DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?

Ten Thousand of these fliers were passed out recently at a conference in London.

Anything in this that sounds vaguely familiar?

An honest Board of Directors goes a long way towards safe-guarding your investment in BCC.

Demand honest elections and open bidding on BCC projects... or, suffer the consequences.


For a clearer view, click on the link in the left column: "Condo-Warning to Europeans".

Mandatory Drug Testing??

Our manager, Joanne, has been ordered by President Slota to begin mandatory random drug testing of our employees.

I would like to know who decided to do this. It is a major policy change which should have been discussed and voted on at a public board meeting. And you have to wonder, is this expensive and time consuming process really an attempt to reduce our rampant drug problem, or just another demeaning harassment of our employees by a couple of directors whose life work seems to be to get rid of our own people and bring in contractors.

And who decided to bring in an outside landscape firm to do trimming at the entrance at Rec 3? How was that outside landscape firm chosen? And was the job put out for bid? Is this not the same company that botched the trimming of the trees (also decided without a board vote)? We've already spent $4,300 with them on two jobs. This is almost 20% of what it would cost on an annual basis to hire a full time replacement for the man we're short on the landscape crew.

I also saw a bid for janitorial service to replace our in-house crew. Maybe I'm going senile, but I don't remember voting to do this. This couldn't be another case of certain members of the BOD going off on their own. And again, who chose the company which submitted the bid?

It seems to me that if some of the board members WANTED to create the appearance of corruption and impropriety they couldn't do a better job than they currently are.

Bill Brady
Bill

Not What We Were Expecting

The Comcast Cable contract that was recently approved by the BCC Board of Directors and signed by Board President Slota, was, in fact, negotiated by a company called Communications Consulting Group, CCG for short, under a contract signed in September of 2008. This company (CCG) is a “savings contingent” company which is compensated for its efforts to negotiate lower cable rates than proposed by Comcast by receiving 25% of all savings achieved.

Under the terms of the contract there are two areas of savings. First there is a one-time $128,000 “sign-up” bonus for BCC agreeing to a 10 year contract, and second there is a reduction in the monthly rate per unit over the ten years of the contract. Under the terms of the contract with CCG they are entitled to 25% of both the “sign-up” bonus and 25% of the savings for the next ten years.

As Shakespeare said, “ay, there’s the rub”. The payment to CCG for the “sign-up bonus” is not a problem since it will be paid for out of the bonus itself, but since savings don’t generate cash, all the payments due for savings in the out-years, a total of more than $89,000, will have to come from the quarterly maintenance assessments. To my astonishment, this came as a complete surprise to all the other Board members. You have to wonder, did anyone actually read the contract before it was signed?

Now there are two responsible ways to solve this problem. The first is to take the net “sign-up” bonus of $96,000 ($128,000 minus CCG’s 25% or $32,000) and put it in a protected bank account which cannot be used for any purpose but to pay off the future obligation.

The second, and preferred, strategy is to negotiate a discounted, up-front payment to CCG which would extinguish the debt now. Depending on the discount rate used this could be in the $60,000 to $70,000 range and would assure that future Boards can’t raid the bank account for other purposes.

To be completely clear about this, if the Board spends the $96,000 for current expenses or unbudgeted improvements like updating the rec center bathrooms, future homeowner are on the hook for $89,000 in payments over the next ten years.

I’ve polled my fellow Board members for agreement with one of the two approaches and asked that it be placed on the agenda for the September meeting and have heard nothing, which leads me to believe that the Board wants to keep this under wraps and proceed with business as usual. This is just not acceptable.

Bill Brady
Secretary, BCC

THEY DID WHAT?!

This article is to provide a place for readers to post comments which don't really have a home elsewhere. Kind of a miscellaneous "In Box" to comment on BCC events, good and bad, which don't fit under other existing articles. PLEASE NOTE: GOOD AND BAD. Let's also hear it for those good and/or smart things that go by without recognition or comment as well as the gripes and grumbles..

MONTHLY FINANCIALS… FACT OR FICTION?

The following quote is from BCC accountant Donna Seidenberg’s every monthly Financial Reports' cover letter produced since December 2008. Underlining has been added for emphasis.

“Management has elected to omit substantially all of the disclosures and the statement of cash flows required by generally accepted accounting principles. If the omitted statement of cash flows and the disclosures were included in the financial statements, they might influence the user’s conclusions about the Association’s financial position, results of operation and cash flows. Accordingly, these financial statements are not designed for those who are not informed about such matters. “

In other words, the BCC Board of Directors has acted to keep BCC owners ignorant about what’s happening to their $2 million+ annual maintenance payments. In doing so, they are violating the generally accepted and required accounting standards and the advice of our accountant.

These Financial Reports are available on the BCC Official web site (see link in left column, go to "Resources" then "Documents"). Hard copies also available for pick up in the BCC office.

PUPPY? MUTT? %$#@ *,?+!@?!!@!!

BCC residents want an article about dogs so readers can post their doggy comments, opinions and complaints. Here you go folks.

Just click on comments below and let's hear what you think.

This article is not pro or con dogs. It is posted to allow readers to discuss dogs among themselves.

GO TO IT... NO BITING!

SECURITY? FOR WHOM?

“KevinFlagg” suggested opening a discussion on BCC security. Please see his comment among those below.

Actual 2008 Security costs (including vehicle fuel & maintenance) were $185,290. These costs (discounting SRD) are our 4^th largest expense. It is one of few BCC expenses which is discretionary and which has proven to be an ineffective waste of money.

A well-designed system using properly placed surveillance cameras and monitored by the gate guard would actually permit apprehension and arrest of thieves and vandals that have been preying on BCC residents. (Please don’t use the lame SRD system stolen from Rec 2 as a reason to dismiss cameras!) Motion activated cameras linked to radar automatically generate speeding tickets and stop sign violations. License plates for entering and departing vehicles would be video recorded along with entrance and exit times. Similar systems are being used successfully in many high-end Florida condos.

With elimination of useless day-time roamers plus increased fines, a decent system would pay for itself in months, reduce speeders and actually protect residents. (However, I am certain that some night-roaming members of our BOD will do their best to defeat a cost/benefit analysis of any effective security system.)

Why not a more effective, lower cost system? Let’s have your thoughts. Add a comment.

DOCK DEPOSIT? WHAT DOCK DEPOSIT?

I can confirm the sloppy accounting and lack of control over Deposits. In 2008 I canceled the dock lease I had obtained more than 20 years before and asked for the return of my deposit. I was told there was no record of my having made any deposit and that I should provide a copy of the canceled check! Who keeps canceled checks for 20+ years?

Luckily I had a signed lease acknowledging my deposit, so I got my money back. How many people not so lucky will get done out of their deposit? Remember the $50 “deposit” for gate openers that most of us lost?

I would be surprised if detailed support could be provided for either the rental or the dock deposits. If any detail does exist, it would only be due to the efforts of Joanne Lowenthal, our manager, working against stiff opposition from some BOD members.

GEORGE LAUTH - PRESS AGENT

Did you get your postcard from George with news that 2008 Financial Statements were available? It cost BCC at least an extra $282 in printing and mailing costs because it was over-sized and printed on two sides. Except for the political propaganda touting a perennial BOD candidate, the card could have been standard size and printed and mailed at a savings.

It’s only $282, but add that to the $1,700 cocktail hour “Reception” BCC paid for, and these publicity efforts begin to get to real money. What next?

Maintenance is not being paid for 32 BCC apartments.

As of April 30, 2009, $160,228 in maintenance was overdue and unpaid.

Our BCC workers have been told not to expect any raises and we have a hiring freeze on vacant positions. Time to watch our pennies?

Way to go George!

HELP WANTED

In order for this blog to be interesting, useful and widely read, it has to do more than just gripe about our Board of Directors. (Who knows, some day we may just vote in a competent board again.)

I don't have the time or the expertize to do it all, so we need help:

REALTOR - To author a monthly BCC Realty article. Statistics: Number For Sale, Number Sold, High, Low, Median and Average Prices, Average Days on Market, etc. Plus a brief (one paragraph) analysis of BCC realty trends, Updated monthly. No sales pitches please, but good PR, so take credit for it. We need a June report NOW!

ACCOUNTANT/CPA - To author a monthly, brief (one or two paragraph), number cruncher's look at BCC. Comments (point with pride, view with alarm) on the latest BCC monthly financials. Plus brief opinions on whatever gets your attention... audits, accounting system and controls, etc. What do YOU think of the 2008 Audited Financials? Needs to be in layman's language. To be understood by the dimmest bulb on the present BOD. A signed article bears more weight.

ENGINEER/CONTRACTOR - To author irregular, short, punchy opinions on BCC maintenance and construction policies, practices and progress. (I know you're out there.)

UNDERCOVER OPERATOR(S) - Feed us info about what doesn't look, feel or smell right by adding a comment to "Undercover Ops" (U-Op) Section. We need verifiable facts, not just opinion or rumors. Specifically what has to be looked at and where to start? Your comment will NEVER be published. All tips should be made by "Anonymous".

INVESTIGATOR - To check facts, obtain documentation and write, or contribute to an investigative blog when a U-Ops tip looks like pay dirt. You will not be put in contact with or provided the name of the tipster. Your work can be anonymous or credited as you wish.

PLANT PERSON - Author an irregular article about BCC landscaping. What's in bloom and beautiful? What's dead or dying? How about Xeroscaping, etc.? Save that tree?

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Want the job? E-mail: cpukit@gmail.com

UNDERCOVER OPERATORS

Stop theft, vandalism, graft, kickbacks and violation of state and federal laws! Provide info by adding a comment to this article. Click on "comments" below. We need verifiable facts, not just opinion or rumors. Specifically what has to be looked at and where to start? Give us a place to start and we'll look into it.

Public-spirited readers should consider banding together and offering rewards for information leading to arrest, prosecution and conviction of bad guys.

Your comment will NEVER be published. All tips should be made by "Anonymous". Click on "O Anonymous" when asked to chose an identity after entering your comment.

RESTLESS NATIVES?

The five board-member cartel now running BCC has abused common sense, Florida law and BCC Documentation. Things are so bad that normally docile BCC owners have begun to pay attention.

The Watchdog, in its June 24 e-mail newsletter, went into details of the board’s employee abuse. (“Our maintenance workers… are treated abominably.”)

BCC EXPOSED, a new, mailed newsletter, pointed out in their June 20 issue that at least five problems caused by the dictatorial five have impacted “our property values, our monthly costs, our security, our credit rating and finally our adherence to Florida State Law.”

What do you think? Do you know or care what’s going on? Are maintenance costs and property values important to you? Should we be financing cocktail parties for the favored few who attend?

Click on “comments” below and be heard!

Classifieds

Buy, Sell, Wanted, free for the taking. Just click the "comments" at the bottom and add your item.

Deadbeat Owners

The Board of Directors has been very vague about the delinquent maintenance payments. Why don't they let us know:

• How many units are delinquent?
• How many liens have been placed?
• What is the total $ amount of all delinquencies?
• What is the greatest $ amount owed by any one owner?
• How long has the oldest delinquency been on our books?

BCC Employees - Update

I think BCC employees are all doing a great job under very tough circumstances. Trying to get a job done with 7 bosses and 640 critics can't be easy. Five board members are trying to get rid of Joanne, our manager and Sheila the Service Agent along with all the maintenance guys. Everybody to be replaced by some "management company". I wonder why?

Sam Slota and Pete Shelton have made many unsubstantiated derogatory allegations about the Manager and Service Agent. Their treatment of these two employees is totally unacceptable. The constant harassment of Joanne and Sheila is not only illegal, it is immoral. Apparently any thuggish actions by Pete and Sam are OK if it will eliminate our employees in order to bring back their buddies at United Community Management.

The camel's nose is already under the tent in the form of our lawyer John W. Stevens (a Saundra Zubko protege) who also represents United Community.

Claims of reduced costs are ridiculous as shown by experience. Remember past disasters? We have to lean on these board members now and vote them out of office at the first opportunity