HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Homeowners in the Hidden Valley Lake subdivision have issued a recall petition to Bill Waite, the president of the the Hidden Valley Lake Association Board of Directors.
The petition, signed by 225 HVL member-residents, was presented to Waite at the association’s monthly board meeting on Thursday night in the HVL administration building.
The presentation was accompanied by comments regarding why Waite was being served by Will Tuttle, an association homeowner and spokesperson for the property owners attending the meeting.
Tuttle gave three reasons why Waite’s removal as board president, a position he has held for two years, is being sought. They were as follows;
- Abuse of power;
- Failure to properly perform fiduciary duties; and
- Failure to act in the best interests of the association.
At the hub of the recall petition is a lengthening dispute over the HVL Board’s attempt to construct a new building, the Hartmann Complex, to replace the present one with a building that includes a clubhouse, restaurant, bar and pro shop.
The board also wants to replace or restore a second structure that serves as a community building.
The overall cost of the projects has been estimated to be as high at $8 million and, because of the possibility of an assessment, a group of HVLA members are adamantly opposed to going ahead with the two projects without a communitywide vote of approval.
“We are in danger of losing financial stability here with the huge expenses for the golf course and the restaurant,” said Tuttle, who claims the operation of the golf course and lack of business for the restaurant have cost HVL more than $500,000 to $800,000 a year for the last 10 years.
“People know that (HVL’s) financial stability is being threatened by the board’s irresponsible actions, refusing to let us vote, an attitude of stonewalling and not taking the HVL Association seriously,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle added that another reason for the recall effort is an abusive letter sent to Board Member Steve Greenberg which accused him of “hurting the (board) by questioning the very expensive Hartmann Complex.”
“That was outrageous,” said Tuttle.
Waite responded by labeling the recall petition allegations “unfounded.”
“I’m concerned where this leaves the entire community. I feel that the allegations made in the petition are unfounded and don’t understand where they’re coming from,” Waite said in a written communication to Lake County News. “When Will Tuttle read the allegations, they referred to actions from both this board and the previous board.”
Tuttle said that according to state law Waite has 20 days to set a date for a general meeting at which the community will vote whether to recall Waite.
That meeting, in turn, must be held 35 to 90 days after the initial meeting, Tuttle said.
Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .