Barony Place I/Barony Place II

Why did the HOA's Cash drop so much in one year? On 1/31/26   the HOA had Cash Assets of $1,166,687.95, which was  down $445,336.86 from 1/31/25. I wonder how many Board Members realize that. Does this mean that the HOA spent its entire budget AND another $445,336.86? Do you think the Board should investigate that and give an explanation to the Members? Wouldn't a Treasurer's Report at a monthly Board Meeting be the place to reveal that?

The Board of Directors met on March 3, 2025. Why haven't the Minutes of that Meeting been posted yet? They made an important decision at that meeting, and they failed to discuss other important issues. Minutes ought to be published within one week of a Board Meeting. They could be typed up the following day (while notes are fresh) and distributed to board members. Board members could be given three days to read them and return them with any comments or corrections. Then they could be published. This month, 2½ weeks have already passed. The important decision was that board meetings will be bi-monthly now. (There is no good reason for that.) The Board failed to discuss: the $126,351.61 that was transferred out of Reserves to buy an annuity on (which director), without Board discussion or vote to approve either the withdrawal or the purchase; the $703,252.57 in Accounts Receivable; the 2024 Annual Report, which was received by the HOA by February 24, 2026 (almost six months late) ...

The annual Assessment of the HOA didn't increase until January 1, 2026, and then it went up only $50.00. Why only $50.00?  The Board could not increase the Assessment more than 10% without approval of the Voting Members. Ten percent of $510.00 ($255.00 x 2) was $51.00. $50.00 was less than 10%. ($50.00 was not enough!) The question of whether the Voting Members would have approved a larger increase is irrelevant. There weren't, and aren't, enough legitimate Voting Members to do anything! One current board member said the dues had not increased in 15 years. Everyone knows that costs increased in the past 15 years! If operating costs increased but dues didn't, where did the funds come from? I can only guess, but a factual answer is available. The past Board Treasurers should know. The past Board Presidents should know. The past Boards should know. And the current Treasurer, President, and Board should know. Are "The Three Monkeys" alive and well in The Summit?...

Another week has passed. The March Board Meeting was March 3. The next Board Meeting will be May 5 (unless Members (homeowners) demand a return to monthly meetings). For 20+ years, the Board of Directors meet monthly, with meetings open to homeowners and residents. Why is it that THIS Board wants to show up in public only every other month? And doesn't want residents to attend (or maybe just one resident not to attend)? This Board directs the Association of 2,480 properties. It is accountable to 2,480 property owners. It's not a secret society. It's a South Carolina non-profit corporation. Oh, just email your questions to the office, where a Town & Country clerk might reply to you.  Or might not. Is that  what you want? They don't reply to me. Do they reply to you? There is a lot of open business that the Board is responsible for. How can Members know what is being done? What is the Board doing about the $126,351 that was "invested" in an annuity? On who...

For $126,351 to be moved out of a Reserve fund at South Carolina Federal Credit Union, there must have been action by the Board of Directors; right? For $126,351 to be invested in an annuity, there must have been action by the Board of Directors; right? What should those actions have been? Receipt and study of a proposal to do so; Hearing a presentation of the proposal to do so; Studying and evaluating the pros and cons; Being informed of any relationship between the salesman and the buyer or Annuitant; Being informed who the Annuitant would be; Being informed of side-by-side "numbers" (year-end values for each of the first five years), since cash might be needed for expenses for Reserve items; Being informed of sales commissions and other expenses of the purchase; Beng informed of any expenses for borrowing against or for terminating the annuity at various intervals. Assuming that the transaction was finalized before the board election on November 18, 2025, who were the boar...

According to the Property Manager's (PM) report distributed at the March 3, 2026 Board of Directors Meeting, the 2024 Annual Audit had been received. The PM's report was dated February 24, 2026. This meant that the PM (Robert Williamson) had the 2024 Annual Audit by February 24th! Once received, it should have been promptly posted on the HOA's website. The Auditor reviews the HOA's financial reporting and makes a determination on the accuracy and the completeness of the year's financial reporting. He reports any errors, omissions, and corrective steps needed. The Auditor has the final word. The 2024 Annual Audit was conducted by L. Douglas Johnson, CPA. A CPA by that name is found through a Google search in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Minutes of the October 7, 2025 Board Meeting (Danny Trapp was still Board President at that time) contain an approved Motion for $7,039. Upon first  reading, I thought that was a payment approved for a completed Audit. I was wrong...

How interested is the HOA's Board of Directors in working together? With one another? Could a cohesive unit be built for all seven to work for the benefit of the Association's (2,480 Members)? Or will a "hard split" continue? Before November 18, 2025, the "hard split" was 5-2. Danny Trapp and followers vs. Brenda and Linda. Prior to that, the clique (Justin and Vernell) ran things, and the others went along. Before that, it was Justin and George. Now the "hard split" is 4-3. How well do the seven directors communicate? On a scale of 1-10, what would your guess be? 4? 3? Worse? Would it be beneficial and productive for the Board to hire a skilled facilitator and use the DiSC profile to gain a greater understanding of how each communicates? The DiSC profile is " a research-validated, four-quadrant behavioral assessment tool —Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—used to improve work productivity, teamwork, and communication by ...

According to public records on the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Public Index, Plaintiff Michele Rattray filed a Complaint in Pontiac Magistrate's Court on February 12, 2026 against Brenda Bryant, Thomas Lummel (Jeff), Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore. Her Complaint mirrors closely the Complaint on file in Blythewood Magistrate's Court by Vernell Butler against the same four persons. No Answers to Rattray's Complaint are recorded as filed yet by the Defendants. In the Public Index for Case No.  2026CV4010900304  are two newer entries: a Motion to Dismiss and a Motion for Change of Venue.  There is also an entry on the Rattray case page that the Defendants are now represented by Attorney Lillian Reid Lawrence. Attorney Lawrence is with MGC Law , a very large regional law firm. (Attorney Rattray also represents the four defendants in Butler's case in the Blythewood Magistrate's Court, but public record does not yet reflect the filing of her Appearance t...

The Summit HOA seems to have backed off its position that street parking in The Summit is not allowed. The March 2026 Summit Scoop carries this message on Page 5 in the "Did You Know" section: " Please be mindful of street parking throughout the community to help keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, school buses, and neighbors. Whenever possible, use driveways and garages, and avoid parking in areas that block traffic flow or visibility." This is quite different than the threatening (and incorrect) messages posted in The Summit Scoop by former Board President Danny Trapp in mid-2025. And quite different than the email sent to me on November 12, 2024 from William Hill, former Safety Committee chairman, which read, "We are not allowed to park in the streets." He never answered my two emailed requests for the reason that "we" could not park in the streets. Homeowners and residents in Autumn Run should take note. The signs prohibiting street p...

" Community associations often tell owners that transparency is a cornerstone of good governance." That was the lead sentence is the CIAMBA SubStack email today about "the 175 East Delaware Place HOA   inside the former John Hancock Center." That HOA is in Chicago. Has The Summit's HOA's Board ever talked about the importance of transparency? Have they done more than just "talk about it? What could they be transparent about? The $126,351.61 moved without Board vote from Reserves to an "investment" in an Annuity (on whom?) Whether defense of the separate litigations against Brenda Bryant, Jeff Lummel, Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore by Vernell Butler and Michele Rattray (in different magistrate courts) is being funded by the HOA or its insurance company. Although the four defendants in each legal action are directors and officers of the HOA, the HOA is not a defendant and the four Defendants are not named as officers or directors by eithe...

The Summit HOA's Board of Directors should immediately announce a Special-Called Board Meeting and make it open to the Membership. It should not be a closed, private, secret meeting. Documentation in the form published Minutes should promptly be published on the HOA's website (within days of the Meeting, not weeks). The topics? The annuity that is shown on the January 31, 2026 Balance Sheet and the $126,351.61 that was apparently withdrawn from savings or money market to pay for it. Who is named as the Annuitant? I've heard one name mentioned. Why would it be anyone else? There are probably 25 questions that should be asked and answered. Some of them are listed here . The HOA should be brutally honest (transparent) with the Members. It is the Board of Directors (Bryant, Lummel, Potter, Turley-Moore, Holmes, Hill, Weatherbee) who must ask these questions without flinching. Five of them were on the Board that was sitting when the transactions took place, assuming the transact...

According to the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Public Index, on March 5th* (Thursday) an Answer was filed to Vernell Butler's Complaint against four homeowners in The Summit. The four homeowners are Brenda Bryant, Thomas Lummel (known as Jeff), Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore. Vernell is a former Board Member and past Treasurer of the HOA. He applied to run for the Board and was selected by the Nominating Committee, which was chaired by Tanisha Holmes, Board Vice-President. Vernell, along with others, was slated as a candidate in the November 18, 2025 Board election.  Although he was nominated, he was not elected. Only one of the five candidates of the Nominating Committee was elected; that was Linda Potter. Four nominees of the Nominating Committee were not elected. Voting Members elected three good applicants who had not been nominated by the Nominating Committee as candidates. The Nominating Committee had no good reason to deny those three. Brenda Bryant (incumben...

At the monthly Board Meetings the hand-out includes the current issue of The Summit Scoop (5 pages). When the packet was distributed at the March 3, 2026 Board Meeting, I'm sure many attendees found it very helpful to receive a copy of the February HOA Calendar. (Snark, snark) It costs time and money to make many copies of those five pages for each packet. Why aren't people  thinking ? I recall watching a Jean Robertson comedy routine, in which she held her hands in front of her as if she were lovingly holding a person's head while she asked, "Is there anyone in there?" Why not put an announcement in the packet that directs homeowners and residents to the current issue of The Summit Scoop on the HOA's website? Or just mention it in the meeting? Or not say anything about it at all?

The HOA's Board of Directors missed a huge opportunity last month. On January 30th I requested a meeting with the Board.  Its lawsuit against me had been dismissed on January 13th. I was hoping for an opportunity to discuss some things and clear the air. Instead, I was told that the Board had voted unanimously not to offer me a settlement. The problem? I had not requested a settlement. I had requested a meeting . All the issues I've raised are not my issues. They are your issues. I don't mind waving your flag. In fact, I enjoy it! Just yesterday I told a friend on the phone that I'm glad South Carolina does not charge me an Amusement Tax for all the fun I've having.

How much of the Board's work should be secretive? How much should be confidential? Practically none, as I see it. As they see it? A lot. They don't want the Members knowing about a lot of it. For example, recently I wrote about the substantial decline in Reserves . Why didn't the Board discuss and vote on every withdrawal from Reserves? It's not their money. It's your money! The annuity is an issue that should be made public. I'm sure they like to sweep that one under the carpet. It's "only" $126,351. Who is the Annuitant? Who participated in the decision to buy it?  What are the details? An annuitant must be a living person? Who was the board member who is the Annuitant? Who participated in the decision to "invest" liquid funds in that less-than-liquid "investment"? What is its Actual Net Cash Value right now ? How many deadbeats are there out of 2,480 properties? Accounts Receivable (1/31/2026) are $703,252. Seriously??? If th...

When The Summit's HOA paid invoices from the law firm (Turner Padget) for legal fees and costs associated with the case against Gus Philpott, did a crime occur every time the HOA issued a check? When the Association filed the case (actually, Danny Trapp told the lawyers to file it) in December 2024, the Board of Directors had never voted on it. The Board never approved filing the lawsuit. In fact, the Board could not approve it, because the CC&Rs prohibit it without the prior approval of 75% of the Voting Members. The Voting Members were never asked to approve it, and they never did approve it. The HOA paid thousands of dollars in legal fees and costs. It's difficult to determine the total amount, because the HOA has not published monthly financial statements on its website since August 2025. At that time, Legal/Professional Fees (Line 6500) for eight months totaled $16,224.44. That total might include general legal advice and services, other than the lawsuit. I estimate th...

What's the right answer to that question, here in The Summit's HOA? Only one answer is correct. The Board President? The Board's leadership team (Pres., VP,  Sec'y., Treas.)? The Board of Directors? The management company? The Voting Members? The Members (homeowners) of the Association? The Association itself, composed of its 2,480 Members? All of the above? None of the above? "Association counsel are hired to advise boards and help them comply with the law. Their role is to protect the legal interests of the association as a whole — not merely to defend the actions of incumbent board leadership." This wise, clear statement in quotes comes from an industry newsletter I receive weekly from CIAMBA's SubStack. If you would like to see the entire email, request it from me and I shall forward it to you. In the not-too-distant past, I believe The Summit's HOA did not customarily use its attorney to advise the board. I also believe the attorney didn't hel...

Vernell Butler filed his case against Brenda Bryant, Linda Potter, Thomas (Jeff) Lummel, and Angelo Turley-Moore. Butler accused them of violating the South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act "by holding an invalid election to improperly seat board members..." Why didn't Vernell accuse the people who actually ran the election? The PRM (Art. III, §H, ¶14) states that "The Nominating Committee Chair or its designated representative will preside at the Election and will select several members from the audience to assist in the proceedings." The Nominating Committee Chair was Tanisha Holmes, not any one of the four Defendants. That Section raises the question as to whether the election of directors should be held during the open, November Board Meeting, not in the Annual Meeting of Voting Members. The PRM (Art. III, §H, ¶15) states that "The Election Secretary will call the roll of all the Voting Members to determine whether a quorum of 51% of all the voting me...

How bad are the HOA's Debt Collection policy and practices? For many months in the past, the monthly financial statements produced by CAMS carried this statement: "Collection activity is currently conducted in accordance with Association policy." It was a boiler-plate statement, automatically printed every month, and probably looked at by no one (except me). The Accounts Receivable (Line 1205), as of 1/31/2026, are $703,252.57. A portion of that would be unpaid January 1st Assessments.  As of 8/31/2025, the last monthly Financial Operating Results published on the HOA's website, the Accounts Receivable totaled $588,984.71. No Financial Operating Results have been published on the HOA's website for September, October, November, December 2025, or January 2026. The Association Treasurers (there were three in 2025) never mention bad debts, slow-payers, or collection activity. For years I have suggested to the Boards that there is either something wrong with the "...

Did the Board of Directors ever approve the 2026 Budget? Why do I ask? The Minutes of Board Meetings do not include any discussion of the 2026 Proposed Budget or a vote to approve it. The HOA's website displays the 2026 Proposed Budget, not the 2026 Approved Budget. No one from the Board or the office has responded to my inquiry of why the Proposed, not the Approved, Budget is published. How careful is the Board about details?

As I recall, someone asked at the Board Meeting last Tuesday (March 3) about when Committee listings * on the HOA's website would be updated. They have been. Sort of. If you look at the Committees now, you will see that only chairpersons are listed. No members of committees are listed .  And the all-important Nominating Committee is not even listed! Why not? Will this make it easier for committee chairpersons or board members to order people onto or off committees and no one will know the difference? Last week a long-time member of the Covenants Committee was tossed. Prior to that other Covenants Committee members were tossed. And Finance Committee members were tossed. Late last year the Nominating Committee was re-shuffled, removing long-time members and creating a committee that was responsive to the board majority. That showed up in the slate of nominees, which was rejected by the Voting Members.  Three good-quality applicants, who were bypassed by the Committee, ended up b...

This is the wrong time for the Board of Directors to reduce its meeting frequency. At last week's Board Meeting it was announced that the Board would hold open meetings bi-monthly , with the next meeting being in May. There is too much going on right now to duck out-of-sight every other month. What should the Board be addressing in public? The 2024 Annual Audit was finally received by February 24th, according to the Property Manager's report. The Audit was almost six months late! The first problem is that it hasn't been posted on the HOA's website, where the Members can read it. Did the N.C. CPA give the HOA a clean bill-of-health; i.e., an unqualified audit ?  With Board members only available by email to the office, what will push them to publish it? The 2025 Annual Audit needs to ordered. Will it cost $7,000 (the 2023 Annual Audit cost $4,000) and be completed by an out-of-state CPA, or will Members insist that a local CPA complete the audit  of the HOA, where it...

Officers and Directors of a corporation have an obligation to safeguard the assets of the corporation and to eliminate unnecessary, wrongful or illegal expenses.  What happened to over $500,000 in the past two years? Even the officers and directors of a "little" non-profit corporation, such as The Summit Community Association, Inc. (The Summit's HOA), have this obligation. It's called Fiduciary Responsibility. They must set aside friendships and perform their fiduciary duties faithfully. When they get even a sniff of a wrongful act, they must (keyword: must ) take action. Officers and directors may be neighbors and friends. There shouldn't be opposite factions in a "small" HOA, not that The Summit's HOA is small. For those who don't know, there are 2,480 properties in the Association. Some of the properties no longer have homes on them, due to fires. Those homes may or may not be re-built, but the property owner still pays, or is obligated to pay...

What does The Summit's HOA Board of Directors have to say about the annuity it owns as an "investment"? See the Balance Sheet, Line 1050, in the Financial Operating Results for 1/31/2026, which were handed out at the 3/3/2026 Board Meeting. The Board should issue an immediate statement to the 2,480 property owners that it is investigating the circumstances around the purchase of that annuity. Who is the Annuitant? (I've heard a name.) How did the purchase of the Annuity happen without discussion at an open, Regular Board Meeting and vote by the Board members, with a full record in the Minutes? When was the purchase made? Who were the directors and officers on the board at that time? What management company was in place at the time? Did the Board know about this at the March 3rd Board Meeting, when it was announced that meetings would change to bi-monthly? Members (homeowners) aren't going to wait two months for information about this.

It was nice to see the S.C. Highway Patrol active on Summit Parkway this afternoon. Thank you, Trooper! We are in the service area of Troop 1. If you'd like to say Thanks, send an email to Troop1@scdps.gov They can't be here all day every day, but they are busy when they are here. 

Top: Fountain on the right as you enter The Summit. Bottom: Fountain on the right as you exit The Summit. Why aren't the fountains on Summit Parkway at Clemson Road working? On October 7, 2025 in the Finance Committee report (William Hill, chairman), then-Board Vice President  Tanisha Holmes made a Motion "Fountain Repairs by McCormick Lifestyle: - Front: $28,980 - Entrance: $29,380 - Total: $58,360 – Motion by Tanisha, Approved" Was this a Motion to accept McCormick Lifestyle's bid of $58,360? Or was it a motion to pay $58,360 to McCormick Lifestyle? Because the October, November, and December 2025 Financial Operating Results have not been published on the HOA's website, it is not possible to determine whether McCormick Lifestyle has already been paid. Has McCormick Lifestyle been paid? They shouldn't have been paid yet, because the two fountains are not operating, as of March 5, 2025. A search for McCormick Lifestyle on the S.C. Secretary of State website pr...

The Pontiac Magistrate's Court emailed me a copy of the Complaint filed by Michele Y. Rattray against four homeowners in The Summit. Her Complaint (Civil Case Number 2026CV4010900304), filed on February 12, 2026, almost completely mirrors a Complaint filed against the same four homeowners in the Blythewood Magistrate's Court by Vernell Butler. Rattray's hand-written Complaint names Thomas Lummel, Brenda Bryant, Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore as Defendants. We know Thomas Lummel as Jeff. She complains "The above defendants violated the South Carolina Non-profit Corporation Act by holding an invalid election to improperly seat board members, which is a clear violation of this act." In Paragraph 3, Rattray states,  "I believe, because of the above information, that I am entitled to and do request a judgment for $$7,500.00 [ sic ] and/or relief as below requested: "Immediate dissolution of the Summit HOA Board of Directors for willfully and knowingly ...

Why would The Summit's HOA own an Annuity? The Financial Operating Results for January 31, 2026 were distributed at the March 3rd Board Meeting.  The Balance Sheet reveals an eye-popping item. In the very first group of numbers (ASSETS, Cash, Investment Accounts) is listed: "BOD - SC Federal Credit Union Annuity 06.2029 (Unreconciled). Line 1050. $126,351.61" Does anyone ever read those dry, dreary, boring financial reports that are handed out at Board meetings each month? 8/31/2025 Financial Statement  Reserve Cash & Cash Equivalents  Line 1088 South Carolina Federal Credit Union (Unreconciled) $126,351.61 No Financial Operating Reports have been published on the HOA's website since August 2025. The annuity must have been purchased after August 31, 2025. 10/31/25 Financial Statement (ASSETS, Cash, Bank Accounts) Line 1050 "BOD - South Carolina Federal Credit Union $126,351.61 (Financial Statement distributed at November 18, 2025 Board Meeting.) Was the Annu...

While scanning the Public Index of the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit, I came across a second matter of litigation against the same four individuals named as Defendants in the action by Vernell Butler. On February 12, 2026 Michele Rattray filed her case in the Pontiac Magistrate's Court. The Case is # 2026CV4010900304 : Michele Rattray, Plaintiff v. Brenda Bryant, Thomas Lummel, Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore, Defendants. As soon as I receive a copy of the Summons & Complaint from the Court, I'll provide more details here. 

For almost 20 years "residents" were welcome at Board Meetings. As far back as January 2016 the Summit Scoop carried this message: "Board meetings are open to ALL [ sic ] Summit residents." Even in January 2026 the Scoop carried this message:  "Board meetings are open to all Summit Residents." Then, without notice, fanfare, or Board vote, the February 2026 Summit Scoop was changed to read,  "Board meetings are open to all Summit homeowners." And in an email from the Board, sent out by the office on February 27, the meeting rules led off with " Only homeowners of record are permitted to attend the meeting." Why would the Board want to prevent "residents" (non-homeowners) from monthly meetings? Or do they really just want to keep me out?  Non-homeowners ("residents") are an important part of The Summit. A reasonable person would think that the Board would want residents to feel welcome and included. (This is not a DEI ...

You'll have to read the Manager's Report (dated February 24, 2026) in the Board Packet for the March 3, 2026 Board Meeting to learn that the long-awaited 2024 Annual Audit has been completed. So, where is it? Why isn't it on the HOA's website by now? At the meeting no summary of the Manager's Report was presented. It was only said that the Report was in the packet (which had been placed on chairs in the meeting room). The 2024 Annual Audit was to be completed by August 31, 2025. However, the North Carolina CPA's bid wasn't even acceepted (at a bid of $7,039) until October 7, 2025! Whose fault was that? I've wondered whether a 2024 Annual Audit was ordered earlier in the year. If not, why not? LaToya Adams was Board Treasurer then. Danny Trapp was Board President then. CAMS was the Property Manager then. Did it fall through the cracks? The October 2025 Minutes were unclear. They failed to state that the Board was accepting the CPA's bid ($7,039) to st...