Fellow Charter Committee board members; ‘Three weeks ago our organization announced a position of “neutrality” on the Parks tax Chater Amendment. Several board members (the undersigned) believed strongly then, and even more 30 today that the “neutral” position stands in opposition to the Charter Committee's principles: - Independence = Accountability ~ Transparency, ~ Fiscal Responsibility - Regional Cooperation ~ Equity + Continuous Improvement ‘The above were adopted unanimously by this board in 2014. Charter has been very public about these principles, we have published them in op-ed pieces; they appear on the website, And remaining neutral on this proposed Charter Amendment is a violation of every single one of them. Historically friendly civic organizations continue to ask: why is Charter not standing up on this issue? And historically not so friendly members of the Enquirer’s editorial board have asked: where is Charter on the bad government issues raised by this Charter Amendment? We, the undersigned, find the result of the board vote on this issue disturbing enough. However, just as disturbing were many improprieties/irregularity that occurred during our own board's voting process. For an organization that has always valued clear process - transparency and precedent were disregarded: e.g. board members were not given the chance to vote in person at the 9/22 special board meeting. The e-ballot which all were forced to use to cast a vote was NOT developed and approved by the issues committee or any committee. It was weitten (we were told) by an individual board member; and not vetted by anyone (except perhaps the president), ‘The result was ridiculously unbalanced ballot language, listing the many reasons for Charter to remain neutral on the parks tax Charter Amendment, but not one single reason, (perhaps consider the organization’s principles?), for board members to oppose. The list of other apparent improprieties is long, but a few stand out and must be singled out. 1) Mote than one board member should have recused themselves from participating in this vote due to personal promises made by the mayor to them personally or to their organizations for their support of this Charter Amendment. 2) During the open voting period, council member Kevin Flynn lobbied board members via email to “vote neutral”. This email contained “information” that was false as a matter of objective fact. A couple of board members have said the note from Kevin influenced them to vote “neutrat” so as not to oppose Charter’s own council member, Due to timing, the Board was unable to discuss Kevin's note with him nor ask follow-up questions.3) And most serious ~ a paid advocate for the parks tax Charter Amendment and Mayor Cranley himself somehow had real time access to results of how board members had voted. They then made phone calls to a few of these board members to be sure they ‘would vote “neutral”, All board members received a board book at the beginning of their most recent term. The Charter Committee “Vision and Values” statement, adopted in 2008, is included in the board book. A brief history of the Charter Committee's fight for good government, often against long odds is included too. And of course the 2014 statement of principles which ALL current board members voted to adopt is in the board book. When one joins an organization's board, there is a promise ‘made, both implicit and explicit to uphold the organization's principles. So when a board ‘member casts a vote on an important issue which is tantamount to abandoning the orgenization’s core principles, ane must ask, what is the purpose of those principles and even the board itself? A serious question indeed. We clearly understand that there is sometimes a grey area on some issues; however, how does the Parks tax Charter Amendment meet even one Charter principal? It simply fails the Charter Test ‘At our pending 10/20/15 meeting it is our hope and expectation that board members will consider Charter’s history, hold strong to its stated principles, reverse the vote of September 23", ‘and vote to oppose the parks tax Charter Amendment. Very respectfully yours, John Back Bob Dehner Mike Goldman Jack Martindale Mike Morgan Doreen Quinn Mary Wells longs