Rancho El Dorado elections Thursday will seat first all residents’ board

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Rancho El Dorado is the very first residential community in Maricopa to transition its homeowners’ association from the developers and builders to the homeowners themselves. The new, seven-person board will be made up entirely of residents.

Presently an interim board of five residents is serving to make the transition smoother. Members are Gerald Figgins, Amy Jamieson, Roger Kolman, Melinda Medina and Dallas Paulsen. None of them are running for re-election.

The interim board has called a special meeting for Monday, October 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school boardroom, in order to discuss financial matters, an ex officio member and the transition checklists.

On Thursday, October 13, at 6:30 in the Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria, or in another posted room, ballots that have been mailed in or carried to the meeting will be tallied. The community must have a representation of 20% or 627 lots for the election to take place. The agenda for the meeting is:

I. Call to Order
II. Introductions
III. Reading of Minutes
IV. Financial Review
V. Status of the Community
VI. Election of the Board of Directors
VII. Adjournment

Current interim board member, Amy Jamieson, remarked, “We are making a decision that affects how our community is run. We need to make sure our voices are heard not only in the election, but at board meetings as well. The board members we elect must be proactive and willing to make an educated decision based on research and fact.”

Jamieson added, “By getting out there and voting, we re showing we care about our community. By voting we can show the new board how eager we are to make our community the best it can be.”

“We have a huge financial responsibility,” she noted. “This community needs strong leadership and support within the board. The board needs to remember they are representing residents, not their personal agendas. Each position has importance in itself, and, collectively, each position needs to support the group.”

Twelve residents are running for seven board positions. See related story for individual biographies. Only two candidates submitted election statements. Both Jeff Kramarczyk and Sandra Baker-Probasco are running for a two-year term of office.

Jeff Kramarczyk:

Many of you have already found my leaflet at your front door. My intention for doing this was to get a better sense of how we as residents live in Rancho El Dorado and to increase awareness of the election. While walking through our streets, I realized that life has progressed beyond the construction and development phase of this community. Now it is time for the Home Owners Association to do the same.

To ensure a successful transition we must start by focusing on the basics. We must define our goals as a community to set the foundation for its future. We must make sure that our budget is in line with this direction and take action where it is not. Finally, we need to have effective and open communications, so that all residents have a voice and have a clear understanding of what we are doing and why.

To accomplish our goals, it is critical for everyone to be involved. The more interest we take in the workings and future of this community, the better it will be. Homeowners are now gaining control over the direction of Rancho El Dorado; your opportunity to have an impact begins with this election.

Sandra S. Baker-Probasco:

My campaign slogan while running for the Maricopa Fire District Board was “I don’t know what I don’t know, but I am willing to ask questions and obtain the answers.” I ask questions every time we meet and I learn from the answers.

What have I learned from the Maricopa Fire District Board that I bring with me into the Homeowners Association Board? The Open Meeting Law controls virtually every aspect of a Board meeting. The process becomes frustrating because of its slowness, but it protects the public’s interest and money. Homeowners need to be educated regarding Open Meeting Law to understand the process the Board is required to follow.

New legislation in Arizona has been passed which places further restrictions on HOA Boards and the property management companies. The Board will need to be informed of the changes and adhere to the new rules. Homeowners should also be informed so they understand the process.

From the Candidates Forum, I heard from the homeowners present the following:
1.) Associated Asset Management’s contract is basically month-to-month. AAM’s contract needs to be closely reviewed and their role as property manager may need to be redefined. The Board is to set policy and not be in the daily operation/administration of the community. That is why you hire a management company, but the management company must be homeowner responsive. To accomplish this goal, the homeowners must communicate with the Board to give direction as to their expectations of the Board and the management company.
2.) CC&R compliance is to be enforced but fairly and consistently. Realistically, that is a challenge in a community of 3100+ lots with a diversified economical and social base. The Board is restricted to work with “what is”. To change the CC&R, it requires a favorable 67% vote of the homeowners. Do the homeowners want to be selective and choose certain portions of the CC&R to be ignored and others enforced? Which ones? Which ones can be enforced? When does enforcement of the CC&R through fines and legal process become a financial burden to homeowners and to the association? Are there any other effective methods to be utilized to enforce CC&R compliance? Homeowners, the Board and the management company must be proactive to accomplish CC&R amendments, addendums and enforcements.
3.) Would the Board enter into mandatory services (recycle) and/or increase fees via new contracts (cable, garbage/recycle, management company) and/or special assessments (add amenities/perform repairs) without polling the homeowners?
My response individually is “no”. Full information should be disclosed to the homeowners and opinions polled. However, I would not anticipate a majority of homeowners to express themselves either way, so when the poll returned and if (example) 20 of 25 returned polls were “yes”, then I would have no hesitancy in voting positive for the mandatory service, contract or special assessment. The Board would have requested input and if the homeowners did not respond, the Board would have to make the decision.
4.) Ideas were expressed regarding how to create positive interaction with the homeowners. Some were “grass root” type of ideas, which are fun, but it was stated the modes of communication needed to be explored to elicit homeowner response. How do the homeowners want to interact with the Board and community? How do they want to be educated regarding the issues before the community? Will homeowners volunteer to serve on various committees to aid the Board in overseeing its duties?
Who you elect to the Board is extremely important. This is a very large not-for-profit entity. The fiduciary liability of the Board of Directors is very real, the homeowners’ investment and enjoyment of their community reflects in policy decisions made by the Board, the management company retained, interpretation/enforcement of the CC&R, contracts to be negotiated in the future, and financial responsibility in collecting fees and expending monies. This is not a situation where you, the homeowner, can “elect” and then sit back and do nothing. You, the homeowner, have to be involved in a proactive, positive manner and hold each Board member accountable.
You have several candidates who offer education, experience, financial awareness, management, problem solving skills and professionalism – all of the areas that are very important to have on our Board. You, as a homeowner, have serious issues to be reviewed and resolved – (possible) cable contract negotiation, County park area and adjoining lake, fee delinquencies collection, garbage/recycle company contract, management company contract, new laws governing the Board and management company, parking, wash, weed control, and the financial stability of the HOA. Expenditures for services need to be reviewed thoroughly and financial reports prepared in a manner the average homeowner can easily comprehend. The new Board will not have a very long honeymoon and most homeowners will not accept “we are new and have never done this” response when decisions are not moving forward. The transition Board, transferring its written records, is exploring if they can legally offer to be available to inform the elected Board the background for decisions that have been made or efforts to resolve problems that are still pending. If it is determined the transition Board can legally do so, it is a generous offer, which the elected Board should accept.
VOTE for candidates who can maintain the high standard you have set for RED HOA and keep it financially sound and on a positive, proactive pathway. I have observed in my life experiences “When a problem arises, you can chose to broadcast it negatively on a repeated basis and do nothing or offer a positive solution to fix the problem and follow through, but you should never turn your back and assume someone else will fix the problem.” Be prepared to support your Board by volunteering on committees, attending meetings, and being involved.

Class I Candidates (3 year terms; 3 seats):

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Francis Brewer

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Dave Christensen

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Robin Simmons

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Patricia Lortz

Class II Candidates (2 year terms; 2 seats):

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Christopher Falcone

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Jeffrey Kramarczyk

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Sandra Baker-Probasco

Shawn Schlegel

Class III Candidates (1 year terms; 2 seats):

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Pamela Hilliard

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Peggy McNerney

(Photos were unavailable for Paul Pilatowski and Linda Podojil)

If you have questions about the meetings or voting, contact Associate Community ManagerCorey Nelson at (602) 957-9191 or by email.

Photos courtesy of Amy Jamieson