A PLACE TO BE
Friday, March 4, 2011
(To Paraphrase)
Pres. Halbach quickly addressed the Pat Burke rumor of being hired as a “corporate representative”. He also threatened to take legal action against the Board member who leaked executive session info. An owner from the audience said he had firsthand knowledge of that leak saying you (President Halbach) announced Pat Burke was going to represent the Village during last week’s workshop.
President Halbach said Pat Burke’s two year involvement with the Cowen case gives her most knowledge and rapport. He pointed out that Ms. Burke has every right to be on the take since September. He posed, do you want Pat Burke who can best serve the interest of LIV or someone who knows little or nothing.
Owners expressed concern that this sets precedence for past and future Board members being used in such a manner can now ask for $50 an hour compensation. President Halbach said no and gave me the impression that Pat Burke had demanded the money while others have never asked. Dir. White asked Pres. Halbach why weren’t we made aware of these previous payouts to Pat Burke and was told you didn’t need to know since the attorney requested her involvement and the insurance company was paying for it.
Manager’s report had nothing unusual except fifty water leaks due to the big freeze.
Treasurer Report had nothing unusual. There was no P&L report.
Committee Reports had D&E announced their remaining activities, Golf announced all the cart paths should be completed soon, and Pool is going to buy some new pool furniture, install a new gazebo roof, and introduce the new colored wrist bands soon.
After the motion allowing Pat Burke be a Cowen lawsuit “expert witness”, discussions took place. Secretary Montalvo felt this was a mistake because in the past Pat Burke has cost our Village thousands and used the Smith lawsuit as one $15,000 example.
Secretary Steffensen said because the Cowen mediation starts next month it will be difficult to properly review the discovery data due to its volume. She then tried to compare Pat Burke’s $50 dollar an hour services to jury duty.
Dir. Guerra confessed that he along with his fellow Board members have failed to perform their duties at being involved in these lawsuits and said Our Village is paying for it now. Secretary Montalvo agreed and said this should never be allowed to happen again.
Pat Burke struted up to the podium and declared everything she did was in direct correlation to what the attorney had said and if you, referring to Secretary Montalvo would have been listening you would have heard that. She said the Board is setting the parameters with Mary (Steffensen) being the voice of the Board and I the person who has the information. She added she got involved in these lawsuits because nobody else did and implied she didn’t care one way or the other. Secretary Montalvo took issue with her statement and his following questions were shut down by President Halbach. After being told once again that all monies paid to Ms. Burke will be reimbursed by the insurance company, the Board passed their “expert witness” motion. Directors White and Montalvo voted against it.
The dredging survey is about two weeks from completion said Dir. Gagan, and may now include the boat dock/swing bridge area at no cost. Canal H was briefly discussed.
Dir. Pelletier made two motions, passage of $9,320 for Rubio Brothers patchwork of Village roads and Building code revisions. Both motions were approved.
After Treasurer Steffensen discussed the adjustments of the Major Improvement money, she said the Operating budget showed a positive bottom line of $12,329. She made motions to approve her 2011 Operating Budget and her Major Improvement budget. Both motions were passed.
Dir. Pelletier prepped the owners of a probable future assessment with saying that the Rec. Hall roof, Sundial road repair, and the Rec. Center/ Welcome Center Parking lot repavings are not part of the 2011 budget.
Treasurer Steffensen said last week there was a lot of discussion about the election packet forms and reminded everyone that in 2008 our Village attorney corrected what she found wrong in the election process.
I do recall the Village attorney having to be involved along with some outside entities that year due to the lawsuit Reta Priest and Leroy Mulch lawsuit filed against six members of our Board that resulted in costing our Village tens of thousands of dollars.
Treasurer Steffensen said subtle changes have been made towards the election process and forms since and made the motion to go back to the 2009 election process and forms, adding that any future changes are to be subject to Board approval.
When asked, Treasurer Steffensen could not recall what our attorney found wrong with the 2008 process and forms or even what may be actually wrong with what she called these current subtle changes. All Treas. Steffensen could say for sure was the proxy form was an issue in 2008.
It was revealed that the Board has never before been involved with election materials which brought some concerned towards Board members seeking their second term having additional control over the election process.
The Board did say the Village attorney will review every Board electoral revision done although that verbiage was not put in this motion that passed.
Director White said that certain owners were trying to kill the Annual Meeting quorum and asked for responsible owners to please register. She also announced there were problems with the lift stations and bids to correct them will be needed. Our GM said he’s on it.
President Halbach asked and received Board approval on giving a LMWD representative some talking points time for the bond issue at our Annual Meeting.
President Halbach also told owners the amendment file in 2005 to our Long Island Owners Association’s Declaration said if any part of Long Island is annexed, the LIOA would dissolved and the responsibility for the swing bridge would go to that entity who annexed. This amendment was nicknamed the poison pill and now that Port Isabel has sent our Village a letter wanting us to rescind it or face another lawsuit. Village attorney Garcia has said our Park has no leg to stand on but may be able to negotiate certain things.
Selba Campbell said there were two openings for the Bridge Board.
Secretary Montalvo announced that that he heard one of our sitting Board members has been asking owners not to vote in order to stop our Village from having a quorum. Secretary Montalve wanted to remind him and the audience that could lead to substantial costs for the Village.
Secretary Montalvo said that since being appointed Secretary, copies of the corporate books, all records, and papers except those kept by the Treasurer, were required for me to have. He said I’ve been given nothing on the pending lawsuits to review. He said in the past that Pat Burke had a directive that all litigation emails were to stay with her and Board members would have to make arrangements to come to her residence to read them. Acting surprised Treasurer Steffensen said to her knowledge a copy of every email goes to the office and was always available. President Halbach said he will make sure this information will be made available.
Security answered some fire extinguisher questions.
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6 comments:
Very good report Joey!!!! Where to start!!!
You need more than a fire extinguisher to put that fire out! The prez is losing it!
"He pointed out that Ms. Burke has every right to be on the take since September"
That sounds a bit shady. "on the take" Thats a commom phrase in this place! I can give a small but meaningful list of people "on the take!
Why does she need to be paid? Why can't LIV attorney just subpoena her to appear and testify about her actions and knowledge associated with the lawsuit with which she was involved at the time? Something sounds fishy...Paying someone to testify (other than an expert witness offering strictly their expert opinion about subject)???
She shouldnt get paid!
You are so correct blogger. Can you bring that up! Find an answer out. To bad about today.. Back to the drawing board next SAT!
SO NOW WHAT?
WE NEED A NEW BOARD!!
This BOD is an embarrassment!
First PB resigns because they don't want her to be president.
Then Bergsma calls the board nasty names & threatens to sue if they don't pick his high priced survey & dredging company.
Then we find out that some members of this BOD knowingly started paying PB for attending court on our behalf....& not telling the rest of the board.
And now...DP telling everyone "not to vote" because he wants to stay on the board & knows he won't be reelected.
OMG this board is scary.....and what is scarier..some people in this village think what's going on is OK?
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