This week, let?’s put the word ?“neighbor?” back into neighborhood. The special meeting called for in a few days unfortunately seems to pit neighbors against neighbors. It needn?’t be so.
You can seek change for the future without it being an indictment of the past. As I said at the last HOA meeting, I thank the board for many of the positive things they?’ve done for our community. Still, I am convinced after having since served on the bylaws committee and read dozens of letter and emails from my neighbors, that the biggest ?“problem?” in our HOA is the management structure is long outdated.
The first step toward change is expanding our board to at least 7 members, if not to 9. We could of course debate the actual numbers forever. I am sure there are several valid arguments, pro and con, for other numbers as well. Let me suggest one to you. We have today in Circle C at least 7 geographically distinct neighborhoods. Indeed, they even go by different titles ?– Circle C on the Park, Wildflower, Circle C North, Vintage Place, Circle C West, Parkwest. And let?’s not forget the original ?“core?” section of Circle C as well. Why is it so unreasonable or unthinkable to assume that each of these neighborhoods ?“might?” just want to elect someone from down the street to speak ?“for them?”?
Case in point: Wouldn?’t you rather have ?“your own?” representative on the City Council instead of the present bunch that seem to represent only the oft-whacky, inner-city, God-knows-what-they?’re-smoking constituents? Austin would be a better place if it had single member districts. So would Circle C. I for one would think it more likely to get results if a concern I perceive is also local to ?“my?” representative who happens to be my neighbor down the street, as opposed to someone who doesn?’t live near me or even in Circle C. It?’s just like getting results from a state or congressional representative, as opposed to a senator. Who do you think responds more quickly?
In any event, as I suggested earlier, you don?’t have to call people names, steal yard signs, file lawsuits, threaten this or threaten that, to get your message across. All I ask of anyone reading this is that you do your civic duty and attend the HOA meeting Tuesday night, speak your mind if so inclined, vote and let?’s put this matter to bed. And all I ask of those who are running this show is that you play fairly and remember you?’re one of us too.
Regards,
Chris Bourgeacq
You can seek change for the future without it being an indictment of the past. As I said at the last HOA meeting, I thank the board for many of the positive things they?’ve done for our community. Still, I am convinced after having since served on the bylaws committee and read dozens of letter and emails from my neighbors, that the biggest ?“problem?” in our HOA is the management structure is long outdated.
The first step toward change is expanding our board to at least 7 members, if not to 9. We could of course debate the actual numbers forever. I am sure there are several valid arguments, pro and con, for other numbers as well. Let me suggest one to you. We have today in Circle C at least 7 geographically distinct neighborhoods. Indeed, they even go by different titles ?– Circle C on the Park, Wildflower, Circle C North, Vintage Place, Circle C West, Parkwest. And let?’s not forget the original ?“core?” section of Circle C as well. Why is it so unreasonable or unthinkable to assume that each of these neighborhoods ?“might?” just want to elect someone from down the street to speak ?“for them?”?
Case in point: Wouldn?’t you rather have ?“your own?” representative on the City Council instead of the present bunch that seem to represent only the oft-whacky, inner-city, God-knows-what-they?’re-smoking constituents? Austin would be a better place if it had single member districts. So would Circle C. I for one would think it more likely to get results if a concern I perceive is also local to ?“my?” representative who happens to be my neighbor down the street, as opposed to someone who doesn?’t live near me or even in Circle C. It?’s just like getting results from a state or congressional representative, as opposed to a senator. Who do you think responds more quickly?
In any event, as I suggested earlier, you don?’t have to call people names, steal yard signs, file lawsuits, threaten this or threaten that, to get your message across. All I ask of anyone reading this is that you do your civic duty and attend the HOA meeting Tuesday night, speak your mind if so inclined, vote and let?’s put this matter to bed. And all I ask of those who are running this show is that you play fairly and remember you?’re one of us too.
Regards,
Chris Bourgeacq
