At the first Wilde Lake Board Meeting of the new year, proceedings got off to a tense start with a vote to remove board member Katharine Rathbun on the grounds of what Chair Kevin McAliley called “fiscal malfeasance.” McAliley cited Rathbun’s inclusion of the board’s attorney on emails regarding a previously closed matter, despite the board members being advised not to incur any additional legal fees in the fiscal year, as the board’s legal budget had been overrun.
“I do understand that you feel very, very passionate about what you’re doing but so far you’ve generated $7,000 in billings for legal fees with all of your passion,” McAliley stated in response to Rathbun. “And our residents and non-profits that we usually donate to at the end of the year are missing the opportunities for funding because of your passion.”
Rathbun argued that she only copied the attorney on the emails and that they were not “sent directly to the attorney.”
“I copied the attorney because it’s something she needs to know and if she chooses to look at it or not look at it — if you want to talk to her about it that’s fine, but we have a complaint that has been placed before this board and it needs to be addressed,” she said. Rathbun’s argument referenced a complaint previously submitted by a Wilde Lake resident to the Wilde Lake Village Board.
Rathbun misspoke several times during her rebuttal including insisting that the attorney was an attorney for the Columbia Association before correcting her statement that it was the attorney for the Wilde Lake Village Board.
“I was not generating a bill — I was giving the attorney for the Columbia Association what I felt that she needed to have,” said Rathbun. “And if she feels like she needs to review it or if you feel like you need to send it to her, that’s fine.”
Rathbun stated the issue had not been previously discussed. “We have not discussed one single thing that’s in that complaint,” she said.
However, McAliley and other board members confirmed the matter had been discussed during the December board meeting.
McAliley asked for a motion to vote on Rathbun’s removal. The motion was both made and seconded. All board members present — aside from Rathbun — then voted to affirm Rathbun’s removal.
Process for Community Donation Requests
Executive Director and village manager Sharon-Cooper-Kerr briefed the board on the process for community donation requests, regarding requests for Wilde Lake Community Association funding from community organizations. The board asks that organizations requesting funding be 501(c)(3) or school system organizations. Written requests for funding/donations should be submitted to the board for review at a board meeting. Individuals making the request are also encouraged to attend the meeting and provide additional insight into their organization’s needs.
Wilde Lake Election Committee
The upcoming election season will begin with the Wilde Lake Village Board election on Saturday, April 26 at Slayton House. Linda Odum and Steve Campbell will serve as co-chairs for the election committee. Both are long-time Wilde Lake residents and active community members. “We’re very grateful and excited that they have accepted an invitation to join us in this capacity,” said Cooper-Kerr.
Both Odum and Campbell look forward to focusing on voter turnout. “I look forward to serving with Linda and working with the rest of the board and getting as many people as we can [out to vote], especially from our apartments and condos,” said Campbell.
The election season calendar is currently being drafted and the board intends to hold at least one candidate forum at Slayton House.
Columbia Association Community Engagement
Community Engagement Manager Robin Stimson briefed the board on Columbia Association’s (CA) recent donation drive in partnership with Community Action Council, calling it “huge and successful.” The effort included an October coat Drive with Head Start students.
“The Columbia Association community supplied over 96 coats, which was one-third of what they needed for the entire Head Start for the county,” said Stimson.
CA also held an “Adopt-a-Family” drive in partnership with staff members from community services in December, providing clothing and toys for almost two dozen families.
“It has been a wonderful season of giving and we’re looking forward to increasing that giving for 2025,” said Stimson. Those ideas include potential partnerships with local Columbia organizations or pop-up donation drives within the CA fitness spaces.
Play Area Renovations
The Running Brook tot lot/play area renovation plans will move forward.
The proposal — first briefed by CA Capital Improvements manager Jason Heath during the December board meeting — involves moving the play area from near the 7/11 to the other side of the street near the parking lot. In addition, equipment will be updated to serve children up to 12 years old (it currently serves kids up to five years old).
Heath also recommends, once necessary, that Wilde Lake 1 be replaced and turned into a climbing unit while Wilde Lake 2 would remain a play area for ages two to five.
“Those three play areas are considered a cluster,” said Heath. “We’re trying to diversify the cluster to accommodate a wide range of different age ranges and different activities for children to use.”
Annual inspections are done on the play areas and replacements are based on safety concerns. Funding is available to replace five to eight play areas per year, prioritized based on those inspections.
The board approved the renovation plan for the Running Brook play area. Heath anticipates a five to eight-week delivery time for the equipment, after which it will be installed.
Environmental Concerns and “Weed Warriors”
Chair Kevin McAliley briefed the board on an effort from CARES, an organization that addresses environmental concerns. McAliley explained that trees in the Governor Warfield Parkway median are being overtaken by invasive English ivy, which squeezes and slowly kills the trees. An ongoing effort by CARES, in potential partnership with Howard County or CA, will aim to train “weed warriors” and allow them to enter the median strip to address the ivy problem, working alongside other community groups.
Updates on Village Events
Executive Director and village manager Sharon Cooper-Kerr shared that 150 people attended the Dec. 7 “Breakfast with Santa” event at Slayton House, including individuals from Wilde Lake and other Columbia villages.
“We had a wonderful caterer and our families were happy,” she said. “It was great to see, once again, the multi-generations of families who attend year after year.”
Slayton House will host several art events in 2025, beginning with an exhibit in the
Bernice Kish Gallery titled “H-E-R: Art in Five Voices,” showcasing installations from five female artists: Anne Barney, Barbara Lawson, LUSMERLIN, Malynda Madzel and Dora Diaz Strope. A reception will be held on Sunday, Jan. 12 from 2-5 p.m., and the exhibit will be on display until March 2. In March, Slayton House will partner with the Blossoms of Hope initiative for a themed art gallery.
This article was written by freelance reporter Sarah Sabatske.
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