I've never worked with a thick Board (of Trustees), but I've certainly known of some!
I think it should be plane that you think T&G are a couple of chiselers, hammering the public, and that they auger down only to line their own pockets and those of their cronies. Sam, politics'll nail you every time! No matter how square you try to be, how level, you saw how it can whipsaw you! If you just plumb avoid it as much as you can you'll be better off -- they might screw you, but you can bolt!