Architect drawing of building’s exterior.
Sunday’s special meeting of the Enchanted Hills Community Association was laced with accusations of illegality and underhandedness, but the members in attendance, along with proxy voters, approved the construction of a new community center paid in part by the Bowen Center.
The meeting was called by the association board pursuant to a Dec. 9 written notice sent to all lot owners announcing the purpose “will be to vote regarding the new community building project, and the lease associated with the project.”
The notice continued, “Only ECHA [sic] property owners with dues and fees paid current through December 2014 will be eligible to cast a valid vote at this meeting.”
Approximately 40 members, representing about 50 votes (one vote per lot owned), attended the meeting held at Wawasee Lakeside Chapel. Association records indicated more than 400 members were eligible to vote Sunday.
Upon verification of eligibility, attendees were handed a paper ballot posing the question: “As an E.H.C.A. Inc. member in good standing do you support the E.H.C.A. Board decision to help fund the new building project, and sign the lease associated with said project?” The ballot included a space to indicate a proxy vote.
Vice President Ron Sims opened the 2 p.m. meeting with a brief description of the project, then turned the microphone over to Bowen Center CEO Kurt Carlson, who explained the anticipate benefits of the building, which would house a food pantry, thrift store, offices for the association and Bowen Center, after school activities, continuing education classes and a reinforced storm shelter.
A contingent of project opponents, including board member Joyce Sherman, whose husband was ousted as board president in November and who has filed a complaint against the board with the state attorney general, voiced their objections on several fronts.
Some accused the board of failing to properly notify members of deliberations about the project and negotiations with Bowen Center. Others claimed the new facility would serve no beneficial purpose to association landowners.
Member Don French said, “I live catty-corner from the (existing) building, and I see kids smoking dope. I’ve lived in the same spot for 30 years, and the problems have not improved since Bowen Center has come in. We don’t need the building.”
The meeting devolved into reciprocal accusations between the pro and con factions on irrelevant topics until the meeting was refocused with member Ted Gillam’s exhortation, “Let’s get on with the vote! There are playoff games going on!”
The members their cast their ballots, yielding a tally of 101 in favor of the project and 21 opposed.
As soon as the voting results were announced, association member Connie Stoliker, objected, claiming she was told no proxy votes would be allowed and contending the vote should be declared illegal.
Sims remarked after the 95-minute meeting he was not present when the notices were sent out and a proxy ballot should have been included. He also stated without the proxy votes, the count was 46 to 21 approving the project.
That did not satisfy Sherman, who asserted the dynamics of collecting votes would have been different if proxy ballots, or at least a statement that proxy votes were allowed, had been included with the notice.
Sherman did not say whether the dissenters would pursue legal action.