A PLACE TO BE
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Pledge of Allegiance
VP Pelletier praised the Christmas Parade, Chile Dump, and the $932 donation for the St. Stevens food pantry. He asked for owners to attend the Employees Christmas and White Elephant parties. He mentioned the Christmas light contest and the Party with Leslie. He continued with saying the repair to our roads has been delayed due to the asphalt plant being temporarily shut down and that there are $35 New Year’s Eve tickets available. Rick Horner said the people of the Village donated $3,884 to the Security employee who had lost his home due to a fire.
Later in this meeting he discussed the Port Isabel’s annexation of six acres by the old causeway.
Comments from the BOX
Lot 482 praised the Village Thanksgiving Dinner but said others told him they would have attended if the cost was lower.
Lot 614 said taking the TV out of the exercise room and closing the pool on the day after Thanksgiving was ludicrous.
Lot 288 told the Board that Tom Bergsma should be taken off the Board immediately. Owner expressed that besides suing the Village, he used the confidential emails from the Dredging questionnaires for his personal agenda. Owner gave examples of his misuse and quoted the Board policies about personal information they obtained. Owner asked for the Board to show they will not tolerate this behavior.
In giving a current update Pres. Halbach stated that the Village Attorney had told him she received an email from Mr. Bergsma recanting what he had started. It was said that he had dropped out of the lawsuit and now has no part of it although there may be other people pursuing it.
From the Directors
Treas. Steffensen mentioned there was an art show at the Port Isabel Community Center and Causeway run walk is right around the corner.
Dir. Gagan asked to be able to distribute information on who to call when owners see diesel fuel in the water.
From the Audience
Lot? Introduced a person selling tours and the Board allowed her to give her pitch
Lot 828 commented that she was concerned for the Security officer who was verbally abused by an owner. GM said he had talked to this owner and said owner will personally apologize to that officer.
Jessie Salazar, the manager for Securitas wanted to thank everyone for the donations to his employee Fidel and said they will make sure he will receive his paychecks on time missed due to current health issues.
Lot 834 said there’s rental property not being taken care of.
Lot 96 said she would like to be put on the list to pay someone to keep her property weed free.
Lot 574 asked what was going on behind the Village. Treas. Steffensen said TxDOT is putting 30 acres of wetlands to replace the 30 acres used for a highway.
Lot 25 had concerns about the wear and tear on our swing bridge due to this heavy equipment TxDOT brought in. He also said the chicken dinner sign was tacky and there are junky vehicles parked in our Village that have three flat tires.
Lot 638 questioned the water and sewage for new development outside our Village.
Lot 828 wanted the Board to fine those properties that violate the appearance rules.
Lot 106 said she was embarrassed to have people from out of town over with all these junk lots.
Lot 288 questioned the manner in which we can get something in our documents regarding the "ever present" FINE situation. Owner's question was in regards to how many members it takes to change the By-Laws (which depends on the number of BOD members who vote in favor of a change). DP advised that the fines are addressed in the Declarations document.
Workshop
Our GM asked for help on his list of forty non owners coming in every Monday for a dance class that made it difficult security wise and caused problems at setting up the Rec. Hall for later events. After a very long discussion they decided that the sign in and maximum guest’s rules will be enforced along with an appropriate ending time to accommodate the later setups.
VP Pelletier wanted to have on the agenda a request by the Board for Tom Bergsma’s resignation. Pat Burke interrupted the proceedings saying only the membership can remove a director, not the Board.
Lot 828 asked to put the animal article back in the Newsletter.
Treas. Steffensen said the Board needs to address the budget breakdown. She said the Major Improvement section is $369,000 currently; infrastructure section (Rec. Hall roof, roads, and canals) is $575,000. All avenues for revenue will need to be explored including grants from the government. She said the swing bridge assessment will go up $24,000 next year to a total of $501,000 annually. Aramark will increase their cost by $4,950; Time Warner by $8,468, Red Ryder trash will probably go up $3,000 (5%), Security another $18,000, and who knows how much more for the Village insurance. There was talk about the swing bridge takeover TxDOT and an owner said she was confused with all this talk when the people in authority say they are not interested. It was explained that the county would take it with the knowledge it would then be given to TxDOT.
The Board intends to use $5 out of the condo fees for infrastructure repair along with discussing a future earmarked assessment to cover as many projects as possible that could cost owners in the range of $300-$500.
End
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9 comments:
Slight correction Joey - Lot 288 questioned the manner in which we can get something in our documents regarding the "ever present" FINE situation. My question was in regards to how many members it takes to change the By-Laws (which depends on the number of BOD members who vote in favor of a change). DP advised that the fines are addressed in the Declarations document - different rules, I guess. Probably need to check that further. Thanks,
Liz Deitrick
Introduced a person selling tours and the Board allowed her to give her pitch :
We never understood why the display "GO WITH JO" had to be removed from the activity building. One or two people complained about it. OH I see, it's who complained! GOT IT!
All that was in the 90's, where the reasons we bought in OUTDOOR RESORT.
Present, "THE VILLAGE", that's what it is, a little Patten Place of politics, gossip and feuding.
We watched our SO TX Outdoor Resort be devoured by selfishness, greed, personal agendas, self centered people who bring their half baked ideas to a place of vacation, and gathering of old friends.
Observing:
How many people come from the valley and attend the events? What positive changes have been made in our village since the 90's?
Changes, for certain
Growth, for certain
It just depends what side of the table your on.
Me personally , as a group we have lost our center we have lost our perspective and its our leaders who have created it.
If we continue electing the same people over and over again we will continue to fall into the same mold of distinction.
We as a group have to consider electing people who are not living in the village 24 7.
Hello people think TECHNOLOGY!
I also think 9 board members are to many.. Every hear of the saying " TWO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE SOUP?"
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors, It's Officers, Association Employees & Managing Agent and Their Employees
We need to acquaint the Board members with the standard of conduct that is expected of them.
The law imposes certain standards of conduct and assigns a "fiduciary duty" to the members of the Board. The following guidelines regarding the role of the entire "team" will help in the effort of the association to run as
smoothly as possible.
resource:
http://www.neighborhuddle.com/articles/condo-association-hoa-board-directors-roles-governance.php
The last three elections have been a dog and pony show.
Members attend to be amused. I think we should elect people who don't live here all the time too. It balances it some.
People take winter vacations and are in a different frame of mind. The people who live here keep it like a neighborhood. Less then 400 make the Village their home. The rest are renters and people from the valley. I write to tell you the neighborhood people don't take kindly to the visitors. Some cant wait till all go home!
As imperfect as this blog site might be it is the only source of information as to what is happening in the resort for a person like myself who can't be there all the time nor attend all the meetings.
Our Treasurer apparently provided a lot of info on rising costs facing the resort.
What I don't see anywhere is any evidence of any concerted effort to contain or even reduce costs (without reducing the quality of the services provided).
Our BOD and Aramark mgt. seem too willing to accept that costs have to rise each year. There is no "can do" attitude regarding cost control.
With all the experience and talent residing in the resort I'm sure something meaningful could be accomplished.
It doesn't seem like active participation from the owners is either encouraged or welcomed.
re: What I don't see anywhere is any evidence of any concerted effort to contain or even reduce costs
AMEN! Of course, there is no need for management to contain or reduce costs if the BOD doesn't require it of them...
Trimming Cost Cutting Back
triming the cost of services
requires phone calls and following up.
Competitive services are always available.
The BOD's are to quick to spend our money.
Other food services could be used besides Cosco.
It doesn't matter what ARMARK SAYS, THEY WORK FOR US.
Use local vendors. Support our town.
Cutting cost as far as maintenance people. Add up the cost of weekly pay, insurance, uniforms and etc .
We could find a couple of handymen in the area to work.
We could do without Armondo. Gino can do the job just fine.
The man in the repair shop, we can do without him. There,s nothing to repair.\
We can see if we have a lower eclectic rate. I pay 9.8 cents with Amigo.
Form a few committees, split the list of services that are performed. Let those people act responsively.
Gather information and bring it to our attention.
Its not only the board that's involved we all are!
IT TAKE A VILLAGE
When we have meet the candidate nite, I strongly suggest we ask the candidates if they are familiar with the by laws, documents, and personal agendas.
Everything one needs to know is written down in those documents.
Candidates should be asked question about BYLAWS .
If someone has a personal agenda like Tom B. wanting the canals dredged and not succeeding thinking it was going to be easy if elected. Was sadly mistaking . So a GRUDGE transpired. SHAME SHAME
Tom B and any other member, being elected to the BOD is walking a fine line to being an owner. An elected official , should ALWAY ACTS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ASSOCIATION. People running for the board , please leave you preconceived notions and agendas at the door! Educate yourself!
A place in the sun far from home
that's my desire to be
where friends meet and stories to tell
are part of the daily routine
in some event the
wind does blow
the sea turns brown
fish find a place
where their not found
You'll always find a friendly face
as your day picks up pace
A call to a friend...
let do lunch!
So much do, so little time
in my place in the sun!
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