For Householders, Blainroe Estate

From Terry Neill, chair – Interim Blainroe Estate Management Company board

February 19th, 2021

BEMC status update

This is a short status report on the establishment of the interim board of BEMC, which will serve until new elections for a board to be established in August.

First meeting of Interim BEMC board

The first meeting of the BEMC Interim board took place on Monday February 1st. 

The other members of the Interim board are Derek Griffith, Patrick Hinkson, Philip McEnroe, Billy Nelson, Linda O’Leary and Paul O’Neill

I accepted the role of Chair.

The short meeting reflected on the excellent work of Brendan Dillon and the previous board, and how much we all regretted the circumstances leading to so many of its members’ resignations. We resolved to play our part in preventing similar issues arising again.

We reminded ourselves of the interim board’s four priorities, which were mentioned during the extended AGM on January 25th.

1. Assess the options and their implications of hiring a management agency to provide services to BEMC.
2. Take steps to rebuild widespread trust in Blainroe Estate governance and its values.
3. Hold ‘recruiting’ discussions for the August board.
4. Oversee the ‘day to day issues’ which fall under the remit of the BEMC board. (While – within reason – leaving major decisions to a newly elected board in August.)

Blainroe and new board members

We closed the formal board meeting, and spent an hour or so introducing ourselves and talking about Blainroe, its people, its values – and how much they mean to all of us. I am delighted to have a group of fellow board members who are positive, enthusiastic and determined to play their part in ensuring that we make repairs, and re-instate the best of Blainroe.

My Blainroe learning curve.

Marjorie and I bought our house in The Wavering in 1983. Between then and now, we spent 20 years living in Chicago and London. We have always kept our Blainroe base. Our four children see Blainroe as a vital part of their childhood (and their golf). It was their ‘Irish anchor point’ as we lived elsewhere. It’s a treat now to see our grandchildren building the same affection for the place.

Like many, I suspect, I took the work of Blainroe Estate management for granted. The direct debits hit our bank account. I assumed the bills were ‘magically paid’ and the accounting ‘just happened’. Clean water came out of the taps ….. the sewage went on its way … street lighting … grass cutting …. children’s play area … tennis courts …. I didn’t even think about it.

The last couple of weeks have been (the beginning of) an education. I am just beginning to grasp the amount of work a small group of our neighbours do for the rest of us. In that context, I was pleased when Anne Nugent, Bernie Nelson and Marie Byrne told me that they will continue their work supporting Blainroe Estate management. We need them.

We have a communications challenge. We will address it. With the help of Patrick Hinkson, we will discuss some early ideas at the March board meeting.

Board education session

On February 16th we had a briefing/education session for board members

Paul O’Neill, Anne Nugent and John Bouchier-Hayes took us through the workings of Blainroe finances.

Peter Stapleton provided a status update on the management agency idea.

The management agency idea

BEMC boards have done extraordinary work since their inception in 1988. Over the years, and today, we have been well served by neighbours who do the work of estate management. No operation gets everything right, but my guess is that we have reliability and cost effectiveness to match anywhere.

But looking at options is healthy. Testing my guess about reliability and cost effectiveness is also healthy.

With the help of Peter Stapleton and Philip MeEnroe, we plan to move forward as quickly as we can to set out possible options for involving a management agency. The options will include ‘no change’, but there are 3 or 4 other structures to be examined and assessed.

I will share a possible timescale when feasible. Any board recommendation will be presented to householders, with pros, cons and risks, before any final decision is made.

If we are to have an intelligent conclusion, it will be vital that every householder becomes well informed about the scope, breadth, complexity, skills required to provide the services which many – like me – have come to take for granted. We will plan briefing sessions for everyone sometime after Easter.

Re-setting the tone.

Those many of us who have had a long term base in Blainroe have ‘ingested’ the values, the friendships, the good neighbourliness – the sheer bloody niceness of people. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how precious it all is. We must help newcomers to feel and relish the privilege of living in Blainroe. Recent events show how these strengths can be compromised.

Maintaining Blainroe is not just about painting our houses or cutting the grass. It’s about integrity and relationships. It’s about having a magical place for our children and grandchildren.

We have lost a bit of ground. But we can make it up quickly if we all work together.

Having an ‘oul gossip’ is part of life’s pleasure. Taken to “Trumpian extremes” it can be poisonous.

Your interim board aims to be transparent. It will do its best to listen. It will always prefer to hear about a problem with a suggested practical solution, rather than just a complaint.

Communications

There will be a short update after every board meeting. There will be ideas about the website and other platforms. Watch this space.

Stay safe and stay well.