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10 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2019 By Laurie Larson "It's like learning that George Washington is moving to Canada." (Heritage Park Herald, June 2017, HOA magazine) This is part of the tribute paid to Joseph (Joe) Barletta as he and his wife Sandi departed their Sacramento HOA to move to this Southern California HOA about 18 months ago. "We have seven children and living at Four Seasons Beaumont helps us to be more centrally located, so that we can visit our children and grandchildren more easily." Joe had served nine years on the previous HOA's Board of Directors, as a member, Vice President and President. Additionally, he was involved in other community activities such as Trivia, Karaoke, and Bridge, and he also chaired the Facilities Committee. He brings that experience to Four Seasons Beaumont where he is co-chair of the Facilities Committee and the monthly host of Trivia for Chavurah. Joe has an MS in electrical engineering and an MBA. He worked as a program manager for many military defense programs at large aerospace companies and prior to that, he was an officer in the U.S. Army. A football player in high school, he thought he was going to have to continue as a defensive lineman in college, since he was trying for a football scholarship. But to his relief, he was offered full scholastic scholarships to four universities. "Look at me. I would have been killed as a football player. Don't have the build for a nose guard, the position I played." But he put his football experience to good use, coaching high school football after he retired. Joe offers his experience and qualifications as a candidate for the Board of Directors. "With my various activities, my business and professional backgrounds, my time spent on a Board of Directors, my time on Facilities Committees, I have learned to deal with various professions and to work well with others. I regard an HOA as an extended family." He sees "lots of good things and some need for improvement" at Four Seasons Beaumont. In his candidate statement he said, "In any community such as ours the key ingredients to success are controlling finances, good quality of life, and maintenance of community amenities and homeowner property values. This is the main task of our (or any) Board of Directors. In general, I believe we are in relatively good shape and will certainly aim to keep us moving in a positive direction." He does see several areas that he thinks could be modified and improved. Looking at our reserve account he says, "Our reserves are over 100 percent funded. Many communities such as ours safely function at 75-80 percent funded. Keeping our reserves at these lower levels would relieve our dues obligations." When asked about term limits, he pointed to his candidate statement in which he had already voiced his opinion. "We have term limits on the committees but not on the Board. I believe this policy should be reversed. A two term limit for the Board (can re-run after one year hiatus) and no term limits for committees should be strongly reconsidered. There are many smart, capable people at Four Seasons, and I believe many more will become involved in all areas if given the opportunity." Asked about any other ways he would want to see changes to the Board of Directors he talked about the way he would prefer to see meetings run. "Where I lived before in Sacramento, many people were used to longer meetings. Ours are fairly short. "I would like to see more transparency in how decisions are arrived at. The Board members could explain how contract A was chosen over contracts B or C. It would increase meeting times, but community members would feel more involved. I believe more residents would come to the meetings ." Joe's final comment on his candidate statement is, "If elected, I will do my best to promote a common sense approach to resolve all issues that present themselves to our community. The goal is to always strive to do the most good for the majority while minimizing the inconvenience to the rest." JOSEPH BARLETTA

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