This letter is to report on the May 27 Clear Lake Riviera Community Association monthly meeting. President Alan Siegel and 1st Vice President Sid Donnell made a magnamous gesture of official responsible by relinquishing their volunteer Board seats to honor their fiduciary duties coupled with a persistent groundswell of dissent under additional resident pressure for them to do so.
To allow others to serve, as the Bylaws establish and that the Directors are empowered to uphold, they correctly addressed the importance of proper governance by the Association. Bravo to you both for doing the right thing.
The resistance to the Benefit Zone assessment is still a bone of contention among residents, however the “ask” put foward by County representative Brent Sever was received with some trepidation as it means a new tax for homeowners. Mr. Sever stated that all three areas (zones) must unanimously vote for approval before this assessment can be passed. As homeowners begin to either see the long-term benefit, or feel it is another County scam they are tricked into buying and getting stuck with, will remain to be seen.
Lastly, it is important to say that it is a genuinely good thing to see people from differing ideological positions, values, and ages, etc. sitting together with the hopes of coming to a consensus on what it means to move into the 21st Century in the spirit of cooperation for the benefit of the whole Clear Lake Riviera community.
At its best, this board”s leadership had a future-thinking agenda with plans to spend homeowner”s monies, i.e. dues on projects like a neighborhood park, and restoring the security patrol at a much more functional and competent level. Unfortunately, without more community feedback and input earlier on, the board fell short in listening to all of the voices, and therefore could not fairly represent the diverse viewpoints. It is a daunting job for anyone to take on, one that takes a lot of chutzpa to do.
As a final parting note ? Don”t forget to vote before the June 28 association election as it is your right as a citizen to participate in the democratic process.
Lynn Farmer
Kelseyville/Clear Lake Riviera
