PLATFORM
LIST OF ISSUES
I come from a proud family that has been involved with community service for as long as I can remember. I want to better the Hemispheres. I have served on two separate Condo Boards one of which I was the Treasurer. We need to create true transperancy by changing our rules of inquiry, improve our budget, and make sure we don't have a special assessment - especially that the Regency money, Insurance settlement and AT&T sign in bonus have been all spend within the year, a top priority. With nearly 37 years of managing one of the most sucessfull computer dealership by cost control, proper hiring and making the best decisions in the most competitive market, I know what it takes to find solutions, work on budgets, to seek the proper bids, and get things done."
Outsourcing contracts- waste of money
Outsourcing with the right partner will save you money in the long run. Pick the wrong one and you’ll pay dearly for that decision. The security contract since 2010 is an example a decision gone wrong. We used to budget $670,000 now it is $1,070,000.
Remember that a contractor has a built margin of profit paid by us.
The AT&T contract is another. We had Comcast at $462,000 we are now budgeting $672,000.
The Firm of Becker and Poliakoff at $150,000 per year at $400 per hour for partner work.That is the equivalent of 8 hours per week . We can afford an inhouse lawyer. We used to have a legal budget of $15,000 in 2009.
Rules of inquiry
On March 8, 2012 the current board put in the following rules.
As an owner you can only have one inquiry within a 30 days period. The request must be by certified mail return receipt requested. It allows only for one question or one item at a time and only on one issue. If your inquiry is phrased incorrectly it is denied. You have to wait another 30 days. The response to the inquiry can only be viewed at the office within 5 days. They will not mail the response. If you have a follow up question for the same item you are required to wait six (6) months before you are allowed to send another certified letter asking for clarification. If the board feels you ask to many questions they can fine you.
You are not allowed to have a Power Of Attorney do it for you or represent you. It makes it impossible, hard and inconvenient for all owners.. The Association may take legal actions against you if you fail to comply by these rules.
45% of the owners are out of state. How can they inquire?
If you had a partner that made those rules would you remain a partner?
"Reflection,... with information, is all which our countrymen need, to bring themselves and their affairs to rights." Thomas Jefferson
I intend to work to change these rules and provide information that you are entiltled even without any inquiry. I already started a website that has all of what I was able to gather for the owners.
Hiring, retaining and firing
“In my experience, employees often voluntarily leave a job due to the relationship they have with their direct managers,” says Anderson. “
All managerial and staff positions at the Hemispheres have high turnover. The President, The Vice President and the Treasurer micro manage the property. Why did we have 5 different manager in the last 5 years, The pool manager Steve just left, the receptionist is new again, etc... . No one is lasting why? Poor choice of candidates by the board ? or is it how the Board is treating them? or is it that see from the inside?
High turnover is costing us money and lack of good service. I will make it a priority to fix it.
Finding good employees is crucial to most businesses. The better the employees, the more likely the company will be successful.
Similarly, bad employees can cost a business incredible amounts of time, resources and money. So it pays to take the time at the beginning to find the best candidates for the position.
Committees
Micro managing is for inexperienced boards that are learning on the job and they have no one to teach them.
Condo Boards and committees go hand in hand. Committees are the best way for a board to accomplish its task. The work is divided and the Board time is used more effectively.
Committees also create a continous source of future board members and reflect the wish of the owners..
A committee consists of three or more persons who have volunteered, appointed, or nominated on the basis of their qualifications. A definite purpose is established for each committee, and committee actions are subject to the control and direction of the board of directors.
Emails
In an era of digital communications I intend to share information by the use of emails. It will reach you within minutes. It will not cost any postage and will save the owners thousands of dollars. For the owners that can't or do not wish I will continue to accomodate them.
Conflict of interest
“The most typical conflict of interest is when someone who is a real estate broker is serving on the board, or is a relative of a board member (typically a spouse or child), and is involved in transactions in the building,” says Mindy H. Stern, a Manhattan-based attorney with Schoeman Updike & Kaufman, LLP. “In that instance, they should not participate in the decision to approve or deny the transaction.”
These board members get advance notice of delinquency that could lead to foreclosure leading to inside informtion before other realtors. They also can provide that information to friends and relatives. These board members also can reward other realtors friend by making such information available.
“Board discussions regarding a contract or transaction involving an interested director are more likely to be candid and complete if the interested director does not participate in the deliberations,” notes Stern. “Individual board members with reservations or concerns about the contract or transaction may not feel free to express them in the presence of the interested director, even though it would be a breach of their fiduciary duty not to do so.
Two of our Board members are involved to the smallest details including even the common elements rental like the Ball room or the Ocean Terrace room. to owners. They require the board to approve such transaction vs the Management office. Why?