A rather jovial Westchase
Community Association (WCA)
President Ruben Collazo opened
this month’s voting members
meeting with references to the
WOW’s April Fool’s story and
even exchanged quips with
Glenfield Voting Member (VM) Sue
Syatauw about returning
refreshed and unruffled from a
recent vacation. The rest of the
evening, however, proved lighter
on humor.
The evening began with an update from the
Guidelines Committee. Speaking for the committee, Syatauw stated a draft
of the Residential Guidelines, consisting of architectural and use rules
governing Westchase residential properties, should be ready for review
at the next VM meeting. As she circulated a questionnaire regarding
neighborhood-specific mailboxes and address plaques, VMs reported on
their residents’ feedback from an informal screen/storm door poll
conducted last month via e-mail.
The results were mixed. Many neighborhoods supported the idea, while
many opposed it. Most VMs reported a low response rate and some
neighborhoods were not polled at all. Syatauw reminded VMs that this was
merely to gauge potential interest.
Property Manager Patty Stewart then informed VMs that the Radcliffe
Mailbox Guideline was technically passed last month in error. Because
notice of the guideline fell two days short of requirements, WCA
Attorney Steve Mezer advised it be re-posted in WOW before a vote
could be held. To allow for the required notice, VMs will re-vote on the
issue at their June meeting.
This time constraint also applied to another proposed
neighborhood-specific guideline. The Vineyards, represented by Pam Senk,
is seeking to adopt a more restrictive exterior home color palette and
collected 56 percent of its residents’ signatures in support. Senk
expressed frustration over the delay of the color palette vote.
Reiterating that the required notice was unavoidable, Stewart said the
vote would be placed on the June agenda.
The jocularity between Collazo and Syatauw ceased when VMs discussed
appointments to the Variance Committee, which hears variance requests to
Modifications Committee denials. VMs were to vote on the appointment of
an architect to the committee. With the recent resignation of committee
member Tish Dietrich (VM, Keswick Forest), however, VMs also needed to
fill that vacancy. Syatauw pressed for discussion about the reasons for
Dietrich’s resignation, but Collazo pushed forward, calling for
volunteers for the seat. Syatauw went on to allege that the resignation
was due in part to being “bothered by input from non-committee members.”
Later, she suggested that Collazo was one of the influences. Dietrich
was not present but did comment later by phone, taking issue with
Syatauw’s characterization of the matter. “My resignation had absolutely
nothing to do with any committee or non-committee members,” she stated.
“I found myself torn between my empathy for residents’ requests and the
literal translation of our documents. I felt personally uncomfortable
making some of the decisions with verbiage that was subject to
interpretation.”
Cynde Mercer (VM, The Bridges) volunteered for the committee and was
unanimously approved to serve its one-year term. VMs also approved the
appointment of architects Gritton and Associates, with only Syatauw
dissenting.
At the close of the evening, Mike Niemis (VM, WPV Townhomes) notified
VMs of an offer from Alan Charon from Real Property Specialists to
donate use of his land for Westchase community events. Niemis also
questioned the presence of individuals collecting donations at the
intersection of Sheldon Road and Linebaugh Avenue. He stated that
numerous complaints had already been made to the sheriff’s office, but
nothing has been done to remove them. Collazo suggested each VM make a
call this month to the sheriff as the safety of the collection practices
and the legitimacy of the charity were questioned.
From the audience Harbor Links Alternate Bob Argus questioned whether a
VM request to include a matter on the evening’s agenda had been denied.
Collazo replied that he did not know what Argus was referring to, even
after Argus repeated the question. Syatauw said, “It was me, Ruben. You
would not allow my item on the agenda.”
Collazo then responded that he had been unwilling to include the
unspecified matter in order to avoid “a media circus.”
WOW contacted Syatauw after the meeting to inquire about the
agenda item. She replied via e-mail that she had made a request three
times and it had been denied. “My topic of discussion which I had asked
to be included was: The current economic outlook and its direct effect
on the WCA,” she wrote. “I had offered to have three Westchase
professionals (who were residents) speak in regards to the topic. This
was a legitimate topic and to be deprived an agenda stop is sort of like
taking away the VMs freedom of speech!” She added, “I felt Robert’s
Rules allowed for agenda items from the VMs as this was in fact a VM
meeting. He [Collazo] ignored the topic.”
Rather than taking up the matter by motion, VMs began trickling out of
the meeting and it adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
