Letter to editor: Communications with elected boards

After reading Mr. Hurst’s comments on communications in last week’s commentary, I feel that clarification is necessary.

First, the San Diego Country Estates Association (SDCEA) complies with all requirements set forth in the Davis-Sterling Act. We are and have always been a board that has open communications with our constituents.

Perhaps the problem here is not that you can’t communicate with the elected officials, but in what manner that communication will take place. At every monthly meeting we have “open forum,“ which allows any homeowner to directly address the board of directors on any pertinent subject (and even some that are not pertinent). Comments are addressed to the board because all decisions and actions are the result of a majority vote by that board.

The option of communication to individual directors or managers is not workable. What if all 11,000 residents of the SDCEA wished to talk to the general manager about a particular project or problem? That manager could not function in the capacity for which he was hired due to lack of time. I also suggest that he would get 11,000 different ways to solve the problem.

In the Country Estates we have an excellent staff that carries out the policies set forth by the board of directors. I cannot see how unlimited personal communications would improve their performance. Motivated individuals can and should join committees dealing with their interests. These committees will then present policy changes or new ideas to the board through the committee chairperson.

I cannot speak for the Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD), but I do know that they also have an “open forum” speaker opportunity. I have on occasion participated in it. I am sure that the RMWD also makes every effort to comply with the open meeting features of the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law.

Doug Kafka

Ramona

Doug Kafka is president of the San Diego Country Estates Association Board of Directors.