Garden Patio Villas
7708 Margate Blvd, Margate, FL 33063
Board of Directors Meeting
January 05, 2021 7:00 PM Location: Clubhouse
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: President, Melodie Savoca, Vice President, Lou Grunes, Secretary, Barbara Reul, Member at Large, Jeff Mandell
OWNERS PRESENT: C4U6
Melodie called the meeting to order.
OLD BUSINESS:
Barbara read the minutes from the last board meeting and gave updates per our Maintenance Coordinator, Joe.
- Backflow Preventers – Joe is doing a thorough investigation, to date he has found out the following information: Joe has corresponded via email with all of the Commissioners in the City of Margate and the City Manager in hopes to get our community exempt from the imposed violation of installing 11 backflow systems which is extremely costly (approximately $20,000). To date the reply has not been favorable! Joe has offered some options:
- Installing one at the city’s main input
- One at the clubhouse and the main source.
- A change in the size of the pipe coming from the main output. We are still waiting on a reply on number 3. According to the Irrigation Department and City Manager this is a law that came into effect 7 years ago and we are lucky that we have gotten away with it thus far. If none of those options are acceptable the next step is securing advice from a lawyer or engineer that specializes in these situations, the board has already voted upon doing that. If all fails then our community will have to comply and we will have to impose a one time assessment of approximately $300. per villa to cover the expenses.
Additionally, we will need approximately $2,000 per year to our annual budget just to pay for the yearly backflow inspections that the city requires on each system by a licensed plumber..
- Tree Cutting – The Board discussed the tree situation and the cost we have incurred this past year. We had three trees removed and a trim of one over the roof of a villa at the rate of $4,500. A tree that came down following a major storm in September at the rate of $400. Coconuts that were removed ahead of hurricane season at the rate of $400. These are just a few instances of the cost of tree cutting.
Many Owners have complaints regarding tree cutting, trimming and shaping. These items are not part of our Lawn Service’s contract. The Board last year did not include it in the contract due to the cost of living prices increasing on many maintenance issues. Our lawn services have however been gracious to us to do some timing for us at no charge, but that cost is only in our budget every other year. Owners need to be patient on this matter, hopefully we will get it done this year.
NEW BUSINESS
Each Board member had an opportunity to speak at this point. The floor was turned over to Jeff, our Member at Large, who did not have any comments.
- Roof Color – Lou, our Vice President, brought up the subject of the new roofs being installed and the approval color. Unfortunately, two Owners that are having new roofs installed can not get the approved color. According to 2 different roofing companies, the color is not available and they have no idea if it will ever come back.. The Board approved a color that was similar, just slightly darker, and that will be the color going forward.
- Complaints – Lou also brought up an issue with one of our Owners that we have had numerous complaints on. The Board will send a letter to notify the Owner and take the necessary steps to hopefully resolve the matter. We then heard from the Owners attending the meeting regarding this matter.
- Margate Executive Golf Course – Lou said we received a courtesy call from Mike who is the owner of the Executive Golf Course that borders some of our community. He stated that he wants to sell the property and he knew that we were a big part of the “Keep Margate Green” campaign so he wanted to let us know. He stated that he plans to proceed with his plan as soon as possible.
Melodie, then continued that she spoke to Mike as well. He has been trying to sell his property for the last three years and wanted to see if Margate was interested. The request got lost with the then present City Manager. He then waited for the voting of Margate City Commissioners in 2020. Now in 2021,he is going to make a decision based on the response from Margate Commissioners. He stated 3 options that he offered to the City of Margate:
- The City buys the property to continue to run as a golf course or turn into a park.
- He applies for a zone change on the property, and if Commissioners vote and agree to rezone, he would sell to Developers. He did not want this option because he knows many residents of Margate do not want it.
- He builds a recreational facility and will run the business himself. It could be a sports complex, tennis, or batting cages, just as some examples.
He appreciates and understands our position in keeping the green space but he is a businessman and wants to make money. He gave the City 60 days to reply. Obviously, we can get involved once again as a community. Melodie encouraged Owners to our City of Margate website or click on our website at Keep Margate Green so you contact our Commissioners. We urge everyone to email your commissioners, send a letter or attend the City’s monthly meeting on zoom and speak up for our neighborhood.
- HOA Fees and Financial Expenses – Melodie then reiterated per our Treasurer, Gelly Dossman, to date of this meeting only one third of Owners have paid their HOA fee for January. If you are having a problem paying your fee, please call the Board or speak directly with Gelly and see if she can arrange monthly payments to help you out. (Our new Treasurer is in C3U10)
We discussed keeping up with all the expenses and things that need to be taken care of this year. The roads are a big issue! We haven’t had it done in many years. Marshall planned to re-do them years ago. There are many complaints about trees, the lawn, sprinklers, hurricane preparation, not to mention the backflow situation and maintaining the pool. In 2020 there were several expenses we had to put on hold. The costs of living increases our utility costs, and rising costs of repairs needed due to our association being more than 40 years old. This includes but is not limited to the sprinkler piping throughout the association that needs repaired and electrical issues developing in some of the dome lights. The Board discussed and voted on an increase in our HOA fee of $10. per month beginning in January 2022 to help cover costs the Association is incurring.
- Violations – Melodie brought up a few other Owners that are in violation to our Bylaws. Since she heard complaints from other Owners, letters will be sent out to hopefully resolve those issues. She also took a tour of the front of our neighborhood. There are 3-4 villas that have plants, bushes or trees that are further than the 15’ of the villa wall that need to be removed because they are on Association property. Please make sure your unit number sign is visible. Also, quite a few driveways need attention as well and need to be painted. Living in a Homeowners Association means there are common rules all Owners are required to abide by. These are things that help increase the value of our homes.
- Clubhouse Cleaning – The Board discussed eliminating the clubhouse cleaning position. The Board voted and it was approved. One of the Board will take over that responsibility and we will save $600 this year for other critical issues.
- The Pool – Barbara then updated everyone on the status of the numerous violations we received for our pool from the Board of Health. Thankfully our water was approved safe and with no violation. It was specific items in the pool and pump area that failed. Our pool service did the necessary repairs and corrections and has one more item to take care of. The total cost of all of these repairs totaled $800! These are some of the unexpected expenses that our community has to absorb.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15PM
Related
