Members of the Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA) board of directors are no longer subject to term limits, under by-law changes adopted Saturday at the Burnt Mill Beach Club by a split board.
The term-limit repeal was one of a wide range of issues resolved by the board, including filling its east district vacancy, approving funds for a fuel-reduction program and tentatively approving a two-day water-ski race in October.
The board added its seventh member, appointing former general counsel Stan Tomlinson to replace resigned Director Trevor Harrison. Back at full strength, the board voted 5-2 to delete a provision limiting directors to two consecutive three-year terms. Directors Chris Klein and Walt Sweet dissented.
The vote came after Klein's bid to postpone the term-limits amendment until the general membership meeting in July, so members could opine on it, failed. "By-laws are voted on by directors, and not members," said President Jack Cooperman. "We've heard from people on both sides. We need to vote it up or down."
It also followed comments from ALA members Mary Snaer and Karen Vander Meyden in which they challenged the sufficiency of members' notice about the proposed changes.
Snaer said the action had been described on ALA's website as "consideration," and not voting. "If a vote on the by-laws ‘consideration' is taken today it will be without clear notice," she said. "If the proposed changes stand, the members can overturn any section by membership vote per Article VI, or term limits can be an election issue."
The ALA's next board election occurs in September, when the terms of Cooperman, Sweet and Klein expire. Cooperman said after the meeting that "I probably will" when asked if he would seek re-election.
In her comments, Vander Meyden noted that there were over 100 changes (proposed for the by-laws) that affect members. I can't digest over 100 changes in 41 hours," she said, referring to the notice being posted two days before the meeting.
ALA member Sue Walker defended the proposal, noting the difference between term limits in Sacramento "and a small group like ALA." Locally there is a small number of people available who can serve on the board, Walker said. "To knock some of those people out is not a wise decision," and elections constitute the membership's safeguard for removing directors.
Director Scott Rindenow said while term limits are good for politicians, "we are an elected group of volunteers. When we have people that are qualified and want to serve and are doing a reasonably good job, we hate to lose them."
If ALA had lots of people interested in serving, he said, "there'd be an issue. But right now people are few and far between."
The board also voted, 6-1, with Klein voting no, to remove a clause forbidding officers to hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms, and restored a requirement that no director be elected president without being a director for at least six months.
Other by-law changes, including one formally reducing the number of meetings per year from 12 to nine, were adopted without opposition. The board delayed action on other proposed changes until its July meeting.
At the outset of Saturday's 300th open board meeting in ALA history, Cooperman announced Tomlinson's appointment, saying he was the only person to apply.
Since Harrison was the board's secretary-treasurer, Director Tom Olhasso agreed later to assume that post when no other director volunteered.
A large part of the nearly three-hour meeting was taken up by board discussion of whether to allow the lake to be used for the 2008 Lake Arrowhead Invitational Water Ski Race, a two-day event proposed for October.
General Manager John Rutledge told the board there were "still some outstanding issues" needing to be resolved before a vote to approve the race. During discussion, race organizer Justin Frank said the course would be adjusted to satisfy concerns of lakefront residents and notification letters would be sent to all of them.
Frank told the directors the ski boats would only go within the buoy line "at the beginning of the race, for safety," and that the event would begin in North Bay. He promised there would be sufficient patrol boats for safety.
Ultimately the board voted unanimously to approve the race, subject to the board's satisfaction on the course, who will sponsor the event and details of patrols.
Directors also heard from Eric Bickett, a boat owner who expressed concerns over ALA's prohibition of wake surfing and other new water sports on the lake, such as wake skating and knee boarding.
Bickett said he had done extensive online research and found no record of injuries from such activities. Harry Bradley, publisher of The Mountain News, told directors that as a long-time water-sports enthusiast he wanted to serve on the board's Lake Activities and Safety Committee to help the association better understand the dynamics of waves and the degree of risk involved.
Committee chairman Rindenow welcomed Bradley's offer and pledged to Bickett his concerns would be studied. "It won't happen tomorrow, but as long as I'm chairman it will be investigated," he said.
The board also approved Rutledge's recommendation that shoreline beautification funds help pay for a fuel-reduction program in late summer or early fall on 42 acres of ALA property at a maximum cost of about $81,000.
In partnership with CalFire and the San Bernardino National Forest Association, the work would remove trees with diameters of 12 inches or less, said Property Manager Laura Dyberg, and the thinning would make the forest healthier. The project is not budgeted in the current year, Rutledge said, but funds are available.
In a profit & loss budget performance summary available at the meeting, Rutledge reported that, as of the end of May, ALA was slightly ahead of schedule in generating revenue for the current fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. Total budgeted income for the year is $3.64 million, and $2.307 million had been collected—mostly from early payment of dock fees—by May's end. The budget had projected the collection of $2.265 million by that date.
In a ceremonial action, Cooperman presented plaques to honor former directors and presidents. Both types of awards were given to Director Ralph Wagner, and presidential plaques were awarded to both Sweet and Klein. Former directors Melissa Astle and Marie Simmonds, neither of whom was present, will also get plaques.
Cooperman also announced the award of a director's plaque to former director Michael Lauder, who died recently, and presented it to his widow, Dr. Sylvia Lauder.
In his report, Lake Manager Jim Grant said the lake is only about a foot below being full and is three feet, eight inches higher than the same time last year.
Under new business, Rindenow reminded ALA members who might be tempted to imbibe over the July 4 holiday that "the penalty for DUI in a boat is the same as a DUI in a car." He also noted that the lake's buoys are now numbered, which will help anyone in a disabled boat to summon help more quickly.
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