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February Board Meeting Report from SaveMarinaHills

Only three of the elected and appointed board members were present at the February 11, 2004, meeting: President Jane Dry, Treasurer Vito Ferrante and Member at Large Tom Szwajkos.

Since the publishing of this newsletter and since SaveMarinaHills has pointed out the close relationship of the Employee of the Board, Mrs. Cheryl Wilson, with the long time board members, Mrs. Wilson no longer sits at the Board's table together with the Directors, but rather stays in the background.


The meeting started with the usual landscape presentation from the $500,000 per year vendor Villa Park.


Mrs. Dry announced that there still was an opening on the architectural committee. She stated that this position was very important for Marina Hills and gave members an opportunity for democratic participation. Later during the meeting Mr. Hans Strupat, pointed out that some homeowners had applied several times for the vacant architectural positions, but had never even been called back by the Board. Mrs. Dry defended herself: ?We just want to make sure that we select the best candidate?


Next, the Activities and Facilities Director Mrs. Cheryl Wilson reported on the completion of the pool work and on her activities with the 2004 Food Drive (see Story in February Newsletter). She then stated that she had found a way to reduce the mailing cost of the newsletter. Later during the meeting Treasurer Ferrante praised Mrs. Wilson for the savings. During the homeowner forum Mr. Hans Strupat pointed out the facts as perceived by SaveMarinaHills and as written out on the web site since December 29, 2003: Mrs. Wilson had used the wrong mailing label which caused the mailing cost to be nearly 50% more than necessary. Therefore, since the inception of the newsletter, at least $10,000 of association funds have been spend unnecessarily.


A renewed request from a homeowner to install a wireless 802.11(WiFi) hotspot at the clubhouse for the enjoyment of the homeowners was turned down again, just like a few months earlier. Mr. Hans Strupat later pointed out that the directors, some of whom, by their own admission, don't even own a computer, do not represent the diversified demographics of all Marina Hills homeowners.


During the homeowner forum a Vistara homeowner continued her efforts to settle with the board after her family had been sued by the Directors for not maintaining the landscaping OUTSIDE the perimeter wall.

An Amarante homeowner asked the board whether the painting of the fence had begun. When Mrs. Dry confirmed, the homeowner stated her disappointment about the board not listening to the homeowners and pointed out that the original color scheme, in her opinion, worked much better with the existing architecture of the community.


Mrs. Marcia Bloom, District Delegate from the gated Siena sub-association, stated that they would charge all homeowners from the Marina Hills association with trespassing if they would attempt to solicit proxies within their gated community, even if it was part of a democratic effort to collect proxies for a vote. Marcia is the wife of George Bloom, who has held the position of treasurer for the Siena sub-association for at least eight years. [It looks like Mr. Bloom is also afraid of term limits.]


Another Siena resident thanked the Board for their relentless service "during these difficult times" and specifically for the rehiring of the security guard Miguel (see story in February Newsletter).


Mr. Vito Ferrante gave a verbal financial report.


At 6:50 P.M. the meeting was adjourned.

 

   
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
                     
       


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Dear SaveMarinaHills


I attended the Board meeting for the first time this month.  At the beginning of the meeting the microphones were not working, so it was impossible to hear what the members of the Board were saying and also the people standing at the podium providing reports of who knows what. [After] the President of the Board realized the microphones were not working, she did not request anyone to check into the problem, it was as if it was not important.  I also thought why didn't she stand up to speak?  This would have helped to project her voice towards the back of the room.  My thought was, she needed the security of her chair and table in order to talk.  I did not find her to be a very well spoken person or secure in her position, as President should be.

Once the microphones were working I still was amazed that there were six people sitting at the front table and only one microphone, which was not always used by the person talking to the homeowners.  I also noticed discussions among the Board members that I could not hear, and I was sitting in the second row. 

Constantly I was wondering what was going on, and thinking what did he/she say?  I think every person sitting at the front table should have a microphone so the home owners can hear everything that is being said by the Board members and the three people sitting at the side table? [I am] not completely sure who they are and the purpose for their being at the meeting. 

I would like to see the agenda for the meeting while the meeting is being conducted.  This would assist the HO to understand the meeting format and what is to be discussed and when.  My suggestion would be an overhead projection of the agenda, with it being replaced with a treasury report for the HO to see what is being approved, or perhaps if something should be questioned.  I would like to see an overhead of all reports being submitted by Keystone, Villa Park Maintenance, etc. including a copy of section this or that the Board is voting on!

Also, I thought I heard something about an election coming up???  I have no idea what they were talking about.  My own thought of what I concluded about the 3 board members in attendance were:

Member at Large [Tom Szwajkos], did not want to look the HO in their faces when he spoke, he looked down at the papers so not to make eye contact with the HO so no one would feel like they could ask him a question. By the way, are HO allowed to speak when the Board decides something between themselves?

Jane Dry, appeared she only knows one routine to follow during a meeting, and if during the meeting anything catches  her off guard, she does not know how to handle it. And Member at Large [Tom Szwajkos], would make his presence know.  She would not be a good poker player, she clearly becomes huffed up and tense when she thinks she might be challenged or when she does not like what is being said. 

I thought [Jane Dry] and the treasurer [Vito Ferrante] appeared to be in a defensive mode during the entire meeting. 

I did not find the meeting to be geared toward the interest of the HO.  I have few more thoughts, so I will try to summarize these.
 
1. The lady that was being sued by OUR association, she stated she did respond to our Mr. Lawyer in the time frame requested.  So she did not understand why she just received papers to go to court. Are the HO involved in the decision to use our funds to pay legal fees for a lawsuit?  Also, if she did respond in time, and Mr. Lawyer {richard Tinnelly] decided to filed a case to go to court, who would make that decision?  And wouldn't filling a court case cost us (meaning our homeowner's fund) money for legal fees and court fees to file?  I didn't see the Board Members thinking about this or the need to question why a case was filed at this time.
 
2. How is it decided what legal firm the association will contract with? And for how long?  (I'm wondering who Mr. Lawyer is a relative of ?)  Does the legal firm have to sign a conflict of interest statement when hired?
 
3. The same questions for all the other firms we contract with, such as Keystone [Pacific] and Villa Park?  Do we ever go to bid on services we contract out? 
 
4. Who does oversee Cheryl Wilson?  Such as her scope of duties, attendance, benefits, sick pay, holidays, insurance? Who decides if she should receive a salary increase, etc.  Who is actually her employer of record?  Who covers her Workers Comp insurance, writes out her paychecks, pays the State, Federal, and all the other taxes, does she have State Disability and who is paying the employer side of it?  Does anyone check to see if her salary is comparable to other positions in the general O.C. area for the job duties required?  How much vacation time does she receive?  What is the back up plan if she needed to take a leave of absence or quit?   I don't know what her job responsibilities are, but if it is not a conflict of interest could the position be contracted by Keystone Mangt.?  Do we need a full time position?  Maybe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00 to 1:00, and Tues & Thurs 11:00 to 5:00?  It -would be nice to see someone in the office on Saturday, since people that work Mon-Friday usually cannot come to the office during the week.
 
5. Architecture Committee: What are the requirements to be of the Committee, where can a person read the responsibilities of the job/requirements?  [I recently talked to someone who was thinking] of applying.  Recently she had to attend a couple of meetings to submit paperwork for changes she wanted to make.  She told me after doing so that she did not want to apply for the position because there was some old mean nasty man on the committee and she would not want to be on a committee with him.  I was surprised to hear at the Board Meeting that many people have applied, have not received an answer back, but they were still looking for member.
 
6. I don't agree with the decision of removing the Board Meeting off the calendar on the web site.  If I posted something incorrectly, do you think my boss would say, oh well we won't post it anymore then no one can report mistakes.
 
7. Could the executive meeting and the HO Board meeting be reversed?  This would provide more time for the HO to go to the meetings.  I work later hours and don't arrive home until 6:30 to 7:00.  I think this may be the same situation for several people.

   
             
Marina Hills homeowner 0402211913
   
                       
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Page Last Updated May 9, 2004