I was an Army Green Beret officer (Vietnam veteran) and later a Senior Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
My lovely wife Merry and I moved to the Foothills in 2003. Like many others, I paid little attention to the HOA.
That changed in 2019. The recall effort launched by fellow homeowners compelled me to look more deeply into the HOA, and what I found troubled me. I helped lead a grassroots movement promoting structural Bylaws reforms. In 2020, homeowners voted 11:1 in favor of the reforms.
Though the Board is moving in the right direction, I believe as a Director I could further advance the reform movement’s goals of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the interests of the HOA’s members.
Details of my platform—including specific ideas for ensuring respect for homeowners, strengthening financial management, and enhancing the beauty of our community—are shown below.
Reform Election Platform
The following initiatives are designed to further the objectives set forth in the Mission Statement of the Reform Movement:
To strengthen the management of the Foothills Community Association HOA, including increasing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the interests of the Association's members.
To Ensure Respect for Homeowners
Create the position of an Ombudsman. It shall be the duty of one Board Director to review complaints from members of the Association who believe that they are not being treated fairly.
Revise the 2019 Etiquette Policy to make it more ‘homeowner friendly’, for example by placing the Members Open Forum as one of the first items on the agenda and ensuring that all members are allowed ample time to speak on issues.
Revive the practice of preparing Newsletters that summarize the key issues covered at monthly Board meetings; the Newsletters shall include information on other timely topics as appropriate. These Newsletters shall be sent electronically to members who wish to receive them and shall be posted on the Association’s website.
Require that all policy documents be posted on the Association’s website at least 15 days prior to being voted on by the Board, to ensure adequate time for member input.
Create a formal Election Policy that ensures free and fair elections. (This implements one of the Reform Movement’s goals.)
To Enhance Financial Management so as to Keep Dues as Low as Possible while Maximizing the Value of All Expenditures
Strengthen the financial management improvements taken over the past year, and ensure that the amounts allocated in the annual Budget match as closely as possible actual revenue and operating expenses.
Better align the Reserve Study with long-term expenses while also preparing for possible emergencies.
Revise the 2019 Procurement Policy so that it conforms with all relevant regulations of Arizona State and local governmental authorities and adheres to industry ‘best practices’ standards. (This implements one of the Reform Movement’s goals.)
Ensure that the Lakes Agreement with the Foothills Golf Club is faithfully implemented.
To Ensure that Beauty of the Foothills Community is Maintained and Enhanced
Ensure that the common areas of Association are maintained in excellent condition, utilizing the recommendations of the Landscape Committee and close oversight of the Managing Agent and responsible vendor/vendors.
Ensure that the community’s lakes are maintained in excellent condition, utilizing the recommendations of the Lakes Committee and close oversight of the Managing Agent and responsible vendor.
To Preserve and Enhance the Festival of Lights
Ensure that the Festival of Lights endures as a treasured Foothills tradition.