Response to recent online comments about Board members

TO ALL HOMEOWNERS OF THE 321 HOMES IN BAYVIEW ESTATES (EXCLUDING THE WOODS OF BAYVIEW AND TIDEWATER HOA)

The Bayview Community Board has been taking a lot of very personal attacks, false claims, and innuendo by concerted group of individuals on social media who want nothing more than to harass, discredit, and impugn these members. They are posting untrue statements regarding the actions of the Board, conversations , emails, and Facebook postings. These attacks from the individuals have resorted to name calling members of the Board: “liars, Nazis, anti-Semitic,  Kool-Aid drinkers, puppets,  narcissists, communists,  and sheep”. This type of inflammatory behavior in today’s climate is startling.  The use of these words are malicious, fearful and unproductive. Some have even resorted to stalking and surveilling our members every move on Mallard Court and posting video on social media.  Further, recording oral conversations  of Board member(s) which is illegal as Maryland is a two-party consent State.

This unsettling behavior started when the Board began renovating the park and subsequently escalated after the Board voted to replace the damaged playground equipment . We have endured our personal information being posted on social media regarding credit reports, mental health, and attacks on our family members by some of these individuals.  When we respond to these attacks we are met with “the Board is supposed to be professional , thick skinned, respectful, and above the fray”.  The homeowners who agreed to serve in community leadership positions are giving their time and efforts for the betterment of everyone in this community.    We expect civility in return. They have demanded that Board members not be on a public street on where these homeowners live, which is simply preposterous, all of us have the right to drive on any public street in this neighborhood and respond to attacks on social media or any other public forum. The police have been called on Board members 4 times and DNR once.  Each time, the policing authorities have ensured the Board Member(s) that they were doing nothing wrong. 

It has also been alleged by Mr. Schwartz that Christopher Ward should resign as our President and Property Manager due to a conflict of interest.  Mr. Ward categorically refutes that allegation, which was referred to counsel, who advised there is no perceived conflict.  Christopher Ward has 30 years of experience in multi-family property management and business administration, making him extremely qualified to serve as our Property Manager. Mr Ward reports to the board in his role of property manager and does not have a vote (unless a tie).  Some of us are Officers and some are Directors, but are all important members of the team.  Emails requesting that the President “control or rein in Board members” is evidence of how those requesting this do not understand how our team works.  Again, these attacks are unnecessary and filled with hatred and anger over a playground.  Children are even asking why. 

It has been circulated that someone on the Board had a disabled vehicle on Mallard Court towed.  This is not true.  The Board had nothing to do with the towing of that vehicle.  Mr. Schwartz, however, knows who did but allows people to believe that the Board did it to further his narrative.  As for the incident posted online involving our VP and a homeowner, it has been taken out of context again to fit a narrative.

The Board and its members are available to hear homeowner’s concerns upon request and have been holding many open forums to dispel the misinformation and distorted statements that have been posted on this site.  Please reach out to us at any time for questions, concerns, complaints or praise, if you so desire. Since we were all elected in May, it has been the mission of the Board to take back our community from the mismanagement of the past as we all have a vested interest in the success of our community.