Deanna Loughran, Sun City Executive Director, in an email to all residents, described the Sun City Board’s consideration of a By-Law Amendment that would affect the term limits of Board members.
The message said: “At the February 23 meeting, the Board of Directors (‘Board”) considered an amendment to Article 3.4 of the By-Laws for Sun City Community Association of Huntley, Inc. (“By-Laws”). The amendment would retain consecutive term limits for Directors but allow volunteers to run/serve additional terms after previous service. Currently, the By-laws state, ‘…but no Director may serve more than three (3) terms,’ which does not allow a volunteer to return to service after conclusion of a break from service on the Board. The amendment would insert the word ‘consecutive’ so the document would state, ‘…but no Director may serve more than three (3) consecutive terms.’ With this amendment, residents would be limited to 3 terms in succession but could volunteer to run for the Board again and return to service if elected. The Board is considering this amendment so that the experience of past volunteer leaders may be utilized.”
My Sun Day News contacted five former Sun City Board members and asked their opinion on the potential By-Law Amendment.
The responses were as follows:
Bonnie Bayser: “I think the terms should stay as they are with a max of six years elected to the board. I think that six years is a good length of time to have served and new blood is good. I feel that it is more likely that someone will step up when they know that someone is termed out.”
Linda Davis: “I have some questions that I need answers for before making a decision. Sorry I can’t help you”
Harry Leopold: “Very Simply, I am against any and all term limits. If someone needs to be removed, do it by vote not an arbitrary rule that hurts good people more than bad. Vote at the next election or by recall.”
Dennis O’Leary: “With an election year coming up with four or five openings, it may be the time to address facts and realize that possibly allowing good board members to again run after their original term, or two or three terms, may be in the best interest of SCCAH. Possibly a three-term limit, with a two-year break, then additional two term limits with a two-year break ad infinitum. We definitely want to ensure that someone(s) is unable to wrest control of the Board for their own best interest. Possibly include a means of impeachment for insurance. Residential communities such as ours requires residents that are willing to participate in its operation. Until more folks get this message, we may want to allow previous good Board members to continue in their service.”
Bill Ziletti: “I feel like we need to keep the current plan of serving a maximum of six years on the board. We need to encourage new residents to continue to volunteer in our community and bring new ideas to the board. I do feel we need to continue to have continuity on the board so rotating members as we have been in the past is acceptable.”
