POA standardizes bylaws’ language

A number of changes to the bylaws of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association were approved on first reading during the Aug. 18 board meeting.

All the changes are being made to create unified wording.

“Some of the bylaws were written at different times than others and language used was not consistent,” POA general manager Tom Judson explained to the board. “For example, Association, POA, and member are used in a variety of ways. This (revision) uniforms things out. Other than terminology, (we are not making) substantive changes.”

“Thanks to (POA staff attorney Doug) McCash for his efforts to bring these up to date,” board member Patrick Laury said. “He used a fine-toothed comb to make sure it is consistent.”

During the open forum portion of the meeting, during which members are given time to speak on POA issue, Bella Vista resident Jim Parsons presented the board with a letter that outlined how previous board have taken the position that they role is to serve the corporation rather than the members. He offered a question: Do you agree with the rationale of (former board officials)?

“Who is the corporation?” board member Joshua Hart asked.

“That’s a good question,” Parsons said. “Is this the corporation, or is Cooper (Cooper Communities, the developer of Bella Vista Village) the corporation. Who the heck is the corporation. The POA and general manager?”

“You are wrong” Hart said. “In any corporation, the shareholders are the corporation. The

members are the corporation.

“We need to stop all this politics of fear, and turning each against ourselves. Whatever we are doing here we are doing … for all the members.” As Hart finished that sentence, applause erupted from the few dozen people sitting in the audience.

“Let’s clean the slate. The members are the corporation,” Hart said.

Parsons responded, “That is wonderful news – I hope you do listen to the members. Always before there was the corporation and then the membership.”

Board member Patrick Laury jumped into the discussion, noting that Parsons’ letter says the board has allegiance to the corporation ahead of the membership.

“As a board member, as Joshua has just said, the corporation is the membership. We place nothing ahead of the membership. Nothing,” Laury said. “There are times where the membership does not have all the information. We cannot have, doing our due diligence, we cannot accept the opinion of the membership.But we are acting for the benefit of the membership.”

A few minutes earlier in the meeting, board chairman Bob Brooks responded to a question posed during the open forum at the July board meeting.

A person said that the POA has made it cheaper for guests to play golf than for members.

“I assume,” Brooks said, “they are asking about specials that the golf pro shops runs. Any golf fee specials that this organization offers, it offers to members and guests. If we’re offering a $25 special to play after 2 p.m. at Kingswood, a guest can buy that special — or a member can by that special. … We did not give preferential fee breaks to guests over members.”

During reports from the Joint Advisory Committees:

• Lakes committee chairman John Doyle reported that the battle with algae in Loch Lomond is finally being won by the POA. The cooler weather has been the turning point.

He also noted that the University of Arkansas bass club asked for permission to use Loch Lomond for a qualifying event, with all proceeds going to scholarships at the UA. The committee overwhelming supports giving permission for the event. Later in the meeting, the board approved the tournament, noting that it’s similar to allowing high schools to use the golf courses.

He said the committee would like to resurrect the fishing derby that was held last year. There’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to get children fishing.

• Recreation committee member Judy Griffin reported that there’s been conversation about developing a community vegetable garden.

• Golf committee chairman Jake Grasmick reported that the junior golf program this summer has been a great success. A point of pride is that teens who did not golf went through the program then made the golf team at Bentonville West High School, which opened last week.

He outlined all the volunteer work that’s been ongoing, as well as noted that the Play Forward markers have been installed on every course except Count4y Club. The design for that course is complete and those should be installed soon.

In other business, the board approved:

• The final reading of a trail-use policy that mirrors the policy developed the the city.

• The final reading of the Officials POA Publication and Release of Information Policy.

• Waived bidding on work for the Golf Central project. The amount of money did not change

• Waived the requirement for three bids for work on the boiler heating system for the Country Club. Despite extensive solicitation of bids, only two have been received.

"Let's clean the slate. The members are the corporation. Joshua Hart POA Board Member