2016 Dec 7 President Message
Dec 7, 2016 22:28:55 GMT -5
Alaska HEMI R/T Jm Admin. and GTO like this
Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2016 22:28:55 GMT -5
President’s Message
It is great to be back in S-bag. Those of us who return after a long absence are greeted by dead golf cart batteries, lifeless air conditioners and mossy green siding so it takes a few days to get the place restored but once we deal with all those sorts of issues, it is wonderful to reconnect with our extended S-bag family and we quickly recall what makes this place so appealing. Many have now returned and activities are quickly getting up to speed.
Your Board of Directors has many duties to address as they come together once again.
One of the most pressing is to plan a budget for 2017-18. Yes, that’s correct. Because the fiscal year for SLohA runs March to March, we are already planning well into the future so that next year’s budget can be approved by the owners, in January.
In order to plan a budget your Board sits down with Toneesha, and conducts a line-by-line review of expenditures and receipts in both our operating and reserve accounts. This takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete. Many of you may not realize that Florida law states that no HOA is allowed to have a majority of its directors assemble for a meeting without having that meeting being open to the public. That means, that in order to comply with the law, this process has to be done in two sessions with no more than four of our nine directors present at each. The ninth Board member then has a private review with Toneesha so that everyone has input. Out of these sessions the Board then has to reach a consensus on the budget that will be presented at the budget forum on Dec.7.
I explain all this not as bid for sympathy for the directors but only to demonstrate how cumbersome and time consuming some of these processes can be. Our Management Accountant, Toneesha, deserves a huge thank-you for her knowledge of the procedures and her hard work in preparing the pages of data upon which our decisions are based. But I think it bears emphasizing that the decisions are made by your Board alone.
Several of the Board positions will need to be filled again this year. Jade Rite and Frns Sm all have decided not to seek re-election. Pet er H all has resigned his position so the remaining 2 years of his term will need to be filled, and my term will be expiring so I will need to seek re-election. The Directors that have served you since last February have worked very well together and it is to be hoped that capable candidates will step up to seek election this year. Petitions for election are still available at the office but they need to be submitted by Dec.10th. If you would like to have your name added to the list of candidates, by all means pick up the form. If you recognize someone that you feel may be a good candidate, please encourage that person to participate.
The focus of the current Board has been on openness and communication and I believe that we have made inroads in that direction. Of course, most of what is done is very routine but I do believe that the Board of Directors can have an important impact on the tone and atmosphere within the resort so it is important that all of our owners pay close attention to the election and consider wisely the candidates that they would like to serve them during the upcoming year.
leery
It is great to be back in S-bag. Those of us who return after a long absence are greeted by dead golf cart batteries, lifeless air conditioners and mossy green siding so it takes a few days to get the place restored but once we deal with all those sorts of issues, it is wonderful to reconnect with our extended S-bag family and we quickly recall what makes this place so appealing. Many have now returned and activities are quickly getting up to speed.
Your Board of Directors has many duties to address as they come together once again.
One of the most pressing is to plan a budget for 2017-18. Yes, that’s correct. Because the fiscal year for SLohA runs March to March, we are already planning well into the future so that next year’s budget can be approved by the owners, in January.
In order to plan a budget your Board sits down with Toneesha, and conducts a line-by-line review of expenditures and receipts in both our operating and reserve accounts. This takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete. Many of you may not realize that Florida law states that no HOA is allowed to have a majority of its directors assemble for a meeting without having that meeting being open to the public. That means, that in order to comply with the law, this process has to be done in two sessions with no more than four of our nine directors present at each. The ninth Board member then has a private review with Toneesha so that everyone has input. Out of these sessions the Board then has to reach a consensus on the budget that will be presented at the budget forum on Dec.7.
I explain all this not as bid for sympathy for the directors but only to demonstrate how cumbersome and time consuming some of these processes can be. Our Management Accountant, Toneesha, deserves a huge thank-you for her knowledge of the procedures and her hard work in preparing the pages of data upon which our decisions are based. But I think it bears emphasizing that the decisions are made by your Board alone.
Several of the Board positions will need to be filled again this year. Jade Rite and Frns Sm all have decided not to seek re-election. Pet er H all has resigned his position so the remaining 2 years of his term will need to be filled, and my term will be expiring so I will need to seek re-election. The Directors that have served you since last February have worked very well together and it is to be hoped that capable candidates will step up to seek election this year. Petitions for election are still available at the office but they need to be submitted by Dec.10th. If you would like to have your name added to the list of candidates, by all means pick up the form. If you recognize someone that you feel may be a good candidate, please encourage that person to participate.
The focus of the current Board has been on openness and communication and I believe that we have made inroads in that direction. Of course, most of what is done is very routine but I do believe that the Board of Directors can have an important impact on the tone and atmosphere within the resort so it is important that all of our owners pay close attention to the election and consider wisely the candidates that they would like to serve them during the upcoming year.
leery
IMO, the board is simply the mouthpiece of the Management Company. The Management Company is the partner of the lawyers. The lawyer and management company derive compensation for services to the corporation. Any competent Management company will be adept at avoiding accountability for corporate decisions. Any shrewd Management Company will guide a board to adopt its recommendations and help the board to understand that the final decision is theirs alone. And passive and naive boards will be happy to take the management company's advice.
This message is about suggesting that the board has "made inroads" in openness and communication in hopes that it will be believed. What has been done to support such a claim?
...A signup sheet at meetings to comment on business AFTER it as already been decided??
...NO owner input, notice or discussion about the the board's unilateral decision to support a private business on common property? Have we even seen the Lease? Does it exist?
...Having Polk County sheriff's in attendance at board meetings--at owners' expense--to intimidate owner participation?
...a poorly-administered website/online photo album?
Are these actions considered "inroads" to communication and trust?
The message is also about redirecting anger about the high legal fees to the board and away from the management company. It is a bid to Owners to keep the same board mindset in presenting candidates for the board ie "consider wisely". Stay the course!
IMO, the worst thing that has ever happened to SLR is the arrival of the Management company and its lawyers. EVERYTHING started to go to H ello in a Handbasket when the so-called Management company starting bombarding our community with its recommendations.
Remember--Legal budget in 2010 = $7000
Newly-licensed, HOA-inexperienced Management Company landed in early 2010.
June 2010: Provided us an unlicensed Property Manager to "manage" a multimillion dollar budget.
First lawsuit out of the gate: Against beloved, longtime Maintenance employee. S-bag lost and settled.
Management Company recommends Covenants amendment in 2012.
Management Company/Lawyers advise SLohA board that covenants expiration is a "gray area" in 2012
Management Company/Lawyers record bogus "preservation" documents which cloud 790 titles
Owner advises Management company that covenants expiration is NOT Gray in 2013 and titles have been slandered
Board decides "no second legal opinion" needed in 2013
Owner sues SLohA to remove slander on title
Management Company/Lawyers S u e Owners without Covenants authority in 2014
Management Company/Lawyers finally "see the light" and announce Covenants EXPIRED Dec 2014
Management Company/Lawyers bungle the validity of the ballot in 2015
Management Company/Lawyers lose two "Covenants-based" lawsuits in 2015
SLohA loses insurance carrier immediately and scrambles for second rate coverage at very high cost
Management Company/Lawyers agree to begin a second revitalization in 2015--paid for AGAIN by Owners
Revitalization cH allenged by Owner in 2016; still pending and will likely be appealed, regardless of the ruling.
2016: Owner injured on premises and files lawsuit against SLohA
2016: Management Company/Lawyers/Board adopt a private business enterprise operating on common property and purportedly enter into a "Lease Agreement" which has no monetary benefits to Owners (Lease Agreement is invisible).
Management Company/Lawyers are not finished legal billing yet...
Legal budget next year = $65,000 (IMO this is way underbudgeted...again)
Legal fees for from April 1 2016 to date = $97,000
If YOU thought the Board was solely responsible for all this mess and expense, think again.
