A MYSTERIOUS HHPPOA ELECTION SEASON

You may recall that we brought up the inconsistencies in HHP’s POA Board elections processes last May. Recently we explained in a another post that our colleague Don Flora discussed this “one vote counted twice” peculiarity with members of the Nominating Committee and was informed by current and former POA Board members that HHPPOA members only need visit the POA Service Center and ask for a second vote to exercise the “Two Votes” specified in the Amended Declarations. Sounds easy, right? As you will see, that has not been the case.

Since we began finding our one ballot with one vote in the mail, around February 15 or so, there has been a steady — more than a trickle but less than a roaring stream — of HHPPOA Type “A” members in-good-standing trying to get their second vote. Early in the process these Type “A” members in-good-standing going to the Service Center to request their rightful second vote in the exact same way that sounded so easy were summarily rejected or introduced to Todd Lindstrom’s Columnizing Your Ballot 101. (I will not bother explaining.) I personally had an enlightening rejection discussion with Todd where he patiently explained that inasmuch as HHPPOA is a corporation the singular word “ballot” as in, “The Board shall deliver a ballot to every Member entitled to vote on the matter” and “election will be held by mail ballot” holds far more legal weight than the plural word “votes” as in, “A Type ‘A’ Member shall be entitled to two votes for each Family Dwelling Unit, which he owns.” What??? I was specific that we were following the clear and presumably in-the-know instructions Don was given, but subsequently decided it would be fruitless to engage in further debate when the silence made it obvious management had determined this “visiting the POA service center for a second vote” advice was mistaken. Todd told another member seeking that second vote that “we” had fallen for “misinformation”.

At this point it seemed HHPPOA members would just have to keep doing what we’ve always done throughout Todd’s thirty years, as he says, even if it makes no sense. But, on further review, as they say, Todd (or somebody) seems to have gotten the message: reviewed the Governing Documents? Listened to a Board member? Read the tea leaves?

Todd’s position now! YES! A TYPE “A” MEMBER IS ENTITLED TO TWO VOTES FOR EACH FAMILY DWELLING UNIT, WHICH HE OWNS! And the POA has a process – a cumbersome process to be sure – but a process none the less. POA employees staffing the front desk are now telling Members how to cast their Governing Documents’ guaranteed two votes. You do not have to settle for one ballot vote, counted twice by POA administrative and election officials.

You still have time to vote. Voting closes at the end of the day, Thursday March 20, 2025. Go to the POA service center and request your second vote. Take your paper ballot with you or, if you do not have one, request a new one. The front office staff will teach you how to cast your two votes and where to deposit the paper ballot. Or call the POA service center at 843-681-8800 and ask for Todd or the front desk and you will be told how to cast your two votes using your paper ballot. You will still have to deliver the paper ballot to the POA Service Center before the close of business March 20, 2025

Maybe POA administrative and election officials will broadcast through its communication program how to cast your two votes. Maybe….. Todd has said votes cast in this manner — “split vote” — will be counted by the company charged with administering the on line voting system. And we have every reason to believe his statement. Every reason…. Hope Springs Eternal!

Now that the mystery of ballot counted twice is being dealt with, we can turn our attention to two additional POA Election System Issues:

Mystery # 1: How many votes are available to Type “C” Members (4 golf courses, SkullCreek Marina and Driftwood Eatery)? And how come, most, if not all, of these Type “C” members do not know how many votes each of the 6 get or how to cast them?

Mystery # 2: How does “Election will be by mail ballot in accordance with a strict interpretation of Article VI,Section 7of these By-Laws” allow for online voting? Maybe a meeting between POA Election officials and the new board officers early in the 2025 Board cycle will help clear up these Mysteries.

Meanwhile, if you want to the right cast both of your own two votes instead of some nameless POA representative casting one on your behalf….. JUST GO ASK