In the wake of recent allegations that two board members of Cinco Ranch’s Landscape Maintenance Association may have had conflicts of interest in casting recent votes for Cinco MUD 12’s controversial sign proposal, Cinco Ranch Community Manager Michael Meagher said both were simply doing their job.

A number of opponents of the $1.4 million proposal to rebuild eight large monument signs claimed the recent vote by the LMA board was tainted by a conflict of interest by two LMA board members.

Board chair Richard Albrecht is employed by Newland Communities, the developer of Cinco Ranch, while board member Dana Garnett is a senior vice president of Vista, developer of LaCenterra. Both voted in favor of the sign proposal.

That vote, sign opponents claimed, was a conflict of interest since Albrecht and Garnett’s employers would benefit from the new signs.

Meagher said Cinco Ranch’s commercial interests have the same right as residents to be represented. That LMA board represents the interests of everyone in Cinco Ranch and that, he explained, is why its members include commercial representatives as well as residents.

“The Landscape Maintenance Association oversees the rights-of-way throughout Cinco Ranch, and everyone – residents and businesses alike – benefit from having a nice look to the esplanades and boulevards,” Meagher said.

Meagher noted the LMA board is comprised of three residents and two commercial appointees to ensure that all interests in Cinco Ranch are represented.

Albrecht and Garnett are the commercial representatives on the board. Residential representatives are Jack Harman, Stephanie Kinghorn and Paul Neel.

Neel joined Albrecht and Garnett in voting to support the sign proposal. Kinghorn cast the lone dissenting vote. Harman was not present when the vote was taken.

Meagher called the criticism of Albrecht and Garnett “unfair.”

He said Albrecht has worked for Newland for 15 years and has been a key player in the development of Cinco Ranch. In addition, Albrecht is also a resident.

“He lives in Cinco Ranch; this is his baby,” Meagher said.

Meagher added that Newland has been an integral part in making Cinco Ranch the desirable community it has become.

“The developer is why this community is the way it is,” Meagher said.

Meagher added Garnett’s vote was also an appropriate exercise of her authority as a board member. He said she was appointed in early 2008 to help give commercial interests, such as LaCenterra, a voice in how Cinco Ranch looks.

“They have an interest in how the community looks,” Meagher explained. “They represent (commercial) interests and they allow those entities to have a voice.”

Meagher also pointed out that both Albrecht and Garnett publicly disclosed their employment.

“If you provide full disclosure, there’s no conflict,” he said.

Members to the LMA board are appointed by the Cinco Ranch Property Owners’ Association board, Meagher pointed out, and anyone who wants is free to submit a nomination when a vacancy occurs. Typically, LMA board seats are not contested.

Meagher added that LMA board members serve without any type of compensation and spend many hours serving the community.

“It’s unfortunate some people are slinging mud onto people who don’t deserve it,” Meagher said.

Cinco MUD 12 has proposed spending approximately $1.4 million in sales tax revenues to replace eight existing entrance signs along The Grand Parkway. That proposal has come under fire from many in Cinco Ranch as a waste of money benefiting only commercial areas such as the LaCenterra shopping center and a large Super Target store.

Others have said the money should instead be used to fund projects that benefit the entire Cinco Ranch community, and not just commercial interests located in the MUD.

In early December, the LMA board voted 3-1 to approve the new signs. Prior to that vote, the Cinco Ranch Neighborhood Representatives Committee voted overwhelmingly to oppose the plan.

Following the LMA vote, some sign opponents claimed that Albrecht and Garnett had a conflict of interest because their respective employers would be the principal beneficiaries of the new signs. They also pointed out that both Newland and Vista were involved in the early planning of the sign proposal.

A review of the minutes of Cinco MUD 12 for 2007 and 2008 showed that Vista and Newland representatives were, in fact, present at a number of the MUD board meetings during which the sign project was first being developed. The minutes also reflected the fact that the developers’ input was solicited by the MUD board.

Although Albrecht was not listed as personally attending any of the meetings, Lisa Chahin of Newland Properties was listed as being present and taking part in a number of the meetings.

Garnett was listed in the minutes as personally attending several MUD board meetings during which the project was discussed.

Neither Albrecht nor Garnett responded to repeated requests for comment.

A final decision on the sign proposal is expected later this month when the Cinco Ranch Property Owners’ Association board meets.