Paul Lavigne Running for the Board of Directors
Some Changes Were Accepted, Others Weren't
I applied for membership on the Board's Architectural Review Committee (ARC) in September 2023. I was interested in this Committee because it has an extremely important purpose and the authority to approve or not proposed alterations to homeowners' property; all other Board Committees can only recommend things to the Board.
There were three finalists interviewed for the positions. When I was interviewed I admitted that I didn't have a great deal of knowledge of the alterations being proposed, e.g. paint colors, trees and plants.I did have a lot of experience implementing rules. I was selected for the position.
The Committee consisted of four veteran members who had served many years on the Committee, had near perfect understanding of the Architectural Rules and Regulations, and what could and could not be approved.They had significant, important institutional memory.
I had regularly read the ARC's monthly articles in the Herald. I noticed that recent articles featured sections of the Architectural Rules and Regulations month after month, not very interesting. After a couple months on the Committee, I asked about this, and if I would be expected to write any.
Members told me that they were doing this way because: homeowners should know the rules; no one on the Committee wanted to write the articles; and they didn't know what to write about. I immediately offered to write the articles, every month..I thought this was very important.
They immediately accepted my offer. But it was a group effort. During the first meeting of each month, I suggested one or more topics, we discussed them and they selected one. At the second meeting of the month, they reviewed a draft of the article I wrote, proposed changes, and finalized it.
We also changed the purpose of the articles over time as I suggested topics and drafted them. In the beginning, it was mostly focused on the regulatory aspect. We started providing information to help owners make a decision about e.g. solar panels, turf instead of grass, and hardscape in lieu of grass.
You can take from this that: I wait; I notice; I ask; I suggest; I offer; and I do. That's how I am.