As many residents eagerly assimilate into the new normal for Sun City brought on by the “Phase 4” guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan, there remains questions as to whether the Sun City Community Association Board of Directors have made the right decisions on choosing to open some amenities while maintaining others closed.
Former Board member, Steve Bytnar, who just recently resigned from the Board of Directors as of June 30 after serving for four and a half years, has strong opinions on the Board’s decision process.
“As I stated at the last Board meeting, I’m all for having as many things opened as possible. We shouldn’t be opposing our own state guidelines. Clubs should be able to meet,” Bytnar said. “I think in general, [the Board] are doing a good job, but they’re not doing as much as they should under the state guidelines.”
Bytnar would only cite personal reasons for his departure from the Board of Directors.
Board president, Dennis O’Leary, says that in addition to indoor and outdoor pools now being some of the amenities available to Sun City residents, one of the fitness centers and a walking track are slated to open later this month.
“Most residents are being understanding and gracious as we try to navigate these troubled waters, but some individuals seem to believe that the Board enjoys keeping facilities closed. Remember, Board members use the facilities also! We are also affected! One person wrote, ‘…look at things through a broader lens than just your fiduciary responsibility.’ However, the Board cannot look at things in any other way,” O’Leary stated. “Our duty is to be a fiduciary. The residents in this community can trust that the Board will always act in their best interest, as the Board understands their best interest.”
O’Leary made mention that allowing organized clubs to meet too soon, “could place club officers in harm’s way for potential lawsuits.”
He explained that the Association’s policy would not provide insurance coverage for Board members, staff, and leaders of clubs and special interests groups due to an exclusion of liability associated with the transfer of a virus.
“If a suit is filed related to the virus, there would be no coverage for the Association including the cost of attorneys to develop a legal defense as well as the potential claim amount. All expenses would be out of pocket costs for us, the residents of Sun City, Huntley,” O’Leary said.
All in all, Sun City’s management group, First Service Residential, seems extremely pleased with now having over 7,000 resident email addresses, receiving their eblasts as they work to expand their website’s capabilities to offer residents more virtual activities. O’Leary advices that government regulations, “will be playing a role in any future decisions.”
