Hampton Park could oust county critic from its board
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Hampton Park residents could recall Shelley Schuetz, one of the community association's board members, this week.

Over the years, Shelley Schuetz has become known for criticizing how the county conducts its business. Now, Schuetz is facing similar charges by the Hampton Park board of directors.

Members of the Hampton Park Community Association will decide this Friday whether Schuetz should be voted off its board of directors. Schuetz was elected to a two-year term last May, but some of her fellow board members allege she has repeatedly violated her fiduciary responsibilities as a board member and revealed discussions of board executive sessions, a violation of state law.

According to board member Ed Dawson, the board is split 3-2 against her.

Earlier, Schuetz led an unsuccessful attempt to get the county to locate a new middle school in western Chesterfield instead of the Centerpointe location that was ultimately selected. Since then, she has been vocal on a number of issues facing the county, mostly involving the school system, which has rankled her homeowners' board.

Late last year, to clarify that Schuetz was speaking for herself and not the Hampton Park community, President Stacy White wrote county leaders a letter saying, "Schuetz's political actions with respect to Chesterfield County issues in no way reflect the opinion of the board of directors or the association."

The board requested Schuetz's resignation last January, but she declined. "It would have been easier to quit," she admitted in a recent telephone interview, adding that "when I spoke, I always did so as a private citizen."

In response to the recall, Schuetz consulted with attorney Glenn E. Ayers to "further educate myself on fulfilling my role as a board member."

"...It is never easy to stand up before a few bullies like your fellow board members," Ayers wrote to Schuetz. "Hope you will remember that the board members did not elect you, the homeowners did. What your fellow directors are attempting to do is wrong, and their actions should be exposed to the association."

She said Ayers believes the board erred when it classified board members as personnel, which allowed the board to go into executive session to discuss Schuetz. According to Schuetz, the confidential discussions she is charged with revealing concern issues she has been speaking to the county government and school system about. "It has been politically driven from the start," added Schuetz.

Assuming that Hampton Park meets its quorum of 225 on Friday, a simple majority will determine if Schuetz continues to serve on the board. Five members of the community are also running for three slots on the homeowners' board.

"I've tried to be part of the process and seek solutions [to problems in the county]," Schuetz said tearfully. "I love Hampton Park, and I've never been ashamed to say I live here."