OK, I certainly don't consider myself an "expert" on RONR, but I do have the book and have read it. I probably know a little bit more about what's correct and what's not than the current president, who seems to need to huddle with the parliamentarian before the simplest of motions. Basically, the "rescinding" of the vote on the budget from the November meeting is incorrect. You cannot rescind something that didn't pass. You have to "reconsider" that motion. And there are a couple of problems with that as well. First of all, the reconsider motion has to be made by someone that originally vote with the prevailing side (the side that squashed the budget motion). It cannot be made by anyone that voted in favor of accepting the budget (RONR 37:10). Next, the motion needs to be the EXACT motion that was turned down at the previous vote. There can be no changes to the motion (RONR 37:3). So, if the General Manager has changed the original motion to include moving $3 million to a cash reserve account, he cannot do so with a reconsidered motion. He needs to do a completely NEW motion. The problem with that is that according to the by-laws, if you're going to introduce a new motion, it has to be made 7 days prior to the meeting to give the members and the Board members a chance to see it and research it (By-Laws, Article V "Meetings of the Board"). To make a motion, especially one that includes an increase in assessments without giving the members sufficient chance to discuss the motion at the Board meeting is an affront to the current by-laws. And to not allow a second reading, also per the by-laws just because management didn't have the motion ready in time is not an emergency for the Board. It's another mis-step by the General Manager. It needs to be sent to January so it can go through the two readings that the by-laws call for. Let me add one more thing that I think is rather telling. The General Manager crowed long and loud about how the Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved the budget. Not quite true. They did not approve moving the $4 million (now $3 million) to a cash reserve. And the thing I find funny, is he hasn't said anything about taking the new proposal, with the $3 million in carry-forward funds to a cash reserve going before the Budget and Finance Committee. If it was such a big deal to have that committee's approval originally, why didn't he go back to them. And by the way, a lack of time isn't a valid excuse. It just shows that once again, the GM hasn't been able to accomplish something as simple as getting a budget passed. How embarrassing!
Well said Radio, and welcome. The new GM has proven one thing in his year's tenure, he is out of his element. Not trying to be unkind here, just terribly frustrated with someone who thinks he is running a for profit business. Nothing wrong with being financially prudent, but his willingness to work with the community is disturbing on so many levels. The board's obligation is to hold him and his management staff accountable. Sadly, they appear to be incapable of doing that. We are headed down a very dangerous road, one where we just pay for everything and take the membership out of every equation. Last night's celebration was the classic example of how important it is to have the community be the drivers. The original golf car parade was around the Sun Dial Rec Center, the members said hell no and turned it into a festive route through the streets of Sun City. What was the excuse we've heard now several times from the GM's lips..."liability." The real liability here is his leadership and more so a board afraid to say or do anything.
The motion to Reconsider also has to be made in the same meeting it was presented or the next succeeding day within the session. I know Dale has stated that the Board meetings are year-long sessions.... First of all, that's not true because they complete the entire agenda at every meeting therefore each meeting is considered a separate session (RONR 8:4). Second, Robert's states that you can't raise the same motion in the same session, so if the meetings are only part of a year-long session, then how are they voting twice on the same motion? Dale also believes that just because any unfinished business, except that which is in the hands of a committee, automatically dies at the end of the year, it's another excuse that their meetings are year-long sessions. Wrong again, the motion dies because of the term limits of the Directors and has nothing to do with being a session! The solution is very simply and can make everybody's life so much easier. Just face the fact and admit that each meeting is a separate session. By doing that the second reading/vote of the motion automatically gets listed on the next meetings agenda as a Special Order, Unfinished Business or a General Order! Not only that, but if a motion fails, like the proposed budget did, you simply make the same damn motion at the very next meeting or every future meeting until you're either tired of offering it or it passes! If you watched the video of that meeting you would have seen that the motion was first going to be to Reconsider until they figured out that that was wrong, so then they tried to Rescind the motion which only caused more confusion and caused the vote to be postponed! I disagree a little with that comment. True the 7 day notice is considered to be "previous notice", however the Bylaw states that it's the agenda that must be posted 7 days prior to the meeting and says nothing about a requirement for previous notice for the motions intended to be presented! If you notice, they don't even approve the agenda anymore, which is a story for another day! The Bylaw you're referring to also says the agenda can be amended, but how do you amend the agenda if it's not brought up for a vote on its approval? Oh, it can be done but it then requires a 2/3rd's vote to amend it later on where it would only take a majority vote when it's being voted on for approval! And let's not forget, that if the agenda can be amended, what's stopping a Director from offering a new motion under new business and it will be voted on with no previous notice at all! There's not even a requirement that an amendment to the Bylaws requires previous notice and for that matter, and it doesn't specify what the vote requirement is to amend a Bylaw...2/3rds or majority!! If you can find that in the Bylaws please show me where! Robert's Rules will tell you that if nothing is specified in the Bylaws then a majority of the entire membership can approve an amendment to the Bylaws. That means you only need 5 votes instead of 6. I think I've said enough and you all get the point. The Board has no idea what they're doing when it comes to the rules. They simply make them up as they go along and I can't wait to see how the upcoming motion to Rescind turns out! I just might bring some popcorn to this meeting!
Go back and read the agenda for this Thursday's meeting. There is no motion to approve the budget so how can Lenefsky, amend the 2023 budget if it hasn't even been approved? Hmmm??? Must have something to do with that motion to Rescind?
Now is the time to amend the Jan Ek Oath of Office swearing fealty to the Corporation and return the Oath of Office to fealty to the membership and remind the Board that they are First among Equals (Sun City Membership) and accountable to the Membership only not the GM and his staff.
The new board should refuse the Bill Cook budget and adopt a continuing budget resolution until a member oriented budget is written.
