Janet Tutt
 

Good afternoon, I confess to absolute confusion as to how the Villages are "governed".
Janet Tutt seems to be in charge. She holds an unelected position as I understand it. To whom is she beholden, or put another way, for whom does she work, signs her pay check.

thanks,
Ron W

Janet's official title is District Manager. But General Manager of the Villages might be more accurate IMHO. Here's a link to the Villages Organization Chart: Village Community Development Districts

We pay her, and I believe she is employed by the vcdd board. Without going into a lot of complicated deails this is how it all shakes down.... Unfortunately, the VCCD board is elected by the property owners in that district and the only property owners in that district is the developer. Sumter Landing district has the identical set up...

If it makes you feel better, figure that she is like the city manager...

Of course, given my opinion of elected officials, I can't see how she could possible do worse.

Elected officials can be voted out of office. Janet Tutt has a lifetime appointment, at the discretion of the developer. You could think of her as "Queen Tutt".

Janet Tutt has appeared at most POA monthly meetings to respond to questions by residents. I never got the impression from her remarks or her demeanor that she was imperious. I seriously doubt that she would continue as District Manager if she wasn't an effective leader. I would not be so quick to condemn her for her support of the developer unless you find serious shortcomings in the way the Villages is managed. It's a very efficient operation and it's no coincidence. So yes, I'm a fan of Janet Tutt.

I think Janet Tutt is one of the most capable executives I have seen. She is articulate, knows the specifics of this government form, and runs an excellent management operation. Give credit where it is due.

She does a great job. Your comment is unwarranted

The OP was not questioning Janet Tutt's performance. However, since it has been brought up, I would like to say the position she holds is not easy. I am fully aware of her position as it relates to the Supervisors, the Developer, and the residents. She has my complete confidence.

For those not familiar with CDD's or HOA's, Bizdoc's comparing her position with a City Manager is on the money.

BTW, I use the term HOA as it is used in Florida statutes not as it is used in reference to the Villages HOA. HOA's in a large community would normally hire a management firm who in turn would appoint a manager with responsibilities similar to Ms. Tutt's.

I witnessed Queen Tutt in person, when asked why and who put up the Berlin wall she replied, I do not know, that impressed me and that will always be the standard I judge her by.

Her name is Janet Tutt.

I did not know that.

I would bet years from now when Janet is retired, she might tell you that the Berlin Wall debacle was a poor decision by the developer and that she wasn't prepared to defend it. So like any good executive (or politician), she denied any knowledge of it. The gate should have been in place from the beginning but this was obviously not her call to make. I don't think we should hold Janet Tutt accountable for decisions that she didn't make. It must have been a learning experience for her because she handled the Colony Blvd traffic issue differently. In that instance she explained that she drafted a letter to the developer for his input.

I think she handles an impossible job well. I think she is capable, fair, responsible to us and to her duties and there is no amount of money in the world that would be enough to do what she does.


NO one is perfect and no plan is perfect but this place is better run than any place I have ever lived.


No one could ever know how big this place would become in the space of just fifteen years. There is no growth of any town similar anywhere. If this was run by the vote of the residents we would still be arguing about curbing or street lights or other minimal issues.


I have never met Janet Tutt, but she is one of my heroines.


I live in fear that she will quit and leave us to some lesser person.

J.T.
 

Keep up the good work Ms. Tutt.

She seems capable, but there are many capable managers available in this world. Frankly I would feel more comfortable with a manager who reported to the residents and has our best interests rather than the developer's, at heart.

Learn more about YOUR government
 

It is your government. If you want to understand it better, start with the VCDD Resident Academy You can participate, or you can sit on the sidelines and criticize.

In most cases, the interests of the Developer and the residents coincide. From time to time, however, the Developer has acted in his own interests in a way that is detrimental to Villagers. To get a balanced view of the Villages, I'd suggest that one go to the POA website and look at past history. http://www.poa4us.org

The POA on many occasions has said that very thing, "she works for the residents best interest".

Of course the Developer has acted in his own interests. Yes, Mr. Swartz started this place, but I am sure he intended for his kids to someday take over the same way other business owners/developers do. They are business people who have taken chance after chance that what they were doing would work. What if they had bought all this land, built, and then no one came or everyone left? They would be called fools and not envied.

I, for one, am glad this is not run like HOA communities. My son just left one in Jacksonville where their HOA fees were just under $200 a month, one pool, one party room, no yard (just a strip of grass between their entry and around the garage with a few little bushes the fees maintained), lanai large enough for a small table and chairs, no grills permitted, trash/recycle pickup once a week, no golf courses or golf carts, no age restrictions, etc.

With some of the suggestions that I have seen on here, if everyone got what they think about how things should be, within a few years it would resemble some teenagers' rooms...shambles.

We 'chose' to live here because of what it offered and it is far and above Hot Springs, AR's idea of a retirement community. We owned there first and then found this. WE have been thankful ever since.

I think Janet Tutt is remarkable for her knowledge,her calm demeanor in a crisis, and fo r the sheer amount of time and work she puts into her job. I can't imagine doing her job for any amount of money. I hope she never retires

I love the work she does...
I am not so sure that the use of "queen" was meant in a bad way...lots of queens are loved!

Non one is saying she is not acting in our interests, but we need to look at the whole picture here. Who pays her salary? The VCDD i.e. The Developer? If she answers directly to the Developer then she may try to act in our interests, but when push comes to shove, she'll always side with the Developer. And I'm not saying the Developer doesn't act in our interests, before the Developer lovers jump all over me. But, as others have stated, he is an astute businessman, and his interests are always going to come before ours. Hopefully our joint interests will be the same, but that doesn't always happen, to wit the $40 million lawsuit. My point wasn't that Janet Tutt doesn't do a good job, it was that I would feel better if the person in Tutt's position , i.e. Tutt or any other person, answered to the residents. I just don't like a setup where the Developer is omnipotent. A system of checks and balances would make me more comfortable. Obviously, those that are supporters of k the Developer and have complete trust, feel differently.

City Managers are usually not voted into office. They are usually hired by a city council.

But, yes, we do not vote for those who control the Villages and as much as I am in favor of a representative republic, this seems to work out very well.

Sometimes people who know what they're doing, appointing people who know what they are doing works better than the unknowing, impressionable masses voting for people who make a good impression on them.

Since you quoted my post, I take exception to your last one sentence shot. I do not worship the developer, however, I am not going to sit on the sidlines and not respond to people attacking Mrs. Tutt.

when The Villages is "built out" the developer will probably hand over the governing of the development to a board. The board will probably be elected by the residents. but we will still need a "city manager" who is in charge of the staff at the office.

Sorry, but didn't see anyone "attacking" Ms. Tutt. And I apologize if I implied you worship the developer. After reading your previous posts it was clear you are a big supporter of the morses. I've amended my previous post accordingly.

Yes, hopefully that will happen. Or we the residents may choose to hire a Board or group of some sort that will act in OUR interests.

Amen to that! One of the reasons we are looking forward to making TV our future home is how things are run there. We are often tired and frustrated by how our local and state representatives operate. And if you think they are looking out for your best interests, I would respond "think again"! Yes we can throw them out of office in the next election, but mine is just one vote. Most people say they are too busy or just not interested enough in politics to really know what they are voting for, therefore, IMHO, elections tend to end up like a crapshoot anyway. I have seen issues discussed and resolved in TV quicker than most governments can even read the supporting documentation! I know TV may not exist in this form of government forever, but I'd be happy to live in a slice of heaven on earth even for a short period of time.

Unknowing, impressionable masses? That makes the residents sound like a bunch of dummies. There are a lot of well educated, successful people here. I feel confidant that the residents could hire or elect proper representation.

Since I responded to Dr O Boogie's post with an "Amen to that!", I will respond to this too. I think the good Dr was speaking somewhat in generalities about how things often work in this world of ours and I was agreeing with that generality. The part that I agree with YOU about is that there does seem to be a lot of educated, successful people in TV and so with confidence I would consider moving there knowing where the transition of power may eventually go in the future. However, for now, why fix what is not broken? Although, I do not know Janet Tutt personally, or much about her really, she must be doing a darn good job considering all she has to handle. TV, in my very humble opinion and with limited knowledge of TV compared to many of you, seems to run like a well oiled machine. Much different than what I experience in the world outside "the bubble".

As I said previously, My preference would be to have a manager that reports to the residents. Why - ? In most cases, the interests of the Developer and the residents coincide. From time to time, however, the Developer has acted in his own interests in a way that is detrimental to Villagers. As in the $40 million lawsuit. No one ever said Janet Tutt was not doing a good job. My concern has always been the Developer. For those of you who trust the Developer, all is fine and good. We will agree to disagree.

That's not the way I understand it. The VCCDD and SLCDD will control the community. North of 466 essentially shows how it will work at build-out. I expect there will be either a second AAC or an expanded AAC that will administer amenity related funds beyond what is needed to service the bonds used to purchase the amenities from the developer. A position like Ms. Tutt's will remain and will remain appointed/hired by the central districts.

I live north of 466 where the ACC exists and is elected. I, for one, have not always agreed with or thought that they were doing things in the best interest for ALL the residents. Sometimes it seems like it is for only a select segment, regardless of what the others have had to say. Sometimes, I have felt that they operate more in the interests of the Board, but that might just be me. Like the Developer, they are not perfect but when they won the lawsuit, this board is what they got. The whole thing started with the issue of the cart paths and went from there. I have nothing that has to do with the RV storage lot, some do, and some of all the money went for lighting or some such something there. Some things have been really good; some not so much. Sometimes, it's wise to 'be careful what you wish for because you just might get it'.

The "wall" might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but apparently wasn't thought through as thoroughly as it could/should have been. I'm not even close to the area and never used that route, but I took it as an effort to protect the Villagers and their interests. It had some unintended consequences and was soon changed, albeit not to the satisfaction of all. It will always be virtually impossible to please everyone, no matter whose in charge.

Agreeing to disagree is always good. Thank God for allowing us to live in a country where we are free to do just that. Few on this planet are so fortunate.

You have a lot more confidence than me. I think I will go with the dummy theory.

Apparently, you know for a fact that she lied. That acknowledgement means that you and Mrs. Tutt were the only two people at the meeting with that knowledge. I would say that it was incumbent upon you to speak up at that time since you have such intimate insight.

The bottom line in these comments is the fact that Janet Tutt owes her job to the developer. The following are the simple facts, the central district boards employ Janet Tutt. The central district board members are elected by a single property owner, that being the only property owner, the developer. The operating funds of the central districts come from from the residents. Janet Tutt is paid from these funds. Janet Tutt receives her salary from the Residents, she owes her employment to the central district boards who are 100% controlled by the developer. If push comes to shove, do you think Janet tutt would take a adversary role opposing the developer?? You make up your own mind if this is a healthy arrangement for the residents ????

Warren -There's nothing in your post that's inaccurate from my perspective. But I remember an incident several years ago that I think involved a failed retention pond liner that was on or near a golf course. The developer wanted the local CCD to cover the cost to repair the liner. Janet Tutt was able to convince the developer that the cost should be his since the pond was on a championship course he owned. So, I have seen her successfully oppose the developer where money was involved. This doesn't mean she will always do that, but it shows she does not automatically defer to the developer's opinion.

Everything you say is clearly correct, and it is not a healthy arrangement for the residents.

However, to her credit, Ms. Tutt has probably done as well as anybody could in coping with the inherent conflicts of interest that arise from time to time in her job. But she can never cross the developer. Again, thank goodness for the POA since we have no official who will represent our interests when they conflict with those of the Developer, as they have from time to time in the past and will probably from time to time do so in the future.