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Sun City Recreation Centers board members removed Ann Ullman from the board for what they claim are violations of the organization’s cardholder code of conduct.
Elected to the board in December 2008, Ms. Ullman received a letter dated May 6 informing her of the board’s decision. The letter, over Board President Warren Hoffmann’s name but not signed, said the board determined Ms. Ullman was "incapable of performing" her share of responsibilities and duties as a director.
In the letter, Mr. Hoffmann cites Article IX of the RCSC Articles of Incorporation, which allows the removal of a board member by a two-thirds vote of the board if the remaining board members, by a two-thirds vote, determine the member is unwilling or incapable of performing their duties.
According to the articles of incorporation, removal is possible by a two-thirds vote of the board or by petition of at least 10 percent of RCSC cardholders. Mr. Hoffmann’s letter said Ms. Ullman’s removal was through the board vote, but would not say when the vote was taken or whether Ms. Ullman was informed of the action and allowed an opportunity to speak in her own defense.
The letter also cites two items from board policy No. 10 — cardholders and their guests will refrain from loud, profane, indecent or abusive language; and cardholders and their guests will not harass or abuse, verbally or physically, any other person.
Ms. Ullman claims she committed no such violations of the code of conduct policy. She further claims other board members do not want her on the board because she is outspoken and does not always agree with them.
When contacted by e-mail for comment, Mr. Hoffman stated the board had none at this time.
"We consider it a personal matter," he stated in an e-mail. "If she wishes to discuss a personal matter concerning herself, that is up to her."
He told RCSC cardholders at the May 28 regular board meeting the same thing. Sun City resident Noel Casper asked if Ms. Ullman resigned or was removed from the board, but Mr. Hoffmann again said board members had no comment.
"I would not even consider talking about it unless she (Ms. Ullman) opened the door," he said.
In his letter informing Ms. Ullman she was removed from the board, Mr. Hoffmann said reports were received of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior by her in clubs and organizations, and entertainment committee meetings.
"Such behavior is not becoming or acceptable for a director and is a violation of board policy," Mr. Hoffmann stated. "Therefore, you are incapable of chairing or co-chairing any RCSC committees."
Ms. Ullman claimed she was not notified this action was going to be taken. RCSC directors are given laptops to allow them to communicate by e-mail and her first indication there was a problem was when she was not able to send or receive e-mail through the RCSC account set up for her when she began her duties on the board in January.
"I took the computer in to have it checked and I left it at the office, but I never got it back," she said.
In reference to Mr. Hoffmann’s allegations she exhibited unprofessional and inappropriate behavior in committee meetings, she described two incidents. One came in an entertainment committee meeting when she asked about scheduling American American or Arab entertainers. Ms. Ullman claims two committee members dismissed the suggestion with what she considered racist remarks against the two ethnic groups.
"I have a lot of Arab friends and those remarks offended me," she said. "I said we should not be racist in the way we do things."
Following the committee meeting, the two members filed an incident report against Ms. Ullman.
The second incident occurred in a clubs and organizations meeting when members were considering suspending a woman who, as a pickleball monitor, had allowed residents of other communities to play on Sun City courts for a fee, which according to Ms. Ullman is against policy. She claims Denny Nichols, RCSC board and COC member, said he did not know the woman. Ms. Ullman disagreed, saying Mr. Nichols had dealt with the women last year.
"He then demanded a public apology," Ms. Ullman said.
Mr. Nichols was contacted by e-mail for comment and requested, through Tim Gallen, RCSC communications coordinator, a list of specific questions regarding the issue. After the list was provided Mr. Nichols, again through Mr. Gallen, said he had no comment.
A third incident surrounded an attempt to suspend her husband, Wayne, for 10 months because of alleged foul language on pickleball courts. Ms. Ullman claims board policy does not allow suspensions of that length and pointed it out in a clubs and organizations meeting. Her husband had requested, in writing, a hearing and Ms. Ullman was rebuffed when she tried to get it on the committee agenda.
"I was told that was not the time and place for it," she said. "Right after that they pulled me off the clubs and organizations committee."
