November 16, 2007 – “An angry meeting,” “an unfair meeting,” “a bullshit phony meeting.” These are some of the descriptions of the November 15 special meeting of the MTCA – at which all of the proposed new rules were passed unanimously. Other words offered included: joke, farce, put-on, sham, and charade.

The Marina City blog MarinaWatchDog took 41 comments from residents the next day.

As one resident put it, “The new rules passed without hardly any objection [from] the directors and it was voted on and passed unanimously. Every person that was allowed to ask a question opposed some part of the new rules, but the directors never considered any of them in their vote. I think we have sunk to a new low.”

Another resident said MTCA president Donna Leonard insulted owners. “Clearly all board members knew in advanced that those rules would be passed, but Mrs. Leonard still sent out a letter, pretending to wish to hear owners’ comments…She went through the motions – that’s it. Owners should take note: this was proof of how we’re being treated like fools. And board members think it’s humorous. It’s their victory. Their faces showed disdain for us. Arrogance – and they were proud of it. We came with sincere comments and they just laughed and smirked. Now how does that make you feel?”

Referring to MTCA attorney Ellis Levin’s claim that Marina City Online was “trying to pretend to be the association,” a resident responded, “What a crock! You’d have to be a moron to think that.”

Still another resident likened the meeting to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. “A chubby leader with several chins was there arrogantly disrespecting folks in the audience.”

Other comments included, “We’ve had difficult boards in the past, but this board is by far the worst” and “What an obscenity to have people incapable or unable to treat the Director position with the respect and hard work it requires.”

Patrick Lister, who spoke at the meeting about rule nine, said on MarinaWatchDog, “I used to think this blog was comprised of a bunch of whiners and malcontents. I stand corrected. Being a fan of the Bill of Rights, I am appalled and disgusted by what I saw at the board meeting. The MTCA Board pissed me off last night. I cannot believe that bunch of nitwits and knuckleheads are running this outfit.”