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/
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Some pictures of the construction as of Nov 2022
I received this attachment in an email and am posting it here.
“Have you ever wondered why your monthly maintenance is so high?
Five courts are currently contemplating a decision to switch to an outside Property Manager, which frankly is as close as you can get to a no-brainer. All of the facts are compelling in the direction of not renewing the FCO contract that expires December 31,
for continuation of the property management services that the FCO (Fountains Condominium Operations) has been providing since 1972.
Each of the 19 courts within the Fountains is an incorporated business. The FCO is an incorporated business as well. So one incorporated business is offering another incorporated business a contract renewal, and the prudence of that decision is being analyzed by 5 courts (D’Este, Tivoli, Trevi, Esedra, Gefion).
Why consider switching?
Throughout all of South Florida, thousands of condominium properties are being managed by outside professional PM companies. None of these properties have an FCO. Therefore, it makes sense that these outside companies include at least everything the FCO does, and it turns out, they do much more for less cost. In fact, nothing the FCO does is unique — all communities need their paperwork processed according to Florida statutes.
The FCO claims to be non-profit. But they charge much more for their services, and deliver less. Other companies are more efficient in terms of economies of scale, innovation and their extensive use of technology, and they pass those savings along to their customers. This is unlike the FCO, which has refused to change with the times and still uses an extremely antiquated accounting system, plus has no system to keep track of maintenance requests, purchase applications or to retrieve most documents, invoices, etc.
There is no reason to continue with the FCO out of sentimentality.
Why is it a no-brainer?
First, the outside PM firms offer a 30-day cancellation clause where they can be fired and replaced after a 30-day notice. The FCO is offering a 10-year renewal contract! Right there, it is worth it to switch. End of no-brainer.
If it turns out the PM is not a good fit, there are lots more that will be a fit for the court’s needs. In fact, it is typical for a community to have several Property Managers — Aberdeen has 5. Lucerne Lakes and Via Poinciana are other examples of communities who also employ multiple PM companies.
In fact, it is happening in the Fountains. The new Concert development between Trevi Court and Lake Worth Rd. will be getting their own outside PM, and then paying the FCO for their share of common expenses such as Security. So it’s already happening.
Second, these firms charge much less to provide many more services. They routinely walk the court to look for problems. The FCO has never done this. They write Requests for Proposals such as for roof replacement or painting, send out for sealed bids, present them at a Board meeting, vet the vendors, and supervise the work. The FCO does none of this, except to makes sure the vendor is licensed and has insurance.
Third, they handle the problem of residents who misbehave, which is now a heavy burden on the court’s Board of Directors. In fact, the model of neighbors disciplining other neighbors is a poor one. It’s better to have a neutral entity send letters and enforce the rules, which are established for everyone’s enjoyment and to keep strong property values.
Fourth, maintenance. This is where significant savings can be made. The Fountains has an in-house maintenance crew of a manager, secretary, and 4 workers. When comparing the cost of “in-house” maintenance to using an outside vendor from the recommended list of a property manager, the cost right now of in-house FCO maintenance includes:
* Your court’s share of all their yearly salaries, taxes and benefits (whether you use them or not!)
* On top of that, an hourly charge for workers to actually come and fix something. * On top of that, if the work is done poorly and must be redone, the court will pay full price again (no guarantees)
* On top of that, your court’s share of the FCO Maintainance Barn, golf carts, uniforms, dumpster, phone, electricity and ‘miscellaneous” items (see page 3 of your court’s monthly financial report)
An outside PM will just bill for the services as needed. Frankly, they are appalled at the way this is being billed.
How much can be saved?
In 2018, the FCO prepared a report for all the court presidents to see the impact on the
2019 budget if Esedra and Gefion courts got their own PM. For Esedra (same size as Tivoli, Trevi and Luxemburg), although there would still be a charge of $100,000 for common expenses like Security, the amount not paid would have been $205,000. The cost to replace the FCO with an outside PM for most North courts is well under $100,000.
The FCO claims to be non-profit. But they charge more and deliver less.
Does a Property Manager help plan for the future?
Yes, they will offer an assessment of the current state of repair (or disrepair) and suggest an approach to meet the needs of buildings which are over 50 years old. Almost all the elevators have never been replaced, and they have a life expectancy of 20-25 years. The parts are now off the market. When an elevator breaks down, it is a scramble to find used parts or fabricate them. The courts need to capture these savings to be able to afford the maintenance needs.
An outside PM offers:
* Shorter contract
* Lower cost
* More service
* A successful model, all over South Florida
This is the time to switch. Please support your Board as it comes under pressure to continue the status quo and resist the appeal to sentimentality. They are courageously gathering facts and standing up to misinformation on your behalf, to realign the court’s finances and prepare for the future.
Another well thought out comment from a resident:
She is 1000% correct and can back up everything she says with facts, not opinions or strange cult-like allegiance to an antiquated organization called the FCO.
The FCO has been running the Fountains for over 40 years and has had these last three years to show us how they can improve. The only improvements we have experienced are a new paint job and counters in the FCO office. Their systems are antiquated and the approval process for new residents in the Fountains takes 30 days, plus more if the application is missing one piece of information. This puts much stress on potential residents and their agents. The new property management companies that have been interviewed say it would take them 3 to 10 days, at most 2 weeks, to complete the approval process.
Letters written by the current FCO President and his supporters have been circulated via email to Fountains residents. These letters are full of sentimental misinformation and devoid of facts. They are full of fear of the unknown which clouds the truth.
I urge everyone concerned to support the efforts being put forward by the Court presidents and residents of the Courts seeking a better way.
And another one:
Thank you for this well thought out letter from the board presidents. We concur with the contents of the letter, although it is surprising that the FCO does not want to make its case to the courts. Hopefully the residents will realize the improvement, cost savings and safety factors that may accrue if the best and most effective managerial company is found.”
I was recently informed by a resident of Tivoli Court that during my 18 month absence the FCO either replaced or worked on a laundry room door that used to close but now does not. If the FCO or whoever worked on that laundry room door they need to return to fix it and make sure that the door closes properly just the way it used to.
Also during my 18 month absence stranded in New Jersey during a pandemic, pavers that happen to look very nice were installed around the Tivoli Court pool.
There is a problem with these pavers however, as they burn ones feet in the hot Florida Sun. I personally measured the temperature of the surface of the pavers with a digital thermometer with a probe. Shortly after 10 AM the temperature measured 102 degrees. I had planned to return during the afternoon to measure the temperature again but it began to rain. I would estimate the afternoon temperature on these pavers could be as high as 110 degrees.
A quick google search on using pavers around swimming pools gives warnings as well as alternative solutions.
Does no one ever do their due diligence prior to spending money at The Fountains?
The Lake Worth Gate House is another example of not doing due diligence prior to construction.
Let’s not get fooled again.
Howard,
I agree that the FCO should return and properly repair the door if it is not working due to poor service.
But, you are aware that the pool falls under the auspices of the Tivoli Court Board of Directors and that the FCO has nothing to do with either the maintenance or selection of materials. In fact, this is a perfect example of what can occur regardless of who has responsibility. Also, the work was done by a private contractor selected by the Tivoli Board. Did the contractor not provide any advice. Which error is costing (either money or comfort) the Tivoli residents more – the door or the pool deck? Clearly the FCO woes facing any court resident are only the tip of the iceberg. The court Board of Directors make many more decisions and take actions that have a much greater impact.
Bill
You make some excellent points. I commend and appreciate the time and effort the unpaid board members make.
Unfortunately mistakes are frequently made not only by court board members but also by the previous Fountains Country Club Board members and the 19 presidents that make up the FCO.
A substantial amount of money has been wasted in the past on various projects. (Dining Room, Kitchen, Pub) neither of those are now open seven days a week.
Perhaps the time has come for an outside property management company to come in to provide the proper advice to court board members prior to making decisions in error?
The fact that the laundry room door does not close properly is an error that could be left as is but I only pointed it out in my post since another resident mentioned it to me as an example of perfunctory performance by the FCO.
If the FCO did in fact work on the laundry room door then they should return to properly fix it. If it turns out that it is going to cost the court money to fix it perhaps we can just live with it as is?
There was a new shower fixture installed at the Tivoli Court pool during my eighteen month absence. When I used the new shower the water valve cartridge was installed incorrectly because turning the water valve to the right instead of giving cold water, gives out hot water.
Between the hot pavers burning ones feet, turning the shower water expecting cold water could result in someone getting burned with hot water?
If this work was done by a contractor/plumber does no one inspect the work?
Perhaps an outside property manager can assist courts in avoiding errors such as these?
Perhaps those people that run for and are elected to the boards should be more than “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” and actually have the ability to get something accomplished for their court rather than just have a title. If they actually worked for the court’s betterment there would be no need for an outside property manager. During the interviews of the various PMs their description of what they would bring to the table were already in place in Trevi Ct.
Tivoli CT. Had a wonderful meeting Monday. A lot of good news. A lot of good discussion. The board members seam engaged and on top of things.I for one hope we get AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM THE OUT DATED AND SOME SAY INEFFICIENT FCO.Times and many things have changed over the years with the fountains.FCO IS OUT DATED and to be perfectly franc rude and they act like we work for them. Times for a change and let’s save some money. Only one problem at Monday’s meeting always one big mouth there who knows everything. Don’t need to mention any names because the bully is at every meeting and we all know who he is.Please stay home next time we have a meeting mr. BULLY. YOUR NOT ALWAYS CORRECT . YOU SCARE TIVOLI MEMBERS THAT ATTEND THE MEETING WITH YOUR LOUD OUTBURSTS YOUR VULGAR LANGUAGE AND ACCUSING EVERYONE ON TELLING LIES.MR. BULLY WHY DON’T YOU COME TO A MEETING WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.I guess its hard for you to be nice when you have been a BULLY OVER THE YEARS WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE FCO.BUD OUT mr. BULLY UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY, AND CAN SAY IT IN A POLITE A POLITE WAY. Nothing will get done if our board members have to deal with YOU mr BULLY. Give our new board members some respect and help. YOU and your family have had there chances and look were we are now.
I Shir-Lee Rosenberg am a Resident in Esedra Court and I have been a Florida Licensed Realtor in Palm Beach County for 33 years. Born and raised here. .I have personally owned several properties belonging to a Homeowners Associations and a Condo Associations. As a Realtor I have also work with many local Management Companies. My experience tells me there are good ones and bad ones. Even with a good outside management company you will be lucky to be able to speak to the correct contact person for your needs on the first phone call. On the second day you will still be sitting by the phone. Then by the third day you might have to drive there to get the answer that you need in person. Because a lot of the time the property managers travel to sit at different Developments. This might sound like a great idea but it is not. Because if they only visit your property on a Monday that’s the only day you have to conduct business with them, Because the rest of the week they are at other different properties. Every outside management company has a property manager assigned to each property. However what everyone needs to understand is every property manager is assigned 100 to 200 properties.15 plus developments. NOT JUST YOURS!!! So how much time do you think they will have for all of us…WE AS RESIDENTS MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ALLOWED TO CALL THE OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT COMPANY DIRECTLY. BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY TAKES DIRECTION ONLY FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS NOT FROM US THE RESIDENTS. IF THE BOARD MEMBERS GIVES THE OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT COMPANY DIRECTION NOT TO SPEAK WITH THE RESIDENTS THAN WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH THEM DIRECTLY AT ALL. WE WOULD HAVE TO REACH OUT TO BOARD MEMBERS LOSING YOUR RIGHT TO GO DIRECTLY TO A PROPERTY MANAGER FOR AN EXPLANATION OR ANSWER OF SOMETHING OF CONCERN TO YOU. Please remember too that your concern might not be a board member’s concern. So you might never get an answer, I find that we are very spoiled here in the Fountains. WE HAVE AN ONSITE OFFICE. THE MANAGEMENT STAFF IS ALWAYS HERE FOR US ( THE RESIDENTS). THEY ADDRESS EACH AND EVERY CONCERN OF ALL RESIDENTS WHETHER IT’S IMPORTANT TO THEM OR NOT. YOU CAN COUNT ON THEM AT ALL TIMES.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: The outside Management Company will also deal with all your outside services on your behalf. However they don’t care about the grass dying, sprinklers working, or the paint, signs or anything falling apart or needing replacement. They are not living here or driving here every day. They take no pride in making sure everything looks good for you to call this your home for your family and friends to visit and not only your home but your investment into your future. POOR MANAGEMENT DEVALUES YOUR PROPERTY. NOT ONLY TODAY BUT WHEN YOUR READY TO SELL AS WELL!!
isn’t the old saying you get what you pay for!!!
Our Onsite Management Staff is always here for us. I guarantee no one has ever walked through their the door without getting a greeting and help!!!! They always answer their phones. They give everyone that enters personal attention and always follow through on your needs. Our Management Staff takes pride in where they work. Please consider all factors as your home is your investment of today and tomorrow.
Let’s be business people thinking..Tivoli Court will be saving about $ 140,000 dollars by leaving the FCO. That’s shared FCO expenses plus FCO maintenance costs ..The management company will cost $ 50,000 for a net savings of about $ 90,000 dollars…we were told last night that Ms Paulette is staying on as a full time consultant even though they hired a full time replacement..how much more money is that going to cost the Courts ..the FCO insists on a new 10 year contract and the management company is asking for a 3 year contract..The FCO president refused to attend our meeting and to answer questions from Tivoli Court residents who attended the meeting ..Think like a business person. What do we have to lose for making this change under a signed agreed 3 year contract ..we have more to gain than lose both in services and money..
Lowell,
Can and will you provide the data you are using to project $140,000 in savings for Tivoli Court if it leaves the FCO? It would serve Tivoli Court owners well to have side by side comparisons of ALL the projected costs Tivoli Court will have with the FCO and with a for-profit property management company.
It is easy for anyone to quote costs and cost savings when they offer nothing to back-up such claims. I am especially shocked that anyone could believe they would receive any where near a $140,000 savings simply by switching property management companies. I guess anything is possible, but I do not trust proclamations from telemarketers and others offering something that is likely to good to be true.
Please back-up your claim, because it is extremely unfair to take advantage of the elderly population we have at the Fountains.
I can’t say with certainty you are wrong, but you have offered nothing in the way of reasonable data to prove you are right.
You ask people to think like a business person. I agree and I would like to start with you who has not offered anywhere near sufficient data for a business person to reach the conclusion you have. What exactly do the owners gain – and no, I do not mean what does the Board gain – with a new property manager? Anyone that ends with the argument, “what do we have to lose” has not given facts to the owners. They are offering a hope and a prayer!
I recently read the minutes of the Special Meeting of the FCO Board of Directors that was held June 3, 2021. Attached at the end of the minutes were two pages of comments directed at the FCO and outside for-profit property management companies. I have absolutely no role or responsibility to the FCO, but I think I do have reactions to the comments that will be perceived as defending the FCO. That perception is likely accurate in most cases. However, some of the reactions would be better described as distrusting the information because of lack of data or examples to support the comments of which I am reacting. Following are comments about the first of the two documents.
The comment from the FCO meeting minutes are italicized and my reactions are not.
FCO needs to be restructured, just a few key points:
– More transparency, more input from presidents and residents on all issues, including Concert negotiations, lawyers and other expenditures, FCO president elections, hiring of key personal, bidding on new contracts, like security, etc.
Asking for more transparency and more input from residents sounds and probably is desirable whenever possible and feasible. However, there are limits to everything.
Everything done by the FCO is transparent to the Executive Board of the FCO Board of Directors. Almost everything is also available to any of the Board of Directors. Some things are not made available to everyone, and some things are made available later than some would like. Like any other management group, the FCO does not have the right or expectation to share everything with everyone. In order to carry out its responsibilities to the community and to meet established legal and regulatory requirements it has to consider (1) to whom data can be disclosed, (2) if laws, regulations, contracts, or agreements require data to remain confidential, (3) if data may only be used or released under certain conditions, (4) whether data is sensitive by nature and would have a negative impact if disclosed, and (5) if data would be valuable to those who are not permitted to have it.
Every resident and owner at the Fountains have multiple avenues to share their input on anything they desire. They can attend FCO Board of Directors meetings, they can send input via email or snail mail to the FCO Board in its entirety or to any single Board member, they can provide input to their court representative to the Board, they can provide input via the blog, etc. Everyone has the right to provide input and I am unaware of anyone on the FCO Board that has postulated otherwise.
– Ability to form subcommittees by board/resident interest, not just appointed by the FCO president, example Remediation/ Construction issues
There is nothing established by the FCO Board of Directors that precludes owners and residents from forming a committee to address any issue they desire. The President of the FCO Board of Directors has the expressed authority to form committees he chooses that represent the FCO, but not to preclude others from forming committees to address the same or different issues. As mentioned above about owners and residents having input, any independent committees have the capacity to present their opinions and views to the FCO Board. They do not have the authority or right to force the FCO Board of Directors to act or decide on anything.
– Subcommittees should oversee various important issues that the courts face, bring information to the FCO board and directly participate in resolution of these issues, not just the president and the executive board
I have no problem with a subcommittee bringing information to the FCO Board and directly participating in resolution of some issues. There may be some instances whereby I would agree with allowing a subcommittee to represent the FCO in the resolution of those issues. Also, any such committee should be appointed by the FCO President if they are representing the FCO. However, the implication that the FCO President or the Board should be excluded is unrealistic and incongruent with the reason we have an FCO. I am basically against anarchy.
– Restructuring of the executive board to be more transparent, representative and open to all presidents to attend
First, I do not know is meant by “executive board”. Are we talking about the FCO Officers? I am not sure what is meant by restructured. It has a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. All of whom have volunteered and were elected by their peers to serve in their respective roles. Every Board Member (I.e., Presidents) are allowed to self-nominate for any open role. I have not been aware of the FCO Board of Directors for a long time, but I am not aware of that any officer vacancy was ever contested. How does the make-up of the Executive Board affect transparency? All FCO Presidents are always invited to meetings of the FCO Board of Directors. Inviting all Presidents to meetings of the Officers where personnel issues are discussed may very well violate the privacy rights of any person under discussion.
– Changing the voting rights to be more in line with the number of residents, not just the number of courts
I agree that the voting on issues affecting the entire community should have a greater relationship with the number of households represented by a President. However, I am unaware of any decision that was made by the FCO Board of Directors that would have differed even if each President voted under the weighted process used for capital improvements over $35,000. Further, if the topic were not so serious I would find the proposal laughable when being put forth by the President(s) of courts that will have no voice/vote about decisions the FCO Board of Directors entertain after they have opted to contract with an outside property management company. Have no doubt that many such decisions will impact roadways, security, landscaping, etc. that departing courts will still be required to fund. If they do not care enough about their owners to remain part of the FCO and give their voice to decisions, how can they proffer that their constituents are improperly represented?
– Changing the “shared expenses” to have the Southern courts pay their fair share for the roads, landscaping and security of the South
This is such an old refrain that makes absolutely no sense. To begin with, every court, North and South, pays their fair share for the roads, landscaping, and security of the Fountains community. The bias in this comment is obvious given that the proposal refers not to the Fountains community, but to the South. Why not say what you really mean, you disagree with the governing requirements by the State, county, etc. that mandate all owners to share the costs of common property and recreation areas. You do not want fair distribution of costs; you want the burden to be carried by the owners of those properties. This is a classic example of people that should never have purchased an abode in a community with private roadways and facilities that are available for their use.
– Restructuring the maintenance team to become more cost efficient, one example being not come in pairs for a simple job
I think every President agrees with taking action to ensure efficiency in the maintenance process. They should work with the Director of the Maintenance Department to identify and implement changes. These changes should be adopted and implemented whenever identified. There may be good reasons why some maintenance calls are answered by two or more maintenance people. I do not know about your experiences with contractors, but I have contractors come to my house in Florida and Maryland for two primarily separate reasons. First, they came to provide an estimate of the cost of completing the work I wanted done. Second, they came to perform the work I contracted with them to complete. The contractor always sent one person to provide the estimate. However, frequently the contractor sent multiple employees to perform the work that was contracted. Since many of our work orders involve a one step process, i.e., the estimate and work are performed with one visit, it may make sense to send two employees.
– Not having a 10 year contract, but freedom to leave for any court at any time without any threats
Not even the for-profit property management companies allow their clients (i.e., courts) the freedom to leave before the end of the contract period regardless of whether the contract is for 1, 2, 3, or more years. There are often clauses in contracts that allow for a court to leave before the end of the contract period, but they typically only apply for just cause. Just cause is typically when the property management company fails to remedy a contractual or ethical issue. In theory easy, but it is highly likely that attorneys may need to be hired to prove just cause has occurred.
I do not know what is meant by threats. Are we talking about threats of bodily harm to someone or their family, taking away someone’s legal rights, etc. I agree, no one should be subject to threats of bodily harm or removal of their legal rights. But I also do not think statements of impact or consequences are threats any more than I think a President saying he wants to hire another property management company is a threat. I might consider them challenges and possibly even uncalled for, but I do not think they rise to the level of a threat.
I have a question for the Court Presidents that are thinking about leaving the FCO. It will help your owners to better determine whether you believe the projected savings are real or not. Are you willing to prepare a budget for your court that reduces the monthly HOA fees by the projected savings amounts?
For example, if Lowell’s cost savings are accurate Tivoli Court owners HOA fees should be projected as $43 less per month. Calculated as $90,000 total savings, divided by 175 households, and divided by 12 months = $42.86.
Hello Bill–You responded to my blog posted on July 13th.To answer your question about the $140,000 in savings to Tivoli Court:
The FCO gave me the numbers–
General and Administrative $78,000
Taxes -Prof Fees 4,000
Craft Hall 13,000
Specific Reserves 9,000
FCO Maintenance 36,000
Approx $140,000
Tivoli Court with 175 units the net savings will be about $90,000 after we give the new Management Company about $50,000. The savings Bill can be a reduction in monthly condo fees to all residents or go into reserves to improve conditions in the Court….
Bill-Dollar savings and better services and communication, equal better business judgement. As I mentioned before lets all think like a business.
By the way Bill–You know my full name –what is your full name????
Lowell,
Thanks for your reply. I have a few follow-up questions for which you may have answers. What was the question asked of the FCO that resulted in the numbers you were given? I ask that question because based on what I know (or do not know) I do not think that the figures you were given necessarily mean that Tivoli Court will save $140,000. Your interpretation could be correct, but I would make absolutely certain before presenting that interpretation as factual to Tivoli owners.
It seems to me that the FCO will ultimately include in the fee Tivoli Court will be charged if it hires another property management company some of the FCO costs for General and Administrative, Taxes-Prof Fees, Specific Reserves, and FCO maintenance. Bookkeeping under a situation where all courts are covered may depict costs differently than if some courts pay for community services only and others pay for every category.
What I am saying is that costs for roads, landscaping, security are greater than what you read on the books. The categories for roads, security, landscaping are the direct costs Tivoli must pay. The FCO will add to those costs the indirect costs it incurs to support those line items. These indirect costs will include some percent (I have no idea what percent) of the items you seem to think Tivoli will fully realize savings from.
My final question is where have you added back the costs for maintenance that will be needed from private contractors when FCO maintenance is not doing the work? It is unrealistic to think Tivoli Court will cease needing maintenance in future years.
Finally, my last name is Read, although I am not sure how important it is the discussion
I keep repeating that I do not care whether courts remain with the FCO or not. I only care that whatever decision is made is with the approval of the owners after proponents of the change present them enough information for them to understand the impact, financial and otherwise. I have not seen that type of information, nor have I heard that the court leaders are giving the owners final say.
Lowell,
In my last reply I forgot to mention the question that I think every court that is considering leaving the FCO should ask. It is a simple question that will begin the analysis of any cost savings. I would ask the FCO the amount of the fee that will be assessed for each household for common expenses.
It is likely the answer is not yet available because the 2022 budget has not been developed. Also, the FCO may need to adopt new line items to more isolate costs to support common expenses departing courts will be required to pay.
Hello Bill—The $140,000 dollars is FCO Shared expenses that Tivoli Court will not give to the FCO once they leave and hire a new management Company .. The $140,000 is in writing and given to me by the FCO office… We will still pay for security and access road maintenance expenses and insurance costs. The remaining 14 Courts will have to pay more to cover FCO shared expenses.. That means Condo fee increases to all residents to off set the 5 Courts leaving. Luxemburg Court should seriously consider leaving the FCO as the 6th Court.Furthermore Bill–Why does the North Courts pay 72% of monies to the FCO shared expenses but only have a 45% vote??. Bill–Think like you are running a business….
Lowell,
I have no doubt that the figures you cite are from one or more documents prepared by the FCO. I say that because I am accepting your word, not because I have seen the document you are citing.
However, I do not think the FCO has expressly stated that the $140,000 is the amount Tivoli Court will save if it contracts with another property management company. Am I wrong? Did the FCO make such a statement, or is the $140,000 your interpretation of data you obtained from one or more FCO documents? Just to ease my pointy little head, will you cite the title and date of the document you are reading to reach your conclusion?
The reason I think $140,000 is your interpretation and not something specifically stated by the FCO is because the FCO, to my knowledge, has not completed its budget for 2022 and any such number could not be calculated without a budget that projects the costs for roads, security, landscaping, etc. Also, $140,000 simply does not pass my “smell test” any more than someone telling me I can legally earn 15% return annually on an investment. The $140,000 and the 15% could be right, but I darn sure need more verification that I have read or seen. The biggest problem is that the people claiming huge savings have not bothered to share a budget comparison of the before and after. Proclamations are not sufficient to a business-person.
You keep stating “think like a business-person or like a business.” I am. Like any business or business-person I want to see all factual data before making decisions. Proclamations are not sufficient to a business-person, so please document the savings instead of offering a proclamation.
Also, I think Luxemburg Court has given serious consideration to contracting with a for-profit property management company. Although I own a home in Luxemburg I am not privy to the thoughts of its Board of Directors, but I can only assume that it has not found data that supports any conclusion that significant savings could be realized by the Court or its owners.
Instead of discounting the thoughts of other court’s Board of Directors, maybe the potentially departing courts could learn from them. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, nor is it less costly to maintain. I only hope other owners in Tivoli and the other courts contemplating a change are not harmed by a less than fully informed Board of Directors.
Recently an email was sent expressing concern that a comment was made and not posted on the blog. Almost immediately the writer asked that the original email be ignored because the comment had been posted and but not seen before the first concern was sent.
Although the failure to post a comment did not happen, the situation serves as an opportunity to remind our readers what could and has happened previously to some comments and how the situation should be addressed. Like all websites, the blog uses software that tries to ensure we are not overrun with spam. Occasionally it has placed a comment from a reader into the Junk folder. Usually, and we think always, we catch the error and remove it from the Junk folder and put it into the In Box where it is approved for publication. If you make a comment and you do not see it appear on the blog, please notify us and we will make every attempt to find out why and correct the situation.
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My name is Nicolas Bauer, owner of a 2 BR condo in 4793 Esedra Court, know from another owner that tomorrow 07/21/21 at 1PM, a meeting is scheduled by the board, to discuss the pros and cons of switching management from the FCO to a private PM company. I have read many comments about that topic and would like to let the president of the board know, that I am absolutely in favor of switching to a PM company, for many reasons, the main one though being apparently substantial savings, which would most likely translate into lowering the maintenance fee, beneficial for unit owner and tenants! When did that ever happened?
Besides, if the selected PM Co. should not be a great match, the 30 day cancellation period allows for another, possibly better company.
I talked to a few owners in the Fountain and without exception, they all
support such a move.
I personally am 100% in favor of such a move and urge the board by voting FOR the switch, to start a move, that will, in my mind, be a tremendous benefit for “The Fountains” overall.
I also would like to thank the board in advance, for their effort in doing what’s right and decent for us all.
May you have a constructive and productive meeting.
Sincerely,
Nicolas Bauer
Nicolas,
I hope the meeting is constructive and productive as well. Best of luck whatever the outcome.
It was a constructive orderly meeting. Lots of good information as to why its time to say goodbye to the FCO.
Too bad no one representing the FCO chose to show up with any of their facts as to why we should sign their ten year contract?
We’ll just have to accept the facts as presented by grs management with a much shorter contract with better terms and how much better they will serve the five courts as well as the savings that will accrue with their up to date web portal. Many resident comments on how poor the current FCO maintenance has become.
Howard, I have been watching the bantering, back and forth, between you and Bill and respect both of your opinions even though I believe that leaving the FCO is a monumental bad decision. However if I see an inaccuracy stated as fact I feel I should point it out. First, the “10 years” as the only option presented by the FCO is false. I have 2 letters from Ben Geller indicating that a 3 year option might be viable.
as well as the minutes of the meeting held on July 16, where he expressed the same fact. Second, stating that “Many resident comments on how poor the current FCO maintenance has become.” was stated without any proof that it was actually said. I can tell you for a fact that the performance by Juan and his maintenance staff as far as Trevi Ct. is concerned, has been exemplary. Have you, personally, ever dealt with a property management company on any level? I have.
I have seen facts and figures quoted, ostensibly made by the FCO, and yet I have never seen those numbers in a letter posted on an FCO letterhead, indicating to me that it might be pure hearsay based on fabrication. Let’s not resort to innuendo and hyperbole where pure facts are needed.
David
I respect your opinion also but I have proof on Tivoli Court on how incompetent on at least two items here on how the present FCO maintenance personnel dropped the ball. Would you like to meet in person so that I can prove the FCO incompetence to you? Our court president is fully aware and cannot get straight answers from the FCO office. If you would like to meet in person I can text you.
Perhaps you have a solution?
Any time!
Howard,
Thanks for the feedback! How many owners attended the meeting? Was it a multi-court meeting or just Tivoli?
Who was invited to attend?
Bill
It was a well attended meeting. It was for the owners of the five Northern courts that are considering leaving the FCO and bringing in another management company. The presidents of D’Este,Esedra,Gefion,Tivoli, and Trevi invited all residents of those courts to attend. There were lots of questions and lots of answers. There are some very knowledgeable female presidents of these courts that have experience in the property management field. They are not fearing the threats and misinformation from the current FCO.
Perhaps that is one reason no one, although invited, from the FCO declined to attend?
The number of attendees exceeded my expectations and a rough estimate would be well over 100. Not bad for a Thursday evening. A presentation was given by grs management explaining how easy it would become to report problems and issues 24/7 on these courts via telephone or smartphone.They have a computerized tracking system that the current FCO does not have.
FWIW Indian Springs and many other similar country clubs utilize a similar property management system with features and benefits that we currently do not receive from the current FCO.
Our buildings are over 40 years old with elevator, electrical, plumbing,roof, condensate drain,and laundry room problems and many residents are frustrated and tired of dealing with the current FCO that has failed over the years to develop, track, and upgrade to a computerized management system.
The time has come to say goodby to the FCO.
Howard,
Thanks for the reply!
Nicolas,
Is this meeting being held on Zoom? Just curious.
Looking forward to tomorrows TOWN HALL MEETING. I HOPE mr. BULLY DOESN’T COME.WE don’t need his negative comments and foul mouth. Maybe with mr. bully not there we can get something accomplished. Remember mr. BULLY you had you chance and look where we are now. Give the new TIVOLI board a chance.
Peter,
I cannot understand what message you are sending. First you say you hope someone doesn’t attend. Then you ask him to give the new Tivoli Board a chance.
It seems to me that you are basically saying an owner should have no say because whatever he/she espouses is contrary to what others think. I do think the person you are trying to communicate with should express himself in a courteous manner without the use of foul language.
I also find your constant use of derogatory “naming” of the person equally offensive and wish you would display the behavior you are expecting of others.
Hello, I am a resident of Fountains and also own multiple units in different courts. I am new to this topic but recently attended both the Esedra meting on Wednesday and Thursday’s larger group meeting. It was very informing attending these meetings and after hearing GRS presentation was also impressed with the level of services they offer and the transparency they would provide to residents and board members. I am a bit confused why there was no representation for the FCO and to give them the opportunity to hear complaints or share their thoughts on how improvements can be made. I am also very concerned that the President/s were not there to weigh the options. The FCO has been afforded the opportunity to service this community for 40 years, but does not mean we are locked into them if there is better and less expensive options which would be for the benefit of all. I would just say it is in the best interest of the community and residents if we were able to hear both sides.
Howard sent an email to the blog with the following comment and picture. He used this format for commenting because he wanted to include a picture.
“Two FCO maintenance men show up. The plastic knob is not a standard Moen knob that has no hot and cold water markings on it. In addition this knob rotates 360 degrees. Did they fix and repair it? NO! Time to retire the FCO incompetent maintenance team. Howard”
Howard,
I agree that the repair as described would not be up to the standards I would expect. Unfortunately, I find enough fault to go around to everyone involved.
Too frequently people do not provide enough specificity about work they want performed and the results they receive could be sub-par or too expensive. Likewise, people performing the work act using their own priorities which may not match those of the owner. Such problems could be prevented if either the owner or the repairer acted in a more proactive manner.
The problem could be avoided with more information. Some people are satisfied to have a problem fixed at the lowest possible cost. Such repairs usually involve the use of parts that are not of a quality of the original manufacturer. Manufacturers refer to acceptable parts as OEM, i.e., original equipment manufacturer. Other repairs are made to make something function without fully resolving the problem. These repairs are often referred to as jury-rigging. For example, the new handle turns the water on and off, and regulates the water temperature. Many times, the difference is whether a handyman or a plumber performs the work. A handyman will usually be cheaper and will return something to functionality. A plumber might have said the spline, valve stem, etc. are stripped and should be replaced. The cost would likely be much higher.
Whenever I hire someone to repair something for me, I always know exactly what they plan to do to make the repair and what they estimate the cost will be. Whenever feasible I will be present where the work is performed. If I cannot be there, I leave explicit instructions about when and how to contact me if anything unforeseen occurs. I rarely accept a jury-rigged solution except as a stop-gap measure until the appropriate repair can be made.
Likewise, repairmen could take the initiative and contact the owner/court representative and explain what is wrong and the options for fixing the problem. The owner/representative could then make an appropriate (for them) choice.
There is room for improvement by both parties, but ultimately the responsibility to provide clear instructions and to accept the work performed falls to the owner/court representative. Maybe Tivoli Court needs to rethink how it conducts its business.
This is the second of two emails Howard sent to the blog with the following comment and pictures. He used this format for commenting because he wanted to include pictures.
“Does the problem belong to the FCO or ? The Tivoli Court Laundry Room Door does not close. Despite the laundry room is air conditioned. The FCO states that the laundry room door is split. A close examination reveals this is true, however this close examination also reveals that the upper door hinge is the incorrect one and does not match the upper laundry door hinges on a few other buildings that I checked on Tivoli Court.
A neighbor told me that this problem began when new washers and dryer’s were installed and replaced the old coin machines.
So my question is who removed and rehung the laundry room door? Was it the FCO or the company that brought in the new laundry machines? Someone incorrectly drove screws in the holes too close to the edge of the laundry room door splitting the door. Those two screw holes are currently empty but the damage was done.
Who did it and who is responsible for the repair?”
Howard,
I would say the Tivoli Court Board of Directors is responsible in response to your opening question, “Who is responsible for this ?”.
The reason is that the Tivoli Court Board of Directors, or some subset, is responsible for authorizing repairs to its property. You surely do not expect or want the FCO to make repairs without being asked by a proper authority, do you? Secondly, whether Tivoli Court uses the FCO or an outside contractor to perform repairs or maintenance work, it is Tivoli Court’s responsibility to accept or reject the completed work. I know that Luxemburg Court has someone on the Board responsible for maintenance and having read a few of David’s comments, I know that Esedra Court does as well. Do you know if Tivoli Court has someone holding a like responsibility?
I do not know specifically about the hinges on the door to the Tivoli Court laundry room, but when I upgraded some of the doors in my townhouse, I found that hinges exactly matching the ones I already had were no longer sold by any of the local hardware stores, e.g., Home Depot, Lowe’s. I had to make a choice to use one that was similar or replace both.
It seems to me that the appropriate people to answer your questions about who made the repair, etc., are your Board of Directors. I hope you find answers. Regardless, you and the other Tivoli Court owners are paying to air condition the air outside the laundry room. Don’t you think it is about time for your Board of Directors to authorize the needed repairs and choose who they want to perform the repairs?
Bill,
You are probably correct, however, I am not going to criticize past members of the Tivoli Court Board that attempted to make improvements on this court. Errors, poor judgements, attempts to save court residents money were in most cases decisions that were made in good faith for taking on unpaid jobs with lots of aggravation that led to both health issues and mass resignations of previous board members.
Our current Tivoli Court President is trying very hard to make corrections of the numerous past mistakes and is recommending that Tivoli and four other Northern Courts use an outside management company, GRS, which manages many other communities including a number of PODs in the nearby Wycliff Country Club where a number of former Fountains residents and former Fountains Country Club employees now reside.
An outside management company can provide intelligent recommendations to any of the boards prior to making poor decisions.
GRS will provide periodic condensate drain maintenance on our 47 year old multi story buildings.
GRS will provide needed advice on how to deal with numerous damaged roof tiles.
GRS will provide periodic roof inspections to remove the many screws left my careless air conditioning contractors. Anyone accidently stepping on the numerous screws left on flat roofs can easily perforate the thick roof membrane and cause leaks.
Our recently renovated pool looks very nice but the pavers around it measured 122 degrees on a recent day which can cause 3rd degree burns on ones feet if not wearing some sort of footwear.
The new laundry room washers and dryers are also very nice but the door in the airconditioned laundry room does not close.
I would urge everyone to read the editorial in yesterday’s Palm Beach Post that is demanding systemic changes that include ongoing certificate occupancy requirements, revamped construction codes, maintenance requirements, inspection schedules, mandatory reserves, reporting requirements for professional engineers, insurance costs, and risk issues and on and on.
The current FCO is sorely lacking in the numerous items and deficiencies that were outlined in last Thursday’s meeting.
Howard
Howard,
I find your reasoning about placement of responsibility for the Tivoli Court woes flawed and difficult for me to follow. Before I continue, I want to make it clear that any comment I make about the Tivoli Court Board is based on the information YOU have provided. My comments are not related to any specific Board members because I don’t know who is on the Board. I know who the current President is because that information is on the FCO website. And yes, I know she is a relatively new President and not responsible for the foibles that preceded her appointment.
Back to why I find it difficult for me to follow your logic. First, you do not want to blame the Tivoli Court Board, past and present, for its failures, but you want to blame the FCO for the Tivoli Court Board’s’ failures. That does not make the slightest sense in my humble opinion. Blame those that caused the problem regardless of whether their intentions were honorable or not.
Second, you mention that the current President is trying very hard to make corrections of the numerous past mistakes by recommending Tivoli and four other courts switch to a for-profit property management company. This is simply a continuation of the thinking that I believe has gotten Tivoli Court into the bad situation you espouse it as having. There are so many unanswered questions about the total and true costs to owners if Tivoli Court remains under the FCO or switches to GRS. For anyone to be proposing a change without answering those questions is an abrogation of the Presidents responsibility to the owners. Also, the effort to change property management companies does nothing to correct the litany of problems you cite. How about actually solving the problems. What is the Tivoli Board doing to fix the door? What is the Tivoli Board doing to repair the pool shower? What is the Tivoli Board doing to clear/clean the condensate drains? Who has the Tivoli Board asked for advice and repair of the damaged roof tiles? What has the Tivoli Board done to remove the screws left by air conditioning contractors? What has the Tivoli Board done to hold owners accountable when their contractors leave the screws? It seems to me that the Tivoli Board is continuing to fail its owners.
Third, many of the items you list as problems require funds to resolve. The repairs will not pay for themselves. When you list the things GRS will perform, do you know if these actions are included in GSR’s base price, or will the Courts pay extra? Also, will GSR itemize these extras in your contracts and are they advising about or repairing the problems? You seem to have done a good job at identifying problems, it is their correction that appears lacking.
I know you don’t want to hear this, but I do not think Luxemburg Court has the problems you describe. Maybe it is because as an owner of a 2 bedroom unit I pay $466.77 monthly for HOA. Looking at comparable houses for sale in Tivoli Court I find that the owners pay $436 for HOA. Maybe the extra I pay is used by my Board to make the repairs and not allow them to continue. Sometimes we get what we pay for.
Right on, my Son. You nailed it!! Problems should be confronted and solved. Running away is the coward’s way out.
Bill
I am not blaming the present Tivoli Court Board for anything except for not moving quickly enough to secede from the present FCO.
Blaming others no longer on the board serves no purpose. Some are no longer living here. Why cast blame on someone and others who tried to do a job for no pay?
As for the shower, to your knowledge did the FCO order its maintenance to remove/disable the pool showers during the pandemic by falsely asserting that the department of health issued such an order?
After it was discovered that no such order was issued the shower controls were restored but the work that was done on Tivoli Court was perfunctory.
No one from FCO maintenance regularly walks and inspects anything on the 47 year old courts.
The FCO provides no regular inspection or cleaning of condensate drains, roofs, utility closets,cold water valves, hot water connections,roof tiles, etc.
Actually FCO maintenance does very little for the amount of money that the residents pay monthly.
All or most of these issues will be resolved next year when the courts vote to leave the FCO
I happen to review the June 30th FCO financial statement. I noticed that the income for six months was 1.7 million.As you should know sales is vital in running a business .The FCO had a loss for the six months . Now 5 courts in the North Section plan to leave the FCO and hire a private Maintenance company. The 9 North Courts represent today 72 percent of the shared expenses or sales to the FCO. Once these 5 courts leave the FCO and the shared expenses or the term sales are reduced in a large numbers and FCO expenses to the remaining courts have to be lowered to some extend .. two things will happen – one – the remaining 14 Courts residents will receive Hugh monthly condo fees to make up the difference or the FCO will go broke.. It’s thinking like a business -income in vs expenses out …Profit and Loss …the residents in the remaining 14 Courts—Wake Up And Smell The Roses.. I was taught that growing up in the Bronx NY in the 50’s and 60’s
Whats New from the FCO
Dear Fountains of Palm Beach Resident,
In light of the current COVID spike and in the best interest of the health and safety of our residents and our employees we are going to return to our closed door policy and implement the following changes to our FCO operations EFFECTIVE 7-26-2021.
1) The FCO Office will be operating under closed door guidelines. We will be conducting all business via phone and email. There is a drop box on the wall where checks and applications can be dropped off. Please put the applications in a manila envelope to ensure they remain intact. Scanned applications will also be accepted via email to Ronda@FCOcondo.com.
2) If you feel that you have business that must be handled in person, please call 561-964-3600 for an appointment.
6) As has been our standard practice, any work orders can be submitted through our website.
The following is a list of the emails where your requests can be sent:
Andrea@FCOcondo.com – Address changes and guest information updates
Lisa@FCOcondo.com – Website concerns
Angela@FCOcondo.com – Any questions regarding Versailles, Plaza, Marseilles, Milan 1, Milan 2, Parisian, The Valencias, Atriums, San Marino and Oakmont
LisaDawn@FCOcondo.com – Any questions regarding Gefion, Trevi, Luxemburg, Esedra, D’Este, Townhouses, Tivoli and POA.
Ronda@FCOcondo.com – Rentals and Resales; Insurance Claims
Lee@FCOcondo.com – Accounts Payable
Sabrina@FCOcondo.com – Accounts Receivable
Elaine@FCOcondo.com – Human Resources; banking Debbie@FCOcondo.com – Any general concerns
Ben Geller, President
Howard, When I received this email earlier today I sent an email to Debbie asking how the maintenance department was going to be handled? During the last closed door policy of FCO offices, maintenance was closed down from entering any homeowners homes. A resident in my building had a kitchen sink overflowing and they would not enter her house. She informed them she would not be home if that’s what they required or she would stay in another room with a mask on. Maintenance said under no circumstances would they enter. She ended up having to contact a plumber and have the repair done. Debbie did reply to me and she said “this isn’t as rigid as it was the last time” it’s mainly shutting down for the office staff. This time around maintenance workers can enter a residence as long as they have a mask on and the resident does. I was curious if this is normal so I did contact GRS and asked if they had ever closed their office during the pandemic. They never had and never would have. People going into the office were required to wear a mask just like they were to enter Publix, Walgreens Walmart Home Depot etc. It’s good to know that maintenance will be available this time around. I just don’t understand why it was ever necessary to close down the office provided all safety measures and precautions were followed?
Susan, with this new strain of Covid and the numbers spiking here in S. Fla. I think it’s prudent on behalf of the FCO to err on the side of caution. My Son, who is an ER Doc in San. Fran. says that within the past few weeks he is seeing 8-10 cases of Covid with every shift he works and that in at least 75% of those cases the patients had been vaccinated. With regard to maintenance, when the outbreak started their policy was not to enter any residence. Furthermore if there was an issue as you described with the sink overflowing, that is not their responsibility nor within their purview to correct. It was not in the common area and the correct thing to do was call the owner’s plumber to fix the problem. Every management company will promise you the moon to get your business but it’s amazing how there is an eclipse of that moon once you sign the contract. I know first hand having dealt with them during my entire business career. Try reading some of the customer critiques with the BBB on line and read what they have said. Just sayin’!
David, There is another company with a similar name to GRS. That information was clarified at the town hall meeting. I think you missed that one. GRS manages developments in Wycliff, Valencia, Indian Springs an GL communities. If you know anybody that lives in those communities you need to ask them. We’ve got nothing but fantastic feedback. As far as maintenance not attending to a residents request to respond, they do respond and will back charge a resident. During the shutdown they would not respond when they normally would. Debbie let me know that they will be responding to a residents need provided both parties, the resident and maintenance are wearing masks. With the management company they will send maintenance to fix a particular problem when it’s an emergency requested by a resident. Residents can call them at all hours of the night and days of the week. Who pays at that time is not important. If it is the building’s responsibility the building will be charged. If it is the homeowner’s responsibility the homeowner will be charged. People in the community have a false sense of security thinking we have a in-house maintenance department.
Susan, the following is referencing the GRS in Lake Worth.
Absolutely the most unprofessional group of people I have ever encountered! I attended orientation and all the board member kept saying is to make sure I don’t hang things of the balcony! A complete waste of time. I had to call the next morning to figure how to get my number connected to the gate, my dedicated parking space, and how to go about purchasing a gate clicker. Also, property manager never answers her phone calls but does not hesitate to email you back! She told me “I cant use my phone while im out with a board but I get emails 24/7 to my phone so you can email me whenever you like” HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? She pretty much told me she won’t ever answer my phone calls. Completely unprofessional! They get me so upset. I called about 4 times to make sure I could get a gate clicker and once I get there to pay for it with my debit card they tell me they only accept money orders! Why was I not informed of this the 4 times I called asking about it?? I completely wasted my time going over there. What upset me the most was when the property managers assistant told me I had to go to office depot and write up my own lease! Isn’t that there job?? COMPLETELY LAZY!!
David, I don’t know? That complaint makes absolutely no sense to me? No clue who the person is and what community they are talking about? Are they for real? I don’t know, but I would need more substantial information such as what community they are talking about? I wouldn’t believe everything you read.
Susan,
Look it up yourself. See the comments that have been posted referencing GRS. Use common sense, why would someone post something negative about GRS if they were pleased with their service? Do you actually think that the comment is a complete fabrication? To what end? If it makes no sense to you I suggest you read it again. Referencing your comment as to not knowing who this person is, based upon the comment I would think it’s fairly obvious that this person is a resident in a community serviced by GRS. Susan, be fair to yourself, and to me and those of us that know the downside to employing PMs and talk to people who actually live in communities run by them and at least listen to both sides of the story. Typically properties that hire PMs soon find themselves dissatisfied and bounce from one to another searching for the panacea for all of their ills. If the FCO is so bad why is it that out of 19 courts we now have 4 courts looking to fix a perceived problem that has been in place for decades while the vast majority have no interest in changing. I beg of you to examine both sides with the same vigor and come to an educated decision that I know you are capable of doing.
David, I didn’t address your concerns about covid. I do share your concern and understand how the new Delta variant is so contagious. I know this first hand as my family is in Newport Rhode Island, my Brother-in-law, Sister, Nephew, his wife and 8-year-old daughter were all diagnosed a week and a half ago with covid. They were all vaccinated with the exception of the eight year old. Their symptoms ranged from between 3 to 5 days. The 8-year-old having no symptoms at all. They have all recovered and are 100% right now. What I don’t understand is why the office needs to be shut down as long as precautions are being taken. The CDC has not recommended shutdowns. I don’t understand why it is possible to go into Publix, Winn-Dixie, CVS, Walgreens, Home Depot, and it goes on and on. Unfortunately I think covid is here to stay and is the “NEW FLU” ?
Howard,
I want to add one more comment about the situation at Tivoli Court related to repairs that are needed to the Court’s property.
Are you satisfied that the Tivoli Board’s solution is to do nothing until after January 1, 2022 which is the date a contract with the new property management company will start?
Bill:
I don’t know if your comment that “the Tivoli Board’s solution is to do nothing until after January 1, 2022…” is factually correct?
Current Tivoli Board Members have been attempting to obtain answers to questions from the FCO regarding the numerous deficiencies that currently exist here. The FCO has thus far been less than forthcoming with any relevant information. The FCO has refused to meet with the five court presidents to answer questions.
It appears to me that the FCO is very timid of assertive female board members for asking hard and relevant questions.
The information that was presented at the recent informational meeting is that a representative from GRS Management will be walking the courts, listening to the concerns of residents, addressing any court violations,such as incorrect pool shower installations, inspecting every utility closet for almost 50 year old rusty water valves,proper hot water tank installations, conducting periodic condensate, drain cleanings, inspecting the flat roofs for any debris left by air conditioning contractors, laundry room inspections, etc. all items that the current FCO does not do despite the FCO having over one million dollars in reserves, a substantial part of which the northern courts paid into.
Howard,
I don’t know if it is factually correct either, but getting a new property management company is what you said it was doing.
The vote has not occurred yet
Howard,
I know the Tivoli and the other courts that are contemplating replacing the FCO with another property management company have not yet decided, or at least I am unaware of any announcement to the contrary.
I may owe you and the Tivoli Board an apology because I may have misinterpreted an earlier comment you made. Specifically, you wrote “Our current Tivoli Court President is trying very hard to make corrections of the numerous past mistakes and is recommending that Tivoli and four other Northern Courts use an outside management company…” I misread your comment to state that the Tivoli President’s response to past mistakes was to recommend use of an outside management company. You did also say that the Tivoli President was trying very hard to make corrections of numerous past mistakes. If your reference to correcting past mistakes included repairing the items you have frequently cited as being broken or unattended to have been repaired, then I misinterpreted and do apologize. Have they been corrected?
This is our Maintenance Manager attending to a plumbing issue in a Court with no smoking signs. Is this an acceptable code of conduct for an employee? Especially a manager representing The
Fountains of Palm Beach?
Susan,
Great picture! It is proof that Juan is complying with the no smoking policy since the cigarette is not lit.
Bill
I agree it is a great picture, but the Tivoli Court Pool Shower was NOT properly repaired. The plastic shower knob is not the correct one and does not have hot and cold water markings on it. It also rotates 360 degrees which is unheard of in a proper functioning shower control.
Howard,
Please provide a little more information about the Tivoli Court pool shower not being properly repaired. For example, what was Juan asked to do about the shower not working, who asked, and when?
There may be reasons why it has not been repaired when and in the manner you wish. Maybe not, but I sure would like to know the whole story.
Bill:
Upon my arrival here after an eighteen month absence, I immediately noticed the problem with the Tivoli Court Pool shower. This problem was immediately reported to the Tivoli Court President. She made inquiries to the FCO but did not receive all answers to the questions that she asked of them.
I made inquiries to various residents that were here during the entire pandemic.
I was told that the FCO during the pandemic issued orders to disable pool showers on orders from the Palm Beach County Board of Health. A resident contacted the Palm Beach County Board of Health and was told that they issued no such order. This resident then demanded the the pool shower be restored to working.
This is when the problem with the pool shower began. During my previous sixteen year presence here there was never a problem with the pool shower. The plastic shower control knob is an incorrect one and the valve stem may need to be simply reversed or replaced?
Surely FCO maintenance should be qualified to perform such a simple repair?
They failed to do so on their July 14th visit.
Perhaps you can get the whole story by requesting the information from the Tivoli Court maintenance logs at the FCO?
To my knowledge the current FCO does not have on line access for residents to obtain that kind of information.
Sad!
It’s interesting that you see it that way Bill. It doesn’t necessarily bother me, this picture was passed on to me. Was that cigarette lit up as soon as he got into the golf cart? All I was sharing is the way it was presented to me, and the person’s concern that this is not the image we want to portray. Is it acceptable to go into the FCO office and see the girls sitting behind the desk with an unlit cigarette hanging out of their mouth? I would think not! We should have standards of conduct that apply to all employees of the fountains of Palm Beach. That’s all I’m saying, please don’t shoot the messenger.
Susan,
I do not know of any other way to see it and I do not know whether the cigarette was lit up as soon as he got into the golf cart. If he did, is there a no smoking policy where the golf cart was located?
I am not a seer and my comments are usually responses to others comments or thoughts originated by me and which I can defend, explain, and yes, occasionally correct and/or apologize for when I recognize a mistake.
I agree there should be standards of conduct for all employees. Did you make such a proposal when you were President of Gefion Court and a member of the FCO Board of Directors? How did the other members react to your suggestion? In case you wonder, I realize I am being snarky asking these last two questions. However, I find Monday morning quarterbacks unfair and I especially think people have to recognize that we all live in glass houses.
I am not “shooting the messenger” because there was nothing in your comment that led me to think you were serving as a messenger and not the commenter. Regardless, I do not think having a different opinion is shooting the other persons opinion. For example, I do not think you are shooting at me because you disagreed with my thought about the picture.
Also, if you think back you may recall that I agreed with many of your previous comments – just not all of them.
David, In response to your post of the negative GRS review you posted, I do have questions? Was that review written by an owner? Or a renter? Where they lost me, was when they stated they were told to go to office depot and write-up a lease? You can’t convince me that a company would advise anyone to write-up their own lease. If they are a renter? If they are an owner and are leasing their property most likely the realtor would draw up the lease. They could make their own lease or hire an attorney to make a lease. Management company’s would not be responsible for drawing up a lease between an owner and a tenant.. The FCO would never make a lease. The responsibility of a Management company or the FCO is simply to approve or disapprove a person based on background check, credit check whatever is the requirements for a particular community. I did hit the ground running and speak to people in communities that ARE happy with GRS.
In response to your question If the FCO is so bad why are courts choosing to remain? It’s been brought up here many times that the 9 courts pay 72% of all common expenses, 10 courts pay 28% Equally. 9 courts 1258 residents, 10 courts 509 residents. Look at the Lake Worth gate project, 19 presidents voted to gift the former Fountain’s Country Club over $450000 of funds collected from all. FCO non profit corporation making such a large gift to a for profit cooperation. Does that make any sense?? Where did that get us? Fountain’s Country Club sold the club and assets to Concert Golf. Residents after making such a large gift now pay rent to use that gift. Why didn’t the Presidents negotiate with the FCC to protect the residents prior Is too agreeing to pay 100%. At the very least we should have had partial ownership. David, I know you are intelligent, it’s clear 10 courts (509) are never going to want to leave the FCO. I’m not sure if any other courts will decide to leave the FCO when the 2022 budget comes out? The president’s looking at options are doing their fiduciary duty to their residents. The FCO non profit has well over a million dollars in reserves. Individual courts have very little reserves for emergencies or large projects. The presidents are looking to prevent having to charge assessments. If you are in a court that changes assessments keep in mind much of your money is sitting in reserves of the FCO. Money that should be sitting in your court’s bank account in your reserves. Also keep in mind there’s over $400000 in reserves and counting still being collected to build the jog road gate. 9 northern courts(1258) have no ownership in either gate. 10 courts (509) own the jog road gate. Who’s to say after the gate is built and paid for we will not be charged rent? I don’t believe that would ever happen? But I’ve come to believe that anything is possible.
I actually agree with a good portion of what you said. OK, don’t faint!
He was not smoking when the Laundry Room Door was replaced this morning.
In fact he did an excellent job that exceeded my expectations.
Howard
Howard,
That is great news. I am glad the Tivoli Board sought the correction and that the FCO made the repair in a satisfactory manner. Kudos to all for doing what is expected!
Bill, The picture that I shared was sent to me with questions and concerns from a resident. The person that sent it to me does not post on the blog and does not know how to. Apparently they got the picture from an earlier post and simply blew it up and noticed the cigarette. As I said in my post it doesn’t necessarily bother me but it does bother others. The concern that was shared with me is how it looks. I really don’t care whether the cigarette eventually was lit or not. I did agree that it does not seem to be a professional code of conduct. I’m sure Concert Golf has standards that employees must adhere to. I don’t think you’re being snarky asking questions of whether I shared information at FCO board of directors meeting. I can tell you the answer to that is no.. I did have complaints about maintenance when I was a President. I didn’t think I needed to bring it up with the board. I went directly to the Maintenance Manager who at the time was Tom Didio. How he handled complaints for his department Is is anybody’s guess. It is the job of the Maintenance Manager to handle and deal with complaints in his department.
As far as shooting the messenger I meant that as a metaphor. As far as being a messenger I did post in my blog that I was sharing another person’s concerns.. I guess you can consider me a commenter and a messenger.
A guest essay that should be read by everyone living in Florida.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/opinion/condominiums-surfside-collapse.html
I Know All About Condo Living. Change Is Coming.
July 29, 2021
“By David B. Haber
Mr. Haber is a lawyer certified by the Florida bar in condominium law and represents condominium associations. His other practice areas include construction, complex business litigation and real estate law.
MIAMI — People watched the video of the horrific collapse of Champlain Towers South in the Miami suburb of Surfside in June and asked themselves, “How could this happen, especially in the United States?”
We shouldn’t speculate at this juncture on what caused that disaster. It is likely to take months, if not years, for experts in forensic engineering to determine the cause or causes of the building collapse.
But we don’t need to wait for that answer to address the broader problems of condominium living that can lead to calamity.
Weaknesses and omissions are evident in state and local laws and regulations governing condominium buildings both here in Florida and elsewhere. And maintenance issues abound, sometimes worsened by the strident politics that can erupt among condominium owners over how they manage their building.
Repairs are sometimes delayed or ignored by owners weighing their personal financial interests against the complicated and costly preventive maintenance needs of their building — needs that only licensed engineers may fully appreciate. I say this based upon my decades of experience as a lawyer in the field of condominium law.
All of this speaks to an unfortunate reality: For far too long, condominium owners have, in essence, eaten at the table and then left the restaurant, moving on and leaving subsequent owners to pay the bill for maintenance that should have been carried out long ago. That’s why crucial decisions about structural, fire and electrical problems must always be made by professionals, not members of condo boards.
To understand why, it’s helpful to grasp the politics of condo living. Members of these boards are volunteers; some serve for only one or two years. They often find themselves between a rock and a hard place. If the board sets aside reserve funds for building repairs, they are often criticized and, in some cases, defamed and replaced by new board members opposed to raising maintenance fees or passing special assessments. The general attitude has often been, “Why pay today for what you can put off until tomorrow?”
The answer is that putting it off puts residents at risk and is typically much more expensive, demanding huge special assessments that make owners balk. Yet these owners are the people making decisions about matters of safety in condominiums. It is akin to 200 airline passengers electing five to seven of them to fly the plane, people who then ignore the advice of the pilots they have displaced. That’s pure insanity.
What we do know about Champlain Towers South appears to underscore some of those realities. A 2018 engineering report completed in the lead-up to a required Miami-Dade County building recertification warned of major structural concerns, and it recommended actions such as replacing the waterproofing below the pool deck and repairing damage to columns.
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Despite that report, the building’s condo association took two and a half years, after much internal strife, to pass a special $15 million assessment. For years, the association had not set aside enough money to deal with the problems, forcing the large special assessment to pay for them. And the building was clearly underinsured, which will create complications for those with claims for property loss or wrongful death.
Amazingly, only two counties in Florida, Miami-Dade and Broward, require condo buildings to be recertified for structural and electrical systems — and only after 40 years and then each 10 years thereafter.
Because there aren’t enough inspectors or regulators, some buildings have delayed recertification for years. But things can also go wrong before recertification, and at some buildings, owners merely patch and paint and ignore long-term maintenance repairs or otherwise cut corners to avoid the conflict and chaos that large special assessments cause with their neighbors.
What should be done? Recertifications of all “life safety” matters concerning structural and electrical building elements should be mandated statewide. The initial building recertification deadline should be reduced from 40 years to 10 or 20 years, and then every five years thereafter, with the inspections performed by licensed engineers or architects with a minimum of five or 10 years of experience.
More governmental oversight should be required of remediation work on buildings, ensuring its timely start and completion. Steeper monetary or even criminal penalties should be imposed for not adhering to the recertification process and carrying out required life-safety repairs.
Owners also should be required to provide adequate reserves for all life-safety repairs, and a loophole allowing owners to waive the full funding of reserves should be closed. These funds should always be segregated from other association reserve funds (such as those set aside for decorating lobbies and hallways).
And building codes, like the Florida Building Code, should require proper waterproofing by competent installers with a minimum warranty of 15 to 20 years. With rising seas and the corrosive salt air along the coasts, waterproofing of concrete is as important as brakes are to cars. Concrete is porous, and water can make it deteriorate. If not remediated promptly, the damage becomes exponentially worse. And huge maintenance fees or special assessments anger residents and hurt market values.
The Surfside collapse was an alarm sounding. Building officials in South Florida have stepped up emergency structural inspections. Building associations have been frantically trying to hire engineers to provide them with letters attesting to the soundness of their structures. Some older buildings have even been evacuated because of safety concerns.
A recent inspection of a condominium building in Coral Gables, for instance, found potentially serious structural problems. In a statement, the city said that the building’s condo association had “provided a report dating back four years that identified issues” but that “unfortunately, no action had been taken as prescribed by the report.” The statement added, “Residents of this three-story structure were advised that if steps were not taken immediately, the building would need to be evacuated.”
More on condominium safety
Inside the Tumultuous Years Before the Florida Condo Collapse
July 3, 2021
Far From Florida, Mayors Fear Prospect of a Collapse in Their Own Cities
July 20, 2021
Condominium board members merely have to certify that they have taken a brief course or that they have read the statutes and their association’s governing documents before serving. At a minimum, there should be consideration given to requiring board members to take a more detailed course that discusses preventive maintenance.
Even the most well-intentioned and fiscally prudent condominium board members may have a hard time envisioning a catastrophic building collapse or fire. That’s why we need ethical, licensed and experienced experts making determinations about what repairs are required. If those decisions involve life-safety repairs, the engineers should have the final word.
And how will residents in older buildings pay for needed repairs? Many are on fixed incomes and are unlikely to be able to pay large assessments. One solution would be to create a state or federal program that assists banks in making long-term loans to condominiums. Otherwise we’re likely to see more foreclosures on owners who cannot afford to pay these assessments. And that helps no one.
Change is coming. A state bar association task force is reviewing the adequacy of condominium laws and regulations in Florida and will deliver its recommendations to the governor and the Legislature.
I also expect reforms and stricter monitoring from the insurance and lending industries. Higher insurance premiums are likely for condominiums, as the risks are now quite evident. Lenders are also likely to scrutinize more carefully insurance limits at condominiums and to require prospective borrowers or the associations themselves to provide information about reserves and engineering reports.
The lessons of the Surfside collapse are clear. Condo boards can no longer be allowed to delay needed building maintenance and life-safety repairs. Those decisions must be put in the hands of experts who can help steer these boards in a direction that will leave the buildings fiscally sound. All of this will cost money, which will make condo living more expensive — and safer.
David B. Haber specializes in condominium law and represents condominium associations. His other practice areas include construction, complex business litigation and real estate law.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
A version of this article appears in print on July 31, 2021, Section A, Page 19 of the New York edition with the headline: I Know All About Condo Living. Let’s Fix It.. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
An excellent article in my opinion.
I have overheard residents here in The Fountains loudly proclaim that “they will not get vaccinated and will not put poison into their body”
They most likely do not read The New York Times and obtain the source of their news in strange places?
So hopefully they will read this and perhaps change their minds and assist all of us?
“I Was the Architect of Operation Warp Speed. I Have a Message for All Americans.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/opinion/covid-vaccine-safety.html
By Alex Azar
Mr. Azar was secretary of health and human services under President Donald Trump. He oversaw Operation Warp Speed, the program to expedite Covid-19 vaccines.
Among the many debatable issues around Covid-19 is one unassailable fact: The coronavirus is nonpartisan. It makes no judgment about one’s political leanings. The vaccines that were developed to fight this virus have no political bias, either.
And yet the reluctance and even refusal of many Americans — including many of my fellow conservatives and Republicans — to get a Covid-19 vaccine is a frustrating irony for those of us who worked to expedite these vaccines. While the vaccines have had doubts cast upon them by politicians throughout their production and rollout, whether a person lives in a red or a blue state has no bearing on the vaccines’ efficacy. They work incredibly well, and more than 160 million fully vaccinated Americans are proof.
Whether such skepticism is rooted in political misgivings, conspiracy theories or lack of accurate and timely information, there are still millions of Americans unwilling to take the simplest of steps to end this pandemic. That makes it incumbent upon all leaders and health experts to be honest about how safe and effective the vaccines are and urge vaccination.
I know the vaccines’ features intimately because as secretary of Health and Human Services, I oversaw their development, testing, approval and distribution from April of 2020 until January of this year. After leaving office, I watched with pride as vaccination rates rose through the early months of the year, and then with dismay as the daily number of vaccinations declined.
Any claims that the vaccines are unsafe or ineffective, or that corners were cut are not true. Americans should understand that the process by which our team helped expedite these vaccines was called Operation Warp Speed for good reason. With the numbers of cases and deaths climbing in April of 2020 and the economy contracting, we had no time to lose. Masks and social distancing could offer only so much protection. Lockdowns, which devastated economies around the world, could only forestall the virus’s inevitable spread.
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Safe and effective vaccines were our best hope of liberating America from the pandemic. As hospital wards filled beyond capacity, we needed to develop the vaccines much faster than the typical timeline would allow. At the same time, we made sure that there was no compromise on safety by conducting some of the largest and most extensive vaccine clinical trials ever.
• Refer someone to The Times.
They’ll enjoy our special rate of $1 a week.
After the U.S. government committed to spending more than $2 trillion on Covid-19 relief, I set a stretch goal that was intended to be both audacious and motivational — a “moon shot” — similar to President John Kennedy’s 1961 proclamation that we were going to the moon by the end of the decade. In this case, our goal was to produce 300 million vaccine doses by January 2021.
Operation Warp Speed committed to funding upfront various stages of development, including testing vaccines in humans to prove they are safe and effective, as well as the manufacturing of the vaccines.
We provided funding to test vaccines in large populations, and we got results faster than ever before. The vaccines produced remarkable protection against Covid-19 and were extremely safe. After studying all the data in depth, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorizations.
Some who are hesitant to get vaccinated point to the fact that the vaccines remain under emergency-use authorization rather than full approval. It’s vital for Democratic and Republican leaders to explain clearly and repeatedly that the F.D.A. held these vaccines to such high standards that the only real difference is that full approval requires steps like analyzing longer-term safety and efficacy data, and inspecting manufacturing facilities. Hundreds of millions of doses of these vaccines have now been given to Americans over the past year, providing us with some of the most robust real-world evidence of their safety and efficacy that we’ve ever had for new vaccines. A vast majority of adverse events with the vaccines occur in the first 42 days or so.
The current and former leadership of the F.D.A. and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — of both parties — are unanimous in encouraging all eligible Americans to take the vaccines. Political, public health and thought leaders must educate about the benefits of the vaccine, not hector or preach. This information must come from respected and trusted figures in the various hesitant communities.
We did not reach our stretch goal of producing 300 million doses by January, but we hedged our bets by investing in a portfolio of vaccines and had tens of millions of doses of vaccine in production by the end of January. Many governors were able to begin general vaccination programs by March, and we had a surplus of vaccine by the end of the second quarter.
As I reflect, we could have done a better job in reminding the media and the public of all that could go wrong with vaccine development and manufacturing. We also should have explained more clearly the operational complexities that would accompany a large scaling up of distribution.
We could have done more to address vaccine hesitancy. We focused a great deal of our efforts at the start on the groups that we thought might be most hesitant. We demanded all clinical trials included a diverse, representative sample of participants, and the Department of Health and Human Services provided funding for an effort by the Morehouse School of Medicine to coordinate a network of national, state, territorial, tribal and local organizations to deliver trusted information to racial and ethnic minority communities.
But we did not predict the politicization of vaccines that has led so many Republicans to hold back. As of mid-July, 43 percent of Republicans said that they have not been vaccinated and definitely or probably wouldn’t be, versus 10 percent of Democrats, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. I’m glad former President Trump got vaccinated, but it would have been even better for him to have done so on national television so that his supporters could see how much trust and confidence he has in what is arguably one of his greatest accomplishments.
The vaccines could be a victory lap for the Republican Party, and I call upon all party leaders and conservatives to double down on encouraging vaccination. Party leaders like Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida are making clear that vaccines save lives. Sean Hannity of Fox News is now telling viewers to “please take Covid seriously.” Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana shared a photo of himself recently getting vaccinated. I urge more of this from trusted voices on the right.
More than 600,000 Americans have died of Covid-19, but vaccines can prevent more loss. Getting vaccinated is an absolute necessity to end the pandemic.
Conservatives need to do our part, and the Biden administration must find voices that will be trusted in conservative communities to explain the data and integrity of the vaccine programs. They would also do well to continue to acknowledge the historic achievement of the Trump administration in expediting these vaccines. I’m not naïve about the partisan issues and the mistrust between parties at play — but a measure of political graciousness could go a long way to depoliticize the issue.
In seeking to end this pandemic, the Biden administration is exhorting all unvaccinated adults in our country to get their shots, and I fully support it in this call. It would be tragic to see more lives needlessly lost when we are so close to beating this virus once and for all.
More about the unvaccinated
Who Are the Unvaccinated in America? There’s No One Answer.
July 31, 2021
Opinion
Meet the Four Kinds of People Holding Us Back From Full Vaccination
Alex Azar was secretary of health and human services under President Donald Trump. He oversaw Operation Warp Speed, the program to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and drugs.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
I have overheard residents here in The Fountains loudly proclaim that “they will not get vaccinated and will not put poison into their body”
They most likely do not read The New York Times and obtain the source of their news in strange places?
So hopefully they will read this and perhaps change their minds and assist all of us?
Where did you go to medical school? It’s not MY job to ASSIST you with YOUR health! It’s MY job to educate myself with knowledgeable information and common sense and form my OWN decision.
NYT is NOT a medical journal and “journalists” are now Activists with an agenda! The “vaccine” doesn’t stop you from getting COVID! Why are you mad that someone doesn’t get it? I stand a better chance of getting COVID from you than me giving it to you!
What happened to Science? My body, my choice, went out the window? What a bunch of hypocrites!!! Does a RED FLAG alert you that Doctors and Nurses are refusing the “vaccine?” It’s NOT a “Republican thing!” (DNC talking point) Unless Uncle Joe was lying when he said, “You ain’t black if you don’t vote for me.” Most black people are not getting shots. Did they change political affiliation?
Did I miss your novel to Biden for inviting and allowing foreigners to enter our country, with COVID and shipping them all over the country, spreading it?
And what about the Doctors and Nurses? Last year, they were HERO’s fighting COVID on the FRONT LINE and this year, they are FIRED and REFUSED UNEMPLOYMENT??? This is their reward for risking their lives? For missing their families, Some of them were smart enough to take Ivermectin to avoid getting COVID, and it worked.
Before you go spouting more false narratives, Ivermectin has been used IN HUMANS for 30+ years! It HAS FDA approval and even a Nobel Prize! It’s on the WHO’s list of necessary medications. Why would our government squash any information and spread vicious lies about a cheap medication that works?
This is not the first time Fauci caused the deaths of thousands of people! 17,000 AIDS patients died after Fauci refused them Bactrim, which worked! Yet he is front and center calling all the shots???
Have you researched the side effects of the “vaccines” the government says are safe? As reported by medical personnel to the government:
15,386 Deaths
6378 Anaphylaxis
8626 Bells Palsy
2122 Miscarriages
7267 heart attacks
6812 Pericarditis/Myocarditis
20,789 Permanently Disabled
28,168 Severe allergic Reaction
8153 Shingles
I have approved the comment from Foodie Fo because it replies to Howard’s comment that referenced politics. It is my fault that I did not catch the political aspect of Howard’s post. I will try to be more diligent in the future. Replies to Foodie Fo or Howard’s earlier comment that reference politics will not be approved. My bad, and I am sorry. Discussions about vaccines that do not refer to a political group are permitted.
FYI The email that everyone in the Fountains Community received soliciting memberships for the Fountains Country Club was sent from the FCO office. Many of you provided your email address to the FCO, assuming they
would use it ONLY to keep you informed of what is going on in the Fountains of Palm Beach.
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Solicitors are not permitted in this community. I myself am very cautious on what emails I will open. I treat telemarketers and unwelcome marketing emails the same. I don’t answer a call from a number I do not recognize, they can leave me a message if they are legit. I only opened the email
“Info To Fountains Residents” assuming it was concerning Fountains of Palm Beach and was legit. I was shocked to discover it was a solicitation from the Fountains Country Club.
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I checked with the office to find out why they would send an unwelcome solicitation email from the Fountains Country Club, I was told the FCO was doing it as a courtesy for the Country Club. What I found most agregis in that email was “Your Backyard Reimagined ” Those of us that live in the North see that our backyards are reimagined and NOT in a positive way.
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The Fountain’s Country Club should do their own marketing like all other FOR PROFIT companies do. The FCO resources and residents email addresses should not be exploited in such a way.
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Maybe it’s just me? or is anybody else bothered by that? Several people I spoke to thought that email came from the Fountain’s Country Club itself and were confused as how the Country Club got their personal email addresses. They were surprised to discover it was sent by the FCO.
.I wonder what the fountain’s Country Club is going to do as a courtesy to the residents of the Fountains of Palm Beach? Maybe as a courtesy they will not charge us rent for the Lake Worth guard gate we gifted them to the tune of $475000? That seems fair doesn’t it? 🤔
For your information, David? Bill? Bring it on! Explain and provide, documents and financials to support your positions. I’m assuming you have nothing but the utmost interest to the paying residents financial responsibilities to the Fountains of Palm Beach. Explain how the numbers make any kind of sense? Is there some kind of a good old boy’s club taking place here? I could be wrong? To me that seems what is taking place? Please publicly discredit me? honestly I can take it if I am wrong 🤔
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Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Susan,
I have no intention of explaining anything to you about the FCO. Especially about finances or anything else that starts on January 1, 2022. Frankly, it is no longer any of your business since you and all other Gefion owners will no longer be represented by the FCO.
Please just go away and take your bitterness with you.
Susan,
I did provide my email address to the FCO to keep me informed about ANYTHING the FCO thinks residents should know. Each of us can second guess what the FCO thinks is appropriate to share with its members. I, for one, am happy to receive an email that represents a community-wide opportunity. Notwithstanding that I will not avail myself of the opportunity presented. Maybe you should ask to have your email address removed if you do not wish to allow the FCO the choice about what it thinks is appropriate to send to you.
Further, whether I am a member or not, the Fountains Country Club is a large part of the community known as the Fountains of Palm Beach. In fact, beginning January 1, 2022, it will have as much standing in the community as the residents and owners in Tivoli, D’Este, and Gefion courts.
Has anybody on here given any thought to why the FCC would be looking to the FCO to help them solicit new memberships? My thoughts are they’re finding it impossible to bring in new outside members.
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I believe that any new potential outside member would likely come in through the Lakeworth gate. While driving down Fountains North observing the hideous conditions along the way to the clubhouse. Most likely they would arrive at the clubhouse turn around and leave.
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It looks to me like Concert golf desperately needs the FCO to help them get inside members. They Need new members to help them get to the finish line until they move the entire club and amenities South. Once the “Boutique Style Club” as they are calling it, is moved South they will no longer need members from the North and will likely raise prices.
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Did we learn nothing from the mandatory membership lawsuit that went on for 4 years? Why are residents allowing the FCO to put the needs of the FCC above the needs of the residents? How many of you know that concert has already let us know they won’t contribute any operating funds towards security and guard gates. Quite the contrary as they are charging us rent for the use of the guard gate which gets paid to them out of your maintenance fees. They have let the FCO know that if they choose at any time they can tear down the lakeworth guard gate as they own it.
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To me it seems as though concert is going to sell off and profit from every inch of land In the North. Once that is accomplished they will no longer need help from the FCO or the residents monies. We will have aided a for profit business to prosper and succeed, while our buildings are in disrepair costing residents assessments to survive.
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This is just the writing on the wall as I see it. I guess most of the residents here are willing to take their chances. Kumbaya, Quesara…
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Who are the Allies? Who are the Enemies? Do the 19 courts truly want to be a United Community? Each court in this community has to have each other’s back. Regardless of whether you live North or South. Closed door private negotiations are happening with the Country Club and the Executive Committee. FCO shares nothing with the community. Executive committee meetings and negotiations with the FCC are not shared with residents, nor are budget committee meetings open.
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Yes it is true that the Country Club is in this community. Those of you that choose to look back in history will learn that the original developer built this community. The intent was to build a Community with a Country Club as an amenity to the community. Much of this information was exposed during during the mandatory membership trial. Those of you that are knowledgeable and aware must know the residents were successful & won that lawsuit against the Fountain’s Country Club.
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Sadly the only sanctions and expenses the residents had to Incur was because of mismanagement and oversights by the FCO Management. Not sure how many of you know it cost you money in your monthly condo fees an insurance premium’s. Treble damages were awarded because of FCO oversights.
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There is a total lack of transparency in this community. I have no issue with anybody disliking me or attacking me for the words that I speak. All I can say is research, look into the history, check the financials and learn.
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My wish is for us to become a United community. I think that’s what the original developer had in mind. I’m not sure what the perfect answer is it is? I do think choosing a management company might be the answer? Every resident here contributes to common expenses, 1765 and we all should contribute. What I object to is that we contribute equally yet the FCC seems to benefit on top of the list. Adding my 2 cents take it or leave it?
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
There is none so blind as those that cannot see!