A PLACE TO BE

A PLACE TO BE

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Unblemished Hypocrisy

The Rental Office has been an issue as far back as May of 2000 when the Board debated on its existence.They ultimately decided to keep it operational as long as it didn’t cost the owners.
Six years later our Rental Office had a two year record of losing big money. A Rental Committee is formed. They concluded these losses were due to an ever increasing number of landlords violating the “exclusive rights” clause found in Article VII of the Declaration of Covenants. In trying to find a way to correct this, our Directors were surprised to find they could neither close the Rental Office because that would more than double the losses nor could they enforce the “exclusive rights” provision because of previous years of non-enforcement. So the 2006 Board threw up their hands and said “Oh well”.
Since 2004 owners have poured around $25K a year into this money pit and how many times during those eight years did owners hear from these people who showed up at the Wednesday McBride bash expressing such a concerned about the Rental Office finances? ZIP, ZERO, NADA!!! Why was that?
I agree on virtually every point Larry Schroeder delivered during the Coffee blitz. For example his opinion that no one should be vilified over a conflict of interest nor should McBride be made to step down. Add to this was his wish that the Board enforce the Declaration of Covenants and figure out a way to keep all conflicts of interest from happening which by the way a week later the Board did the latter with eliminating any possible circumstance that could cause a conflict of interest for McBride.

Since McBride’s ethics were brought up numerous times at and after that Wednesday slugfest, I have to ask where were these people having these sharpened ethic concerns during 2008, the year a director sued six other directors. Where was this moral outrage in December of 2010 when yet another director thought to sue our Village over dredging? Finally, what grade did these ethic crusaders give the director who helped support the obstruction of our 2011 Annual meeting?
It was clear to many that the COOL gang was not at the last Coffee because of ethics, rule violators, nor were they concerned about Rental Office’s financial failures. They were there for McBride and no matter how you slice it; the COOL’s axiomatic grandiloquence supports that conclusion.
Comments

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I want to make it clear from the start, I am not one of the "cool" gang and in no way wish to support their actions. HOWEVER, I cannot agree with you, Joey, about the McBrides. It will be interesting to watch the future Coffees and Board meetings to see if they really keep Ed out of the range of "conflict of interest." There are few decisions made at LIV that don't have some effect on rentals and renters, so this will be interesting...

Anonymous said...

I do not belong to the "cool" gang either and I have voiced my concerns and opinions regarding the ethical and moral responsibilities of anyone on the board since I have been an owner (less than three years.) Many of these conflicts were evident from the very first meeting I attended. I believe the cuts and lot fee increase has opened the eyes of many individuals (the cool gang not included) to a number of practices taking place. When you begin to reach into someones pocket they tend to start paying attention. I have had many pleasant conversations with both Ed and Jenny and have nothing personal levied against them. However, again, as a board member they are held to a higher standard. Fix a situation, don't take advantage of it. To place the blame on those three women (cool gang) is out of line and is giving them entirely too much power and attention. I believe their concerns are as valid as the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

As you said you have been an owner for only 3 years. The "Cool Gang" or the "Dark Side" as they were know have been causing the same outbursts for many years. All that changes are the people they attack. Catherine and her husband cost this village a lot of money. They even said they didn't recognize their daughter! The truth is an odd idea for Catherine. Rita yells and screams because she has no idea what is happening. Pat's previous life as a lawyer didn't take her where she wanted to go so now wants to be a dictator. Let's ignore them. When they start their rants at the coffee and meetings everyone should turn their back on them. Close the rental office, have an outside firm handle the details. The owner's wanting to rent their property out will pay the rental company a percentage. If they don't want to pay then they need to come down here and handle the details themselves. Change the by laws if needed. Just stop
this rental nonsense.

Of course this won't happen as it is easier to do nothing. So stop with the McBride bashing, and get on with life. LIV was a great place at one time. Now due to a very long period of poor management things have gone down hill.

Anonymous said...

So, let's get a new management company. It is time.

Maybe if we have a new management company with a new perspective, then so much will not have to fall on the Board.

And, sorry to all the ARAMARK employees -- whether you like them individually or not, it is time for some new blood and some new people who will really care about this place.

Anonymous said...

I always find it interesting that the very people that ask that the "bashing" stop are the ones doing it. The comment regarding Pat is childish at best. We are not living in the past but are attempting to find solutions for todays financial problems and conditions. It's an unfortunate fact that the McBrides continue to place themselves in compromising situations that warrent attention. Close the rental office, by all means if that's the direction the board takes. Fine. But until that time LIV has a contract that they are obligated to honor and live up to. I'm not so sure getting a new mgmt agency is the answer. I have not don so, but I understand quotes have been requested and the information is available in the library for everyone to review. Evidently, two agencies did not want to work with LIV and the fees charged by the other agencies were so far out of whack it was not workable. I intend to review the information so I have facts in hand, perhaps everyone else should do the same.

Anonymous said...

Re: I always find it interesting.... Typical, someone points out this group’s actions and that person needs to be blamed. Most people know the differences between living in the past and using knowledge of the past to frame the present. Are you saying when people like the McBrides attract your attention by putting themselves in compromising situations should also warrant your denigration? Really? Every L.I.V. owner has skin in the game and wants our place to be in better financial shape, but I have to admit, the only thing I witnessed at the last Coffee was a group trying their best to get rid of a director.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, denigration? Absolutely not. I'm not attempting to make them out as "bad or malice" individuals. Actually I think quite the opposite. Both Ed and Jenny have put alot of positive effort into various village aspects. I think they started with something small and it just took on a life of its own. I do, however, think he should step down from the board in light of all the controversy. This is a "business" standpoint rather than a personal standpoint. Two different things. But, the board and Mr. McBride have agreed to remove him from any involvement regarding rental office decisions and that works for me as long as they hold true to their decision. Regarding the "3", I was not here when that situation took place and I do agree that it's obvious that there's some left over anger, but their conflict of interest is still valid and it wasn't only the "3" that spoke up. I believe his name was Larry who "officially" put the board on notice regarding the conflict. I think what needs to happen now is that the board needs to either close the rental office or get it back up to speed so it's efficient and competitive.

Anonymous said...

I would venture a guess that people are becoming increasingly tired of the lack of accountability. There always seems to be an excuse, so and so is or was doing it, it's not my fault, my folks were weird etc etc. Growing up I was always held accountable and always knew there would be repercussions for my actions. Have I suffered those repercussions? On occassion yes. Does being held accountable make me an "evil" person, no. Nor does it make the McBrides. But, they are now suffering the repercussions for the actions they chose to take.

Anonymous said...

AMEN! Aramark has had ample time to show us they can or can NOT service our needs. We need a Community Management Company, NOT a uniform service company! Their experience as an institutional feeder has not worked well for us with huge losses in the Grill and poorly attended events.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that when there is some sort of conflict, all of a sudden, Larry S shows up to 'voice' his concern. Don't recall seeing or hearing from him other than when the 'others' want to make a statement. Hmmmm....

Anonymous said...

They may have had some valid points but they hit our pocket also. I think it is their style rather than their content that has alienated many. It is very sad that because BODs have NOT listened to owners, people have become rude and angry. The lack of morals and ethics has dragged us all to a new low.

Anonymous said...

I agree, time for a change of management and some BOD members.

Anonymous said...

what is your point, Larry S took the opposite side from the "others"? He said that it was wrong to vilify anyone and asking for McBride to be removed from the board was wrong. As far as not hearing from him, I don't know him personally, but I think I would like to hear more from him as he seems to have a better handle on these issues than most people.

Anonymous said...

WHAT suffering???? New house, more $ then they ever had as he votes to raise OUR condo fees!