Editor,
[Mr.] Orr’s answer [Nov. 20] to “How many meetings have I attended?” “One. And it was on the adoption of the 2020 budget.” Orr said that during the one meeting he had to exercise every public relation skill he had ever learned due to a meeting attendant who did not understand a budget topic and created confusion.
Orr described the community member who wanted to close the golf course due to revenues not meeting the expenses. He said the member simply needed a leader to provide him with accurate information and provide a solution on how to “close the gap.” Closing the gap, Orr said, is to avoid the drastic measures of closing the golf course and embrace decisions which increase the revenue source to make the golf course sustainable.
My response:
1) I am not voting for a “leader,” and never implied I wanted one. I am voting for a person who I feel will best represent me and the many other residents here on the Island.
2) It’s not true that I “didn’t understand a budget topic.” I understand it very well and never gave any indication that I “didn’t understand” it. What I did at that meeting was challenge what was being said at the time, which I found to be incorrect and completely false.
3) Never once have I said, or implied, that I wanted to “close the golf course.” There is no way we residents should be losing over 20% of our assessment dollars to pay for the very few who use these amenities.
4) Orr’s comment that I “created confusion during the meeting,” is false. There was no “confusion,” just a refusal by the board to answer any direct questions from residents. The audience was fine; board members became extremely flustered, lost, and indeed, “confused” because they had no idea how to handle someone who expects direct answers to direct questions. This, apparently, is not something they are currently equipped to deal with.
I ask that all residents consider this information before you vote.
Michael Mumma