Tensions are rising on the Columbia Association Board of Directors as a result of Association President Maggie Brown?s contract.
A board committee recommended a three-year deal, although half the board said they supported only a one-year extension.
“We need to move on,” said Board Member Miles Coffman, who represents Hickory Ridge.
Coffman said the committee?s recent move would encourage open debate on the $183,000 contract, which ends April 30.
The recommendation seems to have added fuel to the fire, making the board?s interactions tense, some members said.
“It does not advance the cause of finding a solution,” said Board Member Phil Marcus, who supported the one-year extension with colleagues Gail Broida, Cynthia Coyle, Philip Kirsch and Barbara Russell. They said the association needs new leadership trained in business management.
Marcus, Russell and others said they wanted to discuss other particulars in Brown?s contract, such as salary and benefits. Coffman said the terms of the contract needs to be settled before other details.
Also at issue is the board?s process for debate.
The five board members opposing a three-year extension met secretly in November to decide a common position, but sent an e-mail after the meeting when they reached an agreement, Marcus said.
Yet Coffman said meeting outside of the board and without public feedback is inappropriate. The debate over Brown?s contract should be open, and to that end, he said, he plans to request that minutes from closed meetings on Brown?s contract be released.
Coyle said that though she supports open meetings, the meeting minutes are not accurate. Only when the board has determined they are complete will she agree to releasing the minutes.
