Forgery alleged in row over Kilminchy EGM
A GROUP of Kilminchy householders who are attempting to organise an EGM and take over the running of the estate, have been accused of forging signatures by the management company, a claim they deny.
The forgery accusation came from director of Kilminchy Management Company Ltd Dermot Lee, after he received a letter from the Kilminchy House Owners committee. The letter included a petition of 78 fee-paying members’ signatures requesting that KMC hold an Extraordinary General Meeting.
The group want to remove the current two directors, appoint new directors and form a committee to run the management company in the future. Legally, once 10 percent or more of members request an EGM, it must be held, or they can arrange it themselves and elect new directors.
Kilminchy Management Company Ltd’s director Dermot Lee claimed in his reply sent to the Kilminchy House Owners committee, that a number of the signatures were forged.
“We have been reliably informed by a number of signatures that are on your list were not made by the members themselves and are appalled to find ut they were on your list and have asked that we remove their names from your list, you are now below the recommended 10% required,” the letter reads.
Lee also says that “no valid reason” was given to seek an EGM.
John Cowhig representing the house owners committee, refutes the accusations.
“The directors are trying to make excuses as far as I’m concerned, they haven’t supplied any evidence. Nobody has come to any committee member to say ‘why did you forge my signature?’,” he said.
The group now intend to plough ahead and arrange their own EGM in the coming weeks, and have delivered flier to every homeowner to imform them of their plans.
The sprawling Kilminchy estate of about 700 houses, uniquely has a management company instead of a residents association. This was enforced as a planning condition due to its size, by Laois County Council, according to Mr Cowhig.
Each homeowner is automatically a member of the company, paying a €200 yearly fee. Many members are believed to be in arrears, but the number is undisclosed as no AGM has taken place since 2011, so no figures have been made available.
Controversy has continued to grow over the lack of openness of the company, which is controlled by the two directors, resident Mr Lee, and developer Jim McDonald, who does not live in the estate.
John Cowhig says a new committee and directors would bring transparancy to how the estate is managed.
“That’s the road we want to go dow, we want everybody to get involved,” he said.
Dermot Lee was unavailable for comment.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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