By Lynn Kellas | Sun City West
On Oct. 10, I attended a meeting organized by a group called “Our SCW” regarding a recall. I went to the meeting with an open mind and thinking I might hear some specifics on how our board was failing our community. That was not what I came away with. What I found were presentations from several disgruntled residents whom I have seen at many Sun City West meetings. Often these folks make accusations, however these accusations are void of suggestions or solutions to the issues they alleged.
What I heard at this meeting was the plan to remove three of our board members so that the current vice president of the governing board could then slide in as the president. At this point the vice president could handpick and appoint three board members from their “Our SCW” group in order to be sure to get the majority vote to remove our general manager, Bill Schwind, for unsubstantiated reasons? Then what? Would Bill be replaced by another one of their appointees?
I spoke of this at the most recent Sun City West governing board meeting, and I was told adamantly by our Sun City West vice president that she knew nothing about this effort. Perhaps someone should check their facts?
All members of the Sun City West governing board and General Manager Bill Schwind have the utmost respect for owner members and all facilities in our community. Not one of them makes a decision on their own of how our money is spent. First the budget is reviewed by the Budget & Finance Committee. Once things have been discussed and decided upon, and a consensus has been made, it is passed forward to the entire nine-member governing board to review. Our general manager does not make that decision.
I have attended many board meetings over the last several years. A couple of years ago there was a tremendous amount of division amongst the board. There was infighting over obvious agendas by several board members. Some members in my opinion appeared to be acting as puppets for a board member who had been recalled in 2021. Who is now one of the “Our SCW“recall leaders.
Over the last year with Tim Hurley as president, he and the current board have shown honesty, integrity, grace, confidence and a united front with you, the resident owners of Sun City West in the spotlight. This is what we need in Sun City West. We need board members that have good minds that think independently. That’s how boards are intended to work, and how the best decisions are made.
An unwarranted removal of this type would cause division, mistrust and disdain in our community. To draw this kind of destructive virus into our community is incomprehensible.
We must work together in our community to build and keep Sun City West strong and enjoyable! We must stand united with strong alliance to keep our Governing Board, General Manager, and this magnificent Sun City West as Del Webb had envisioned.
