Letter From the President of HOA

gloriat wrote:Can someone please advise if the letter I received in the mail today from Carolyn, the president I guess, was paid for by the board. I find it very unprofessional for the board to send out a letter at cost of the home owners association to get us to vote on the budget. I figure it is to challenge the other paper we got on the mailbox but still think it is a very very unprofessional thing to do. I'm fairly new to this neighborhood and hope that the board really doesn't run this way. All I can say is that if this is how the board runs then I will vote NO NO NO to not only this budget but to whatever else comes my way.

Dear RAD6216: When did it become illegal to put something ON a mailbox. I believe it is only IN the mailbox. Why doesn't the board watch for more prevelant things like illegal parking and boats and trailers and lights that are out and now what has been brought to my attention, unworkable fire hydrants. COME ON. ARE YOU A BOARD MEMBER?

Well, as to when did it become illegal to put something on a mailbox, you can excuse yourself for that one. No need for my comment.

Secondly, and far more importantly, the board consists of five people entrusted to handle the affairs of the community. The "Board" is not like the Wizard of Oz, all seeing and all knowing. It's not for the board to "watch for more prevAlent things"; that's our job.
Many of the comments I see on this forum are made out of ignorance, and I don't mean that as a perjorative. Too many take the attitude of "if I don't know, or understand, I'll assume the worst". To cajole people into voting against a budget that was worked on in a public forum and explained to those in attendance, because you can't understand why this item is here or that item is there is
unwarranted, unfair, and unfortunate. Unfortunate because it simply results in an unneccesary replication of work that was already undertaken in good faith.

As to the question of whether I am a board member, the answer is no. But unlike yourself, I have attended many board meetings, so I actually have some idea about what they do, and what the actual issues they face are. And I'll bet you a dollar to a donut, that once you've actually attended a few meetings, and understand how seemingly trivial issues can end up requiring committed effort, and diligence, you'll have a different opinion of the people you appear to be so contemptuous about.

For those of you that don't know what perjorative (which is spelled wrong by rad6216, it is actually spelled pejorative) is, it means offensive. I know that I don't walk around with a dictionary or thesaurus.

Can you please tell me why you think it is unfair that as homeowners that foot the bill for this budget, we don't have a right to ask how our money is being spent? If you feel that strongly about it then maybe you should put forward a suggestion to the board that they send out a proxy to the homeowners to vote changing the declaration to allow only the board to ratify the budget and the homeowners have nothing to do with it.


As always I sign my name because I am not afraid to identify myself.

Tim Bongiovanni

For anyone who is interested, this letter cost the community over $400 to mail out. It should also be pointed out that the president could have logged onto this forum and posted her rebuttal for free. It should also be pointed out that this letter was sent without the entire board’s knowledge or approval.

Another thing to mention is that although there are numerous items throughout the year put on our doors and mailboxes, the board has chosen just now to take action against the flyer that I put on the mailboxes informing residents of some questionable items on the budget. 17 years of Locust Hill being in existence and the one flyer that is "against" the board, action is taken. WOW! I feel so famous or infamous to warrant such action.

They said that the "unit owner in question," (ME) will receive a letter and put on some "List" for mail fraud. I'll be sure and post it on here IF I get it.

Please be sure to let you community manager know of any other items you get so that they can report these folks as well.

Dear RAD6216

I have done my research and you are correct. You cannot put any information on or in a mailbox. I appologize for my previous statement.

I can guarantee that I will not only be at the next board meeting, but will speak my mind there.

Thank you for the information that you provided on the mailbox issue. I wonder one thing though, why did the board decided to report the homeowner when they have never made any reports on any of the companies that have left flyers. One company, a driveway paving company, has left them numerous times. I think twice a year they leave them. I heard that the property manager supposedly contacted them but then why if they continue to leave them aren't they reported? I know you don't have the answer since your not on the board but I will ask it to teh property manager.

It just amazes me with the hydrant, culvert, budget, road issues etc...that this community has to deal with that the BOARD decided to dedicate so much time and effort for one flyer. Priorities I guess.

Tim wrote:For those of you that don't know what perjorative (which is spelled wrong by rad6216, it is actually spelled pejorative) is, it means offensive. I know that I don't walk around with a dictionary or thesaurus.

Can you please tell me why you think it is unfair that as homeowners that foot the bill for this budget, we don't have a right to ask how our money is being spent? If you feel that strongly about it then maybe you should put forward a suggestion to the board that they send out a proxy to the homeowners to vote changing the declaration to allow only the board to ratify the budget and the homeowners have nothing to do with it.


As always I sign my name because I am not afraid to identify myself.

Tim Bongiovanni

Awkwardly put, but I stand corrected on the spelling of the word PEJORATIVE. And despite my gaffe, I proudly affirm that I have never used spell check in my life.

Now, I have no objection to anyone holding our neighbors (the board) responsible for how they spend our (and their)money.
I definitely have an objection to you impugning their integrity by asking "Don't we deserve an explanation for (as to?) why our money is being spent so carelessly". That's pretty accusatory, especially when you seem to attribute decisions to whim instead of reason, contrary to the truth of the matter.

As to the President responding to the flyer, I can't say it was right or wrong, but you communicated directly with almost every member of the community through the flyer. You in effect lobbied homeowners who have very little exposure to the HOA or the affairs of the community to vote down a budget on trivial concerns, which were addressed by said letter.
As to the cost of the letter, if you were successful in having the budget voted down, another mailing of the new proposed budget would have cost the community at least as much as the $400.00 dollar mailing, and the time for another budget meeting.

As to changing the declaration so the homeowners have a proxy on the formulation of the budget, with approximately 50-60 people in the room voting, there were 86 total votes (I believe) on the budget. So if everyone who voted, (and they were prompted by mail three times) the budget would still be formulated by less than 20% of the community, and the majority of those folks would have absolutely no idea what they were voting on anyway. The process is correct. If you don't like the result it's the people implementing the process that have to change.

And lastly, I don't need to identify myself.
Those who know me, recognize me.
For those who don't know me, at some point they
will meet me, and it will be obvious.

Metina wrote:It just amazes me with the hydrant, culvert, budget, road issues etc...that this community has to deal with that the BOARD decided to dedicate so much time and effort for one flyer. Priorities I guess.

In fairness, regarding the board dealing with the flyer, the vp stated that there were several complaints regarding the flyer, which was the reason the matter was dealt with. Contrary to the general mood on this forum, there were numerous people in the community who were annoyed or offended by the flyer. You can count me as one of those people( annoyed, not offended).

In all honesty, it wasn't the use of the mailbox that prompted the response, it was the content of the flyer. And that does bring into question the application of the rules, but that's the way of the world.

No solicitation should be tolerated, but be honest, which has more potential to provoke that response; a flyer for driveway sealing, that hundreds of homeowners respond to affirmatively, or a partisan attack ad?

Lastly, how bad can postal prison be? What'll they make you do, lick stamps all day?

I guess your are right Ray6216 in many of your statements, but it is just the continued actions of the board that resist community involvement that concern me, to refuse to hold the community manager to her statement of work even though she is being paid almost $50,000 to work from home, and that they are only seeking to "report" flyers that go against them in general.

I am not worried about postal prison myself. We have received no letter and I frankly don't expect one. I find it hard to believe that a federal institution would just take the word of one person calling in to report a flyer on their word if they didn't witness it themself.

We have no plans to discontinue our efforts, even though I have been threatened by a member of the board with libel and was told that "I was in his cross hairs." I shall not be intimidated.

And lastly, I think that the board's actions speak VOLUMES when they motioned to pass the budget without discussion. They felt no one needed an explaination for anything. So I don't think their integrity was impugned with MY flyer, they impugned themselves with the motion.

-Metina

Metina,
Let's be fair. With regards to the vote without discussion, you were there, it was debated, and according to the bylaws, there shouldn't have been a discussion. Portraying that action as somehow out of order is wrong. The vote proceeded as it should.
As to resisting community involvement, you're simply incorrect. At present, on our community website, there are several posts out for community volunteers. There is never an abundance of volunteers for elected positions on the board. And several initiatives have gone by the wayside for lack of community involvement.
I would presume that ANY community involvement that is worth undertaking would be seriously welcomed. Considering the fact that there are at least four homeowners who run landscaping related businesses, and there are many people out and about on a Sunday afternoon, I think it's somewhat sad that the only people who consistently volunteer to monitor the yard waste program are our Board President and her husband, who are by many years most of our elders.
As to the community managers work ethic, I don't interact with her enough to know whether she lives up to her statement of work or not. My only interaction with her is occasionally online and in meetings, and she has always been prompt in her communications with me, and she always seems extremely knowledgeable on issues being discussed during board meetings. So I don't think she's sitting home relaxing and collecting a paycheck. And as to her salary, I've always made it a policy not to count anyone else's money.
I was actually on the board at the time the decision was made to terminate the property management firm that was handling the communities affairs at the time, and I can tell you for a fact that the service the community has received from Ms. Hockensmith has been far better than what was received by two corporate property management firms, and with a price tag which to my recollection is significantly less thanwhat was allocated previously. I'm thinking by maybe half.
Ask your husband about the previous property management firm. I recall being in a board meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and a representative from the firm was seated at the back of the audience and your husband spent a good part of the meeting in a highly agitated state, berating the woman. There was no arbitrary decision to hire her. It was debated and discussed, and at the time she commenced her service with the LHUOA, we were her only responsibility. I don't know if at present she manages more than one community, but at the time I know we were her priority. Which was the point in the first place.
Lastly, the comment regarding "postal prison" was meant to be facetious. I even tried to attach a smiley face. I don't think the USPS actually maintains a prison, although it might be a great way to stamp out crime.

Oh, and by the way, if I was truly trying to hide my identity, I wouldn't make my screen name my initials. So if the misspelling was meant to "out" me, I'm sure that ship has sailed.

Sincerely,
Ray Downes
P.S. 181 Spelling Bee Champ
1977

Oh yeah, one other thing.
What's wrong with working from home?
I actually resemble that remark.

I work from home as well. Maybe if the volunteer items were updated on the community website, we might get more turn out. As it is still calling for volunteers FOR the.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. wait for it, ...................2008, yes, 2008 community picnic.


The ONLY three items calling for Volunteers are:
1. Community Picnic(2008) - Volunteer for set up, running games, clean up...
2. Architectural Review Committee - The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is l...
3. Web Site Committee - Come join the team!...

I volunteered for the Website and got NO RESPONSE and I thought the ARC was done away with. Just another oversight of the community manager I guess.

Ray we can debate these issues all day. But for or against, this community does have issues.

I actually remember sitting in that meeting at the church. I was upset becuase we lived here for 3 months and did not receive any homeowners documents. I was upset because we did not know what we could do and what we could not do. I came home one day from work and someone had placed the documents in my mail box (and it was not the post office). However, I do have to make one correction that the person that was the most vocal about the community management company was the current member at large board member. He was looking to get rid of that company and even asked the board to put the motion on the floor to do it. He was on the ARC at the time.

Tim Bongiovanni