News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Several property owners vigorously objected to proposed changes in association bylaws and board of directors' policies and procedures. Board members and other homeowners defended the board and its policies.
The proposed bylaws would have given the association board of directors power to levy fines on property owners for violations of the association's bylaws, its Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions code and of rules established by the board of directors. The board has previously used liens and property seizure tactics to enforce its rules.
The proposed bylaws failed to gain the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass them.
New bylaws for the Tollgate Water Company passed by a substantial majority. Steve Turner and Al Gulstrum were elected to two three-year terms on the board of directors, replacing outgoing directors Bob Maddox and Rick Geraths.
An advertisement placed in last week's Nugget by property owners Clayton Garrett and Boyd Warf urged eligible voters to vote no on all the proposed changes to the bylaws.
Board Chairman Blaine Kalar opened the meeting with a statement responding to the Nugget ad and to other confrontations between board members and property owners over the last year. Kalar said that Warf had made various accusations against business manager Betty Thompson and other board members, often insulting them and using "ethnic epithets." He claims to have himself been a victim of Warf's ire.
"Never in my 66 years of life have I been subject to such intimidation," Kalar said.
Opposition to the proposed changes was obstinate as the meeting turned into a forum to attack and defend the board of directors.
Several of the most adamant critics of the board object to what they call the board's "absolutism" in managing Tollgate.
"They don't have time for the people that own Tollgate anymore," Warf said. "The board owns Tollgate."
Former board member Bob Wood said, "In process we have a system where total control is by a handful of people."
Property owner Pam Lair objected to a lack of communication between the owners and the board, "The whole problem was no one would talk to us."
But the majority of the owners present defended the board and its policies, some noting the commotion was raised by a few who just wanted to cause a scene.
Chairman Kalar claimed "it's just a few malcontents with nothing better to do."
A point of contention was the board's policy of requiring the homeowners to put their questions and concerns in writing before they addressed them at a meeting. Property owner Julia Hammond defended the policy, recalling how opposing sides at meetings before the policy was implemented nearly came to blows.
"It was very junior high-ish," she said.
The acrimony between homeowners and the association's board and administration has itself become a source of tension for some Tollgate residents.
Homeowner Linda Dodd was fed up with all the bitterness at the annual Tollgate meeting.
"I have chosen to sell my home here," she said. "This petty crap has got to stop."
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