Vexed Rossmoor Board Member Quits

After almost eight years of serving as a board member on the Rossmoor Community Services Board, Director Jim Alexander resigned last week.

Citing differences with the other directors on the board, Alexander said he felt he could do more as a private citizen for his residential community of 3,600 homes.

“I’ve been thinking about resigning for a while,” he said Tuesday. “But when they had the election and bypassed me as president, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Fellow Director Shirley Bailey, who was the only member who nominated Alexander for president last week, said the the board is split between those who feel the district is a service provider that takes care of parks, the community center, etc., and those who see it as a political body with service as a secondary concern.

The latter, Bailey said, “think it’s like City Hall and the president of the board is like the mayor of Rossmoor.”

Alexander clashed with some of the board directors over financial concerns. He said they were too ready to spend money for contracted services rather than use available volunteers from the community.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re forcing a general manager to go out and hire people when there’s people who would do it for free. I don’t want to be known to be a part of a board like that.”

Bailey said that although she did not always agree with Alexander, they shared the same concern that a lot of services were being neglected and ignored, for example, park restrooms not being cleaned and children’s playground equipment not kept up to standards.

“I think that he is a tireless worker and has done an awful lot for the community. I think it’s very unfortunate. He’s not been treated with respect by the other board members.”

The district serves Rossmoor, an unincorporated community, as a policy-setting board complete with five elected members and monthly meetings. The president of the board is elected every year and for the past three years Jim Montemer has held that position. Last Wednesday, newcomer Dawn Coleman-Hyman was elected president.

General Manager Ray Griest said a new director will be either appointed or elected. The board has the option of appointing someone within 60 days but if it does not, the county can step in and make the appointment within 30 days. If neither party takes action, a special election will be held in November.

Erwin Anisman, president of the Rossmoor Homeowners Assn., said he’s known Alexander for 10 years.

“I’m very unhappy about it because Jim has had a lot of experience and background that he brought to the RCSD board. I tried to actually have him reconsider but he seemed pretty adamant.”

Ana Cholo-Tipton can be reached at (714) 966-5890.