A Call for Eastman Governance Change

It is evident that the current Eastman Governance model disenfranchises the vast majority of Eastman Members who do not have equal voting rights except for direct vote for Board Members. Furthermore governance actions and transactions are often protected by Eastman privacy policies. ECA members lack direct accountability as to activities or decisions made by various community officials. Members of this community have been wrongfully bullied and improperly discredited by community officials. Financial Reports are produced without independent non-governance validation. No financial details substantiate the content.

It is time for total elimination of antiquated Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions style governance, which does not provide governance for the people.

In the interest of simplified governance, we are proposing the dramatic reduction of Eastman’s governance. In its place there will be a limited number of responsible, directly accountable members of governance. We are also proposing equal voting for all ECA members for all governance matters. Furthermore, we are proposing compliance with New Hampshire Right to Know laws as a "Core Value" of this community.

Much as the efforts 50 years ago in the South provided voting rights for the blacks, we at Eastman, all of us, want EQUAL voting rights at Eastman on Governance Actions/Decisions.

Here is a preliminary draft of the components of this new governance.

1.     An open transparent Eastman governance that conforms to New Hampshire Right to Know Laws voluntarily. 

2.    Complete and open transparency of all financial and business decisions made by Eastman governance members. Eastman officials will respond to any Eastman member's information request with the requested materials within 2 days but no later than 5 working days.

3.    A return to the Board Monthly financial reporting system which was in place prior to FY 2011.

4.    The creation of independently elected Finance and Budget Committee members accountable to the members of the Eastman community. This committee would be five members and would be present at Quarterly Financial Reviews held at convenient times for ECA members with the Eastman General Manager presenting the financials in an open Town meeting format. These meetings would comply with New Hampshire Right to Know Laws.

5.    The complete elimination of the Eastman Council.

6.    The Eastman Board would be reduced to three members with three year terms with one Board position voted for each year, on a three-year rotation. All Board meetings will be in the evening or on a weekend day. Meetings will be available on-line, streamed and on the community's television station.

7.    All committees other than the ones' enumerated above would be Advisory (only) to the community. This would include volunteer committees such as Sustainability, Beautification, Lakes and Streams, etc.
8.  The Environmental Control Committee would continue however their recommendations for changes to existing community regulations would be submitted to the voters for acceptance or rejection.

9.    All Board Policies would be rescinded. Any Board Policies would be voted on and be approved by the property owners.

10.    All voting on all matters would be across the community with no weighting based on where one lives in the community.

11.  Membership of the Golf Course would be community public information. Members will be identified as to whether they are residents and the Special Place they live in. Specific address information will  remain confidential unless released by the Eastman member.

Submitted by Robert Logan-- 40 year Eastman resident