QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND ANSWERED AS FOLLOW:

 

Committees

The coalition believes in empowering the owners through the owners involvement in the following committees to name some: Finance, Budget, Legal, Social, Rules and regulations, Security, Bids, Election and so on.

 

Rules and regulations

A ninety-year young owner of (2) three bedrooms units describe that she uses one unit and the other unit is empty most of the time. Her twenty year old granddaughter wanted to visit her with a couple of her friends for the weekend. So she went to the office to get access cards in advance and was denied access cards. She was told that she has to go with her guests everywhere to allow them access to the pool or to Roman's snack bar etc. She asked “how can I do so when I use a walker and I am Ninety (90) years old.” “They might want to go swimming at 8:00 AM go back take a shower and then go back down to Roman, I am supposed to do all of that with them?”

 

Martha Pena and the General manager told her rules are rules. How can the Association require her to go everywhere on the premises with her granddaughter and friends for the weekend? It made no sense to anyone.

Another owner could not get his common law wife registered at the Hemispheres even though his wife is recognized everywhere a such. So she still has no card.

 

We heard about owners’ parking spaces being taken away, given to renters and the owners have to circle to find space or drive across to the other side to park.

 

We heard about our camera surveillance cost going up through the roof and two new cameras have just been installed directly to view  Martha and Maria’s cars only while the driving lanes have no cameras.

 

 

 

Proposed amendments. 

The Coalition candidates committed themselves that no intrusive Amendments will be passed while they are on the board.

 

If any amendment is needed it would have to be researched by an owners’ committee first. The recommendations and finding of the committee would be presented to the board. Afterward it would have to be discussed in an open meeting for input by owners including the snowbirds. It should be further reviewed and modified by the board based on such input.  Only then it can be drafted and send for a vote to the owners. The current board wasted too much money by introducing amendments that were not discussed and were not to the benefit of the owners. They were never discussed in an open meeting prior to the vote and were not in compliance with the open sunshine act. There is no record of board minutes found for that vote yes recommendation by the board. They did not abide by the bylaws and the 718 Florida statutes by proposing these amendments without an open meeting.

 

Board term limits. 

A committee of owners will be formed to decide the best way to set a limit for how long a board member can serve. It was mentioned that long-term board members could lead to major abuse of power and strong control by such board members.  These board members become too comfortable and loose touch with the owners.

In addition the Coalition candidates felt that the committees would be a perfect way to groom candidates and provide a future source of Board members that are familiar with the Hemispheres.  Currently there is no real functioning committee.

 

Current finance committe.

We told at the meeting that the finance committee composed of Martha and Mr. David Heskel only met once for the 2016 budget. It was a shock as we have an eleven millions dollars budget. That explains many concerns we have.

 

No Proper Planning

There has been a constant waste of money due to the lack of understanding and proper planning for major and small expenditures. Too many costs over run as specifications and proper request of proposals were not properly drafted or even drafted at all.

 

Refusal to have the owners involved

Owners with experience in the field that offered to help the board were told it was not necessary.

A Hemispheres owner with a Masters Degree in Architecture reported that she has offered at a Board meeting to review and evaluate the plans for the Lobby Renovation project before bids are requested. She was told that the project was too small with expected cost around $150,000. It was considered just a maintenance, therefore plans and bidding are not necessary. She was presented instead with a picture – rendering of the lobby of Malaga Towers Condominium and advised to use her imagination.

 

Another owner, an Interior Designer in Canada has also requested to review and evaluate the specifications on the Lobby Renovation project. She was told that she was not allowed to see them because it would be a conflict of interest with her professional business experience as an Interior Designer, even though she works in Canada. 

 

We wonder how current board members - the President of the Board and the Treasurer don’t consider a conflict of interest to advertise their Real Estate services only in the Hallandale and Hollywood area where The Hemispheres condominium is located and derive an income from Hemispheres Real Estate. That drew some laugh from the audience.

 

Proper planning is a key for project success. Planning requires clear understanding of the project scope, provides the ability to control cost and time, and sets clear expectations for the final outcome. Without planning the project expenses can run wild without being able to hold anyone accountable. Owners with experience in the field should be encouraged to provide their professional expertise in an effort to find the most cost effective solution for our money."

 

News to an owner

An owner that only comes to the Hemispheres occasionally never heard of the coalition.  The reason is that we do not have everyone emails. She saw our website just before the meeting and decided to attend. She was very thankful and indicated that owners like herself had no idea what was really going on at the Hemispheres. She confided to all of us that all she saw and knew was the constant praise and accomplishments claimed in the Newsletter. She promised to vote for the Coalition candidates after hearing the owners present and what the Hemispheres has become under the current board.

 

The owners present felt that the lack of attendance by the current incumbent board members spoke loud and clear. They also were very disappointed in the earlier format under the Board supervision.

 

A new culture at the management office.

A new culture would be instituted in the office to help the owners. Currently a very common answer is come back tomorrow or he/she is busy, is on the phone excuses or will get back to you.   Empowering the General manager and staff, allowing them to make decisions is the best way to have a happy staff. Staff retention is important for good customer service. We have a constant turnover of the staff including five General Managers in the last five years which is illogical.  The turnover speaks loud to the lack of the hiring experience by this board. The employee turnover is costing us money and provides poor service to the owners.

 

We will continue with more questions and answers from the meeting. It was a 2.5-hour meeting.

 

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