Is there a Conflict of Interest?
Short answer: there is no broad Conflict of Interest.
This was the first question I raised out of respect for the process and our community. On June 12th, I sent a detailed list of questions to the POA Board and General Manager.
From that email:
As I review the board materials and consider the responsibilities involved, one section stood out: Conflicts of Interest. Given my ownership and involvement in Lucky Hare and Night Train Pizza, I want to be thoughtful about whether my participation would present any real or perceived conflicts—especially as it relates to the Clubhouse, Bistro, and other POA-operated food and beverage services.
This raises a few questions I’d like to understand more clearly—both to avoid any misunderstanding and to ensure alignment around the Clubhouse’s purpose and governance:
- The Clubhouse has been described as an amenity rather than a commercial venture. If that’s the case, what criteria does the Board use to evaluate its success? Are these criteria different from how we measure commercial operations?
- If the Clubhouse is not intended to compete with private businesses, how does the Board explain or justify decisions around pricing, promotions, and event timing that seem to position it like a market participant?
- If a board member owns a nearby restaurant and refrains from influencing F&B policy, would that still be considered a conflict? Or would a conflict only exist if the POA sees the Clubhouse as being in active competition with those businesses?
- Has the Board ever conducted a formal review of alternative management models, such as contracting with a professional hospitality group? If not, what factors have ruled out that option?
- Finally, how does the Board view relationships with other local restaurants? Are they regarded as collaborators in serving the community—or as competitors whose success potentially comes at the Clubhouse’s expense?
I’m asking these questions to clarify expectations and ensure alignment—because any real conflict of interest only exists if the Clubhouse is being run as a commercial entity in competition with private businesses. If that’s not the case, I’d like to better understand how that principle is applied in practice.
From June 25th to 27th, I met individually with each Board member and asked them about this directly. Each one agreed: there would only be a conflict in rare, specific situations, and in those cases, I could simply recuse myself. I’m told The Board’s attorney has also provided an opinion that no broad conflict exists.
During my meeting with Rich McLeod on June 25th he mentioned having written answers to my questions. In a follow up email I asked him for those answers. Here they are:
- THE CRITERIA WE USE TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF OUR AMENITIES IS BASED ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.
- THE CLUBHOUSE IS INTENDED TO SERVE OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AND GUESTS.
- BOARD MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO SERVE THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. IF A BOARD MEMBER HAS CONFLICTING INTERESTS THAT WOULD INHIBIT THAT CAPABILITY, WE EXPECT THAT MEMBER TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM ANY RELATED DISCUSSIONS AND INFORMATION.
- YES.
- THE BOARD IS FOCUSED BIG CANOE GOVERNANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. WE ARE FOCUSED ON GIVING PROPERTY OWNERS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
What is a conflict?
If local business owners are disqualified from serving, what about past board members who are realtors—or their spouses—who have access to sensitive POA data and continued to serve? We should be consistent in how we view potential conflicts.
The Board shouldn’t be involved in operations
The discussions that would involve any details, plans or other operational information about Big Canoe F&B Operations should be handled by those teams. We have a General Manager, an Operations Manager, a Food & Beverage Manager, and an Executive Chef. If we trust these people to do their jobs properly and we hold them accountable for doing so, no decision or information that could be considered a conflict of interest should ever make it to the board.
Thank you for reading my platform. I hope you found it informative and helpful in understanding my vision for our community.
Have a question or something to say? Send me an email: jcfortheboard@gmail.comPrefer to talk? Book a time with me.
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J Cornelius — Candidate for the POA Board
jcornelius.com/poa
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead