HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- The Hot Springs Village Property Owners' Association Board of Directors worked on bylaw and policy revisions and the 2015 proposed budget and fee schedules during Wednesday's workshop meeting.
Some of the bylaw issues deal specifically with defining board members in good standing, committee issues and the chain of command in terms of hiring and firing personnel. Some board members want to include language to keep them more advised of the decisions made by Chief Operating Officer and General Manager David Twiggs as he fills a department head vacancy.
The request to put this safeguard in place stemmed from practices by previous General Manager Scott Randall. Some board members felt at the time that he usurped his authority and bypassed the board on certain personnel decisions.
"I will keep the board in the loop informing them at all times of what changes I am making in the department heads, but there has to be a chain of command. I answer to the board, and the employees answer to me. They don't need to feel like they have to keep four board members (a majority for a vote) happy in order to keep their job. If you are unhappy with future choices, then that falls onto my shoulders," Twiggs said.
The bylaws were reviewed extensively by an ad hoc committee that eventually made recommendations to the board. Several issues, including the impact that bylaw changes would make on policies, are still being discussed, and Twiggs and President Keith Keck both emphasized that these issues are not time sensitive, and more changes and proposals can be done.
"I don't want anyone to feel pressure from a November deadline. I'd rather the board take their time and do it right and to everyone's satisfaction," Twiggs said.
The board held four budget review sessions over the last two weeks and continues to review numbers prepared by Chief Financial Officer Lesley Nalley. Two sets of budget numbers are being reviewed -- one if the proposed assessment increase passes and one if it doesn't.
Both budgets initially called removing lifeguards from the Coronado Fitness Center and the DeSoto Pool. However, due to an overwhelming amount of input from property owners wanting the POA to retain them, Keck said during his comments that the lifeguards are "back in. The members have spoken to this, and we are listening."
The POA has posted a series of white papers on its website regarding the proposed assessment increase, and two assessment and budget town hall meetings have been set for Tuesday and Wednesday, at 6 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively, at Coronado Center.
Final work continues on the improvements at the West Gate on Highway 7, and Public Works Director Jason Temple said the new fountain structure, built as a replica to the original E. Fay Jones structure, was due to arrive at noon.
Temple added that final paving and sealing work will be done through October.
Twiggs also announced that work with Troon Golf continues to progress.
"The surge of interest in the Village has dramatically gone up since the Troon golf project was announced, and we have some smaller developers who are interested in putting in small neighborhoods in undeveloped areas of the Village. These developers have worked with Troon communities before, and this is a good thing. It is a start toward getting bigger development and growth here," Twiggs said.
Local on 10/02/2014