an email from a neighbor that has not done his homework:

Sal:

You seem to have nothing better to do than to slam the neighborhood in which you live.?  You also seem to have nothing better to do than to slam people whom you do not know.?  Allegation and innuendo are your allies and you lead an army of fools.?  I have seen a fraction of the drivel that you disseminate and I know you for what you are.?  If you do not like living in Circle C Ranch, why don't you just move?

If you want to be a constructive member of the community, why don't you try being constructive.?  I, for one, am tired of your negative crap!?  If your ideas have so much merit, run for the Board of Directors and change the world!

Sincerely,

Bruce W. Owens
6029 Mordred Lane
(not anonymous)

My challenge

Bruce,

Please take a moment and point out something I have written that is not true.

I've heard the same blanket statement from some neighbors who fear conflict (and probably their own shadow) a number of times, but I'm waiting for someone to prove me wrong. Here's a few recent items. Some of these are very serious problems that reflect millions of dollars. The first one could have bankrupted the HOA. Please tell what is not true:

?• For 30 days, from January 11, 2004, to February 9, 2004, all of the CCHOA assets were exposed. As per the governing documents, the CCHOA Board has responsibility to the CCHOA to maintain insurance and protect all assets of the CCHOA.?  This is required in the CCHOA governing documents and is part of the fiduciary responsibilities of the Board to the CCHOA.

?• The majority of CCHOA pool survey respondents said the swim team should go.

?• The BOD kept the actual pool survey results a secret from the residents.

?• The swim team contract gives 100% indemnity to UT and it's employees but there is NO indemnity for our HOA.

?• We have 0 playscapes for 3,000 homes after 16 years of many millions of dollars spent.

?• The residents are paying $1,000, for a lock, to limit our access to our services.

?• The BOD did not follow Texas Law and attempted to reduce the homeowner votes, while builder votes would stay the same, to assure Bartlett a win last spring.

?• The BOD did not use the D & O insurance we had for the $100,000 legal bills to defend their illegal actions.

?• In the December newsletter it's stated that O'Reilly disclosed his Stratus land deal on Mopac. But the minutes do not reflect and financial information such as: How much did he pay for the acre of land on Mopac? When did he purchase it, and from who? How much did Stratus pay O'Reilly for this land in October 2003? Why hasn't O'Reilly answered these simple questions?

As far as running for Director: Months ago, some accused me of complaining because I wanted to be a director. To put that idea to bed, I promised not to run. Am I afraid of running? No. My role has been pointing out the major problems in our company, our HOA. I'll let our talented neighbors run and build our HOA up to give us accountability, transparency and playscapes.

Neighbors, you have a smorgasbord of statements above. Please tell me where I'm wrong. I welcome it.

Please do your homework, because I have.

Your Friend,
Sal Costello

Mr Owen

Mr. Owen

I am sorry you are so bitter, but I would like to thank Sal for all the hard work and time he has put into our community. I am glad to have a neighbor so dedicated to making this the best neighborhood community in Austin. I know my neighbors and I appreciate Sal and his hours of personal time he has spent to make sure that we are represented properly. I urge you to take the time to research the facts and compare them. I bet you will uncover the same truths. Our neighborhood needs checks and balances, something that we are truly lacking. Hopefully with a board of seven this will happen and the neighborhood will be given back to the people who live here. I would also like to thank everyone who is working hard on making this neighborhood great. No one can do it alone, and we are a neighborhood of great talents. We have an exciting future here in Circle C!

First steps


Bruce

Thanks for having the courage of your convictions to identify yourself.

May at least the cowardly among us (yes, Annonemus, that's you) take a lesson from your letter.

Your neighbor at 6129 Mordred