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News and Views from Menifee Valley, California |
by Steve
8/22/2007 05:05:00 PM
Labels: Homeowners-Association, Menifee-Lakes
I'm sure that if you could Poll every homeowner within the Menifee Master Assoc, most of them would not have a clue as to what the "Recall" was all about. The truth is that only a small minority of homeowners has ever taken interest in what happens here in the Menifee Lakes Community. It only took 2 homeowners to start this Recall mess and believe me it has been the biggest nightmare this community has ever seen. I think your average homeowner doesn't get involved unless they have a dispute or you increase their dues. If all seems well, they don't bother to attend Meetings or to get involved in any Community efforts.
So what happens is that a handful of people make ALL the decisions (good or bad) for the Association. For years we have just squeaked by with having a Quorm to even elect our Board Members or Tract Delegates.
It is a sad state of affairs, and if you don't get involved people and start attending meetings about your community, then you need to stop complaining!!!
Regarding the reasons for firing Don Harris, and believe me there were many reasons to get rid of him. He was and is a HUGE ticking time bomb, with major Anger Management issues. Not a good thing to have someone like this serving as your Lake Manager/Beach Club Manager. The Board made the right decision.
Now because the courts have allowed our Recall votes to be counted, Mr Harris will now have a Board Seat !
He will use this to get his old job back and we will really be in bad shape if that ever happens.
The soap opera "As the stomach turns" continues and those of us who hoped for a peaceful outcome, can FORGET ABOUT IT NOW.
Signed,
17 year Resident of Menifee Lakes
By 
, at August 23, 2007 3:35 PM
From my 20 year experience being in an association and on an association board...this is the norm. Most people can't be bothered to go to meetings or get involved...its always a small number who do.
When we moved to this area, we vowed never to get into an HOA again, we found a nice home without all the politics, personal agendas, increasing association fees, and the nightmare of recalls. Peace at last!
By 
Daniv, at August 23, 2007 3:59 PM
Thanks for bringing this issue up on your site. My wife and I publish a magazine in Menifee and chose not to touch on the subject...yet. We live in Menifee Lakes and honestly thought the issue would go away. If you look at the facts, it would have never gotten this far.
First lets touch on the "he said, she said". I could mention 5 negative things that have occurred at the hands of Don Harris that have affected friends, family and neighbors. They hold no value as they are not documented. As I too try to publish only facts, I was surprised at PE's article. Are we to presume, from the article, that the racist graffiti was directed at Mrs. Walund... and it was placed by her "opposition"? What about the graffiti on my back wall,.. and the stop sign going into my tract? Should we presume that too to be directed at Mrs. Walburn placed by her opposition? I think not. Let's bypass the presumptions and the "he said, she said" and move to the facts. With a little research looking up court documents, members of the community would find the following facts:
Don Harris has 3 restaining orders issued against him.
Don Harris is being sued by the association for taking association property and not returning it.
Don Harris is the target of an ivestigation regarding "multiple" computer crimes.
Accoding to Don Harris lawsuit, and this is generalized, he was fired because a cop said he has anger management issues and is a liability.
DON HARRIS IS SUING THE ASSOCIATION!
Now, as a community member, I have a right to vote for board members. They treat the job like a business and fire and hire as they feel fit. If they hire or fire someone that I dont agree with, so be it. It is for the benefit of the community. Don Harris was fired for the benefit of the community. I ask this: If you own a business and a cop warns you about an employee that has anger management issues and you take no action,... who's at fault? You guessed it. If Harris finally lost it and did something worthy of a lawsuit, who would pay for it? You guessed it again... the association.
We have not touched on this issue in our magazine but we are getting close. Like mentioned in the article, the recall issue did not get 33% vote because most people avoided it. They have no personal attachment to it. But if this moves forward, what would stop someone else from recalling the next board and the next one?.. continuously dwindling association funds until our HOA fees go up 3fold. This is an issue we couldnt avoid.
This recall has cost tons of money and divided the community. Why? Because someone wasnt happy about being terminated. If the board, that we elected, felt there was no reason to terminate the lake manager, then why would they?
The bottom line is this: Why is the community not doing research into the facts: Why, for a year, are people supporting someone that poses a threat, (3 restraining orders) thats being sued by the association for removing property and not returning it, (what is he hiding?) that is the target of an ivestigation regarding computer crimes(email hacking), that a local sheriff stated has anger management issues and is a liability, and, most importantly, IS SUING THE ASSOCIATION THAT SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT?
Wake up people. Supporting Harris and this recall means supporting the spending of association dollars and allowing individuals like Harris to initiate recalls for years to come.
By , at August 23, 2007 6:07 PM
There are certainly many diagnoses of Mr. Harris' mental conditions. If the few people (including the police officer) commenting on Mr. Harris' "major Anger Management issues" are qualified to make such an assessment (meaning you were his psychologist) then you should be brought before the Medical Board for violating the Physician's Oath.
If you're not his doctor, you're not qualified to make that statement. In that case you've both committed tort libel at best.
I am not defending Mr. Harris, and I'm not even remotely involved in the whole mess that ML seems to have, but it seems a bit unfair that everyone is making such an assessment, and in my personal opinion such opinions are based more on personal grudge than general facts.
My .02
By mattsx, at August 23, 2007 9:59 PM
With all due respect Steve; you are like the majority of MLMA members who have relied on "comment" or Gossip to "understand" what has been happening in Menifee Lakes. The mature thing to do is to do some independant research and find out what has happened, independant of biased opinions.
For the record, there was actually a third website(www.menifeelakes.net), owned by the community, but hijacked by Harris, that Harris used for his own agenda. That website has been shut down(believed to be by the Authorities). www.menifeelakesreform.com has been "iced" since January 15, 2007.
www.menifeetruth.com is the only website available for independant menifeelakes information.
As far as to what "happened", read case number RIC458659 at the Riverside Superior Court Webite. This is all Public information. Basically, a Riverside county Sheriff warned the MLMA Board that Harris is a LIABILITY. The Board protected it's membership and eliminated that LIABILITY(anyone with any business/law education realizes that once informed of liability, that liability is accepted). Harris retaliated and filed a frivilious lawsuit against three Board members(alledgedly, they called him some bad names), the MLMA, the Sheriff who warned the MLMA, Sheriff Bob Doyle, and a resident known as the "duck lady", and a petite woman who apparently beat him up (all 6'3", 200lbs of him-you go girl!). So far the MLMA and the three Board members, and Bob Doyle have been exonerated, check the website!
The fact is that the voting reported in the paper occurred almost 12 months ago. Many of those who voted, now regret their vote. These same voters did not know that the terminated lake manager was the target of a criminal investigation. They did not know that this same contractor has three Restrianing Orders granted against him(case #'s TEC073381,TEC072789,SWD00466), nor did they know that he is being sued for the return of HOA property, now(alledgedly) in his possession.
What this reader would like to know is, why does the recall gang continue to support this terminated contractor and subject this association to liability. This is the question all Menifee Lakes members should be asking.
But PLEASE, do NOY rely on "comment" or Gossip, find your own answers and you will find the TRUTH!
By , at August 23, 2007 10:56 PM
Anonimous at 10.56 on 8/23 wantsa to know why the recalll gang continues to support harris.
As a "member' of this gang, i don't believe any of the above allegations. I believe Lucy Walund and the rest of those recall leaders.
How can any one individual be the "target" of a criminal investigation, have three sepererate judges, agree that he is a true threat (taking away constitutional rights) granting three Restrianing Orders, and also be accused of embelezzelment?
This old guy refuses to believe!
By , at August 23, 2007 11:09 PM
Mattsx, is Don Harris! What a DORK!!
By , at August 23, 2007 11:15 PM
I heard Harris doesn't even live in Menifee anymore. How can he be on the baord?
If Harris has any INTEGRITY left, he should just walk away.
Love ya!
By , at August 23, 2007 11:21 PM
Both you and the Press Enterprise are a little misguided. The "recall" can not be considered a "success' until the Riverside Superior Court makes a ruling on August 28. Apparently you and the PE decided that case # RIC471292 does not exist.
The order from this Court was to have the ballots counted, and the validity of this election will be determined on the above date. This election is NOT over. For any recall to be valid, certain laws must be adhered to. It is documented that the two laws required of a recall were not followed. The hearing on the 28th will be very interesting. As will the lawsuit against the two members responsible for this extreme, selfish expense.
MLMA Members: Fasten your seltbelts, this is going to be some ride!
By , at August 23, 2007 11:36 PM
Are ther any DUCKS left on Lake menifee who give a dam about Harris?
By , at August 23, 2007 11:42 PM
So.............how are all you transplants liking this "country living" now? I suppose you're all sooooooo glad to be out of the OC and ALL the BS?
By Denny, at August 24, 2007 4:06 PM
To Denny,
What in the world does being a "transplant", have to do with this topic?? Things like this can happen no matter where you choose to live. I have family in O.C that have had issues like this in their Association. It's Politics and everyone has an opinion or a side they have to take.
These people are VOLUNTEERS who spend hours upon hours of their personal time to make their community a better place. Are they perfect? Will they make mistakes? You can bet on it. But at least they are making the effort.
It's so much easier to sit back and judge the efforts of others, but when you are asked to step up and help......you always find an excuse to take the low road.
Signed.....a lifetime volunteer...try it you'll LOVE IT.
By , at August 24, 2007 7:16 PM
Hey Don Harris- grecian called. They want their formula back!!!
You so sexy, i luv you long time!!
SOO HOONY
By , at August 26, 2007 6:31 PM
The boys at the 'big house" can't wait for some new meat. Don, don't drop the soap!!
chester
By , at August 26, 2007 6:35 PM
It's sad to see that yet another website has been turned into a sludge-slinging outlet by the two residents who led the literal, dirty fight AGAINST the recall. All at homeowners expense. What started as a legal recall by citizens who felt a board simply needed to be held accountable for misusing their positions, and could have ended with just an acknowledgement of the outcome of the ballots, was turned, by the opposition,into a very personal, vicious vendetta, driven by grudges. Please give the readers some credit; it would take an illiterate individual not to recognize that the majority of these posts are from same individuals! Come on folks, why turn every good site into your outlet for hate and malicious accusations! Whether you are able to grasp it or not, the fact IS that the votes were counted and the RECALL PASSED! Your attempts and continued waste of time and $$ (with homeowner-paid attys)to have it declared as invalid, failed, and A SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAS DECLARED IT AS A VALID RECALL WHICH PASSED! In any event, IF you're going to make posts, have the decency to stop mudslinging with the attacks on individuals and tame your insults to the readers. Better yet, get a life!
Andalusia Homeowner
By ROBERT, at September 08, 2007 1:41 PM
When I bought a house in this community earlier this year, I had no idea how dysfunctional the neighborhood association was. After receiving all of the hate mail from both sides, there is no way I want to attend a meeting or know who any of these people are. Not only are you wasting association funds with this craziness, but you are undermining property values; because no one would willingly (knowingly) choose to live in such an environment.
By , at December 18, 2007 4:03 PM
In reading this site for the first time tonight, I am struck by the similarities between small town and big down government.
Mud slinging is now and always has been a means of defeating opposition. And when that does not work, then do things like slash tires, post for sale signs in peoples yards, attack their family, turn off the electricity to their homes, spread vicious rumors known to be lies about them in their community.
The bitter truth is that most people in a hoa community don't care. And the propoganda, and lying signs and a little money will get the job done.
In any menifee election it takes about 250-300 votes (out of 1853 homeowners) to get elected.
When a group of people get together and form a slate you end up with a control group such as we have now.
No one seems to notice that SAVARD ROACH, AND STAMPER WHO ARE THE CONTROLLING CORE GROUP ARE ALL REAL ESTATE PEOPLE. ROACH OWNS MULTIPLE HOMES AND STAMPER DOES AS WELL.
THEN THERE IS THE LITTLE KNOWN FACT THAT SAVARD, ROACH, AND SCHNOOR (THAT IS HALF THE BOARD) ALL LIVE IN THE SMALLEST AND MOST ELITE TRACK IN MENIFEE LAKES.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE SINCE JOINING THE BOARD?
SINCE KEEPING PROPERTY VALUES UP IS A PRIME RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD; AND NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY, VOTED IN BY THE RESIDENTS IN 1996 INCREASES HOME RESALES. YET THE FIRST THING THIS NEW BOARD DID WAS TO PLACE ONE OF THEIR RESIDENT FRIENDS AS A LAKE MONITOR; AND THEN PROMPTLY DISMISS THE NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY WITH NO PLANS TO REPLACE THEM. WHY? BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY TRACT WITH JUST UNDER A HUNDRED HOMES. THEIR HOMES ALL HAVE ALARMS. THEY HAVE A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM, AND MANY OF THEM ARE POLICEMEN. THEY DETERMINED FOR THE REST OF US THAT WE DO NOT NEED SECURITY ANY MORE.
NOW THAT WAS AN INSTANT DROP IN HOME VALUES.
THEY HAVE ALSO THREATENED AND INTIMIDATED MR. HARRIS BY TELLING HIM HE CANNOT ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A BOARD MEMBER. THEY THREATEN HIM WITH LEGAL ACTION IF HE SHOWS.
YES, THERE ARE TWO RESTRAINING ORDERS AGAINST HARRIS. ONE BY THE NEW LAKE MANAGER WHO LIED TO A JUDGE BLATANTLY AND IN FRONT OF WITNESSES. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE OTHER WAS BY PAULINE PETRIE WHO ALSO MADE UP STORIES AND LIED ABOUT INCIDENTS THAT NEVER OCCURRED IN ORDER TO FOLLOW SUIT. OF COURSE SHE WORKED FOR THE NEW LAKE MANAGER AS A LAKE MONITOR. SOS THERE YOU HAVE IT TWO RESTRAINING ORDERS FROM TWO PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER. BOTH LIARS; AND BOTH "CONNECTED TO SAVARD, ROACH, SCHNOOR AND THE POLITICAL CLIQUE WHO STRATEGIZED TO KEEP HARRIS FROM BEING REINSTATED AS LAKE MANAGER OR EVEN ELECTED TO THE BOARD.
MY CONCLUSION IS NO ONE WANTS TO KNOW THE REAL TRUTH. NO ONE CARES. EVERYONE IS TOO BUSY TO NOTICE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
PERHAPS THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT GET PEOPLE THINKING IS WHY WOULD A MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING, AND HAVING AN ANGER MANAGEMENT ISSUE DONATE AN AVERAGE OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE LIVED?
WHY HAS THE LAKE AND SWIM CLUB SHOWN NOTHING BUT IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DROWNING, OR EVEN INJURY DURING THOSE TEN YEARS THAT COULD IN ANY WAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO HARRIS.
WHY WAS MENIFEE LAKES THE SUBJECT OF SO MANY FAVORABLE ARTICLES IN THE PAPER FOR SO MANY YEARS, FOCUSING ON HARRIS HIMSELF IN MANY CASES.
WHY DOES A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER OR EVEN THE DESIRE TO DESTROY A MAN WHO WORKED HARD 60 HOURS A WEEK TO MAKE HIS COMMUNITY BETTER, AND TO FEED HIS FAMILY?
WHY IN THE TEN YEARS THAT HARRIS MANAGED WAS THERE NEVER A LAW SUIT OR EVEN A THREATENED LAW SUIT BASED UPON HIS CONDUCT? HOW DID THIS ALL OF A SUDDEN APPEAR THE SAME YEAR THAT GEORGE MOFFITT CHRYSTAL MCFARLANE AND SUSAN VEJAR VOWED TO HAVE HARRIS OUT OF HIS POSITION BECAUSE HE DID NOT AGREE WITH THEM OR BOW THE KNEE TO THEIR SELF APPOINTED REGALITY?
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, GIVER ME A CALL. i HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO BACK UP EVERYTHING I WILL TELL YOU.
IF ONE PERSON WILL LISTEN WHO HAS AN INTEREST AND CARES, IT IS A GOOD STORY. IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO SAVARD TURNING OVER A SAILBOAT AFTER EGOTISTICALLY BOASTING OF HIS SAILING SKILLS, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF HIS THEN SMALL SON, CAUSING 4 LIFEGUARDS TO HAVE TO RESCUE HIM, HIS SON AND THE $8000 BOAT HE TRASHED BECAUSE OF HIS "SMALL MAN" COMPLEX.
HARRIS MADE HIM PAY THE DAMAGES, AND HE HAS HATED HARRIS VOWING TO GET EVEN FOR OVER 8 YEARS. IN MY OPINION HE, ROACH, MCFARLANE, VEJAR, AND ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS ARE EMOTIONALLY ILL.
SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING, GIVE ME A CALL. WE'LL MEET FOR LUNCH AND I WILL TELL YOU THE REAL TRUTH.
BUT THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS POLITICS. WE KNOW THAT SAVARD ROACH AND STAMPER ARE ABLE TO SLING SHIT. THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF IT.
BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM GOOD PEOPLE. IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM GOOD BOARD MEMBERS.
WE GET THE LEADERSHIP WE DESERVE IS AN OFT REPEATED CLICHE.
BECAUSE OF OUR APATHY, AND WILLINGNESS TO BE SPOON FED BY OTHERS WITH AGENDAS, AND OUR REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS WHO GOVERNS AND HOW WE ARE NOW LIVING WHAT WE DESERVE. AND IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
AS A CLOSING NOTE, WHEN HARRIS WAS GRANTED HIS SEAT ON THE BOARD AFTER 10 MONTHS OF BEING PUT OFF BY THE LIKES OF VEJAR AND MOFFITT, HE INTRODUCED INTO THE AGENDA THAT A COMMITEE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO LOOK INTO PROPERLY IMPLEMENTING OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM OF DELEGATES VOTING ON ALL ISSUES OF COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT. HARRIS ALSO SUBMITTED ACCORDING TO LAW, SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.
GUESS WHAT? SAVARD ROACH AND STAMPER SIMPLY REMOVED THE ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA, AND TO THIS DATE HAS NOT INCLUDED THEM.
ADD TO THAT ADDITIONAL FALSE CHARGES AGAINST HARRIS MADE UP BY JIM ROACH (WHICH THE SHERIFFS DEPT REFUSED TO PURSUE FURTHER)AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF DICTATORS.
IT IS A SAD BUT TRUE OBSERVATION THAT "THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD MEN AND WOMEN TO DO NOTHING"
AS OF THIS MOMENT, EVIL HAS TRIUMPHED IN MENIFEE LAKES. ONLY TIME, AND THE PAIN OF SEEING THE RESULTS OF THIS POWER HUNGRY GROUP WILL DO ANYTHING TO WAKE UP THE HOMEOWNERS. IF IT IS POSSIBLE.
By , at January 29, 2008 8:43 PM
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