Whetstone Ballot Amendment Revote

Whetstone residents need to know that the recent Whetstone Assessment Ceiling Increase ballot amendment is being challenged. I have filed a resident's dispute and paid the required $50.00 fee to the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) part of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

The dispute stems from the false and incorrect cover letter shown above that accompanied the ballot amendment sent to Whetstone residents. The letter wrongly states an assent ratio of 60% instead of 2/3 specified in the Whetstone Policies and Bylaws.

The remedy sought for this wrong doing is a revote on the ballot amendment, one that incorporates the lessons learned in the mismanaged vote count and farcical recount including:
1. More rigorously conduct board approval of the ballot cover letter.
2. Clarify and enforce the ballot deadline without dependency on postmarks.
3. Lock down and secure ballots at the time of the deadline.
4. Conduct the ballot count the day after the deadline.
5. Double check the use of all mathematical equations applied in quorum and ballot counting.
6. Be rigorous in the identification and treatment of ballot exclusions.

Once a resident files a complaint with the Commission, a stay of the association’s action is automatically imposed, and the association may not take any action to enforce its decision until the Commission disposes of the case or lifts the stay.

What is the prospect for mediation:
a. Does the Whetstone Homes Corporation acknowledge that a mistake was made in the ballot amendment cover letter?
b. Does the Whetstone Homes Corporation have a written procedure for resolving disputes? If so, what is it?
c. Does the Whetstone Homes Corporation wish to attempt remediation of this dispute?
d. Does the Whetstone Homes Corporation agree to conduct a revote that incorporates the lessons learned from the earlier count and recount?
e. Does the Whetstone Homes Corporation wish to meet and discuss this dispute and its resolution before the CCOC dispute is filed and fees are paid?