Rhoades: Sun City West recall group using selective ‘facts’
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By Dick Rhoades | Recreation Centers of Sun City West governing board member
When I stepped forward to run for the governing board, I thought I knew what I was getting into. What I did not expect was the heinous written attacks, allegations of neglect, dereliction of duties, unqualified, libelous, and slanderous attacks on my character.
One of the critical issues in question is the performance of our Reserve Fund. Recallers have taken one section out of context of a two-page policy, ignoring other relevant points. They are basing their allegations of dereliction of duty and that Captrust has breached their fiduciary responsibilities by not complying with our investment policy. Their resolution is to retain an attorney to confirm their allegation of Captrust’s breach of fiduciary investment responsibility.
Captrust presented the Reserve Fund report on Nov. 7, 2023. There is an “unrealized loss.” “Unrealized” loss corresponds with the dramatic downturn in the bond market. The advice from our advisor was do not panic. If your objectives have not changed, do not chase returns. Our investment philosophy is for long-tern return.
The investment of Reserve Funds policy is very prescriptive. The Budget and Finance Committee unanimously confirmed that Captrust is in compliance with our policy, and they fully understand our expectations. The certification of Captrust’s performance was forwarded to the governing board on Nov. 16, 2023, where it was unanimously approved by the governing board.
A second point of contention is, among other things, that Sun City West, when compared with Sun City, has higher operating expenses, our salaries are higher, we have an inordinate number of employees who make more than $100,000 annually and imply the governing board is anti-clubs.
Our neighbors in Sun City are facing extremely difficult financial issues within the immediate future. Specifically, the renovation of an entire recreation center that has been in serious need of repair for more than a decade and golf course irrigation issues.
Sun City West is a premier retirement community. We are proud that we are one of the top 10 age-restricted communities in the nation. Many of us shopped for the right location; we made a conscious decision to move to Sun City West not Sun City, the Grand, the Villages, or any other location.
The recall committee has weaponized the recall process. Their philosophy is scorched earth. They have only one plan, that is to destroy the governing board cohesiveness and fire the general manager. There is nothing more unbelievable than the term fact checked seen on social media. Opinion, conjecture and “taken out of context” are identified as facts.
Everything that I do and say is a matter of public record. The recall committee will not identify themselves. I suspect they are afraid to walk out of the dark and into the open for fear of the same verbal attacks, disparaging comments and holding them responsible for their actions as they place on those subject to recall.
The sad commentary is people use social media as their authoritative source, when all meetings are on YouTube, meeting minutes posted on BoardDocs, financials publicly posted monthly. You also have the right to contact your governing board members, committee chairs, president of the governing board, and the general manager. This is your community, use your right to know directly, not filtered through social media.
