A comment has been made that explains why our association has failed. Sometimes the truth does hurt as this is the case for Surfside. The failure is clearly outlined, but lacking a solution. That solution could be to contract with a management company or at the worst, dissolve due to a lack of resolve to make corrections.
Thank you to the person who contributed this thoughtful comment.
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12 comments:
We have a Surfside philosopher on the loose. First, Surfside is not a failed community. Second the Peter Principle applied to the board is ridiculous.
6:15, You must be asleep....
6:15. Do you feel threatened? The Peter Principle apples to all individuals and groups. The principle, unlike you does not discriminate. Where did you come up with the “failed community” idea. Never espoused. I believe you identify yourself with the treatise.
Over and over again the negative people here keep overlooking an obvious conclusion. It does not matter who the people that vote are or those who don't bother. At the end of the day, they just don't agree with you point of view. While it has its faults, people still love it here.
And as usual they choose to attack those who step up while hurling insults from the sidelines.
Sorry, facts are facts.
The community BOT became embroiled in this EPA investigation through incompetence. Bill Neil failed to follow proper procedures in handling and disposing of Asbestos, and in the process put a number of employees at risk. Once exposed to Asbestos, you never know when it may develop into the life threatening disease. The HOA Board was supposedly overseeing procedures at the Water Dept., that's the purpose of the Waterworks Committee.
So this was a failure of management across the board, and no small matter, lives put at risk unnecessarily, and huge fines levied against the HOA. With the new CTP plant improperly permitted, we were fined soundly for that, and mandated to meet an impossible requirement or relocate the Plant. More than a year ago the State demanded the community convert 12 times the area occupied by the Plant to wetlands. With much of the remaining property owned by the HOA deemed wetlands and unbuildable, this is an absurd expectation.
But our community is in a serious conflict with County, State and Federal entities, and has been paying the HOA attorneys to address this stuff for well over a year and counting. STILL the HOA Board has refused to address all of these matters publicly, and the only reason we know about it is George was privy to knowing all that was going on, and outlined it on the Blog.
So it's interesting that we have members that are very bitter at the Blog for speaking the truth, some that deny any of these things are true, and some who insist that the truth-speakers are just "troublemakers" or "negative people". It all spells DENIAL, fear of the truth, and fear of admitting to have made terrible mistakes.
That's where we're at, at this point. The BOT's stonewalling is beginning to work, and with no answers forthcoming, people are forgetting this deception and lack of personal integrity on the part of seated Trustees has taken place. That too is a crime. Trustees are merely volunteers who are beholden to the membership, and are obligated to conduct ALL HOA business transparently, publicly, and honestly.
They have NOT, and do not deserve this free pass to continue abusing authority, wasting our money, and pretending nothing is broken. Members are still due an explanation of what happened from the Board's perspective, and most importantly, what is being done differently to prevent further legal issues with government regulators.
Meanwhile, enforcement of tree restrictions is on a tear, with the HOA attorney saying that tree related legal issues saw a big increase in the last year, with many owners receiving fines and legal pursuit of their payment. Reminder : the HOA consistently ignores regulatory standards, but can't seem to reel-in this insane tree policy, as it makes a complete disaster out of the community.
Many of the responses supporting the BOT remind me of an old saying. "None are so blind as those who WILL NOT see", Emphasis added. Does exposing our employees to a life threatening environment, tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, one hundred complaints at a time, excessive requirement for legal fees (note the legal budget required an increase of $25k (that is thousands), wasteful spending (a proposed RV lot/compactor upgrade for $300k (that is thousands again) that should cost about between 50 and 100K at the outside (already spent over $45kk without a shovel turn), relief from members of the Board not having to follow our own covenants, wasteful funding for leasing of properties that are not needed, accepted a land donation that will only cost all of us (it is not marketable), are but a few of the things that need to be addressed when it comes to how well is this Board really doing?
is that robbing peter to pay paul?
There is a difference between making mistakes and being a mistake. Most of you are pretty safe when it comes to making mistakes. If you never do anything, you can’t make a mistake.
It is common knowledge that all human beings make mistakes, are fallible and manage great accomplishments alternately. Are you here to tell us all the obvious ? Mistakes made in the representation of hundreds or thousands of other people's lives deserve to be acknowledged as such publicly. That's the difference between a man and a mouse.
Most of us have great capacity to forgive reasonable mistakes that can be rectified, and most of us much prefer clearing the air in that way. Refusing to admit to serious mistakes and pretending they haven't happened is weak and scornful. Respect is earned.
Fact Check:
Surfside did not get any donated land. They were offered the land for free and they voted to accept it, but the free deal fell through when the owner finally did sell it. Lucky for us. Stupidity lost, by chance.
George, thank you for the correction. My source was the Board minutes. As no update was provided, I was still under the impression that the deal had been consummated. Thankfully dumb luck won out over a bad decision. Thanks again.
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