Letter to the Editor

What is the POA marketing?

I don't know if hiring a marketing manager in the POA was totally that of Tommy Bailey, who has the power to hire and fire POA staff, without interference of the Board, or if it had the blessing of the Board. In either case, the Board is responsible, because they do have the power to hire or fire Tommy Bailey.

Ergo, the current Board of the POA is "responsible" for the of-late hiring of Ashlee Napier as "marketing manager." As marketing has to do with selling, I guess the job entails selling whatever the POA has to sell. So what does the POA have to sell?

I know there have been many lots returned to the POA because of uncollected dues. That may (or may not?) require a "manager." Beyond that, I really don't know what the POA has to sell. But, whatever it may be, it is now of such magnitude, that said "manager" has told the POA Board that she needs one additional full-time person and one part-time person "to manage" whatever it is that she's doing and whatever she's selling.

And what is it that she's selling for the POA, i.e. all of us who live here? "We're selling recreation. We're selling fun," she says. Funny thing ... that just sounds strangely like Cooper selling lots, townhouses and planned neighborhoods here. So, she's on whose payroll? And why? And she needs another full-time and another half-time person to get it all done?

And where does Tommy Bailey stand in all this? He (who created the position and hired her in the first place) encourages the POA Board, "Let's let Ashlee get to work,"

I am personally impressed by much this POA Board has done in the past few years. Not the least being the recent reduction (not enough!) of our GM's salary to a measly $120K (plus unspecified benefits).

Out-going Chairman Charlie Teal is due a standing ovation for an upstream effort to undo damages thrust upon him and the current Board by others preceding them, most notably those just immediately before. Still, with authority to hire-or-fire the major player, he and the rest of the Board have chosen to "let the piper play on."

Hence we have a marketing manager, doing whatever she does, now seeking to double-and-more her staff, to do whatever it is, and our GM cheerleading, "Let's let 'em get to it." So what's left? Those of us who "pays the piper" wondering what is piping, and who and why?

Jack "Doc" Irwin

Bella Vista

General News on 03/25/2015