CascadeLakesResidents.com

05/05/21 BOD MEETING:  SYNOPSIS AND COMMENTARY BY VICKI ROBERTS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM ARTHUR ANDELSON

Posted May 08, 2021. Your Editor provides the following synopsis of the May 05, 2021 Board meeting, with assistance from your Roving Reporter, and with commentary and satire indicated in bold blue and pictures. 

Editor’s Opening Monologue:

This edition is entitled: “A Very Strange Cartographer, Indeed”

I was always fascinated by maps – old maps, new maps, local maps, and world maps.  Perhaps it is because maps point out different and fascinating destinations with endless possibilities in each. 

And just thinking about exploring the various places is so exciting that we bet you can hardly wait to get started!

And even the process of getting to far-away places can be fun and exciting…or not.

And when you get to your ultra-fine hotel, it is always gratifying when the hotel staff is accommodating, cheerful, and gives helpful suggestions.

But all things considered, traveling can be fun, exhilarating, and exciting, and can also afford an opportunity for quiet solitude and positive reflection.

Travel can expose you to all different types of cuisine and interesting dining experiences.

And traveling allows you to visit all kinds of interesting and unique museums, but sometimes to experience these hidden treasures you have to be willing to be very flexible.

And if you’re not sure where to plan your next destination, even the Flat Earth Society has recommendations to visit certain locations.  Yes, there really is such an organization.  Ironically, and in one of the greatest dichotomies of all time, they boast having members from all around the globe. 

Speaking of travel, how you get to some of these fascinating places on the map may vary depending on your starting and ending points.  Your options include walking, bicycling, taking a car, taking a plane, or taking a train, which reminds me of a poem I wrote on September 13, 2019 entitled The Train.

The Train

Each week at the station I’m set to depart,

On the same journey, to meet my sweetheart;

So many faces who share the same ride,

Some with their papers behind which they hide;

 

There’s Harry the hatter repairing a cap,

And a squinting cartographer drawing a map,

Then there’s the guy who adds and subtracts,

Dripping with sweat as the total impacts;

 

That young girl commutes to the city school,

Her backpack reveals a purple slide rule;

The woman behind her is rapt in a book,

How to make food, perhaps she’s a cook;

 

We go round and round on the circular track,

Pass the same places and then we go back;

Everyone sits in the very same seat,

They don’t seem to move, I can’t see their feet;

 

The train lights then flash and the whistle blows,

The ride is over, that’s how it goes;

We come to a stop but nobody moves,

The train cars remain in their rutted grooves;

 

The lights go off and the children take leave,

Playtime is over, it’s late in the eve,

I’m left at the depot, a tiny toy swain,

Waiting to board my favorite toy train.

Vicki Roberts © 2019

And now without further ado, the real people are conducting a Board meeting, so let’s join them.

Board Meeting:  Audio and Video Up and Running; Zoom meeting online starts at 9:30am.

Board Members Present:

Jeff D. Green (Board member and office of President)

Harvey Ginsberg (Board member and office of Vice-President)

Richard Greene (Board member and office of Treasurer)

Alan Silver (Board member and office of Secretary)

Linda Arbeit (Board member)

Bob Dingee (Board member)

Sue Schmer (Board member)

Call to Order:  Jeff D. Green.

Pledge of Allegiance: led by Harvey.  [Editor’s note:  Harvey had a flag; all Board members stood.]

Jeff’s Opening Remarks and Announcements:

[Editor’s note: Jeff stated that Anita Goodman, who is already a webmaster (or webmistress), is training how to do the Zoom.  Jeff reminded everyone that the only official website is the HOA’s.  We’re going to go out on a limb and state that we believe everyone knows this already. 

Jeff stated that the March 25^th Annual Residents’ Meeting Minutes will be approved at next March’s residents’ meeting before the election.  Also, the May 19^th Board meeting will take place at 7:00pm.] 

[Editor’s further note:  There have been a few schedule changes to upcoming Board meetings.  The June 16, 2021 Board meeting is moved to June 23, 2021; the July 7, 2021 Board meeting is moved to July 14, 2021, and the July 21, 2021 Board meeting is cancelled.  We understand.  Sometimes scheduling conflicts are just unresolvable.]

Thought for the Day:

Retirement, and living in a senior community, definitely has its perks.

First Residents’ Input Session:

[Editor’s note:  ok, residents, any comments or questions?]

1.  Richard Levy:  …the old utility towers are still tilting every which way on people’s lawns; nothing has happened.  Is there an update?  Jeff:  Comcast fixed theirs.  Deborah:  it’s not an Agenda item.  I will cover it in the Manager’s Report.

2.  Beryl Goldberg:  I’m living here almost four years; hearing about horrible roads.  I’ve lived in New York City, Summerset, New Jersey, and Miami.  If you think these are horrible roads, then you haven’t lived anywhere else.  Seeing a cost of $695,000 to fix roads there’s nothing wrong with, I don’t have to worry about my car needing an alignment; I have to wonder about it… unless you get a company that knows what they’re doing…more than $1,000 per home is a lot of money, especially for something that doesn’t need to be fixed and it’s only a matter of what it looks like…

3.  Richard Levy (again):  I was on Facilities; did an intensive study; experts told us the roadways are essentially sound.  We wanted to seal, blacktop, would last another three to five years and then at that time consider pavement…now it’s an Agenda item… I would like to know how that changed and why.  Jeff:  Bob will discuss when we get to that Agenda item.

Approval of Minutes: April 21, 2021 Board meeting:  Alan Silver: 

Alan:  Motion to approve the Minutes of the April 21, 2021 Board meeting.  Jeff:  seconded by Linda.  Jeff:  All in favor?  Unanimous.  [Editor’s note:  Richard Greene did not appear to raise his hand.]

Property Manager’s Report:

Deborah Balka:  mow four times this month:  5-6, 11-12, 18-19, and 25 to 26.  Rear entrance sign was removed…the roof, the guard house will be last.  Should be completed by May 17.  The fitness windows, the interior is completed except for two.  Comcast boxes: they replaced many with new boxes…to my knowledge, AT&T has not returned to do the same.  Both were contacted and promised to come back…these are on utility easements. 

Hotwire remotes: 388 residents have had them changed; 89 refused to change; 123 still have appointments.  ARB, irrigation, and 811:  prior to doing any exterior work you must receive approval.  You must call 811.  There is cable underground.

Old Business: 

[Editor’s note:  These items are still being ignored.  Details are found on our page entitled “Agenda Items.”]

A.  Road Resealing –BOARD VOTED FOR A TOTAL REPAVING, NOT TO EXCEED $618,282.

B.  Rescinding illegal “Take Away Your Transponder If You Have An Estate Sale” vote.  –THIS RULE HAS BEING EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SECOND VIOLATIONS; THERE IS AN APPARENT OBSESSION WITH TRANSPONDERS.

C.  Rescission of the improper banning of Alex from the community

D.  Improper use of HOA funds

E.  Improper expansion of Presidential powers

F.  Disabling of the Zoom meeting Chat function

G. Clubs and Their Asinine Rules -- HANDLED; CLUB RULES NEUTERED; AWAITING NOTICE TO COMMUNITY, NEW RULES TO BE EMAILED TO ALL RESIDENTS, REMOVAL OF BOGUS PICKLEBALL CLUB RULES FROM HOA WEBSITE.

H.  Two incident reports

I.  All incident reports are to immediately go to all Board members

J.  Weekly email blasts; News & Views dedicated page for president; president assuming too many liaison positions that target communication and final decisions

K.  Re-Vote for the office of Vice-President   -- MOOT AS OF MARCH 25, 2021

L.  Eliminate Liaisons To Vendors; Property Manager and HOA Attorney To Report To All Board Members

M.  Expenditures That Are Not Revealed To The Community Need to Be Openly Disclosed; Where Does Your Money Go? 

N.  Message Board Suspensions 

O.  Webmasters Making Board Decisions 

NEW ENTRIES ON THE LIST:

[none at this time.]

1.  Updated CDC guidelines for outdoor amenities- Harvey

[Editor’s note:  Harvey moved to make masks optional walking to and from the courts, the pool, and on the pool deck, that small groups of ten or less may sit together without social distancing or masks, and effective May 17th or sooner if the clubhouse roof is done, the pool and spa will be open dawn to dusk, still no guests allowed.  Alan seconded the motion.  The motion was then amended per Sue’s request to specify the date and say “according to current CDC standards.”

Harvey then amended the motion as requested and made it effective immediately, May 5, 2021.  Linda seconded the amended version.  Jeff called the motion and it passed unanimously.]

New Business:

1. Confirmation of committee chairs – Jeff

Jeff:  …each liaison selected their choice for chair…Board members looked at the list… worked out… chairs will let people know committee members.  Nine people is enough, except entertainment will have more than nine people.  I also recommend that four committees are groups, not committees, example, legal group, which is only attorneys who will perform a specific task; COBWRA, Bruce Brodsky is the rep and is remaining that way.  COPS is part of the sheriff’s office; webmasters have special computer skills.  These are groups with no chairpersons.  Liaisons will call on them.  Motion…committee chairs and change four committees to groups with no chair.

Sue:  Point of Order.  On COBWRA, it is to be listed as two people, the chairperson and the alternate.  Could you name them; you didn’t mention the other.  Would you mind if I mention both?  Jeff:  no need to.  Bruce is the chair.  Sue:  I know, but when listed as a committee, it was Bruce Brodsky/John Nast.  People should know.  Jeff:  go ahead.  Sue:  it’s important.  The people on COBWRA are Bruce Brodsky and Vicki Roberts.  Jeff:  fine.

[Editor’s note:  it is apparently very difficult for some people to publicly acknowledge your Editor’s contributions to, and her volunteerism for, the community.  Harvey seconded the motion to approve the new Committee Chairs and to change four Committees to Advisory Groups:  COBWRA, COPS, Legal Advisory, and Webmasters.  The motion passed unanimously.]

Jeff:  the list will be given to the webmasters for the website and News & Views to be included in the magazine.  Harvey:  Point of Order:  the list of the advisory groups?  Jeff:  no, everything comes from the Board, so no need to list the names.

[Editor’s note:  It is clear that there are certain individuals who want to make sure that your Editor’s name appears nowhere, and that is the real reason for the insistence of not listing the group member names and for Jeff’s not mentioning your Editor’s name concerning COBWRA. 

Jeff decided that the new Advisory Groups would not have any members listed on the HOA website or in News & Views.  He did this without a Board vote on the issue.  Since there was never any Board vote not to list the names of the group members on the HOA website or in News & Views, this is a matter that should be put on the next Agenda and done properly.

In the meantime, we’ve created a brand new page on this News Site so you can see who is in these Advisory Groups and we have listed all of the people that we are aware of in those groups.  Here is the link: Advisory Groups and for good measure, we’ve placed it in a prominent position on the website. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Jeff decreed that no names would be listed for the four groups, on the HOA website over the course of about 24 hours between Wednesday evening and Thursday evening, one or more of the webmasters decided to list Paul Friedlander as the person next to the Legal Advisory Group and Mike Blackman as the person next to the Webmasters Group.  Then that changed, Friedlander was removed, and they listed Brodsky (first with, then without, Roberts) for COBWRA and Blackman for webmasters. 

At one point all of the webmasters were listed and then removed except for Blackman.  When the webmasters were all listed, the list included the following named individuals:  Mike Blackman, Marion Weil, Harvey Ginsberg, and Anita Goodman.  So, one or more of these four people is playing games.  And these are the people deciding what you can post on the HOA website. 

One or more of them can hardly contain their rage at the fact that your Editor is the COBWRA alternate and the go-to contract expert in the Legal Advisory Group.  Your Editor emailed Jeff that one or more of the webmasters has gone rogue.  Clearly Harvey, the liaison to the webmasters, is tickled pink that they’ve gone rogue.

Your Editor has been informed that the Legal Advisory Group consists of the following three people, which are listed here in alphabetical order:

1.         Vicki Roberts Andelson (your Editor, former Judge Pro Tem, TV legal commentator, and seasoned litigator and appellate practitioner)

2.         Stewart Fried (former house counsel for Bali Bras)

3.         Paul Friedlander (tax attorney)

Your Editor does not believe any other resident attorney is reviewing the contracts for the HOA.  As of the writing of this portion of this synopsis, your Editor has already reviewed and extensively advised on two contracts for the HOA:  the road resurfacing contract and a contract for an independent civil engineer to overlook the project. 

Your Editor did receive a very nice email from Jeff on Thursday evening thanking your Editor for the workup, for the contents therein (“concise and to the point”), and for the quick turn-around time on the reviews (less than two hours each).  This acknowledgement was appreciated. 

2.  PBB – Linda – Hurricane Cleanup (O)

Linda:  if there is a hurricane, Palm Beach Broward will take care of it.  Stump grinding, staked, prices for each individual work is listed on your PBB proposal.  No money to approve; just PBB will take care of it.  Motion to accept PBB’s proposed 2021 hurricane preparedness and cleanup.  Second:  Bob.

Deborah:  you must choose:  common area or common area with homes, but if a unit’s tree falls on our sidewalk they will remove.  Linda:  revise the motion, common area and homes.  Several:  no.  Linda:  common area only.  Second:  Harvey.  Jeff:  All in favor?  Unanimous.

3.  Road Paving – Bob – Engineering committee recommendations for road repaving $553,000 - $695,000 (R)

Bob:  the engineering committee was working over a month getting quotes and information, resurfacing or resealing.  Interviewed four contractors, three returned estimates; the two lowest came back in for a Q & A session.  Spreadsheets to the Board.  All of the vendors recommend not sealing.

Resurfacing – grinding of the road and putting fresh asphalt on top.  Motion for the Board to approve a contract with All County Paving, repaving the roads and parking $552,982 plus other costs, approximately $618,000.  Bid for replacement of entry and exit trip wires…depth 1 to 1 and ½ inches…quote $7,000 plus permit for the parking lot, not the roads, about $3,000 plus a 10% contingency, curbing repairs and hiring a civil engineer to oversee the project.  I propose that it be reviewed by the appropriate person on the legal committee.

[Editor’s note:  your Editor was presented with the proposal/contract and line-itemed it back to Jeff and Deborah only, per their request, in about an hour and half from when it was sent to me on Wednesday afternoon.]

Bob:  Remove four trees – the island – roots affecting the curbing.  Hire a civil engineer, we have a candidate, approximately $4-5,000 covered by the contingency.  Board to make the decision, replacing the parking blocks, concrete blocks, about $5,500 out of the contingency fund. Jeff: second?  Alan.  Alan:  Point of Order:  I’m not clear, is it one basic motion and one traffic blocks.  Bob:  take as a single motion.  $618,282 not to exceed.  Alan:  I’ll second.

[Editor’s note:  there was some back and forth concerning some of the details of this project.  Tree removal is not part of this project; that is coming out of the landscaping budget.  Sue was concerned that the other bid not chosen had each component itemized and this one does not.]

Sue:  If we had that…I would be comparing apples to apples…even comparing the same is different; there’s a difference between Granny Smith and Red Delicious.

[Editor’s note:  Red Delicious hands down.]

Jeff:  the full amount of the money is in the reserve.  Will not be any assessment.  In the future we will not be raising the money in the reserve.

[Editor’s note:  Bob estimated the project to last three to four weeks and it will last for 20-25 years.  Jeff thanked Bob and his committee, and Bob gave a special shout-out to Larry Jacobowitz.  Deborah stated that the only reflectors needed are the blue ones by the fire hydrants.  Jeff called the motion, and it was unanimous.]

Second Residents’ Input Session:

1.  Mike Blackman:  reopening the amenities…summer months, many families coming down; approximately when do you think we can open up the pool for people like grandchildren…

Jeff:  I belong to the Presidents’ Club, approximately 34 communities, only one has opened up for guests, all are hoping to be able to open by July 1^st.  We don’t have to be the leader about that, the virus is still out there…

2.  Joyce Winston:  consider having an evening board meeting… Jeff:  the next meeting is at night…7pm on the 19^th of May.

3.  Leonard Tannen:  the road project, reflectors, is the bid including all of the restriping requirements of the roads…crosswalks… Bob:  yes…striping, stop lines, center line, crosswalk, using thermal material and it is reflective.  Therefore, the only reflectors we’re replacing are the blue ones for the fire hydrants.

4.  Richard Levy:  great job with the roadway, I agree with it 100%.  What is a traffic stop?  Bob:  stop line, four stop signs.  Richard Levy:  what about drainage swells…repair?  Bob: …we will look at those.  Richard Levy:  corners are breaking off, seams are opening up…

5.  Eileen Olitsky:  great job at the meetings, very impressive.  Redoing the roads, a crosswalk at the back end of Cascade Lakes Blvd., is that in the plan?  Bob:  it was not but I’ll ask Deborah to put a note to the vendor; we will look into that.

6.  Barbara Appleby:  no assessment, my question is how is the reserve going to be replenished down the road?  Richard Greene:  it’s part of your maintenance fee…we continue putting in every year the same amount… Barbara:  …dramatic increase in HOA fees?  Jeff:  not for the reserve.  Same money we put in for the roads every year…no factor.

[Editor’s note:  in the Chat function Mark Goodman wrote: “does the roads include striping and the reflectors.”  These questions were answered by Bob earlier.]

7.  iPad: [male voice never identified] You’ve never addressed the inconvenience to the homeowners, about parking, able to get in and out of your house…how long before you can ride on them?  Bob:  the projected inconvenience in front of your house is in two stages:  grind down the pavement about one inch down, a half a day or less then sweeper then you can drive on the road.  The next day will repave it, you’ll lose 3-4-5 hours, they will roll it, it sets, you will be able to drive…will be flagmen and a project manager…full time on site… Jeff:  there will also be a schedule.  Deborah:  they’d like you to stay off for 24 hours, dry time.  Jeff:  or park on Piper’s Glen or the Boulevard.

[Editor’s note:  actually, they recommend allowing up to 48 hours for it to cure or you may (make permanent tire marks on it and) void the warranty.  The contract calls for them to barricade the “newly seal coated areas” for “24-48” hours.]

8.  Mel Molofsky:  any consideration for painting a crosswalk from Corbel to Angel Wing and people coming through the back gate pay no attention to them.  Deborah:  we’re going to look into that.

9.  Steve Schlosser: if the roads are structurally sound, why are we spending $600,000 plus dollars to resurface?  Bob:  roads are still in the process of deteriorating…we are being preemptive… (instead of) waiting three or four years before it gets a lot worse… Steve:  when are the facilities going to be completely open?  Most of us are vaccinated.

Jeff:  we hope to be able to open by July 1^st.  Only one has opened their clubhouse, none for card games; Avalon – billiards, arts and crafts, and meetings of less than 10 people.  Other clubhouses we don’t know.  The pool is open now full time from dawn to dusk.  Tennis, pickleball, and bocce are back to normal.

Harvey:  the only emergency order expires June 26.  We already have a plan in place…I anticipate by July 1 we will put that plan in place…soft re-opening of the clubhouse…Jeff:  there will still be restrictions, like every other table.

Steve:  if we’re all vaccinated, why restrictions?  [Editor’s note:  really? You have empirical evidence that every single resident is vaccinated?  No, you are incorrect.]  Jeff:  we don’t know that, and we’re not allowed to ask that question. [Editor’s note:  this is a medical privacy issue.]  Jeff:  I know people here who are not vaccinated.  Steve:  others don’t have to go to the clubhouse. [Editor’s note:  how refreshingly inclusive and caring of this myopic, self-centered individual.]  Jeff:  you can’t keep them out; they pay the same dues you and I do…we’ll see what happens.

10.  Richard Levy:  along with the resurfacing, is this company offering you a warranty or guaranty regarding the maintenance or any problems with the roads?  Bob:  one year warranty to cover installation problems.  It is the same contractor used in many of the roads in the area.

Round Table Discussion:

Jeff:  Deborah, we need a garbage pan in the indoor pool.  Deborah:  no problem.

Harvey:  nothing, thank you.

Linda:  nothing, thank you.

Alan:  congratulations to all the committee chairs…committees are staffed with friends instead of who is most qualified… [Editor’s note:  thank you, Alan, for mentioning this truism.]  Alan:  I offer to conduct a workshop with committee chairs and members of the Board… to clarify expectations and to develop guidelines for more efficient operations.  [Editor’s note:  no more than three Board members or it will have to be at a duly noticed and open meeting.]

[Editor’s note:  Alan seems to be shining without Marion on the Board; has anyone else noticed this?] 

Bob:  Harvey, Safety & Security should look into an additional crosswalk with Deborah…  Deborah: it would mean curb cutting… Harvey:  engineering look into that maybe…

Sue:  I want to thank all the residents who applies for committees… everyone will receive an acceptance or a non-acceptance.  Thanks to Alan for getting together the expert directory and the committee forms…

Richard Greene:  pass.

[Editor’s note:  Linda moved to adjourn; Bob seconded.  There was no vote to adjourn. The meeting ended at 10:31am.]

[Editor’s note:  A big shout-out to Zoom operator Mike Blackman and his faithful assistant, Arnie Green, for doing a great job administering the Zoom meeting.  We thank them for their continued service and volunteerism.]

And so concludes the Board meeting of May 5, 2021; next meeting:  May 19, 2021 at 7:00pm.  Cheerio until next time.