Yes, there is another active RECALL effort in south Orange County. Across the freeway from Mission Viejo is the city of Laguna Woods that includes the gated senior community of Laguna Woods Village. Laguna Woods Village has a population of 18,000 residents living in 12,300 manors. This guard gated community is managed by Professional Community Management Inc., known by residents as PCM. Under PCM are four management associations. Golden Rain Foundation, GRF responsible for the common areas, United Laguna Hills Mutual, 3rd Laguna Hills Mutual (condo’s) and 50’s Laguna Hills Mutual (responsible for the high rise towers).
In my discussion with former United Board Member Connie Grundke I was told that the recall committee was able to get almost double the number of petitions required to force this recall election (which was covered by the Register in today’s local section).
In one of my property rights speaking engagements in Laguna Woods Village I met United Board Member Mike Curtis who is the individual acknowledged for starting the recall effort. My perception of Mike is someone willing to volunteer his time and talents for the good of his neighbors.
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Above is the actual RECALL Ballot which in itself raises a few questions starting with the sequence. Normally the first line after asking the question reads: “shall Director X be recalled?” This is always with a first option to say YES with a second box to read NO. As you look at the ballot residents have a unique opportunity not found in traditional elected official ballots. In this ballot the voters can abstain. Sounds like someone famous for voting “present.”
Connie informs me that the vote by mail ballot will be sent out in the next week with a return date set at 9 a.m. on August 21st.
While there are issues dealing with PCM General Manager Milt Johns, the big issue which triggered the recall, was his decision, dating back to 1996, to set up a “stealth bonus plan” without the knowledge or approval of any Board. No bonus details were ever provided in any of the four corporations financial reports.
It was only after an inadvertent mention of the bonus plan, where it leaked out, that PCM G.M. Milt Johns acknowledged the “plan.”
Connie said that “bonus’s are paid to hourly employees for safety and attendance.” Those bonus’s are warranted and “fully transparent in the financials.”
He stated that the problem is that “a non-profit expenditure of this bonus plan requires board approval.”
Stay tuned. I will provide the results once their recall election is held.
Larry, are you sure that Laguna Woods is fully incorporated city or is it an association?
There can be association which can associate smaller associations but it would not be a city according to CA Constitution. There are usually referred to as Common Interest Developments [“CID”] rather than HOA.
Please notice that the associations have dual legal standing: 1) as Corporation and 2) as Government.
There is different set of laws for each and strangely they can act under both set of laws as they pleas.
Under the corporate law they are not subject to obey the constitution but under the government they should.
The associations are quasi governments and there is where the [fascism starts].
The ballot you are showing is most likely govern by the association or corporate laws. See § 1363.03. Adoption of rules; Election; Inspectors of election; Procedures
Hi Stanley.
This is your favorite topic. HOA’s.
The Laguna Woods Village is located inside the city of Laguna Woods. My sense is that there are a few homes, as well as business establishments, that are not inside the gates (where I play golf every week.)
“This is your favorite topic. HOA’s”….. It should be yours topic too Larry.
However, you are God fearing American abider, eager to submit to the servitudes.
You feel safe and free that way.
Same like a dog on the leash enjoys his master.
Larry, sad part is that you are the right wing socialist and you even do not know about it.
I strongly recommend to read up on Villa Appalling: Destroying the Myth of Affordable Community Living (Paperback) written by my friend Donie Vanitzian
Stanley.
As you are so well versed in HOA’s, and I trust that you have found a better place to live than our home in Mission Viejo, perhaps you can let me know when there is an opening next door to your home or apartment so that I can move in next door.
That would enable us to have a refreshing drink every night as we solve the problems of the world
Larry, I am saying that you must understand, in depth, true reason behind the HOA, CID, CIC and PUD.
Once you will, you will be horrified same as you are about taxes and socialized medicine.
When communist took over in Europe, first thing they did was a collectivism of the small business, farms and housing.
So how far are we from that?…. Do not blame Obama for that!
Blame yourself!
If we would not buy into these Utopian housing ideas than the city of Mission Viejo would be a ghost town.
Stanley. You are dodging my SA housing challenge but as I like you I will give you a pass.
As a history buff I am somewhat familiar with European History. The problem in America is that many of us have lived a sheltered existence.
You might go back to one of my posts on how to boil a live frog. Here’s the Wikipedia version:
The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death.
Sounds like the USA in 2020 unless we do something to stop it.
I still believe Larry, that the HOA, CID, CIC and PUD are the breeding grounds for socialism and fascism which then spills into the local government and from there to Sacramento.
Therefore, if you don’t want to be kooked you must turn off the heat by baning any such communities.
STanley.
Knowing several HOA Board Members I will respectfully disagree with you that they eventualy end up creating laws in Sacramento.
From what I have seen they focus on maintaining their home areas by making sure that each of us comply with their CC&R’s.I have yet to meet one Board Member who successfully used that position as a stepping stone to elected office.
As stated previously I was sued by our HOA for failing to install grass in front of our house months after we moved in. Come on down and you will still not find a blade of planted grass in front of our house after nearly 30 years.
OC Register reported today that Mr. Mike Curtis of LWV passed away.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/curtis-243211-community-board.html
My sympathy for Mr. Curtis’ family.
I never met Mr. Mike Curtis, but I offered my services pro-bono in auditing or reviewing some of the activities of his association because I sensed he was fighting for the “underdog”, and because as a volunteer HOA Board member, I faced some mismanagement at my homeowners association that violated many of our homeowners rights, much of which we subsequently reformed.
Francisco “Paco” Barragan CPA, CIA
I met Mike Curtis when speaking about property rights at one of their monthly meetings.
He represented the vocal minority trying to look out for his neighbors when many people choose not to take risks and stand up to speak out. He will be missed.
Mike Curtis is missed and will be remembered as a champion of this community. He helped us get rid of Milt Johns as General Manager and expose the underbelly of what is going on in this community.
The fight continues to remove PCM entirely from the property, restructure GRF completely since they cannot be trusted to administer the trust which they are supposed to protect for the members. The best solution would be to have a non-profit executive director rather than a self serving for-profit corporation helping themselves to our funds.
Mike was one of several of us who fight against what is wrong in here and those of us who remain behind will continue the effort.