Some committees are part time if you have scheduling conflicts. There are so many ways someone with your talents could be of service to the community... please at least consider it...

See you tomorrow at the Clubhouse 10AM...

 

[PKelly601]

The lack of a cap is a great concern. I know I shouldn't complain if I can't volunteer my time to be a part of the solution. Someone said a lot of people in CRE don't care. The truth is many CRE residents don't have the time because of work, living outside of CRE or other obligations. The recent survey shows a lot of people read and rely on the CRE newsletter. Too often, there is a lack of using that newsletter and the CRE website to communicate to residents and solicit comments and feedback. The first I heard of the ballot issue about charging a 800 dollar fee was the newsletter with the ballot to vote on it. This happened at the last election where there was poorly worded resolutions to vote on that CRE residents were never asked to comment on. I hope that changes. I volunteer my time by picking up trash along and in the Lake. And I've found that most of the trash is left by adults, not children because I've caught the fishermen trashing the lake by tossing beer bottles and other trash.

 

[residentofcre]

Resolution #6 Failed... as did Resolution #2...

Done...

Now we could use you assistance in helping us tighten the belt and upgrading the maintance...

 

[residentofcre]

The lack of a cap is a great concern. I know I shouldn't complain if I can't volunteer my time to be a part of the solution. Someone said a lot of people in CRE don't care. The truth is many CRE residents don't have the time because of work, living outside of CRE or other obligations. The recent survey shows a lot of people read and rely on the CRE newsletter. Too often, there is a lack of using that newsletter and the CRE website to communicate to residents and solicit comments and feedback. The first I heard of the ballot issue about charging a 800 dollar fee was the newsletter with the ballot to vote on it. This happened at the last election where there was poorly worded resolutions to vote on that CRE residents were never asked to comment on. I hope that changes. I volunteer my time by picking up trash along and in the Lake. And I've found that most of the trash is left by adults, not children because I've caught the fishermen trashing the lake by tossing beer bottles and other trash.

A real fisherman would never trash a lake... they must be wannabe fisherman... I bet it was a borrowed boat too....

Thank you for cleaning up the trash along the lake... that is a valuable service that you do... I appreciate it... Thank you very much...

Did you know that we have a lake committee that is currently working on finding ways to clean up the lake? Would you like to have more information on that? I understand that they have cyber meetings... that might be right up your alley....

 

[Flyonthewall]

I'd like to know how others feel about volunteering at CRE. Our experience is mixed....they encourage volunteers, but when you show up, they aren't exactly welcoming to strangers.

 

[residentofcre]

I'd like to know how others feel about volunteering at CRE. Our experience is mixed....they encourage volunteers, but when you show up, they aren't exactly welcoming to strangers.

This concerns me... Is this one particular committee or several?

 

[ladyhawk]

I'd like to know how others feel about volunteering at CRE. Our experience is mixed....they encourage volunteers, but when you show up, they aren't exactly welcoming to strangers.

I've heard that even if you try to get past the "Unwelcoming" part they are sometimes just mean... I don't know if this is true, I was told this by other people that tried to volunteer.. And I tell you, if it is true, why do you let them bully you? If this is true, you need to come to the board so we know who they are and if necessary have the persons that continue to run off other volunteers removed. I am sick and tired of personal agendas! I don't like them, never have..

Now I have an agenda, although I don't know if it's considered a personal one.... It is getting a fund back to the stables that was taken away from them because the money was needed elsewhere. On top of that, it was money that the stables members paid to improve their own facility and left over from the previous year they hadn't spent! Considering all M&O funding was taken away, giving them no money at all for improvements, the least that could have done was to return the money they had left over from the previous year instead of putting it in a General fund for whatever!

I've said it before and will say it again... If the stable members have to lose the money they put into the facility at least us decide where it goes! I'd love to just throw a huge party for the members instead of giving it to the campgrounds or another amenity! Let them figure their own budgets out! The stables did! (And yes, I am a member of the stables)

Because the money has not been returned and appears like it may not be, gave me a solid reason to go on the attack and it then became my agenda!

 

[residentofcre]

I've heard that even if you try to get past the "Unwelcoming" part they are sometimes just mean... I don't know if this is true, I was told this by other people that tried to volunteer.. And I tell you, if it is true, why do you let them bully you? If this is true, you need to come to the board so we know who they are and if necessary have the persons that continue to run off other volunteers removed. I am sick and tired of personal agendas! I don't like them, never have..

Now I have an agenda, although I don't know if it's considered a personal one.... It is getting a fund back to the stables that was taken away from them because the money was needed elsewhere. On top of that, it was money that the stables members paid to improve their own facility and left over from the previous year they hadn't spent! Considering all M&O funding was taken away, giving them no money at all for improvements, the least that could have done was to return the money they had left over from the previous year instead of putting it in a General fund for whatever!

I've said it before and will say it again... If the stable members have to lose the money they put into the facility at least us decide where it goes! I'd love to just throw a huge party for the members instead of giving it to the campgrounds or another amenity! Let them figure their own budgets out! The stables did! (And yes, I am a member of the stables)

Because the money has not been returned and appears like it may not be, gave me a solid reason to go on the attack and it then became my agenda!

Actually, having been on the Board for the last couple of years, I have been treated a little different... however....

I have not been welcome at any committee meetings [except the Neighborhood Watch Committee and National Night Out Planning Committee] until I did get on the Board... more on that after tomorrow's meeting.

 

[ladyhawk]

Actually, having been on the Board for the last couple of years, I have been treated a little different... however....

I have not been welcome at any committee meetings [except the Neighborhood Watch Committee and National Night Out Planning Committee] until I did get on the Board... more on that after tomorrow's meeting.

There are reasons that we can't have to many board members on any one committee. I've explained that to you before.

Board members that are not members of the committees are not be able to vote on those committee recommendations. The more board members on a committee the more sided a vote becomes thus the reasoning for this.

As an example: Imagine if all board members belonged to the finance committee and they recommend putting that Bronze horse fountain in the lake? And all those board members being behind the idea.

That means that we would end up with that Bronze statue even though a couple of board members who don't belong to the committee voted no..... Its just an example of what could happen....

June

 

[residentofcre]

There are reasons that we can't have to many board members on any one committee. I've explained that to you before.

Board members that are not members of the committees are not be able to vote on those committee recommendations. The more board members on a committee the more sided a vote becomes thus the reasoning for this.

As an example: Imagine if all board members belonged to the finance committee and they recommend putting that Bronze horse fountain in the lake? And all those board members being behind the idea.

That means that we would end up with that Bronze statue even though a couple of board members who don't belong to the committee voted no..... Its just an example of what could happen....

June

I tried to get on committees before getting on the Board June... I tried to be active the regular way... I see Fly's point clearly...

Oh and may I clear up one more thing... Not all the people who attend the meetings regularly are special interest people... I can count those people on one hand... The rest of the regular attendees are there to support us and I apologize right now if what I said in the other posts causes them to be bunched in with the special interest groups...

There are a few people that jump out in my mind that I probably owe this apology to... I know there are plenty more but let me just say sorry to these few and the rest are welcome to smack me twice instead of once.... Bill, Kermit, Jennie, Lee, Ethel, Leah and Ray.... sorry.... I know you don't belong to any special interest groups... but you do work for your community... sorry... hope to see you tonight...

 

[ladyhawk]

The board meeting tonight is a regular board meeting.

The membership meeting, which is the one we are trying to get you to attend, are our Saturday meetings!

You are still invited to our regular meetings but keep in mind you won't be able to vote or make motions... Thats what the Saturdays meeting is suppose to be for which are the ones I've been trying to get you to come to!

Just an FYI
June

 

[residentofcre]

Just an update...

There will be a Finance Committee meeting September 12th 7PM at the management office building.

There will be a Board Meeting on September 15th 10AM....