Posted By CotoBlogzz
Coto de Caza, CA – It has been widely known and publicized that ever since Robert Varo took control of the largest homeowners association in Coto de Caza, the CZ Master Association board of directors, with direct support from Mr. James Harkins, the CZ Master Association board of directors has failed to comply with SB-61, SB1560 and failed to abide by the business judgment rule, aka good faith, enabling Mr. Varo et al to rule the community with impunity for over ten years.
Although optional under Corp. Code §7615(a), the Davis-Stirling Act makes cumulative voting mandatory if called for in an association's governing documents. Civil Code §1363.03(b), the spirit of SB-61 and SB-1560 is for direct popular election of the board of directors.
According to all the experts we have talked to, not only there are no true benefits to cumulative voting but they also recommend associations amend governing documents to eliminate cumulative voting to make elections easier to conduct and to makes it easier to replace dysfunctional directors.
Also, consider that there is not a single municipal, county, state, or federal election that uses cumulative voting. Cumulative voting was intended for stock corporations so small shareholders would have a voice. Otherwise, companies would be completely dominated by large shareholders. Cumulative voting is automatically included in a new homeowners association's bylaws so as to give owners a voice when the association is controlled by the developer. Once the developer is out of the picture, there is no need for cumulative voting.
The problems with cumulative voting far outweigh any theoretical benefit related to minority interests. Cumulative voting makes it easy for disruptive, fringe, and single-issue candidates to get on the board. Moreover, once a bad director has been elected, cumulative voting makes it almost impossible to remove that director from the board. With conventional voting, i.e., casting one vote for each candidate, candidates must seek a broader base of support thereby increasing the likelihood that more moderate, business-like candidates are elected. If a director is dysfunctional out of control, a conventional (non-cumulative) voting system allows the membership to more easily remove and replace that director.
But wait, there is more – anecdotal evidence indicates that the CZ Master Association freely uses legal resourcesto stifle dissent. But even armed with this information, we were not ready to see the vast differences between the CZ Master Association and its neighbors litigious activity: Since 2007, the Varo/Yocham CZ board has filed 165 cases with the Orange County Small Claims Court, compared to SAMLARC, with zero records, while the latter is more than 5 times as large, followed by Dove Canyon with 15 cases filed for the same period and five for Ladera Ranch.
The Rancho Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corporation, or SAMLARC comprises roughly 13,000 units and maintains most streetscapes, medians, parks and trails within the community. In total, SAMLARC runs and maintains 13 parks, 4 pools, a lagoon, a lake, and numerous trails within the community. One of SAMLARC's most popular parks, Central Park located next to City Hall, contains a large amphitheater where a number of community events are held each year. Central Park is also home to an arena soccer rink that was converted from a roller hockey rink. SAMLARC also maintains a popular skate and dog park that are located within SAMLARC's Canada Vista Park.
Dove Canyon is a private residential community located in eastern Rancho Santa Margarita with approximately 1,200 homes and 5,000 residents.
The CZ Master Association is the largest homeowners association in Coto de Caza with approximately 3,400 homes.
The Rancho Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corporation, or SAMLARC comprises roughly 13,000 units and maintains most streetscapes, medians, parks and trails within the community. In total, SAMLARC runs and maintains 13 parks, 4 pools, a lagoon, a lake, and numerous trails within the community. One of SAMLARC's most popular parks, Central Park located next to City Hall, contains a large amphitheater where a number of community events are held each year. Central Park is also home to an arena soccer rink that was converted from a roller hockey rink. SAMLARC also maintains a popular skate and dog park that are located within SAMLARC's Canada Vista Park.
Dove Canyon is a private residential community located in eastern Rancho Santa Margarita with approximately 1,200 homes and 5,000 residents.
The CZ Master Association is the largest homeowners association in Coto de Caza with approximately 3,400 homes.
 |
Heck, the Varo/Yocham CZ board of directors even filed a Small Claims Court action against Coto CAN - the Coto Community Action Network! - The obvious conclusion is that if you live in the CZ Master Homeowners Association, you better check your personal opinions at the gate, otherwise be ready to face the judge – not a good idea. More on a judicial misconduct tracker later.
|
RELATED STORIES
Ban the Coto Van
A Request To Terminate Coto Caza’s CZ Master HOA G...
CZ Master Association - Varo & Mezger Should NOT Be Re-elected - 11 Reasons -Possible Scenarios and the Keystone Effect
CZ Master Association - Varo & Mezger Should NOT Be Re-elected - 11 Reasons
By former member of the CZ board of directors, Joseph Morabito, and Analysis by CotoBuzz
May 12, 2007
Possible Scenarios and the Keystone Effect
As a former CZ Board Member and concerned citizen, I can say without condition that Bob Varo and Jerry Mezger should not be re-elected to the CZ Board because they do not understand the foundation concepts of Board Member fiduciary responsibility, ethical behavior and conflict of interests. To be more specific and to demonstrate what I am saying Varo and Mezger should not be re-elected for the following 11 reasons:
By former member of the CZ board of directors, Joseph Morabito, and Analysis by CotoBuzz
May 12, 2007
Possible Scenarios and the Keystone Effect
As a former CZ Board Member and concerned citizen, I can say without condition that Bob Varo and Jerry Mezger should not be re-elected to the CZ Board because they do not understand the foundation concepts of Board Member fiduciary responsibility, ethical behavior and conflict of interests. To be more specific and to demonstrate what I am saying Varo and Mezger should not be re-elected for the following 11 reasons:
Who Decides 2007 CZ Master Association BOD Composition? You Do Not!
Who Decides 2007 CZ Master Association BOD Composition? You Do Not!
May 6, 2007
Who decides if incumbents Varo, Mezger and Schlieder get another term in the CZ Master Association Board of Directors May 24, 2007? Contrary to the spirit of California CID legislation reform, as of now, CZ residents have not say in the outcome
May 6, 2007
Who decides if incumbents Varo, Mezger and Schlieder get another term in the CZ Master Association Board of Directors May 24, 2007? Contrary to the spirit of California CID legislation reform, as of now, CZ residents have not say in the outcome
Coto de Caza, CA – The verdict is in, in the Small Claims Court trial 30-2012-00570806-SC-SC-HLH, held July 23, 2012, against the Coto de Caza Homeowners Association, otherwise known as CZ Master Association. In the case, it was alleged that the association not only failed to comply with Civil Code § 1365 but that it continues to claim it is beyond local, state and federal jurisdiction, The Honorable John L. Flynn III ruled that the HOA board of directors indeed is not under the jurisdiction of state and federal law. Sort of
Coto de Caza, CA – while most pundits speculated over what the Supreme Court would do about the individual mandate included in the ObamaCare legislation, most also warned not to read too much into the Justices’ line of questioning. Most of the pundits were right on the latter, wrong on the fate of the individual mandate.
- The HOA Stanford Prisoner Syndrome - No Pink House...
- HOA Rage in Kentucky
- The Stanford Prisoner Syndrome and HOA Rage
And the trend continues with the Xochitl Yocham's HOA: http://cotobuzz.blogspot.com/2016/02/coto-de-cazas-litigious-hoa-property.html
ReplyDelete