Sales Information for Lakewood Cove
Lakewood Cove is the name for the 70 new townhomes being built between Tivoli Court and Lake Worth Rd at the Lake Worth gate.
According to the builder (Lennar), they will be selling in the $400’s.
Link to the Lennar brochure with pictures and floor plans:https://online.flippingbook.com/view/510441362/
***************************************************************************************
Some pictures of the construction as of Nov 2022
Can someone please post the decisions made at Wednesday’s FCO meeting?
Site Monitor,
Ben Geller, President of the FCO announced that the meeting being available on Zoom, was also being recorded as Bob Wiggins, FCO Part time CAM, was not attending therefor minutes would be derived from the Zoom recording. The FCO as originator of the Zoom meeting has access to the recording.
.
This being said here is my take way recollections which may contain unintentional errors or omissions so for total accuracy listen to the audio portion of the Zoom recording.
.
The meeting started promptly at 3:30 P.M. Fountains Hall, A.K.A. Poulette Hall.
.
Minutes from the April FCO meeting were approved without any modifications.
.
Ben announced that this would be the last FCO meeting until September 2023 in concert with the Boards normal practice of a summer recess unless any major issue should necessitate calling another meeting.
.
Ben announced that he had invited the new insurance brokerage company Plastridge (Connor Lynch, CEO) and the new security company ECIS representatives (Joseph LaBella CEO & son Michael LaBella President) to the meeting so they could update the membership.
.
Plastridge was first to present and respond to questions.
Debbie Poulette, interim FCO controller, was present, and acted as insurance “expert” on behalf of the FCO, noting that as the previous FCO Executive Director, she was responsible for dealing with the FCO Insurance Brokers, Wind mitigation Reports, and Property Appraisal Reports, and guided Vito Senese, FCO ED, during his short tenure with the FCO.
Ben also announced that a new controller has been hired to fill the role after Debbie leaves. He also reminded the attendees that it will be necessary to hire a full time CAM as two positions will be essential to fill the duties and responsibilities that Debbie had filled as the FCO ED, i.e. FCO Controller, CAM & ED.
.
Back to Insurance:
Again, Blah..Blah..Blah how the Insurance industry in Florida has changed, never experienced these conditions, etc., etc. and Citizens was the underwriter of last resort.
Now five (5) months into the year, we are ”very, very, very” close to having final numbers on what the premiums will be for 2023 and what we can anticipate in 2024.
Shockingly, Connor admitted and emphasized how a purposeful delay in obtaining and submitting new Property Appraisal reports was a strategy to save on premiums, as the old appraisal reports provided in 2022 to Citizens to underwrite the policy were significantly undervalued and materially deficient, thus the need for new Property Appraisals (no one asked the cost of the new reports).
.
Though this strategy produced an apparent $ 158,000-dollar savings (2023) , he admitted under questioning that the FCO Associations were at financial risk had a major insurable event occurred during 2022 & the first five months of 2023.
He also inferred that they (?) felt the risk in 2023 was minimal noting that January through May were not part of the hurricane season.
(Does anyone else recall the number of Palm Beach “Severe Weather” Alerts and actual tornados that touched down during the five-month delay?)
.
Bottom line, considering all the “Credits” applied by Citizens to the projected 2023 premium, Debbie estimates that there will be a shortfall in the neighborhood of $500,000-dollars for the Associations to assess residents for the remainder of the 2023 calendar year.
Debbie also had concerns about the application of an $80,000-dollar “Citizens” Finance charge which Plastridge was not able to answer.
Numerous questions from the Board resulted, many of which could not be answered because we are very, very, very close to knowing the premium, so no way to determine the effect on individual Associations.
.
ECIS Security:
ECIS representatives arrived well after the meeting had started but in time to update the Board after the Insurance presentation.
.
Basically, regurgitated the same information presented at the Security Committee meeting the prior week.
An additional security guard will be necessary at the Lake Worth “Tower” during the day (9a.m.-5 p.m.) as it is the security command post, and must deal with other issues beyond checking in visitors/contractors/deliveries experiencing heavy volume.
.
“Testing elevator phones, answering resident phone calls, maintaining activity logs, etc. require the manpower. Joe & Michael Labella have been personally backfilling the extra requirement at no cost to the FCO.
This backfilling, on an ongoing basis, is not sustainable.
(The projected $ 100,000-dollar annual savings with ECIS has now been reduced to $ 55,000-dollars in the first five weeks of operations.)
.
ECIS has purchased body security cameras for their guards.
This was done to confirm interactions between residents and guards as well as document “backed up” nonresident traffic conditions.
The footage can be review by ECIS so it is essential that any claim by a resident be documented as to date & time and ECIS notified.
.
ECIS presented a proposal for additional 9 security cameras, less than
$ 6,000-dollars ,installed, with a $250.00-dollar ongoing maintenance contract.
After much discussion the FCO approved the proposal and directed ECIS to proceed.
ECIS also identified the need for software upgrades on the FCO outdated computer system software which was a minimal expenditure.
.
FCO Security Improvement:
Melaleuca Gate Resident Entry Access “Trap”
The Board is frustrated with the ongoing delays.
PBC Permitting excuses by the contractor are no longer satisfactory.
The contractor had been given a 50% deposit yet is not responding to calls from Bob Wiggins, FCO CAM.
.
The consensus of the Board was to get a refund and find another vendor to perform the work.
.
Just prior to the end of the FCO meeting Ben Geller announced that after a meeting between the FCO EX. Committee & The FSPOA BOD’ he communicated with Peter Nanula, that the FCO and FSPOA
Agreed to work together in addressing the proposed development Parcel E.
Ben read, to the remaining attendees, an e-mail he received back from Peter, which basically stated that unless the community was going to support their proposal of 350 residential units there was nothing more to discuss (audio portioin of the zoom recording will contain exact verbiage).
.
The meeting concluded at approximately 5:30 P.M.
.
Richard B. Ward V.P. FSPOA
Does anybody have any information about Concert being turned down by the county to use Charleston Rd to access parcel E?
Their concern is traffic could impact the Fire station on Lake Worth Rd.
.
Will the plan to demolish the country club still be viable? Where will cars belonging to the new homes they plan to build enter the community? Will they continue with their plan and all that traffic will enter through the Lake worth gate? We are talking about potentially 199 cars ( they want 350) plus the 172 homes entering from parcel D behind Trevi. Oh wait, what if they are two car working families? How can the Lake Worth gate handle all of that traffic?
.
How will Luxemburg and Versailles Court as well as the entire north section of the Fountains of Palm Beach be affected?
.
Changing topic, does anyone here have information on increased insurance premiums we will all be paying? The shenanigans the FCO is trying to get over on the residents by shear lack of transparency is appalling. To me it seems shear desperation to hide information so the FCO can continue to prosper at the expense of the 16 courts employing them to manage us all.
.
There was an FCO Board of Directors meeting this Wednesday, where the insurance company did a presentation (as did our new security company). Sadly, all paying residents were not made aware of this very important meeting. No mention of Concert Golf’s planned projects. How can we continue to employee FCO management to represent us?
.
FCO refuses to notify residents by providing monthly news letters via email, or meeting notices posted on bulletin boards. FCO should always make meetings available via Zoom.
Meetings should be recorded and available to ALL on the FCO website. Every resident pays monthly to keep that website available.
.
Who owns this community, the residents or the FCO? Information, meetings, negotiations they are having with Concert all should be shared and posted on the FCO website and bulletin boards of each community.
.
Sadly the presidents who make up the FCO and who they have chosen to manage our community have FAILED and seem to have there own agendas. We have had failed management for the last twenty years. How do we allow our management & CAM to not be held accountable and upgrade and use the available technology for our accounting, bookkeeping and notifying residents?
.
So much is happening and residents need to be kept current on issues affecting the quality of life for ALL residents who live within the walls of this gated community.
South of the Bridge,
.
Scott Harris, President of Versailles and Vice President of the FCO is the person who can best elaborate on the Counties position on Charleston Road. Versailles has engaged an attorney who remains vigilant on issues related to the potential residential development of Parcel E.
Please note that public hearings were held on the residential land development on the “West ” side of Charleston which also have implications.
.
Sadly, many of your concerns are well founded but without organized community support proactive change is unlikely.
More likely however, change will result when “indispensable” resources are no longer available and recognition that “Professional Property Management Companies” provide technology, expertise and accredited personal, is the only way to meet the community’s current and future needs.
.
Your Advocate
A board member in my Court who is head of Security asked the FCO for information on attending the May FCO meeting,was denied access and told he would be removed should he attempt to attend.
.
The May 2023 FCO meeting was to have a presentation by our newly hired Security Co and the insurance agent. I live in a court that opted for a management company other than the FCO management. The board member was told that he would be thrown out of Fountains Hall if he attempted to attend the meeting even though he was a board member. He was also told that any Resident that attempts to attend the meeting that does not use the FCO MANAGEMENT will be removed.
.
The office staff after checking with the FCO management the boss (Cam and/ or President) was told Residents of Tivoli, Des’te and Gefion Court are apparently banned from FCO meetings. The office staff are instructed to pass information to residents provided by the bullies. How is that possible? The 3 Courts who has chosen a different direction amounts to 1/3 the revenue which keeps the FCO afloat. How do you bite the hand that feeds you and treat residents so horrific?
In reply to South of the Bridge.
I think that Concert will build their 199 or 350 units regardless of having access from Charleston Rd. They own access to Lake Worth gate and will simply route all traffic there. The don’t care that the gates are overwhelmed as is. They will go to court and force the FCO to upgrade their antiquated guest entry system to speed up traffic, BTW this should have been done anyway.
.
Do you know that FCO spends close to a million dollars a year on security? And nothing has been upgraded in decades? We now have a 4the security company in the last 4 or 5 years, but nothing changes. Half the cameras are not working, some are such low resolution you can’t read the license the plate. Speeding tickets are being issued, parking violations are being written, but they all are stuck at the FCO office and they don’t get mailed to the courts, so just a waste of time for the security.
.
Do you know that FCO president care more about how security waves or not at him and complain about that, than to make actual tangible improvements and upgrades. They didn’t even want to vote for the cameras upgrades, until Bob Lipp finally brought up a motion at the last meeting and forced a vote, otherwise who knows when this would have been addressed.
.
This was the last meeting till September, while the community has so many issues and problems, the FCO board decides to take a 3 months usual vacation. No wonder nothing gets done.
.
Somebody at the last FCO meeting has proposed to make a committee to investigate and suggest various solutions to the security upgrades, but that was declined.
.
But rest assured, the “secret” executive committee will be working overtime during this time, making many executive decisions of which you will never hear about. How much do you all know about the “executive committee”? Which decisions they make? How much money they spend?
.
Most of the information from their meetings is secret and most of the court’s presidents never get to know any of that. They are supposed to take minutes and share them, but they never do.
In reply to George Poursanidis.
George, if it is a common pipe, like you say, that serves 6 units, then it is 100% condo responsibility. It appears that Cathy is saying that some of it it’s not for 6 units, but just yours. Can you please clarify what portion of the pipe she is requesting the you pay for? Where exactly is it located?
.
Here is from your declaration, I think: ” The owners of the respective Condominium units shall not be deemed to own the undecorated and/or unfinished surfaces of the perimeter walls, floors and ceilings surrounding their respective Condominium units, nor shall the unit owner be deemed to own pipes, wires, conduits or other public utility lines running through said respective Condominium units which are utilized for or serve more than one Condominium unit, which items are, by these presents, hereby made a part of the common elements. Said unit owner, however, shall be deemed to own the walls and partitions which are contained in said unit owner’s Condominium unit, and shall also be deemed to own the inner decorated and/or finished surfaces of the perimeter walls, floors, and ceilings, including plaster, paint, wallpaper, etc.; however, all load bearing walls, and floors between the first floor and second floor of a townhouse type unit, where applicable, located within a condominium unit are a part of the common elements to the unfinished surface of said walls and said floor.”
Site Monitor,
.
Oops!
.
Financial:
During the FCO meeting on May 10, 2023 Ben Geller, also announced that the FCO had received a payment of $ 25,000-dollars related to an agreement associated with the residential development of Parcel C.
.
Security:
.
The FCO will take under advisement having administrative staff install bar codes & Court numbers on residents’ vehicles in order to alleviate “Security Patrols ” of this function. This will allow security patrols to focus on their primary responsibilities.
.
Richard B. Ward, V.P. FSPOA
Sorry to say It appears that no change in the patrol Officers doing “sticker” duty as of June 23, 2023.
I witnessed a fully uniformed ECSI Security Officer applying stickers on a car.
The patrol car was parked by the FCO Admin Office while dump trucks use Fountains Drive North Gate Entry(Concerts Road that Fountains Residents Maintain) to access the new construction site ( Parcel D).
.
Can it be so difficult to have the clerical staff do this task, i.e. job description …..”or other duties as assigned”?
.
Your Advocate
Site Monitor,
Ben Geller, President of the FCO announced that the meeting being available on Zoom, was also being recorded as Bob Wiggins, FCO Part time CAM, was not attending therefor minutes would be derived from the Zoom recording. The FCO as originator of the Zoom meeting has access to the recording.
.
This being said here is my take way recollections which may contain unintentional errors or omissions so for total accuracy listen to the audio portion of the Zoom recording.
.
The meeting started promptly at 3:30 P.M. Fountains Hall, A.K.A. Poulette Hall.
.
Minutes from the April FCO meeting were approved without any modifications.
.
Ben announced that this would be the last FCO meeting until September 2023 in concert with the Boards normal practice of a summer recess unless any major issue should necessitate calling another meeting.
.
Ben announced that he had invited the new insurance brokerage company Plastridge (Connor Lynch, CEO) and the new security company ECIS representatives (Joseph LaBella CEO & son Michael LaBella President) to the meeting so they could update the membership.
.
Plastridge was first to present and respond to questions.
Debbie Poulette, interim FCO controller, was present, and acted as insurance “expert” on behalf of the FCO, noting that as the previous FCO Executive Director, she was responsible for dealing with the FCO Insurance Brokers, Wind mitigation Reports, and Property Appraisal Reports, and guided Vito Senese, FCO ED, during his short tenure with the FCO.
Ben also announced that a new controller has been hired to fill the role after Debbie leaves. He also reminded the attendees that it will be necessary to hire a full time CAM as two positions will be essential to fill the duties and responsibilities that Debbie had filled as the FCO ED, i.e. FCO Controller, CAM & ED.
.
Back to Insurance:
Again, Blah..Blah..Blah how the Insurance industry in Florida has changed, never experienced these conditions, etc., etc. and Citizens was the underwriter of last resort.
Now five (5) months into the year, we are ”very, very, very” close to having final numbers on what the premiums will be for 2023 and what we can anticipate in 2024.
Shockingly, Connor admitted and emphasized how a purposeful delay in obtaining and submitting new Property Appraisal reports was a strategy to save on premiums, as the old appraisal reports provided in 2022 to Citizens to underwrite the policy were significantly undervalued and materially deficient, thus the need for new Property Appraisals (no one asked the cost of the new reports).
.
Though this strategy produced an apparent $ 158,000-dollar savings (2023) , he admitted under questioning that the FCO Associations were at financial risk had a major insurable event occurred during 2022 & the first five months of 2023.
He also inferred that they (?) felt the risk in 2023 was minimal noting that January through May were not part of the hurricane season.
(Does anyone else recall the number of Palm Beach “Severe Weather” Alerts and actual tornados that touched down during the five-month delay?)
.
Bottom line, considering all the “Credits” applied by Citizens to the projected 2023 premium, Debbie estimates that there will be a shortfall in the neighborhood of $500,000-dollars for the Associations to assess residents for the remainder of the 2023 calendar year.
Debbie also had concerns about the application of an $80,000-dollar “Citizens” Finance charge which Plastridge was not able to answer.
Numerous questions from the Board resulted, many of which could not be answered because we are very, very, very close to knowing the premium, so no way to determine the effect on individual Associations.
.
ECIS Security:
ECIS representatives arrived well after the meeting had started but in time to update the Board after the Insurance presentation.
.
Basically, regurgitated the same information presented at the Security Committee meeting the prior week.
An additional security guard will be necessary at the Lake Worth “Tower” during the day (9a.m.-5 p.m.) as it is the security command post, and must deal with other issues beyond checking in visitors/contractors/deliveries experiencing heavy volume.
.
“Testing elevator phones, answering resident phone calls, maintaining activity logs, etc. require the manpower. Joe & Michael Labella have been personally backfilling the extra requirement at no cost to the FCO.
This backfilling, on an ongoing basis, is not sustainable.
(The projected $ 100,000-dollar annual savings with ECIS has now been reduced to $ 55,000-dollars in the first five weeks of operations.)
.
ECIS has purchased body security cameras for their guards.
This was done to confirm interactions between residents and guards as well as document “backed up” nonresident traffic conditions.
The footage can be review by ECIS so it is essential that any claim by a resident be documented as to date & time and ECIS notified.
.
ECIS presented a proposal for additional 9 security cameras, less than
$ 6,000-dollars ,installed, with a $250.00-dollar ongoing maintenance contract.
After much discussion the FCO approved the proposal and directed ECIS to proceed.
ECIS also identified the need for software upgrades on the FCO outdated computer system software which was a minimal expenditure.
.
FCO Security Improvement:
Melaleuca Gate Resident Entry Access “Trap”
The Board is frustrated with the ongoing delays.
PBC Permitting excuses by the contractor are no longer satisfactory.
The contractor had been given a 50% deposit yet is not responding to calls from Bob Wiggins, FCO CAM.
.
The consensus of the Board was to get a refund and find another vendor to perform the work.
.
Just prior to the end of the FCO meeting Ben Geller announced that after a meeting between the FCO EX. Committee & The FSPOA BOD’ he communicated with Peter Nanula, that the FCO and FSPOA
Agreed to work together in addressing the proposed development Parcel E.
Ben read to the remaining attendees an e-mail he received back from Peter, which basically stated that unless the community was going to support their proposal of 350 residential units there was nothing more to discuss (audio portion of the Zoom recording will contain exact verbiage).
.
The meeting concluded at approximately 5:30 P.M.
.
Richard B. Ward V.P. FSPOA
All,
The following comments are my recollections which may contain unintentional errors or omissions so for total accuracy listen to the audio portion of the FSPOA regular May 25th 2023 meeting Zoom recording.
.
Here we go!
Based upon the phone calls and personal interactions, during the last week, I know that many of you are eager to get an update on the FSPOA regular meeting that happened on Thursday May 25, 2023 in Poulette Hall (A.K.A. Fountains Hall)
.
Here we go!
.
First, much of the success in people attending the meeting at Poulette Hall and by Zoom (recorded for minutes accuracy) can be attributed to Dr. Ben Geller, President of the FCO, who did a blanket e-mail distribution to the FSPOA membership, even though noting many of his assertions are unfounded and not supported by the truth.
This e-mail distribution process has been restricted to the FSPOA by the FCO, following numerous requests by the FSPOA BOD to communicate directly with our members without the need to first submit them for FCO their approval.
Censoring our Associations messages to the membership is not acceptable.
.
Ben’s communication did suggest that something good may result from the meeting, and so it did.
.
Steve Jordan, President & Presiding Officer, opened the meeting, thanking Dr. Ben Geller for promoting the meeting, and then announcing how the meeting would be conducted.
.
Steve invited Joe Labella, Owner of ECIS, (the new security company) in order to introduce him to the membership, noting FSPOA governing documents mandate insuring security for the 509 members.
.
Steve then revealed the new FSPOA standing committees and the individuals who will be serving.
.
Steve also took the opportunity to dispel any notions that the FSPOA had any intentions of assuming a role of Property Management or any perceptions that FSPOA actions were divisive. The” Truth “is “Truth”, not perception.
Thank goodness the FSPOA produced sufficient documentation to counter the negative pronouncements contained in the Geller e-mail.
.
The FSPOA was not ever identified on the FCO website as a Member and only after repeated attempts to be listed and after understanding “this was a political Issue” and after Ben being confronted in person, relented and directed Debbie Poulette, ED to add the FSPOA to the Site
By not listing the FSPOA as a Member placed the FCO in jeopardy after attesting to the fact that all member Associations were party to Agreements the FCO had entered or was in the process of negotiating.
.
Factually Ben Geller was a Board Member & Officer of the “FSPOA” 2017,2018,2019, & 2020 yet somehow the FSPOA Election Process worked for him and he made no effort, what so ever, to make a change, unlike what the current FSPOA Board has been attempting for the last two years via amendments to the By-Laws.
.
Invited guests from the Associations that left the FCO gave compelling testimony about the multiple meetings between them and the FSPOA in which the FSPOA tried to encourage them not to leave the FCO.
Steve also listed more occasions where the FSPOA demonstrated its commitment to the Fountains Community such as endorsing the newest FCO Master Property Management Agreement when in fact the FSPOA is not required to do so to be a member association, not charging fees for the Jog Road Security facility or separate fees for private roads usage, adopting parallel Golf Cart restrictions, endorsing newest version of FCO Security regulations subject to modification complying with Federal Civil Rights Law and Florida Statutes, reviewing and commenting on bid proposals, etc.
.
Steve then moved to the agenda i.e., the proposed By-Law Changes.
The Committee included Dennis Krasner (Practicing Attorney), FSPOA Secretary, Richard “Dick Heyman Director at lodge and Bernard Ciancanelli, past President of the FCO and current V.P. of the Oakmont HOA. The proposed changes, as a courtesy, were submitted to the FCO for review which resulted in some recommended changes. The First draft was changed and submitted to the FSPOA BOD for review.
With no further changes the BOD approved the changes at this meeting and the document being sent to the FSPOA attorney. Upon the attorney’s additional review, the Amendment will be sent to the 509 members of the association for approval. If approved the Board will adopt the Amendments at a future regular meeting and cause them to be properly recorded with Palm Beach County.
.
Many of the those present were pleased to hear that the proposed changes included the election process which will allow any member of the FSPOA to run for the BOD, extending terms beyond a single year to allow for overlapping periods in office as a way to insure continuity, elimination of the nominating committee, etc.
.
The last item on the agenda was the Proposed 2023 FSPOA Budget.
A motion was made to approve the budget and seconded for discussion by the Board.
During the Board’ discussion the Presiding Officer Steve Jordan, opened the floor for questions.
Questions provided the opportunity for the FSPOA to explain the associations history in having a budget, how this practice was altered without any official amendments to the FSPOA governing documents, past FSPOA assessments that were invisible to the naked eye, why the need, now, for an annual operating budget assessment of $ 24.00-dollars ($ 12.00-dollars for the last six months of 2023).
.
Additionally, both the “South Road maintenance and Jog Road Security Gate reserves were discussed including being significantly underfunded, and most importantly, based upon recent actions by the FCO to use reserve funds to cover operating expenses, how the current “Southern” reserves held by the FCO and future assessments by the Associations to cover the shortfalls could be immune to attachment by the FCO for operating expenses, i.e. underfunded Insurance premiums, $80,000.00-dollar Citizens finance charge, insurance premium back charges ($158,000-dollars) and $ 500,000-dollars increase due to new property appraisals (May 19,2023 comments).
.
For those who expressed “Outrage” of the FSPOA adopting an annual budget, Steve’ counter argument was “where was the “Outrage” when the FCO exceeded it’ 2022 operational budget substantially for overlapping salaries and raided reserve funds to cover the shortfall?
.
In conclusion Steve reinforced the fact that the FSPOA is in essence a “Watch Dog”, Questioner, and Vanguard to protect the interests of the 509 members as provided for in the FSPOA governing documents against any and all threats that may arise where it has jurisdiction and accountability.
.
Respectfully Submitted,
.
Richard B. Ward, V.P. FSPOA
Further to Richard Ward’s post, the following residents volunteered their time to serve on FSPOA Committees. The Members are as follows:
.
BY-LAWS
Dennis Krasner (Chairperson)
Bernie Ciancanelli
.
SOUTH GATE
Dick Heyman (Chairperson)
Anthony Rongione
Richard Ward
Analyze various issues, such as design, structure, etc. The committee will examine traffic patterns and any other issues it deems relevant.
.
FINANCE
Dennis Krasner (Chairperson)
Michael Daiell
Supports the board of directors by planning the annual budget, tracking monthly expenses, managing reserves, and establishing reserve studies.
.
SOCIAL
Lauren Ward (Chairperson)
Joan Perelmutter
Shelly Kalef
Make recommendations to the Board regarding events that will allow neighbors to meet each other. An association BBQ, a holiday party, or a welcome party for new homeowners are examples of fixed events.
.
COMMUNICATIONS
Nancy McBeth (Chairperson)
Susan Kaye
Keeps residents informed about community events and news. Produce a community newsletter or send out email blasts. FSPOA website oversight is limited to the Chairperson.
.
LANDSCAPING & BEAUTIFICATION
Tracy Siemsen (Chairperson)
Mary Ellen (“Mel”) Campo
Responsible for ensuring the common property is well maintained and recommending changes to the board.
.
COMMON PROPERTY SAFETY
Irwin Seeman (Chairperson)
Alan Rabinowitz
Grace Greenberg
Bob Weinstein
Monitor unsafe areas, potentially working with in-house security if necessary. Provide advice to the board of directors on any issues that need to be addressed.
Nancy thank you for going beyond your responsibilities as Treasurer of the “FSPOA” by individually identifying members who are stepping up to the challanges facing the Community.
.
“FSPOA 509 STRONG ”
.
Richard B Ward V.P. FSPOA
All Interested Parties,
.
The 40th Anniversary to the “FSPOA” which took place on April 14, 2023, with a duly elected Association Board of Directors comitted to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to the 509 members , while also contributing, where ever possible, to the well being of the Fountains Community.
.
This anniversary date also marked the continuation of the FSPOA Master Declaration and Governing Documents by an additional twenty (20) years, i.e. 2043.
.
The FSPOA will undoubtedly face many challenges in the years to come which will impact us and future generations occupying 509 residential properties.
.
A big thank you to the ever growing number of interested member supporters!
.
Lest not forget Fountains Associations, beyond FSPOA boundaries, who support FSPOA contributions.
.
Be safe!
.
Richard B Ward V.P. FSPOA
The pool in Versailles Court is not clean at all
I don’t know if filter is not working properly or what but something is definitely not right
Very embarrassing to bring visitors
I have left message with the person who is in charge of the pool and have received no response
Also tried contacting president unable to leave message
Mailbox is full, this is totally unacceptable and very frustrating
Email your president and board members. Send them the pictures and request a reply of whats going on. I’m sure you’ll get a reply to your email.
Good luck!
James – As Susan mentioned, contact anyone of the Versailles Court board members. You probably already know that the President is Scott Harris. Telephone: (561)649-8075. Email: scott1014702@gmail.com
Can a individual court board decide not to paint the exterior rear terrace of certain apartments in certain buildings while spending over $187,000 to have all of the court buildings and pool house painted?
.
No other court within The Fountains community has any apartments looking like some apartments currently do on Tivoli Court.
.
The front of the buildings are fine. The rear of some buildings are not completed. When speaking to a board member I was told that the board decided not to paint the rear of the buildings in its entirety. The reason I was given is that some apartments have extended patios. Apartments That have extended patios were not painted completely.
.
My concern is painting is required both aesthetically and also required to maintain the structural integrity of the building. By leaving certain sections unpainted, my concern is that water damage can occur over time. $187,000 is a large sum of money. One would expect the buildings to be painted and sealed entirely front and back before final payment is made. Is it just me? Does anyone else think this is proper and reasonable?
.
Similar communities I know recently painted, are D’este and Esedra. Are those communities completely painted front and back? I welcome any feedback.
Thank you
.
Click to see picture of Tivoli Painting
As a long time resident of Tivoli Court, I have to address the comment from Tivoli painting who keeps making incorrect accusations against our present Board.
.
Regarding your questioning of the painting. In October 2022, our past president said at that Board meeting she was not moving forward with the painting and leaving it to the new board. At the Nov 2022 board meeting she changed her mind and announced that she is recommending a painting company to paint the court. Her board approved and so it began immediately with only 2 out of the 7 buildings painted when the new board took over. She wrote the contract. Signed the contract…the only signature on the contract. For $187,000 the project was supposed to take 6-8 weeks. However, there was NO end date in the contract. It is now July and the painting is still going on.
.
The contract that she signed stated only window trim would be painted. Not sliding door trim therefore leaving metal trim unpainted. Her contract states only concrete stucco to be painted and excluded townhouse extensions which are not concrete.
.
The new board came in with a depleted bank account due to her spending money on an unnecessary tiling projects which was not completed doing the catwalks, just the walkways. They are slippery when wet and several people have fallen..
In my opinion, and the opinion of most of my fellow residents, this new board has gone above and beyond to try to correct all of her mistakes of which there is a laundry list.
I’m not sure where Tivoli Painting is getting their “facts” from but it would benefit Tivoli Court if this person stop all this nonsense and become part of this community in a positive way…not negatively.
Dear “Tivoli painting” …
I totally agree with your assessment. Not painting the entire building is aesthetically unattractive, and unpainted areas will continue to crack and peel. Since Tivoli is one of the courts that left the FCO, when and where are your monthly Board meetings taking place? When did the Board vote on “deciding not to paint the rear of the buildings in its entirely?” Did they communicate this decision to the residents? Are the Board Meeting Minutes published somewhere? I presume that the Tivoli board meeting minutes and governing documents are no longer posted on the FCO website, where you could have had access to them. You may want to contact your new management company, GRS. Good luck.
Just want to say a GREAT JOB on Versailles Court POOL and THANK YOU!
I live in Tivoli Court and just received these rules from the board that was sent out to all residents. I will be forwarding my suggestions to the board for clarification. I just wanted to post here to see if other Courts have similar rules? Is this normal that other boards have rules where residents are not permitted to be neighborly?
.
I appreciate any feedback or suggestions.
.
Thank you,
.
Tivoli Resident
.o the Residents of Tivoli Court:
This document is a reminder to make you all aware of the important Court rules that
must be followed. It’s an easy reference sheet and one that needs to be adhered to at
all times.
If there is a common ground issue, please contact GRS at resident services at
561-641-8554.
Court issues that require immediate attention like water leaks, sewage back up,
flood, elevators, etc. Call Resident Services (561) 641-8554 or email inquiries to
Resident Services@grsmgmt.com
All bulk items must be place outside on the lawn on Tuesday evenings. Bulk pick
up takes place every Wednesday. There is no need to call or email the company.
Do not feed any outdoor animals such as stray cats, squirrels, racoons,
possums, etc. This includes leaving water bowls behind or in front of your
building or placing bird feeders in front or in back of your home.
Cars must be parked facing the building. If you have two cars one can face the
building; the other must be parked opposite side of the building. (This does not
apply to persons with a Handicapped sticker).
It would be a good idea to simply say cars must be parked head first. If it’s in front of The building or across from the building. The reason for that rule is so security can view a cars courts # sticker on the rear window without having to get out of there car. Residents are allowed 1 resident space. If a resident has a second car, it must be parked In a guest spot. Please clarify these new rules.
Common Grounds – if there is an issue or problem with a common ground area
(this includes but is not limited to catwalks, landscaping, dumpsters, etc) contact
the Board immediately. DO NOT CALL AN OUTSIDE COMPANY TO HANDLE
THE PROBLEM WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL AS YOU WILL NOT BE
REIMBURSED.
DO NOT WALK DOGS BEHIND THE BUILDINGS AT ANY TIME.
Why not? Its common court property!
Pick up after your dogs or there will be a fine.
No trees, shrubs or other plants may be placed on common property without
Board approval.
All Amazon type boxes (or any delivery boxes) MUST be broken down and
placed in the dumpster. DO NOT attempt to shove a box down the chute. It
WILL get stuck
No cigarette smoking on the catwalk
There shouldn’t be any smoking allowed on common property at all. Nothing mentioned about smokers leaving cigarette butts on the ground or smoking near parked cars.
If there is a problem in your unit or a situation with a contractor do not contact
another resident but contact the Board
If a resident calls another resident or neighbor about a beeping smoke detector are neighbors no longer allowed to be neighborly? Will a resident NOW be fined? Are you saying a neighbor may NOT help with a simple battery replacement for an elderly neighbor? Is the new policy rule to advise the resident to start calling every board member for assistance? Does the board plan to be available 24/7?
If you are a resident and get a call from another resident with an issue do not
take it upon yourself to handle – contact the Board
If a resident is asking another neighbor to help them shut off the water, as they are required to do when leaving for extended period of time. Are those tasks NOW the boards responsibility? What if a resident suddenly needs a ride to the airport is that now against the Tivoli rules? Are neighbors no longer permitted to be neighborly? Is it now required to get approval from the board prior to assisting a neighbor? I think clarification of this new rule needs to be made.
These reminders were sent out specifically as reminders. Tivoli Resident your answers are silly and out of context. Of course Neighbors should help Neighbors when they are simple solutions. Change those smoke detector batteries, shut off the water valve when they will be away, give them a ride to the airport, hang up a picture or paint a wall. These reminders are for major issues as stated in the notes above. Residents shouldn’t involve themselves with plumbing or electrical issues that could be costly and dangerous. These major issues should be handled by licensed contractors who are available 24/7 through the GRS Hotline phone number.
Walking dogs and taking pictures behind the buildings at off hours is an intrusion of privacy for 1st floor Residents. Having people looking in windows early morning and dog walking at 3AM when people are sleeping and have animals in their own homes who start barking because someone is closely behind their units is unsettling for elderly residents. This should be common courtesy and respect.
Your response to cigarette smoking is bizarre. How can you stop someone in public from smoking? A person in a vehicle smoking? Most of the time they are vendors or people walking through the community. This is an outdoor area parking lot not a park.
Lastly addressing your response to vehicles. A second vehicle owned by a Resident should be parked in a Resident spot across from the building, not a guest spot. Check your Rules and Regulations.
I hope this answered ALL your questions.
Wow! That’s crazy, do you seriously have people walking dogs and taking pictures behind the building at 3 AM? That is absolutely the time that security and PBSO should be called and document this occurring.
.
Do you have evidence of any of this occurring? If that’s happening I would think that is a serious violation and intrusion of privacy. Rules should most certainly be put in place.
.
Evidence of these horrific violations should be shared with the community. The person/people walking behind buildings and taking pictures at 3 AM. certainly should be reprimanded and it should be documented.
.
Evidence should be shared with the community and rules should be changed and consequences should be made clear. Sounds like you are living in a scary court. Is the community being notified of this very serious safty issue? Are rules legally being changed?
.
Not sure I would recommend anybody purchase property in Tivoli until these serious issues are dealt with.
.
What has happened to that beautiful court this last year? I have friends that live in Tivoli and always felt safe.
.
What you are describing is a very frightening place to live. I hope you are aggressively dealing with these security issues. Document and report any issues that potentially put residents at risk for security and safety. More importantly, keep residents apprised of security and safety concerns happening in your community. Thank goodness I do not live in your community.
Evelyn
Tivoli Court had a lovely pool party for the residents..Hamburgers and Franks-plus lots of extras..lovely turn out and nice conversations Happy Fourth of July ..
Lowell, there wasn’t enough food at the party, some residents left hungry… And the feedback we got – most people preferred pizza parties. I think that’s why the attendance was rather low.
.
As for the “nice conversations”, many residents were very concerned about the “new rules” as posted above your post, Lowell. Celebrating the 4th of July just reminded residents about the overreach by the current BOD in making up the rules for Tivoli Court that are not only unenforceable, untenable and absurd, but also are quite illegal.
.
The new board is turning this court into a prison where people are afraid to do anything, instead of a place for people to enjoy the retirement. Many people wanted to have simple benches put under the trees in the shade to sit and enjoy or to have a “nice conversation” with your friends, but instead we are changing the furniture at the pool that nobody complained about.
.
Many people volunteered to help, to be building captains, to start a gardening club, to help with the paining project, etc, but the board refused their help and instead implemented these nonsensical draconian rules.
.
Even such a simple and beautiful thing as planting flowers to make the court look better is now frowned upon. Can’t even walk your dog next to your patio behind the building! Can’t help your fellow neighbors! Where does it end? WE NEED TO STOP THIS BOARD!
Howard you did not attend the party there was more than enough food after 2 hours people had to leave because of the thunder everyone ate and enjoyed themselves talking eating and drinking. I was there and you have wrong information..the residents in tivoli court love the new board. We inherited the bank loans and the insurance increase ..the new owners who were there were impressed with the party.
Lowell
.
I heard from more than one Tivoli Court resident that the pool party wasn’t so lovely.
Not enough food, a poorly written notice that discouraged any visiting guests.
.
People were actually asked who is their +1!
.
Few board members actually attended, WHY?
One resident had to practically beg for a hamburger.
Considering that Tivoli Court has 175 apartments very few of those residents actually attended, around 15% of the units.
Who would want to attend a party where their guests visiting for a holiday weekend were not welcome?
Who would want to party with the board that treats their residents so terribly and makes up the above mentioned absurd and oppressive rules?
.
Tivoli Resident
Lowell, It’s interesting how you deflect and blame the prior board. Meanwhile many current board members didn’t even show up for this party. The prior board had nothing to do with this party, the lack of food there and low attendance because of not allowing guests and negative attitude from many current board members.
.
Not to mention that you again failed to address the most important issue, as the Prisoner put it -“nonsensical draconian rules” that are probably illegal. Or many other points made by the Prisoner, like building captans you have promised us.
Howard I was there you were not . Everyone ate and some had more than one hamburger or one frank. Not one person made a negative comment ..I spoke to all the people . Your resident in your building 103 came late and took food home because the weather was changing . Please you are making incorrect statements I meet many residents and I do not hear any anger about the board . We in 6 months inherited problems from the previous board ..if you are not happy Run For The Board for 2024..
Lowell, by now you must have realized that the party is not an issue here, however limiting it was. Nobody cares about your hotdogs. The issue that residents really are upset about is that elephant in the room you keep refusing to address in your posts- “nonsensical draconian rules” that are probably illegal.
.
The prior board certainly didn’t make or write them, your board did. So why don’t you address this point – you are on the current board, aren’t you? Explain these new rules and also are you planning to correct them?
Howard-Everything you write about rules and regulations was that way with the previous boards ..the building I live no one complains .. run for the board and express yourself . By the way the previous board wanted cameras at the pool because some people were bringing there dog in for a swim and eating food after pool hours .
NEWS FLASH
FCO Special BOD Meeting
July 19,2023
3pm
Fountains Hall
All residents are entitled and encouraged to attend.
.
Because this is a Special Meeting, the official announcement with the agenda will be published by 48 hours before the meeting.
.
Please check back with the blog to see the topics to be discussed.
On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 02:06:51 PM EDT, Bob Wiggins wrote:
Good afternoon,
There will be an FCO Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, July 19th at 3:00pm in Poulette Hall. An Agenda will be noticed 48 hours before the meeting.
The discussions will be on the following topics:
1) Approval to use reserves for the Alarm Panel in Fountains/Poulette Hall.
2) Gefion’s potential to come back to the FCO.
3) Lightning striking the Barcode Reader at the South Gate. Will be filing an insurance claim for the damaged barcode reader.
4) Waiting on Superior Water Systems to get the Electrician a switch that is needed to get the fountains running.
5) There will be an open discussion at the end.
Thanks,
Bob Wiggins, CAM
Fountains Condominium Operations
What the hell ? Don’t they need the votes of residents to do that ?
Lowell, you said and I quote: “Everything you write about rules and regulations was that way with the previous boards ..the building I live no one complains “. This is absolutely false!
.
First, I live in your building and I complained many times, but nobody cared. Instead I was told to stop contacting the board.
.
Second, Tivoli Court Rules are published on GRS website and some of the rules that Howard specifically mentioned are NOT in these rules. The new board has just made them up without even voting for them.
.
Finally, the prior board when I was president and before me when Shelly was president never tried to tell residents not to help each other. Why would we? it’s ridiculous.
.
The prior board has never had the following rules voted for or even considered to vote for:
.
– DO NOT WALK DOGS BEHIND THE BUILDINGS AT ANY TIME.
.
-If there is a problem in your unit or a situation with a contractor do not contact another resident but contact the Board
.
-If you are a resident and get a call from another resident with an issue do not take it upon yourself to handle – contact the Board
.
You yourself advocated for many residents when you were not on the board and contacted me many times about other people’s issues and now…
If meeting notices are normally posted on building bulletin boards, shouldn’t cancelled meeting notices also be posted on building bulletin boards to inform Tivoli Court residents?
.
.
The Fountains Of Palm Beach Condominium, Inc. No. 7 (Tivoli)
.
OWNERS, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BOARD MEEING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, MONDAY JULY 10TH WILL BE POSTPOSED FOR ANOTHER DATE. WE WILL ADVISE THE MEMBERSHIP WHEN THE NEW DATE HAS BEEN DETERMINED.
.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED YOU.
.
THANK YOU,
DONNA BISSINGER, PROPERTY MANAGER
GRS COMMUNITY MANAGMENT
.
Spell check should also be used for meeting notices.
Well we on Tivoli Court finally received a email notice that the July Board meeting has been cancelled.
The residents of Tivoli Court have to wonder what the negotiations for several on going projects are as well as the few upcoming projects?
Couldn’t the July meeting to keep the Tivoli Court Residents informed still be scheduled?
.
The Fountains Of Palm Beach Condominium, Inc. No. 7 (Tivoli)
.
Dear Owners:
.
Please be advised that as a result of the Board currently working in the midst of certain negotiations for several on-going projects, as well as a few upcoming projects, the July 2023 Board Meeting has been cancelled.
.
The August 2023 Board Meeting will be held on Monday, August 14, 2023, at the GRS Corporate Offices.
.
The 48 hour Board Meeting notice will be sent out as posted as typically done. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me @ 561-275-7397.
.
Thank you,
Donna Bissinger, Property Manager
GRS Community Management
All Fountain Residents should be aware that the Melaleuca Gate entry is out of adjustment
Exit is ok
Thank you
Howard
picture of the broken gate https://www.fountainsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mellaleuca-Gate.png