To Call Monday's PBCA Board Meeting Unruly Brings New Meaning to the Term

It's really hard to describe the Monday night meeting of the Portuguese Bend Community Association Board.

Picture a prize fight...

Mmmmm....not quite right. No gloves. Maybe a bar fight?

That's not quite right either, because no one actually threw any physical punches. But there were some verbal punches, that's for sure. About 90 minutes into the meeting, the custodian came in to see (pardon the expression) what the hell was going on! That should give you some idea of the volume of the "discussion" in the room.  And that was just the Architectural Committee meeting! 

And there were only 20 people in the room..including Board members!

The Architectural Committee meeting started off quietly enough with a discussion of house plans that have been approved, house plans that have been submitted, and a suggestion that the board form an Equestrian Committee to work out a trail system within the Bend. This was suggested because of the lot owners' willingness to go along with a community requirement for a three foot equestrian easement in front of their homes. 

Architectural committee member Kim Nelson announced that a group of the lot owners who are using the same contractor have offered to build a new gatehouse for the community at the Narcissa gate, free.

In line with the equestrian easement, Committee Chairman Tim Vaughn said the Architectural Committee will soon send out letters asking all home owners to voluntarily move existing hedges, rocks, fences, plants and other obstructions in this three foot easement in front of their homes.  This, apparently, will be the same letter that will list the proposed changes to the Architectural Standards that the committee has been discussing since February. Tim reported that the Board attorney advised him today that they cannot approve those changes until the entire community has been informed, in writing, of the proposed changes. Look for a letter some time soon. 

Residents within 500 feet of any of the four lots that have building outlines and flags on them should also be looking for letters from the city about the proposed buildings.

Trouble really began during discussion of the fact that any building plans that are submitted must include plans for drainage. During a discussion of drainage issues, specifically a problem with a recently installed dissapater, (a gadget at the end of a drainage pipe that disperses the water so it will not flood, uncontrolled, into a lot across the street),  a disgrunted homeowner suggested that community rules were not being enforced uniformly. Another resident suggested that some board members were not following some association rules. A general free-for-all about who had had what work done and who had permits or didn't have permits, ensued. Fingers were pointed. Voices were raised. The word "liar" was uttered. The yelling began. 

The person next to me said, quietly, "Uh oh. This is not good."

The angry resident asked that financial records be available so everyone could see who has paid what in fees, so that he could see that the rules are being enforced the same for everyone. The secretary-treasurer said that if the resident would supply a list of what he wanted to see, she would do the research and provide the information requested.

The Architectural Committee adjourned at 8:35 p.m. About half the people in the already small audience went home.

The board meeting was called to order soon thereafter, but side talk and comments continued.  There was no reading of minutes, no treasurer's report, no reports on roadsides, access control, the Environmental Impact Report, the Community Cleanup, or much of anything else. At 9 p.m., Board President Casey Porter adjourned the meeting....which then continued for a few minutes more.

There was no discussion of the road work that has been done in the community this month, but, after the meeting, Mike Cooper said that he expects the crew to finish work on Narcissa this week. He expects to get to the work on Limetree after that.

I keep telling you ... turn off the TV and come to these meetings. They are MUCH better than any sit-com or reality show you could ever see.