The Board meeting was held on March 12th.  Present were Gary Lee, Kathy Martyka, Julie Anderson, Kenny Batch, Susan Diresta, and Sherry from the management company.  There were 11 people sitting in the audience, including Tom Galiotti.  He was overheard talking to Jack Knight, complaining that he had had a truck and a sign outside his house and that the management company wanted to know if he had remedied the situation.  He asked Jack  that if the management company went through the community twice a week, wouldn't they know, since it had been six weeks.  

At that point Mr. Lee called the meeting to order.  Kenny Batch said that the by-laws and rules and regulations clearly state that only homeowners can attend the board meetings and that a person who was not a homeowner was present and had to leave.  (No where in the by-laws, articles of incorporation, or deed restrictions does it ever mention who may attend the meetings.  The only restriction is on who may vote at a meeting.)  At that point Gary Lee told Tom Galiotti to leave the meeting, which command met with some resistance from Tom.  Gary said he would go and get the sheriff to remove Tom and Tom said, "Go ahead!  It's just another nail in your coffin!"  Then Gary asked Tom if he had something to say and Tom said that he did.  He wanted to know why the management company had sent him a letter dated Feb. 28 asking the new homeowner for a copy of the lease.  Tom said that he went to the closing on March 1 and asked how the management company had the information before he had closed on the sale.  Sherry said that anytime a house is sold, a search is done, including contacting the management company to see if there is any impediment to the sale.  She said that Tom had received a letter about the truck and the for sale sign, and asked if it had been remedied.  Tom said that the management company was supposed to be inspecting the premises twice a week and Sherry said that he was absolutely mistaken.  At that point, Tom got up and left, after telling Jack Knight, "I'm with you 100%.  Call me."

After the fireworks, the minutes were approved, without a public reading, and the Management Company's report began.

Sherry reported that 2 lights have been rewired in the "A" section.  Dredging of the canal is almost completed.  Another company was found and charged $6700, less than half of the original company's fee.  Entrance signs have been designed and are scheduled to be set up, starting with the missing sign in section 9, due to the accident.  No fee was mentioned for these signs.  

Kids have been seen riding ATV's on FPL property  and, although 5 or 6 signs are already posted prohibiting access to the land, a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved to put up 2 more signs, at a cost between $100 and $200.  The Sheriff's office will be enforcing the no trespass rule, with a suggestion from Sherry that they confiscate the ATV vehicles.  However, Mr. Lee called on all homeowners living near the power lines to call the police if they see anyone riding on anything under the power lines.  

The insurance company has agreed to pay for the damages to the light pole and sign at the corner of Stacey and Keystone, after subtracting the $1000 deductible and accounting for depreciation of the pole.

Mr. Lee said that removal of the long arm lights on Palmetto Park Road was discussed.  (This wasn't mentioned at the last Board meeting.  Just when was this discussed?  Is the Board holding secret meetings?)  Those lights are going to be put on new poles near all the entrances to light the new signs, and the street signs, at a cost of $400-500.  Mr. Lee said that one light would be placed at Stacey and Keystone and he would like everyone to go look at it and call the management company with their opinion of how it looks.  Gary Lee motioned, Julie Anderson seconded, and it was passed unanimously to start this project tomorrow, March 13.  I just reread the report from the January meeting (printed below this report) and saw that it was unanimously passed to get bids on solar lighting.  At this meeting, that direction wasn't even mentioned, but it appears that a huge discussion was held about the lights on Palmetto.  All I know is that the discussion didn't take place at the January meeting.  See Questions to learn why secret meetings are illegal.

Sherry said that she and Mr. Lee went out for a couple of hours, with a tape recorder, and listed the addresses of houses with violations.  After seeing "100's" of violations, they decided to send out the letter everyone should have gotten last weekend.  While it is very vague as to what to fix on your house, if you don't do something and receive another, more specific letter, that letter will be considered your second warning.  (I couldn't believe my ears!  We are supposed to guess what will satisfy the sensibilities of the management company and if we guess wrong, or, horror of horrors, like the way our house looks and do nothing, we will be hit with a second warning!)  As Mr. Lee said, they were trying to be neighborly, but since people are not complying with their standards, they will have to follow through with enforcing cleaning of driveways, sidewalks, homes, and roofs.  (What standards?  None of that is in the deed restrictions, which is the only document we ever agreed to abide under.  Actually, not even the ability of the Association to enforce the deed restrictions is in the deed restrictions.  That right of enforcement was and is exclusively held only by the developer and he NEVER signed over that right to the Association.  See Elaine Gatso's letter.  Mr. Lee says that he is trying to be neighborly.  Then, instead of driving around and talking into a tape recorder, why doesn't he go and knock on the doors of the people who have "violations"?  Maybe people would be more supportive of this Board if the Board took the time to meet the people of the community and get to know them.) 

Sherry said that since the Association is asking homeowners to clean up their property, she suggests that the Association clean up its own property.  She has a bid from a company to pressure clean and remove mold and mildew from 92 light poles.  This company will come in with its own water and with chemicals to spray on the light poles for the minimal fee of $20 per light or $1860.  (My calculator says that's $1840.  Also, do we really want chemicals sprayed around our property and children?  Chlorine, which takes away mildew, will kill your grass and then the management company can send you letters about maintaining your lawn.) It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Jack Knight is our representative at the West Boca Community Council.  He typed out a page of what was discussed at the last meeting.  Sherry read it.  It was a discussion about schools in the county by members of the school board.  No action was needed or taken by the Board. (So why was this read, and subsequently handed to Kenny for inclusion in the minutes?)

Jean Rivera is the new C.O.P.S. captain.  She reported that in December they patrolled for 60 hours and 192 miles and in January 54 hours and 193 miles.  (That doesn't jibe with the report given at the January meeting.  Also, where was the report for hours and mileage in February?)  Jean reported that there are only 10 people involved with C.O.P.S. and, since they go out in pairs, we need more volunteers.  She will be writing up something for the next newsletter, which won't be out until April.  (The deadline for articles is two or three weeks from now, March 12, in case anyone out there would like to write something.)  Jean also said that she doesn't have a lieutenant yet and, while C.O.P.S. is again offering to watch your house while you are away this summer, she is going to be away also, and needs someone to take her place.

Kathy Martyka brought up again about the electric boxes that need to be replaced, repaired, or repainted.  No one on the Board remembered her ever bringing this up before, even though she insisted that it had been discussed. (Was there a secret meeting that the Board didn't want the homeowners to know about?) Sherry suggested that we call FPL since it is their boxes.  

Sherry reported that according to the South Florida Water Management District, which oversees our drainage system, we need certain kinds of fish in our canals to keep down the algae and bugs.  The company that was contracted to maintain the canals automatically added fish to the canals.  When Sherry told them that the Board hadn't approved the extra expenditure, the company told her to tear up the bill.

Kathy asked if the canals were ever cleaned up.  Sherry said that $1163 was paid several months ago to clean up the canals and that one of the big problems was people throwing Christmas trees in the canal.  (Please, if you want to recycle your tree, it can be mulched or given to groups that pile them up on beaches to protect the dunes.  Throwing them in canals doesn't solve any problems!) 

Julie Anderson was not happy with the present landscaper - Above All.  She said that even when she met with the owner, he did nothing that she asked and that all the owner had was excuses.  Above All doesn't check for broken sprinklers and said at the last meeting that he would charge for inspections.  Above All charges $45,525 a year. She said that they had 5 or 6 bids in from other companies.  Superior Landscaping, which does a lot of work in Coral Springs, seemed good.  They will check to see if any sprinkler heads are broken by their cutting and replace the heads at their own expense.  They will also do three fertilizings a year and one weed and feed.  They will also pick up garbage that they see, rather than mow around or over it.  All this will cost $46,035.  This still includes once a month mowing of the grass under the power lines, which FPL had once said not to touch, but which Mr. Lee now says that FPL doesn't have a problem with us using weed whackers or hedge hogs around the guy wires.  It also includes cutting the county right of way along Palmetto, Keystone, and Hammock, (which the county cuts every six weeks) and the grass behind the fence owned by Lexington homes on Hammock Street.  (Why don't we just cut all of Hammock Street and both sides of Palmetto?  We have the money!)  Kenny Batch actually admitted that the grass behind the fence on Hammock Street is not our property, but Sherry said that if Lexington Homes couldn't be made to cut that grass, we would have to keep doing it!  (Why?  It's in the county right of way.  Call the county to maintain it!  I also find it interesting that we had Lucky Lawns cutting our grass for $30, 000 a year, but the new Board wasn't pleased with the job and got Above All for $15,000 MORE a year and now, are dissatisfied with their work, so they are going with Superior Landscaping, which will cost $500 more a year.  I don't know about you, but I haven't seen ANY difference in maintenance that justifies paying $15,000 more a year.  This Board is supposed to be managing our money in a frugal manner.  Instead, it appears that the lawn companies see us coming and up the bill as much as they can and the Board just accepts it because "It's in the budget."  Mr. Lee asked Susan Diresta if she had any comment on the new landscaping company and she said that she doesn't pay attention to that. (A person who allegedly works for a property management company doesn't pay attention to landscaping companies? That would seem to be part of her JOB, either professionally or on this board.)  Julie Anderson said that she wanted to get rid of Above All and Gary Lee said that he wanted to try the new company for 30 days.  Kathy Martyka moved, Susan Diresta seconded, and it was approved unanimously.

Kathy Martyka asked Sherry about the cable TV cables on Keystone, but her question and Sherry's answer were unintelligible.

Gary Lee said that he didn't like Excel Electric because they charge for labor, parts, a bucket truck, AND a service charge.  The truck alone costs $150/hour.  Also, a worker for Excel Electric lives here and parks his truck on his property at night.  (Oh no!  Did you know that twenty years ago, Walt of Walt's Windows lived here and, not only did he park his truck in his driveway without being harassed, but the Board at that time set up a deal with him that he would give a discount to any Holiday City resident who wanted to replace his cheap windows with good ones.  Read your deed restrictions.  Nowhere is the word commercial found in the deed restriction against trucks.  Instead of making the neighborhood "messy" it is a way of knowing what work your neighbors do and giving them your business, instead of going to strangers.  This would make this more of a family community, where neighbor helps neighbor.  Mr. Lee said that Aero Electric only charged for labor, parts, and the bucket truck, at $190/light pole, or $90 to replace a bulb.  The Board has no idea which lights or light poles have been fixed or how often. (Yet we keep happily paying for repairs, over and over and over...) It was unanimously voted to try out Aero Electric.

Jean Rivera asked if the management company was sending out letters to owners of commercial trucks and the answer was yes.

There was no old or new business.  (What about the lawsuit from the Asset Management electrician?)  Gary Lee opened up the floor to comments from the audience.  

Joe Quattrachi said that the canal on the west side near Oriole Country Road was still a mess. (Why is Joe constantly back there inspecting that canal? He doesn't live there, and it would appear that he has to trespass on homeowner's properties to get there.) Sherry mentioned that the canal where the dredging was taking place was looking really good.  It had gotten clogged with 20 - 30 years of sludge deposited by the current running through there.  (That's funny.  I didn't think the current was that great.  The dredging idea first came up because the drought lowered the water so much that you could walk on a sand bar.  The sand bar disappeared when the water level rose, but I guess it was worth $6700 to maintain the canal - which is the Association's primary purpose.)

Jack Knight said that it was terrible that someone was at the meetings for months, and lied to the Board, about being a homeowner, when he only rented.  Gary Lee said that that person was a homeowner and was now getting married.  (I find it interesting that Jack Knight knows so much about the workings of the Board that he and Mr. Lee could have a conversation in code. Without mentioning any names, Jack asked "You do know who I'm referring to, right? and Gary answered "Yes, we are talking about the same person".)

Jack wanted to know if the ARC (Architectural Review Committee) was still working.  Gary said that he, Kenny, and Susan were on it.  Jack grilled Gary on whether they were applying the letter of the law to their approvals.  Sheds were mentioned by Susan, who said that they were legal with the ARC's approval.  (In the deed restrictions it says that you can't have a separate garage, or an unenclosed storage area.  It also says that the ARC members had to be voted in by the homeowners. When did that special vote happen? )

Jack reported he went out with some friends and wrote down numerous violations that he found, in only a 2 hour search. There was a stepping stone driveway going from the street up to the front window of a house.  (Hmmm, doesn't Susan Diresta, a Board member, have two cement tracks going from the street into her backyard?  I guess it's OK, if you're a Board member, to have violations.)  

Jack said that people were putting out their trash too early, that he had to look at a toilet for a whole weekend and tree branches are out on Friday for a Thursday pickup.  Gary said that people usually use the weekends to trim their trees and he's not going to fault them for piling up the stuff before the garbage days. 

Jack said that he counted 28 houses with black roofs, black driveways, and black sidewalks. One guy leaves his home every morning to go to work, and leaves his black driveway. (Is Jack upset that this person actually goes to work, or that he doesn't take his driveway with him?) Julie Anderson said that she knew who he was talking about because the person lived next door to her. 

Jack said that he saw a large wooden swing outside a house, a wooden picnic table outside a house, and a playhouse by the front door of another house.  Kenny Batch said that one lawyer they had, said that according to his reading of the documents, you couldn't have swings even in your backyard.  

Jack saw cars covered with tarps and 14 cars parked on the grass all the way back to the "Florida room".  He also saw 17 trucks.  Kenny Batch said that on March 12, a house in section 8 closed for $182,000 and that the neighborhood was gaining in value, not losing it, as Jack was implying.

Jack said that he goes to his neighbors and they tell him that he isn't on the Board anymore and this is none of his business.  Sherry said that Jack should write out his complaints and send them to her.  Jack asked about one house, naming the owner, and saying that she signed a stipulation to maintain her grounds and to pay attorney's fees and, since she hasn't lived up to the stipulation, why hasn't this board gone after her.  Kenny said that they didn't have a copy of the stipulation.  Jack said that 87 people signed stipulations about trucks, but the trucks are still there.

Jack started to push Scorpion Electric, saying that they had been used by the previous board and warning Gary and Sherry not to sign a work order without knowing exactly what is wrong with the light, otherwise they could wind up spending a lot of money.

Gary Lee finally said to Jack that if he wanted to compile a list of names and addresses and send them to Sherry, she will send out letters.  Sherry then said that the only ones who wouldn't get letters would be those who already had letters sent to them.  (I wonder if Gary Lee remembers why he got on this Board - to get Jack Knight off and change the lifestyle of Palmetto Pines from a concentration camp to a family-oriented neighborhood.  Tonight, he welcomed Jack back on the Board as a shadow member, given the power to march around the neighborhood at 4 or 5 AM and mark down everyone who isn't living up to his standards.  Jack has NO regard for circumstances, such as small children, teenage drivers, husbands who have lost jobs, wives who have to leave the home to work.  He and his wife are retired and can spend all their money on their house and look down their noses at everyone else who is struggling to exist.  We were once told that if we can't live up to the standards, we should move.  I say to Jack Knight, if you can't make allowances for other people with different ideas and different lifestyles than your own, then you should move to a community of like-minded individuals.  Try a condo.  You would be great on a condo board.)

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

At this meeting the Board voted to spend a total of $2950.

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The last Board meeting was held on January 8th.  Gary Lee, Kathy Martyka, Kenny Batch, Julie Anderson, and Susan Diresta were present, as well as Sherry from the management company.  There were an equal number of homeowners present - just six!

Kathy Martyka started talking about irrigation and the cost of checking the system.  She said that it cost $180 per check up, not per month, and suggested that a check of the system be done quarterly.  Julie Anderson just wanted the problems fixed.  Susan Diresta thought the check ups should be done more often in the summer, due to more chance of damage from the more frequent mowing.  A motion was made to fix the irrigation system now and was passed unanimously.  

I find two things interesting about this - first, that the deed restrictions forbid using well water to water lawns, yet that is what our irrigation system is based on; and second, that a dollar amount was mentioned for checking the system, yet the motion was made and approved to fix the system, with no dollar amount being mentioned.  I love it that the Board is so above the law that they can irrigate land they don't own with well water, which stains everything and requires constant, expensive repair of the main sign.

Kathy Martyka started talking about solar lights for ALL the entry signs.  Gary Lee asked her to get some information on the lights and she said she would get bids, since she thought it was a good idea.

How did getting information (for the Board to vote on) become getting bids, like this is a done deal?  I am really getting tired of Kathy Martyka's ideas for "beautifying the community"!  She isn't using her money for all her grandiose schemes.  She is using our money and the Board isn't even voting on her use of our money.  By the way, Article 25 of the deed restrictions says that the Association has been formed PRIMARILY for the maintenance and upkeep of the canals and waterways and can only collect $2 per month for that purpose.  There is no legal authority for any assessments for any other purpose.  How did our assessments become $65 a quarter to fund irrigation systems and solar powered lights?  When is this Board going to abide by the deed restrictions, like everyone else who lives here?

The Board started complaining about the hedges overhanging the wooden fence on Hammock Street.  They wanted to call the county about it but finally decided that they can't do anything about the fence, even though Gary Lee thought it was ugly.

Mr. Lee should know what ugly is, since he has a wooden fence (oops, isn't that a deed restriction?).  I can't believe that the Board is obsessing over the fence and hedges of a different housing development.  However, since I have personally seen Above All Lawn Company cutting the grass along that fence, maybe the Association thinks that it owns all the surrounding land!

Kathy Martyka said that she referred the question about the ownership of the canal berm behind the houses on the west canal to Burt Aaronson's secretary.  

Then she brought up a new project.  She wants to have sprinklers for all the entrance signs and she wants to run the pipes under the roads.  The cost would be $16,500 for one side of the street and would have to be put in the budget for 2 to 3 years.  This would, supposedly make us look like all the other developments.  

She also wants to spread grass seeds and hay onto the land under the power lines to make it look green.  Susan Diresta said that that is not our property and Julie Anderson agreed.  Sherry and Gary Lee said that legally it is our property, except for the easements for FPL to work there.  The Association currently hogs it (sends in a bush cutter) once a month.  Kathy Martyka said she would get bids to reseed the land.

I cannot believe this Board!  The easement for FPL runs from the county right of way to the homeowners' property and FPL has already informed this Board, in December 2000 or January 2001, that we are not to set foot on the property, or to cut the grass, since it could interfere with their poles and guy wires.  AND we are paying a premium rate to mow down non-existent bushes and undergrowth every month.

The lady for C.O.P.S. had to leave before it came time for her report, but the Board had a copy of it and said that there were 419 miles traveled in one month and that they had a list of expenses, but did not tell the assembled homeowners what the amount was.

Sherry gave the Property Manager's report.  They are still talking about dredging the canals (even though deed restriction 25 specifically forbids changing the volume of the canals) and got a bid from George Williams for $13,000.  The Board voted unanimously to accept the bid, because the canal is all clogged up. Where? The water level has been changing every time there is a significant amount of rain, and when the Lake Worth Drainage District opens or closes their gates.

Wiring for the streetlights was discussed.  It seems that the boxes are buried and the lines were broken.  A bid was received for $6900 for permits and work on TWO lights.  Most of the cost is trenching and boring under the streets.  A motion was made to spend more than was bid (Why not?) and passed unanimously.  At that point, Sherry handed Gary Lee something that could have been a contract and told him to sign it and she would get things started.

Sherry said that, since the C.O.P.S. credit card was stolen, a petty cash account of $50 was set up and seems to be working well.

Three proposals were received for community signs.  The first proposal was for aluminum, set in a concrete footing and covered with stucco.  The Board decided that it would rather have cinder block type wall set on a concrete slab, covered with foam and stucco.  Without permits, a 3'x4' sign would cost $1350.  A 4'x4' sign would be a couple of hundred dollars more.  With permits and labor included, each sign would be $1400.  ($50 of labor for each sign? Who would do that amount of work for that little? Further, since the MINIMUM fee for a permit in Palm Beach County is $30, and that fee does NOT include the inspection fee for lighting or sprinklers, where are the TRUE numbers?) The Board wants to do 13 signs, costing $18,200.  Each of the signs would be the same color scheme as the main sign and there would be no mention of Deed Restricted Community on the signs.  The reason given for new signs was that the old signs are easy for kids to mess with and besides, the money is already in the budget.  There would be one sign at each entrance with plants on both sides of the roads.  (Don't we already have this?  Are they going to pay for plants all over again?)  Jack Knight's wife suggested that the Board look into lighting the signs and Kathy again mentioned solar lighting.  It was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved to get bids on solar lighting.  Sherry said that it would take between 4 and 6 months to complete.

What is wrong with the signs we have?  Except for one sign where we look like we are copying Oriole Springs' sign, our signs are distinctive, neat, and in good condition.  Why spend another $18,200?  It amazes me that in this one Board meeting, the Board managed to consider spending $47,700, not including $6900 for each pair of lights needing repair, or the unknown amount approved to fix the irrigation system!

There was no old business.  What ever happened to Frank Kneiser and the money he was demanding for work done last March?

There was no new business.

Julie Anderson asked what if the Board needed something approved when there was no meeting.  Gary Lee said the management company is open every day, so no one will be held up in their projects.  Does this mean that Sherry is running everything from her office and the Board doesn't need to meet and vote on anything?  This is very close to secret meetings that are against the law.  This Board needs to be very careful how it conducts its business.

The electrician from Asset Management made a presentation to the Board, saying that he was not paid for work he did on the main sign on March 22 last year.  Gary Lee avoided answering his questions.  (It sounds like Mr. Lee doesn't want to pay.)  Mr. Lee said that the ballast had to be replaced again due to vandalism, at a cost of $200.  When the electrician spoke again, Mr. Lee stopped him by saying "Thank you and good night."  (I thought that was very rude.)  The electrician then said that he was going to sue the Board for the money.  If this man goes to small claims court, the Association HAS to use their attorney to defend itself, which would cost much more than what this man's bill is.  This is a very poor way of managing the Association's money!

Two homeowners asked about putting up a shed.  Gary Lee said that the requirements for a shed is that it must be hurricane proof and not be seen from the street.  If Palm Beach County approves it, then the ARC will approve it.  The couple gave their copy of the plans to Sherry and Sherry was going to type up an official approval letter and mail it to them.

At that point the meeting was adjourned.

Last modified: June 13, 2001

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