RCSC board takes petition request under advisement

The Recreation Centers of Sun City board’s decision to take under advisement a request that could limit its power angered supporters of a petition drive who wanted action at Thursday’s RCSC quarterly membership meeting.

Noel Kasper of the Sun City Formula Registry presented the petition request designed to curtail the authority of RCSC board members by requiring voter approval of bylaws changes and the removal of elected officials.

"I believe the articles need to be changed because I do not believe board members should have the power to remove duly elected members of the board without the consent of the people," he said.

Kasper tried to make a motion and have the membership vote, but Director Denny Nichols said that would violate procedure.

"As a cardholder, you can present a motion, and the board takes it under advisement," Nichols said. "We have 60 days to consider your request for a petition. We will review it, discuss it and we will get back to you."

Kasper asked: "Are you preventing me from making a motion?"

Nichols repeated his explanation.

"This just doesn’t seem right," said resident Tom Beckwith. "Now you’re going to put it off for 60 days and then toss it in a wastepaper basket? That’s not the way things should be done."

Nichols again reiterated that the petition request would be discussed among the directors and not discarded. Former RCSC board member Norm Dickson came to the defense of the board, saying a small contingent of the public should not have the power to circumvent the process.

"I think the disillusionment of some of the members here can be cleared up by simply reading the bylaws of the RCSC," Dickson said. "It is a corporation; it is not a municipality. When you follow the rules, things get done. Short-circuiting the rules by a small number of people is not advisable."

Dickson said the system in place is needed so that the wishes of everyone are taken into account, not just a small group.

"You can’t have a vote here on this," Dickson said. "Consideration has to be taken for all of the people, and there are not 21,000 in here to represent a majority."

Dave Mussaf said he understands the board must follow protocol, but he urged it to come back with a decision sooner than 60 days.

"However, I would ask the board to consider this: Change is everywhere in this country today," Mussaf said. "The people want more. We are no longer going to just sit back and take what you give us. We want input. I would ask the board to take that into consideration."

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