Management Compensation Levels
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Sun City Anthem
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If you missed the Thursday evening 6:00pm broadcast of KNTVs (Channel 13) investigative report conducted by Chief Investigative reporter, Darcy Spears...
We suggest you view it. It shows the outrageous income levels paid to senior members of the Sun City Anthem management team....
...incomes that far surpass ANY HOAs in the state of Nevada, as well as, other documented organizations with far more employees.
Note that SUN CITY ANTHEM MANAGEMENT refused to make any comment.
Send it to us at:
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From Jim Mayfield (former Vice President and 2 Term Member of the Sun City Anthem Board of Directors)...to...Anthem Opinions
A retort to the Berman article entitled "Exploring the Channel 13 Hatchet Job"
FACT: The excessive turnover rate of GM/CAMs at SCA and resultant management instability was the driving factor in SCA's decision to become a self-managed HOA. The salary paid the GM/CAM was never evaluated as a key component of the reason for the turnover rate under the management company.
FACT: The "respected" nationwide executive search firm was selected by less than a majority of the Board after only interviewing one firm--the one the President and Treasurer had predetermine to hire.
FACT: In the transition to self-management, over 95% of the existing staff was retained because of its history of acceptable performance. Subsequent turnover was a result of a purge conducted by the GM to hire "friends & family" employees and to send the message that loyalty to the GM was the most important factor in keeping your job.
FACT: Before the GM arrived, the Board had already outsourced the the development and operation of new technology systems and software. The local technology firm was already well on its way to the installation of the new system and software, and the GM did not change any of the new systems already under development and retained the services of the local technology company.
FACT: The only other candidate chosen to be a finalist by a limited number of directors did not possess the minimum requirements set forth in the job description. So, board members were left with a false choice--Ms. Seddon or a candidate that didn't meet qualifications.
FACT: The compensation paid to the search firm rewarded it for paying a high salary. When two minority directors opposed the salary and the search firm's recommendation, they were excluded from the selection process and access to all resumes submitted.
FACT: Suggest you contact her former employer to verify the "happily employed" comment. As to the pay cut, her total compensation was on par with her previous compensation structure, and the cost of living differential provided her an estimated increase of more than 20%. (Why are so many from California moving to Nevada?)
FACT: The Board set the time for her hiring; she did not volunteer. Furthermore, the savings quoted above was already baked into the decision made by the Board to become self-managed and had nothing to do with her performance.
FACT: The increase was in her first year, and after a backlash of the community because a surplus was generated from the increase, dues at the new level were left unchanged in her second year.
FACT: The chart of higher profile and more complex positions in city government demonstrate the invalidity of this claim. Furthermore, the CFO of UNLV is paid LESS than the CFO of SCA.
FACT: Clever accounting by the CFO has moved certain expenses previously reported as employee salaries and benefits to non-salary and benefit line items.
FACT: Like all management positions, the GM position is not defined by a 40 hour week. Furthermore, she was frequently observed leaving well before the end of the official office hours.
FACT: the lack of special assessments and Top-10 rating were achieved BEFORE she was hired. SCA has not been ranked as high on her watch as before she was hired.
FACT: The surplus were created by the unnecessary increase in the annual assessment, not as a result of decrease spending as was promised when she was hired.
FACT: The improved transaction reporting and internal controls were driven by the SCA Audit Committee and opposed by management and the CFO in several cases.
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From Barbara Sidary...to...Anthem Opinions
Just saw the news that I had on DVR and saw your piece. You looked great and it was a very good overview of our situation in Sun City. As usual, you have championed our cause but we all seem to hit our heads against a steel wall and can't get anything passed through our current board. I always appreciate your efforts and thank you for the time you put in to keep us in the know.
Keep it up. -
From Gary at Cox...to...Anthem Opinions
Keep up the good work on reporting the truth about our "Board" and It's
OVERPAID GM.
Let me get this straight, a "Head Hunter" was hired to find a GM.
Don't theyget paid according to how much salary is paid to the new hire?
IF so then of course they are going to recommend a HIGH salary. -
Gary,
Jim Mayfield's comments say it all ! -
From Greg Taylor...to...Anthem Opinions
We were sold by our board that if we went to self management we would reduce cost. What a joke!
The salaries they approved for our management team are way out of line and obviously had no research done prior to giving away the store.
The board treats our funds like it’s their own petty cash.
The full board should be recalled and a new search started for a new management team.
Probably to late as they probably already locked us into a sweat heart contract which lock us in for a number of years before we can get new management. What’s next?
We get a restaurant where the homeowners pay they restaurant vendor to do business in our facilities?
Why can’t we get a board with business experience and brains. My grandchildren are far smarter than this board. -
Greg, there are a growing number of people out there who are starting to see the light,a number of them who have newly arrived in Sun City Anthem,and have had interest in possibly running for the Sun City Anthem Board...all reformers who want to put an end to THE MACHINE.
Keep the faith...
Our new battle cry:
DEATH TO THE MACHINE ! -
From Patsy McCarthy...to...Anthem Opinions
Dick,
I have been keeping up with everything through your blog and Rana's.
Thank you for posting Darcy's expose'. She did an excellent job. Of course, the cowards of the BOD called in the expensive attorney because they are too scared to comment on the problems they created.
How much is that going to cost us?
Maybe she should do a story on the restaurant debacle?
I worked hard for my money all those years and thought I was retiring to the "perfect" place.
I am one of those "fixed income" residents.
Actually, we are all on fixed incomes, some larger then others.
Do any of the current and past board members realize they are spending their hard earned money also?
Have they even thought about that?
Or, do they have so much they can afford to waste it?
I, personally, don't.
The restaurant idea was ludicrous. They wanted to spend hundreds of thousands of our money to open a restaurant, free of charge to the operators.
A restaurant would have failed miserably just like all the others.
Plus, it would have tied the hands of all of the 60 (and growing) clubs.
I am on the board of the Entertainment Club.
We can't afford to be tied to one caterer for our annual dinner/show.
We also have a Meet & Greet after every show and offer our audience coffee, water and some kind of goodies.
Our audience always enjoys meeting the entertainers and having refreshments. We certainly can't afford to have these Meet & Greets catered by the restaurant.
They most certainly would have to be suspended.
Also, what do we need with another restaurant? We have Buckman's. It has the very same view, good food and a very pleasant atmosphere and is open for breakfast.
I personally would not patronize a new restaurant in Anthem Center, not as a boycott, but because in 16 years I have established my favorite restaurants and so have all of my friends.
The only Anthem restaurant I ever went to was Trumpet's and that was because the Del Webb salesperson took me there when I was looking at homes. -
From Lorrie Lachford...to...Anthem Opinions
Get rid of our Management - we need professionals . -
From Roseann Picca...to...Anthem Opinions
Thank you for that investigative report on Channel 13. Hope it continues.
I wish they had covered the restaurant issue too.
I'm living here 13 yrs and have seen the demise of all the restaurants here.
I DO NOT want another FAILED restaurant.
I own 3 homes here, and do not want to pay more money to subsidize a restaurant.
With all the "Wonderful" restaurants to chose from, why would I want to eat in a restaurant here? -
From Laura Shapiro...to...Anthem Opinions
I watched the show last night with Darcy Spears and I commend you on finally getting this to air on TV.
I’ve been waiting for this to happen for a long time and hope something good will come out of this.
I hope we are not fighting a losing battle.
The people we are up against are unscrupulous, narcissistic, ignorant people who only care about their own power.
We have to find a better way for us all to come together to fight these overpowering, overbearing and downright nasty people.
I am very tired of all this. There are much more important things for me and everyone else to care about and worry about at this stage of our lives.
Thanks for listening. -
Just an additional note to all of our readers:
Don't thank me, thank Channel 13 and Jim Mayfield.
For the record, WE DID NOT APPROACH CHANNEL 13, they APPROACHED US and we...
...along with former Board President, Favil West, as well as, residents of ours and other communities who were omitted from the documentary due to the time constraints of the broadcast, were immensely helpful in our research.
This was a GROUP EFFORT, and to all those individuals goes a thanks to them on behalf of Anthem Opinions.
But...there was one additional observation that was completely omitted from the Berman article:
It was noted that SUN CITY ANTHEM MANAGEMENT WAS CONTACTED and THEY REFUSED TO EVEN RETURN A PHONE CALL TO COMMENT IN ANY WAY.
That...should say it all ! -
From Kim Lord...to...Anthem Opinions
I saw the report on Channel 13. I thought it was great.
Very enlightening. Especially for new residents, such as myself.
The only thing I wish they had done is mention names, but I suppose there were legal reasons why they omitted them.
There was no response from SCA so what's going to change?
As homeowners, what can we do to change things? -
Kim,
All of us should look at those whom we believe are leaders and have the best interests of the community at heart rather than personal agendas...
...and plead with them to consider running for the Sun City Anthem Board.
With a majority of 4, this corrupt world could change in a very short period of time.
Think about it?
Looking at a restaurant in terms of both a financial and pleasurable experience if one was desired, or going to a Board meeting without fear of ridicule from those who may disagree, or a Board actively communicating the reasoning as to why they believed an expenditure was justified as well as seeking approval from the association members, prior to making one?
My belief is that many of you who are new would gladly volunteer for committees and/or become involved if they believed that positive and caring change could be accomplished...that their voices would be heard without fear of "bucking the system".
Always believe that can happen, that there are many in the community whose integrity would assist an honest individual whom they believed had their best interests at heart.
To you and any others out there who see wrongs and are willing to make an attempt to right them, know Anthem Opinions and the many readers we have, would gladly assist you.
It does not have to be a difficult undertaking...with help of good people who have a moralistic value system, and believe "community" is a club we all should be proud of.
As of now, the "good ole boy Machine system" is a part of Sun City Anthem life...and...it must come to an end or the spirit of a community originally founded on the basis of happiness in retirement, will surely continue to die. -
From Marilyn Horween...to...Anthem Opinions
I saw this post on the blog, Nextdoor, and wanted to share it with Anthem Opinions.
"Now I understand why I am often treated like I’m bothering the admin staff or that I’m a second class citizen.
After seeing the report about Sun City Anthem on KTNV, I now realize that all of us in the community are clearly inferior to the HOA leadership." -
From Carolyn Schmalz...to...Anthem Opinions
Thank you Anthem Opinions for watching out for us homeowners.
It is unbelievable that the Board pays the manager so much.
Is she a relative of one of the Board members? -
Carolyn,
Thanks for the compliment, but as I said previously, it was a group effort among a number of caring individuals.
Darcy Spears and Channel 13 should also be thanked for taking their time, effort, and personnel in making all of it happen.
Remember, if a Board and General Manager would have made the association aware of this, and the members would not have approved a huge income, none of this would have occurred.
As you know, I in particular, have been criticized by some on another blog for assisting Channel 13, but in the minds of the "fiscally responsible"...
and there are many...
...this needed to be told in order to make as many people possible aware of things for one reason...
You can't solve a problem, unless it is first identified.
Let's hope all of this translates into looking closely at the Board members actions over the next 6 months and which of them consider reelection next year.
They allowed all of this to take place, and "the people", now knowing the facts, will have a reason to decide if they wish to continue on what we consider, an irresponsible spending path, that MUST be stopped.
As a side note, know that the Sun City Anthem Association attorney did his best to squash the report...obviously at the order of a General Manager and/or Board.
God knows what he was paid in order to avoid making this information known to the public; information that if there was nothing to hide, should never have been the subject of an objection. -
I got a real kick out of Davey's latest advice about boycotting.I hope he'll be tuning in Monday morning.I promise the words "He Made An Ass of Himself...Again" will apply to his latest garble.
For now, we'll leave it at that !
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It certainly didn't take long before the MACHINE MOUTH decided the Darcy Spears report was nothing more than a "hit job". Unfortunately, no matter how much you try, Mr. Mouth, the NUMBERS cited by Darcy don't lie.
Let's also not forget that Jim Mayfield, a two term member of the Sun City Anthem Board of Directors, was also a vital part of the Channel 13 report, who VERIFIED its contents.
He was THERE to SEE IT ALL.
I enjoyed the detailed summary of Mr. Mouth, but there were more holes in it than a donut. You see, all of those supposed "accomplishments" could have been accomplished PAYING A LOT LESS than what that woman and her staff earns.
Bureaucrats never seem to comprehend the idea of fiscal responsibility, do they ?
Then again, THE MOUTH is what he is....
...the RODENT WHOSE LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CAN FIT IN A THIMBLE, BUT WHO ROARS LIKE A LION, because someone has no fear of EXPOSING THE MACHINE he has been an active member of for years...
...A machine that just MAY be crumbling as a result of...
...a recall election where 40% of those who voted wanted to rid the community of a number of its Board members
...ignored proof that the current SCA President should have been placed on the removal ballot
...the defeat of a MACHINE CANDIDATE in the last election
...a community uproar that, when the contents of a "restaurant deal" was fully disclosed by Anthem Opinions and how lopsided its contents, were fully exposed...finally ended in favor of "the people" rather than a select few...
...concluding with a major TV Station's Investigative Report that exposed the gross over payments made to management.
Perhaps the best comment was from a "literary genius" named "Dory"....you know the typical "I don't have a real name" comment that appears in between the commonplace insults that "grace" THE MOUTH'S publication day in and day out.
You see, Ms. Dory, believes that I was so upset with Ms. Seddon due to being rejected by her regarding booking entertainment; that I would benefit financially in some way, and my distaste for her was revenge; that 'THE MOUTH' was a lawyer and should somehow pursue me legally.
Well, Ms. Dory, you, like so many of the MOUTH'S groupies, have once again been hoodwinked by a disgusting individual who will stop at nothing to maintain the MACHINE, least of all, telling the full truth.
Now...the real story, MS. Dory, and how you have been HAD !
Did I approach Sandy Seddon about booking entertainment for SCA?
Yes I did.
That part was absolutely true , but what THE MOUTH didn't bother to state in his HIT JOB, was that I approached her in good faith when she first arrived, believing that my knowing so many entertainers in the Las Vegas community as a result of my formerly being the Vegas Voice Entertainment editor and weekly talk show host, in the spirit of COMMUNITY, offered to do it for:
$1 per year, and that dollar would have found it's way into a Salvation Army Christmas kettle.
Well, Dory dear, Ms. Seddon, instead hired a woman for almost $100,000 a year to do it instead. That was conveyed to a former Board member Carl Weinstein, who since he subsequently publicly called a woman who was collecting recall petitions a WHORE, was quickly REMOVED from the Anthem Opinions subscription base as a result....
...yet somehow is more than welcome by THE MOUTH.
How did the MACHINE react to a former Board member referring to a resident as a WHORE?
He was subsequently appointed to the SCA Lifestyle Commmittee, that's how !
Perhaps, Dory, you might also remember that Seddon had 836 SCA residents sign a "no confidence" petition.
But Dory dear, you did make another comment about the MACHINE MOUTH and his being a lawyer, that perhaps your feeble brain might comprehend.
That too, is not the case. You see it is well known his law license in 1991 was suspended for forgery and dishonesty, and somehow managed to get a job with the IRS working in a computer room. That is his "life accomplishment" in the working world on which you and his DIP STICKS believe should have some form of financial credibility.
And...to have you thoroughly enjoy your morning coffee, you should also know that his beloved wife was named to the HOA Hall of Shame in 2011 as part a group of Board members who made life miserable on an 85 year old woman who was living solely on Social Security when the Board on which she was a part of, would not allow a simple variance in order for the lady's dog not to be chewed up by a coyote a 2nd time.
When all is said and done, you Ms. Dory, and the rest of those MACHINE MINIONS who fall for that man's blindsiding techniques, are the best example of the saying:
You can't fix stupid !
PS...Anthem Opinions received numerous phone calls thanking us for "saving the community"...
...and, to you Mr. MOUTH, and YOUR MACHINE...
..when yesterday's single hits to Anthem Opinions broke all one day records with 3,845 different computers visiting us in a single day, perhaps THE REAL POPULATION is finally "seeing the light" and realizing how disruptive of a curse YOU and YOUR MACHINE have been for years.
And the restaurant part...we'll fully address that too in a future article.