Dear Readers,
If you know any of your neighbor's or off-site owners email
addresses, please forward this newsletter to them, or call
them, as I only have around 1/3 of the owners on my current
email list. Tell them to send me an email adding them to
the mailing list for future editions and if they want all of
the past editions.
LATE BREAKING NEWS-
There were notes hung on the doors of the front courtyard
for most of the hurricane damaged units. But of course, not
the one I was working on, even though that owner comes to
his unit every day. It's so pitiful, the way they play
games with peoples lives. The Manager decided to keep this
owner in the dark because I was doing work on his unit. So
Pitiful!!! :-(
Anyhow, according to one of the notes on a 2BR upstairs unit
in the north building (the one that lost the roof just like
in the rear courtyard), the note reads:
"From: Board of Directors, Date: November 8, 2005, Re:
Final Wind Storm insurance figures, Front Building (added by
this writer - Front Courtyard, Rear/North Building), The
Board has accepted a total settlement for windstorm damage.
You will be allowed up to $32,178.00 towards repairs to your
unit which must be supported by receipts and canceled checks
and a final inspection by management. Included in the
amount is a depreciation figure which is reimbursable to the
Association after all units are completed. Please note that
deductibles and past due condo dues will be deducted from
the above amount. If you have any question, please call
management, 504 234 9980." (Not Signed but that is Chet
Hingle's cell phone number).
I also saw on a 3BR downstairs unit in the Front Courtyard,
North Building, that the figure was a little over $41,000.00
for Windstorm and Flood. This figure was visible through
the clear plastic bag which the note was enclosed, printed
side of the paper and details of the financial amount
visible to the public.
I am glad that the front courtyard is getting so much money,
because it is desperately needed by the owners but NOW, the
figures quoted to the rear courtyard owners is a mere
fraction of the front courtyard figures and the rear
courtyard suffered far more flood damage. Maybe if the
missing $80,000.00 PLUS, was to appear, then the figures
would go up to a more acceptable level for the rear
courtyard flood victims. I'm not quite sure what the
statement, "Included in the amount is a depreciation
figure... " means but it appears that the Association is
trying to make money on all of you while demanding that you
not be able to make any money out of YOUR SETTLEMENT!!!!
If someone does all of the work themselves and only have
checks or receipts for $5,000.00 worth of materials, then it
appears that the Board is only going to pay them $5,000.00.
Whereas, if someone else hires the most expensive contractor
around who charges the maximum amount ($25,000.00 to
$30,000.00) allowed under the guidelines in the notes, then
that unit owner will be paid the maximum amount. Any left
over money seems to be destined for the spending habits of
the Board and Management.
THIS SEEMS DOWNRIGHT UNFAIR for the Board and Management to
TRY AND GET RICH ON THE BACKS OF OWNERS WHO DID ALL OF THE
WORK THEMSELVES OR HIRED MORE AFFORDABLE CONTRACTORS AND THE
OWNERS SHOULD BE JUSTLY COMPENSATED FOR THEIR DILIGENCE AND
HARD WORK... NOT THE BOARD WHO HAS REFUSED TO EVEN DO IT'S
JOB OF COMMUNICATING THE INFORMATION AND MAKING THE RECORDS
AVAILABLE TO THE OWNERS.
MORE LATE BREAKING NEWS-
I was finally able to acquire a copy of the Condo
Regulations and By-laws. There is an interesting paragraph
on Page 7 of the "By-Laws". In Article III - Board of
Directors, Section 2 - Powers and Duties, Subsection (l),
which reads:
"(l) Keep books with detailed accounts in chronological
order of the receipts and expenditures affecting the
Property, and the administration of the Condominium
specifying the expenses of maintenance and repair of the
Common Elements and any other expenses incurred. Such books
and vouchers accrediting the entries thereupon, shall be
available for examination by the Unit Owners, their duly
authorized agents or attorneys, during general business
hours on working days at the times and in the manner set and
announced by the Board of Directors for the general
knowledge of the Unit Owners. All books and records shall
be kept in accordance with good and accepted accounting
practices, and the same shall be audited at least once each
year by an independent accountant retained by the Board of
Directors who shall not be a resident of the condominium or
a unit owner. The cost of such audit shall be a common
expense."
Another section, also in Article III - Board of Directors,
Section 13 - Conduct of Meetings. The President shall
preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors and the
Secretary SHALL keep a minute book of the Board of Directors
recording therein, all resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors and a record of all transactions and proceedings
occurring at such meeting. The then current Robert's Rules
of Order shall govern the conduct of the meetings of the
Board of Directors when not in conflict with the
Declaration, the By-Laws or the Condominium Act."
Considering the above by-laws, it sure is surprising that
the Board and Management has REFUSED to show these financial
documents or meeting minutes to any owner who has inquired
since the Hurricane and they have not published a monthly
financial statement for the unit owners since the Hurricane.
I sure hope that "independent accountant" is truly
independent and can account for all of these secret meetings
and the trail of the money, since the Board and Management
REFUSES to be accountable to any interested owner.
MORE LATE BREAKING NEWS-
Various Board Members have been holding unofficial meetings
with various owners giving them "inside" information. All
the while, the rest of you, who are not on the "White-List",
are kept in the dark about what is happening. I'm glad to
see that several of the units are undergoing considerable
repair... and it's no surprise that two of the most repaired
units are the Board Members who happen to know how much they
will probably be getting while the rest of you just have to
wait and see!!!!
EDITORIAL REPLY-
I don't know how they sleep at night knowing the trouble and
anxiety they are causing everyone due to the lack of
communication from the Board and Management. Maybe they
care.. or maybe they don't... but either way, it's a
SHAME!!!!!
Until next time, keep "The Fountain of Information" flowing!
Lenny Vasbinder, Editor
"The Fountain of Information"
Brought to you in part by:
Neighborhood Home Services
http://www.NeighborhoodHomeServices.com
Hurricane Damage Cleanup, Sheetrock & Flooring Removal,
Homeowner's Contractors Agent (HCA), Handyman, etc.
http://lennyvasbinder.blogspot.com
504-621-1870 eFax - 413-318-0742
NHSNOLA@Gmail.com LNVTM1@Gmail.com
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