If commercial owners begin joining the Reston Association, they may be designated a spot on the board of directors, according to a change made in the draft governing documents.
The RA Board agreed Monday night to make a change to the draft governing documents that would designate one of the nine board of director positions to a commercial owner if 25 or more voluntarily join the association. If the change is adopted and commercial owners meet the threshold, a commercial owner would be elected by all RA voters to serve on the board.
The change comes on the heels of a related revision that will allow commercial owners to voluntarily join RA, pay assessments and receive votes commensurate with commercial property value or square footage.
Monday’s session was another in a series of meetings the board has held to revise the association’s governing documents, which are scheduled to go to referendum for approval in October. The documents codify the powers, rules and regulations that govern the association.
THIS LATEST CHANGE — designating commercial owners a spot on the board if 25 or more commercial entities join the association — would require that an at-large director’s slot be dissolved.
“I think what we are doing basically is trying to get more money, and I don’t think the complications associated with that are worthwhile,” said Robert Poppe, at-large director. “Why should we dilute the power of the homeowners that we have now by one vote on the board to commercial owners?” said Poppe, the lone director opposed to the change.
Director Rick Beyer, who supported the change, said that this gives commercial owners who are already bounded by some of RA’s rules a voice. “As soon as you start taking their money, they have to have representation,” said Beyer. “It makes it more inclusive and that’s what we’re really trying to do is make Reston a more inclusive community,” said Beyer, referring to the position of allowing commercial owners voluntary entry to RA.
“I’m not sure why we want commercial owners on the board,” said Director Joe Leighton (South Lakes), during an exchange before the issue was decided.
“Do we want their money?” said Beyer, responding to Leighton’s concern.
“This could look like we’re trying to dilute residential power by taking away an at-large director,” said Jenn Blackwell, board president.
“What’s the harm of giving them a voice, they’re never going to control anything,” said Bob Diamond of ReedSmith, LLC, the attorney who prepared the draft for RA and has been involved in the revision process the past several months.
When discussion was over, five of the six board members in attendance for the decision agreed to the change that designates a spot on the board for commercial owners.
Dave England, a resident of Reston, attended the working session to learn more about the various changes the board has been making to the draft governing documents.
“I agree getting [commercial owners] in somehow because they’re part of the community,” said England when asked about the issue. “The aesthetic value of Reston as a place to live is viewed differently from a resident’s point of view compared to a commercial property.” He also said that commercial owners do recognize that the quality of life in a community impacts the quality of work of employees.