2014
ISSUE
2
PUBLICATION OF SAW CREEK ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
To: All Members of Saw Creek Estates Community Association: The Board of Directors has received another petition by a group of members who are opposed to the recent decision to manage the deer herd. This latest petition seeks to amend our bylaws by requiring a two-thirds majority vote (known as a super majority) in order to move forward with any deer management options. The petition signatures have been validated and the proposed bylaw amendment will appear on the annual ballot for elections and amendments. The Board has worked cooperatively with this group to call a special meeting and give all of our members an equal opportunity to be heard on the issue. However, on the matter of amending our bylaws, the Board strongly disagrees and urges all members to VOTE “NO” ON THE PROPOSED DEER CULL AMENDMENT. A super majority vote on this issue is not in your best interest and not in the best interest of proper community governance for the following reason. Courts have routinely ruled that super majority voting requirements are fundamentally and inherently undemocratic. Even the United States Supreme Court has explained: “Certainly any departure from strict majority rule gives disproportionate power to the minority.” Gordon v. Lance, 403 U.S. 1, 5-6, 91 S.Ct. 1889, 1892 (1971). A super majority requirement gives a small group of voters a greater influence on the outcome of a vote than another group of greater size but opposite opinion. It is the equivalent of allowing those members who opposed a measure to vote twice while those who favor it are limited to only one vote. If the proposed amendment is allowed to pass, it will mean that the minority rules. It will mean that each member no longer has an equal opportunity to be heard at the ballot box on this issue. It will mean that even a 65% favorable vote must fail due to an unfavorable vote of just 35% of voters. The Board of Directors, both past and present, has always sought to follow the will of the majority. For five years we have worked closely with our members, we have examined all of the evidence, published more than a dozen articles and held two special meetings to get your input on the deer management issue. We remain convinced that deer management remains a safe and effective way to protect and restore our forest ecosystem for future generations. Approving the proposed deer cull amendment will have the opposite effect and that is why, for the sake of democracy, the environment and to protect the voting rights of all members, THE BOARD URGES ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE “NO” ON THE DEER CULL AMENDMENT. Sincerely, Wm. Montgomery, President Kathi Connell, Secretary Ron Trimble, Director Bob Long, Director James Hidalgo, Director
Mike Campea, Vice President Bob Shrekgast, Treasurer Robert Palmer, Director Thomas Soden, Director
ELECTRONIC VOTING This year, member’s in-good-standing will be mailed a postcard with a unique pin/password that will be used to vote online. Postcards will be mailed to before the end of May with instructions on how to vote in this years election. If you don’t receive your postcard by Tuesday, June 10th please contact Jessica M. VanDerVliet, Director of Member Services at (570) 588-9329 ext 2213 or jessica@sawcreek.org. A postcard will be mailed May 28th to each homeowner in good standing to the address on file at the Member Services Office. The postcard will contain a unique pin number for each homeowner to register online to vote. Once you receive your pin number, go to our website at www.sawcreek.org beginning May 30th and click on the VOTE ONLINE NOW button which will redirect you to a secure voting website of VOTEHOANOW.com. Following the prompts indicated on the website, the member will register to vote using the unique pin number indicated on the postcard, their property information (e.g. mailing address & lot and section) and some personal information (name, etc.). Once the ballot has been cast a confirmation email will be sent to the registered email address of the member on file with the association. If a member is unable to go online the Member Services Office will be open Tuesday thru Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and will set up a private area for the member to vote online. The member must bring with them the mailed postcard with the unique pin number to Member Services. If you do not receive your postcard by Tuesday June 10th you should contact the Member Services Office at (570) 588 9329 or email at info@ sawcreek.org. It’s now your turn to educate yourself on the candidates bios and bylaw amendments and sit down at your computer and VOTE FOR THE FUTURE. It is your right and responsibility.
Deer Management Meeting Results A special Deer Management Meeting took place on March 29, 2014 at 10AM at the Top of the World Tennis Courts.The purpose of the meeting was to disseminate important information and to receive member feedback on the Saw Creek Board of Director’s decision to reduce the size of the whitetail deer herd within Saw Creek Estates.The purpose of the meeting was to allow for viewpoints on culling vs. non-culling and to educate the homeowners of Saw Creek.
Stroudsburg, PA 18360 PERMIT NO. 322
The meeting opened with the President of the Board’s comments, followed by Pat Hammond, a Saw Creek (Continued on Page 16)
PAID
5728 Decker Road BUSHKILL, PA 18324
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage