Board Update 201       Wentworth Informational Meeting             Clifford

 

On Monday afternoon, September 29, the Board of Directors held an Informational Meeting featuring Wentworth Management Company. The meeting, open to all residents, was one of the largest in Sun City attended by over 300 residents.

The meeting began with Al Burfeind, Chairman of the Management Review Task Force, and Clint Young, Vice-Chair, making a brief presentation. The MRTF was commissioned last April by the Board to determine the merits of available management companies interested in managing Sun City Hilton Head as well as to conduct an evaluation of self-management. This assignment was made by the Board in response to the action by the Developer to cease being in the community management business here in Sun City.

The MRTF has completed their assignment and recommended the Board engage Wentworth Management Inc. to manage the community starting January 1, 2009. Among the reasons cited by the Task Force report were:

• Strong management leadership

• Employee training and career development

• Complete financial management and administration

• Executive level management consulting for all departments

• Immediate temporary replacement of key personnel, if needed

• Strong experience in transition

• Volunteer training

• Volume purchasing power

• Golf and Food & Beverage oversight by experienced professionals

• Lifestyle Upgrades (Travel, Entertainment and Wellness)

The Board has accepted the MRTF recommendation and has begun to negotiate a contract with the Wentworth Management Group. No contract exists at the moment.

Michael Mendillo, President of the Wentworth Group, spoke briefly and answered questions for most of the meeting, along with Board members led by Derek Morgan, Board President. The Q&A portion of the meeting began with several questions that had been gathered by the Neighborhood Representative Council. The far ranging questions from residents in the audience focused on Wentworth’s role, cost of services, changes in the website, and experiences in other Sun City communities.

Pending successful negotiations it is anticipated that the Board will consider a resolution to enter into a contract with Wentworth Management at its Quarterly Meeting on October 23, 2008. Following this timetable the costs of the management contract will be included into the 2009 budget to be presented at the Annual Meeting on November 17, 2008, with services to begin on January 1, 2009.

Earlier in the day Wentworth Management hosted a luncheon meeting for all CAM staff. The meeting was attended by almost 150 staff members and was billed as a "Meet and Greet." It was noted that the Board wants all employees to be treated fairly and that no staff changes would be made during the first six months of any contract. Michael Mendillo and the five senior executives from Wentworth that accompanied him assured the CAM staff that during the next few months questions about wages and benefits would be addressed by additional visits of key Wentworth Management staff.