CascadeLakesResidents.com

12/15/21 BOD MEETING:  SYNOPSIS AND COMMENTARY BY VICKI ROBERTS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM ARTHUR ANDELSON

Posted December 16, 2021. Your Editor provides the following synopsis of the December 15, 2021 Board meeting, with assistance from your Roving Reporter, and with commentary and satire indicated in bold blue and pictures. 

SPECIAL NOTICE: 

All synopses and commentary are the property of your Editor and your Roving Reporter, Vicki Roberts and Arthur Andelson, are our independent work product, and are not affiliated with the HOA.  Redistribution or republication of cartoons is strictly prohibited and may subject you to legal liability for copyright infringement. Bizarro cartoons are courtesy of Dan Piraro, www.Bizarro.com.  Thank you, and you may now enjoy the show.

Editor’s Opening Monologue:

This edition is entitled “Toy Soldier”

(including cowards, survey spats, to Zoom or not to Zoom, the Owl and the Pussycat [ok, maybe not the pussycat], and one spent Secretary)

“Toy Soldier”

Did you know that March 4^th is Toy Soldier Day?  It’s true.

Lots of little kids played with toy soldiers in their youth.  Toy soldiers were a staple in some families.

And speaking of toys, with the holidays approaching, it might become a challenge to decide what to get all the grandkids.  And that includes the step-grandchildren.

These days the grandkids are getting a lot more sophisticated and direct when it comes to what they want.

And yet others appreciate whatever you get them.

And then there are those who just don’t appreciate the wonderful and glorious gifts they do receive.

It is important to remember that while many children like to play with toy soldiers in particular, their appreciation for real soldiers is even more important.

Spelling is important, but clear communication is even more important.

Seriously, clear communication is absolutely vital.

But, alas, I digress.  Now back to the toy soldier.

The following poem can be found in my book, Bourgeois Poetry by Vicki Roberts.  I wrote it on September 8, 2019, and I based it on a short story I had written almost fifty years ago, in the mid-1970’s when I was a teenager (I have the original story in an old notebook from that era).  It’s the same story, only in poem form.

Toy Soldier

He was just a little boy who spoke not a word,

He’d point or he’d grunt if he wanted to be heard,

He had a toy soldier which was his best friend,

They always played army, though it was only pretend;

 

He taught his toy soldier to aim and to shoot,

The soldier understood even though they were mute,

His toy ammunition was loaded in place,

The weapons were ready, the soldier kept pace;

 

The adults were content to allow him his time,

No playmates came by, no matter, no crime;

He had his toy soldier to groom and to train,

It took away the loneliness, a misfit’s pain;

 

His soldier was old, bore the Union Jack,

In revolutionary times he’d be praised to attack;

The colonists betrayed their fealty vow,

This is not something a loyalist could allow;

 

At night when the child was tucked in for bed,

He placed the toy soldier in his toy shed;

And dreamt through the night as he tossed and he turned,

Content with his student and all he had learned;

 

The house doors were locked, the neighborhood tensed,

A strange spate of killings had nightly commenced;

The sniper was sharp in his deadly reign,

He moved through the streets in a quest inhumane;

 

Boston was cold this time of year,

The townsfolk were frozen, by weather, by fear;

Who would be safe, who would be spared?

None ventured out, not one soul dared;

 

The boy lay awake with a yawn and a grin,

Morning had come, time for play to begin;

His soldier was there, at the ready to serve,

With starched uniform, with spirit and verve;

 

He reached for his comrade, his daily retrieve,

But this time he noticed red specks on its sleeve,

He brought it to mother to show her the spray;

She gasped as she grabbed the toy soldier away;

 

The mystery solved, matching blood on the site;

His toy soldier had come alive in the night;

To avenge his brethren from the heathens in town,

Who sought to defy and sully the crown;

 

The little boy mourned, his lone friend destroyed;

No one to play with or to fill in the void;

How could this be, he panicked and fret;

He started to cry and his brow broke a sweat;

 

Suddenly awakened by this nightmare and fright;

The boy sat up in bed and turned on the light;

His toy soldier sat steely, with nary a peep,

He sighed in relief and went back to sleep.

Vicki Roberts © 2019

And that was my old story from a long time ago. 

Now, to corrupt an old army ballad:  old soldiers never die; they just fade away go to senior community Board meetings.

Board Meeting:  Audio and Video Up and Running; Zoom meeting online starts at 9:30am.

Board Members Present:

Jeff D. Green, President (Equal Board member)

Harvey Ginsberg, VP (Equal Board member)

Richard Greene, Treasurer (Equal Board member)

Linda Arbeit (Equal Board member)

Bob Dingee, Secretary (Equal Board member)

Sue Schmer (Equal Board member)

Call to Order:  Jeff D. Green.

[Editor’s note:  At this point, there were 32 devices online, and that included the six Board members, the property manager, and the two Zoom operators.  Subtracting the Board members and the property manager, that leaves a measly 25 devices online.  Later in the meeting it rose to a brief high of 60 devices including the Board members and property manager, and then it dropped off again.]

Pledge of Allegiance: led by Linda Arbeit.

Jeff’s Opening Remarks and Announcements:

[Editor’s note:  Jeff announced that the Chat function was not going to be turned on during the meeting, even during the resident input sessions.  Your Editor challenged that in the first residents’ input session below, noting that there was no vote on it.  Jeff added two agenda items; one under old business and one under new business as described below.] 

[Editor’s further note:  not one of the four male Board members apologized for their outrageously inappropriate behavior at the December 1, 2021 Board meeting which prompted the naming of that synopsis and commentary, Secretariat and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 

It appears that neither Jeff D. Green, Harvey Ginsberg, Richard Greene, nor Bob Dingee has or had a problem with any of their behavior.  This apparent lack of remorse says volumes about their character.  Over here at our house we just call them cowards.  We also remember them at election time.]

First Residents’ Input Session:

Raise your hand please.  Or, raise both of them if you want to.

1.  Judie Delman: [Editor’s note:  Judie’s alarm went off when she forgot to turn it off and nobody called her from ADT; she confirmed with ADT that if you disengage it within a few minutes, there is no call.  She queried, what if someone is holding a gun to you and orders you to turn it off; this is a safety issue. 

She called ADT; they confirmed they do not contact if it is turned off within a few minutes and were not interested in asking her for her password.

Judie is 100% correct; before she finished explaining what happened we had the same thought: what if the criminal orders you to disengage it within the few minutes.  This is unacceptable.  ADT should be instructed to contact the homeowner and demand a password.  Then the customer can give an incorrect password and that should trigger an immediate police response.]

Arnie:  ok, we have Roving Reporter.  [Editor’s note:  our Zoom name is Roving Reporter, Arthur’s moniker.] 

2.  Vicki Roberts: [Editor’s note:  I asked what the “B” stood for on the agenda notice; Deborah advised it was a typo and should have been an “O” referencing Operational as opposed to Reserve item.  Next your Editor took issue with Jeff’s announcement concerning the disabling of the Chat function during the resident input sessions:]

Vicki: “I just heard Jeff say in the opening remarks that the chat function is not going to be turned on, even for the input sessions.  There was no vote on that, so I don’t understand how by the edict of one Board member, an equal Board member at that, can determine singularly that the Chat function would no longer be open for the resident input sessions.  So, would somebody please explain that to me.”

[Editor’s note:  silence ensued.  For a while.  Finally, Jeff said, “Harvey?”]

Harvey:  “ok, you want me to take that? Um, actually, the reason that I think we did this is because we found that, Arnie was saying they found it very confusing for the host to, between chat and raising their hand, to figure out who was first and everything else.

So we decided today to try just not for this, to not use the Chat function and allow them, the other thing, too, is that we’ve also tried, to try to maintain control from the hosts who are hosting the meeting to be able to unmute the people who want to raise their hand rather than people unmuting themselves because people can unmute themselves and interject comments when other people are speaking.

That happened at the last meeting; we thought that was rather rude, um, you know, and we don’t want to be rude to anybody, so I think that we’re going to try it this time, and see how it works, and then if it works; then we can probably go ahead and vote, maybe at the end of the session, if it worked well, we can go ahead and vote to keep the Chat function off all the time or go back to leaving it on just for the input sessions.  I hope that answers your question.”

Vicki:  “well, you can’t do that.” [Editor’s note:  at this point, Sue raised her hand.]

Sue: “I think you’re missing the point.”  Vicki: “thank you.”  Sue: “I think you’re missing the point.  The point was, any change in procedure needs to be voted on by the Board before the procedure is in place.  I think that is the point that the Roving Reporter is making.”  Vicki: “yes, thank you.”

Harvey:  “All right, I just turned the Chat function back on, and we can discuss this either after, as Round Table, or we can bring it up, add it to the agenda, or we can do it at the next meeting; it’s not a big deal, I don’t think we need to make a special addition to the agenda, so it’s back on, it’s back on now, ok?  Is that ok with you, Vicki?”

Vicki: “it is if it’s on, yeah, I see it on, thank you very much...”

[Editor’s note:  the Chat function was re-engaged.  Once again, Sue stated the exact point. 

Postscript:  the entire time thereafter, the Chat function was engaged, and nobody used it.  Ergo, it appears not to be disruptive after all; at least it wasn’t for this Board meeting. 

And if residents are called on out of order, it doesn’t really matter so long as they are all given a chance to speak.  It would only matter if the president ended the input session after 30 minutes as allowed by statute (30 minutes is the minimum amount required), and if four Board members objected to that, the input session would continue.]

Approval of Minutes: December 1, 2021 Board meeting:  Bob Dingee

Bob:  Motion to approve the Minutes of the December 1, 2021 Board meeting.  Jeff:  seconded by Sue [Linda actually raised her hand first].  Jeff:  All in favor?  Unanimous.

Treasurer’s Report:  Richard Greene

[Editor’s note:  the report is self-explanatory, although we have a very serious question.  In the report at the end of the first section it states:

“We are now projecting a profit in excess of $43,000 as opposed to an anticipated loss of $50,000.”

Ok, that’s a $93,000 spread.  If you divide that spread by 600 homes, you get $155 per home for the year.  Now divide that into quarters, and you get $38.75 per home per quarter.  Our maintenance fees went up from $1,625 to $1,665 per quarter, which is an increase of $40, which is roughly the same amount. 

Why, if there is an “extra” $38.75 per household as stated in the Treasurer’s Report, is each household now being charged an additional $40 per quarter?  It seems like it should have been a wash to us, i.e., no increase in maintenance fees necessary.  Perhaps we will get a clear and cogent explanation at the next Board meeting.]

Jeff:  do we need a motion to approve?  Sue:  actually, you don’t.  Harvey: motion to approve.  Linda:  second.  Jeff:  all in favor?  Unanimous.

Property Manager’s Report:

Deborah:  …mow… 15^th and 16^th… [Editor’s note:  the covering for the pickleball area fence is about $600 and they will proceed with that.]

Committee Reports:

1.  Entertainment: [Editor’s note: 113 seats were reported sold for the New Year’s Eve party; they are continuing to take reservations.  To date, 102 seats have been sold for the show series, which is less than half of what is normal.  Sarge is booked for 2023; they are hesitant to book additional shows and are waiting to see how sales progress.]

[Editor’s additional note:  the Treasurer’s Report states:

“The Entertainment Committee is making an extensive effort so that they will break even with the New Year’s Party and for the month of December.” 

Perhaps holding an off-campus party on New Year's Eve where people would have to be on the road with overly indulgent imbibers was not as appealing as was envisioned.  Sometimes choosing not to bite even an attractive offer is the better choice.]

Old Business: 

[Editor’s note:  Many important items are still being ignored.  Details are found on our page entitled “Agenda Items.”]

NEW ENTRIES ON THE LIST:

[none at this time.]

1. 2022 Residents Survey – Harvey Ginsberg

[Editor’s note: Harvey said that in Part 6, the originally bundled questions were separated into three questions.]

Sue:  Point of Information.  Harvey:  can I finish?  Sue:  No. Roberts Rules allow a point of information to… [take precedence].  When was it decided and who was it that decided to present these three questions when there were other options offered?  This needs to be discussed at an open board meeting. You can’t predetermine these questions.  How you phrase questions can affect the responses.

Jeff:  I met with different people [Board members], two at a time, and we went through these questions…  Sue and Linda, Harvey and Richard, and I met with Bob.  The consensus between all of them came back to this… at least four of us felt it was the best way to ask the first question [75% to 66 2/3%] and then go on to the other questions, which all should stand alone…

[Editor’s note:  once again, Jeff did a behind-the-scenes de facto Board meeting just like he did with the issue of the Secretary and got an agreement among four Board members in advance of the Board meeting, which effectively cancelled out the other Board members. 

By doing so, he not only minimized the voice of one or two other Board members, who might otherwise have been able to sway their colleagues with their presentations at an open Board meeting, which would have also benefited the residents, but he also did not permit the discussion of the alternative survey questions because at that point, it was a done deal.

This was an extremely important matter that should have been done at an open Board meeting because then it would have given the residents an opportunity, at the second residents’ input session, to voice their concerns, after which the Board could have revisited the matter. 

This has already been shown to happen and in fact it happened later in this very Board meeting on the issue of future Board meetings in the ballroom utilizing the Owl technology with the Zoom or to stay with the Zoom only.  The residents spoke, including some resident experts on the matter, and the Board members revisited the issue during the Round Table Discussion and reversed themselves. 

This is how it should work.  It could not work this way about the survey because of Jeff’s pre-Board meeting actions.  This was another example of an abuse of power.]

Sue:  no, not the content, I’m asking, how could you present something without having an open meeting; that’s what transparency is about.  Harvey:  everybody was consulted; four people agreed.  Sue:  Point of Order:  that is illegal; you cannot agree to anything…without consideration to the other options including Long-Term Planning…

Richard:  aren’t we discussing it now?  I don’t understand what the problem is.  Harvey:  we’re getting out of control here… this is how we decided… it’s harder to spend money without a community vote… easier to pass by decreasing the threshold from 75 to 66 2/3.  Motion to accept page 7 of the survey; we already approved the rest.   Richard:  Second.

Sue:  you have to vote.  I thought you were going to show a screenshot…so the residents could follow it…also, for the record, in the Minutes, submit the Long-Range Planning questions pertaining to the vote; theirs are really the best… review the Minutes, so that [everyone] can see the three different versions…

[Editor’s note:  the discussion continued.  Sue moved to amend the survey to include the percentages for question #3 on the amenities, and to remove the phrase “regardless of cost” as it presently stated.  Linda seconded; that amendment lost 2-4 (girls voted yes, boys voted no). 

Then Jeff called the original question, all in favor of Harvey’s proposal, and the vote was 4-2 (guys voted yes, gals voted no), so that passed.]

Harvey:  accept the survey as completed and publish it.  Linda:  I have a problem with question #3.  I can’t support something that says, “regardless of cost” – it makes people think they don’t want this … it’s not a fair question… take out “regardless of cost.”

Richard:  we already voted… it’s a survey …there’s a comment section.  Harvey:  I can very easily get rid of it.  Richard:  we already voted… Bob:  you didn’t vote to close the survey.  Harvey:  motion [to close the survey].  Richard:  Second.

Sue:  question on how the mailbox questions are phrased, and how the pickleball questions are phrased… skewered… how you phrase can determine how people respond… need to be revised… slanted, skewered… Jeff:  it was voted on at the last meeting.  It’s over.

Harvey:  questions are not changed except for approximation of costs; your point is moot.  I call the question [on the motion to close the survey] …Bob?  Bob:  I’m writing.  Jeff:  4-1-1. [Sue opposed; Linda abstained.]

2. Increasing ballroom capacity – Harvey Ginsberg

[Editor’s note: Harvey noted that Covid cases are spiking; there is no motion, it’s just for informational purposes, and they will re-evaluate in January, so nothing changes for now.]

3. Approve the 10 remaining Halo units in the Clubhouse - Jeff

[Editor’s note: this was an add-on to the agenda.]

Jeff:  motion to go forward with the ten new Halo units in the remainder of the clubhouse, $9600.  Second:  Harvey.  All in favor?  Unanimous.

[Editor’s note:  these are critical to get up in the clubhouse as soon as possible as they are air purifiers that are supposed to kill 99.9% of all viruses, including Covid, according to the manufacturer’s commissioned report, which we reported on the first time this matter came up over the summer. 

It is imperative that regardless of whether or not the air conditioning is on in the clubhouse that the fans must be on at all times.  The system does not work without the fans circulating the air.  We have one in our home which we got back in April and the A/C fan is always on, 24/7, otherwise there is no purification going on.]

New Business:

1.  Resumption of Board meetings in the ballroom – Harvey Ginsberg

[Editor’s note: this was voted on initially to have the Board meetings in the ballroom with the Owl technology (with its moving eyes) and the Zoom as well, via unanimous vote, but it was rescinded in the Round Table Discussion after hearing from some residents including Mike Blackman, the Chair of the C.I.T. Committee. 

As for the reference in the synopsis title panel, The Owl and the Pussycat was a 1970 romantic comedy written by Buck Henry and starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal.]

[Editor’s further note:  Deborah then raised an issue, and another motion was heard as follows:]

Deborah:  a motion to hold the town hall should have been with the survey; it was Linda’s motion.

Linda:  Motion for a town hall meeting to educate the community about the survey… power point presentations … to be held January 5^th… Harvey:  notice of the sessions 48 hours in advance… Second.  Sue:  it’s an official Board meeting.  Harvey:  informal meeting but to avoid the appearance of impropriety… post it… Sue:  then it’s an official Board meeting if we’re all present.  Linda:  if it is an official Board meeting then Minutes have to be taken.

Jeff:  informational meeting only.  Richard:  not necessary for every Board member to be there.  Jeff:  you’re right, Richard.  Harvey:  Linda, myself, and Jeff being there… power point presentation… Jeff:  Linda and I will be explaining the questions.  All in favor?  5-1 [Sue opposed.]  Sue:  I will oppose because informational meetings do not exist in law. 

[Editor’s note:  again, Sue is correct.  There is no carve out or exception for so-called “informational” meetings. 

If there are four Board members there, for example, if Sue shows up in addition to Harvey’s statement that he, Linda, and Jeff will be there, that makes a quorum, HOA business is definitely being discussed, it’s a Board meeting, and therefore the Secretary must be there and take Minutes.  Bob, don’t make other plans. 

And besides, don’t you all want to hear what the residents have to say?]

2.  Spa pump replacement $2400 - Jeffrey Green

[Editor’s note: Jeff reported that the pump died, it was an emergency, it was leaking, and became a health department issue.  They did an emergency repair.  Jeff moved to approve it, Linda seconded it, and it passed unanimously.]

3.  Phantasma Spraying $14,930 - Linda Arbeit

[Editor’s note: Linda noted that this is an insect called “scale,” and we have to be proactive.  She made the motion, Bob seconded it.  Barry Gordon, co-chair of the Landscaping Committee, stated it kills palm trees and that it has always been an extra expense, not included on the PBB contract.  The motion passed unanimously.

Sue questioned as to why it was not part of the PBB contract since it is an insect.  Linda said it is an additional treatment and Richard said it is not included in the contract.

We reviewed the contract and addenda.  There is “turf spraying” included for insects.  “Ornamental and ground cover spraying” of insects and plant destroying pests not found on the University of Florida “Exotic Pest List” is also included. None of that appears to include trees.  Then on page 7, “scale” is specifically excluded, as is Ficus White Fly and a whole host of other pests.  So, this specific insect is specifically excluded from the contract.]

Sue:  how much is left in landscaping?  Richard:  no negative balance in landscaping… this is zero based budgeting… we don’t give landscaping money; they have to spend money for a particular purpose… they’re budgeted for it, not over budget…

Sue:  I need a dollar amount; if you could respond to the question I asked, it would be appreciated.  How much is left in the landscaping budget as of today?  Richard: …I don’t have a guess… I’ll give you the number later… landscaping will not exceed the budget, I guarantee you…

Barry Gordon: [Landscaping Co-Chair] …came up 1 ½ or two years ago, another new disease, palm trees, others …if unchecked, the palm tree will die eventually… it’s never been on the contract, always an extra… Harvey:  I’d like to call the question.  Jeff:  all in favor?  6-0, unanimous.    

4   Maintenance contract with company to handle computer maintenance in the Clubhouse – Jeff

[Editor’s note: this was an add-on to the agenda.  The contract is with Computer Network Solutions known as ComNet USA.  It’s $470/quarter, and they provide services for all computers, seven work-stations, three printers, and four routers.  Jeff moved to accept the maintenance contract, Linda seconded, and it passed unanimously.]

Second Residents’ Input Session:

1.  Arnie Green:  why can’t we get the survey before the town hall meeting?  Jeff:  it’s just a survey; we don’t want people filling it out before. [Editor’s note:  that’s nonsensical.  They want to see it, that’s all.  It’s posted right now on the FirstService resident’s portal.] Arnie:  I’d like to digest it before, then ask questions at the meeting.  It’s like getting shot in the dark.

Linda:  the power point presentation is on the screen…all we’re doing is clarifying it… Arnie:  why can’t I digest it at home?... Jeff:  if you have questions, call a Board member and we’ll answer it.

[Editor’s note:  he wants to read it, think about it, make notes, and then have the town hall where he can ask questions for the benefit of himself and all residents, Jeff.  This is not a difficult concept to grasp.  And maybe he would then come up with a suggestion that might prompt the Board to reconsider and amend the questionnaire.]

Sue:  …if possible, give the residents the questions before… you don’t want to waste a lot of time… I prefer that; it reduces the number of questions and time spent… Harvey:  hard copy version… we can send that out in an email.  Deborah:  just post it on the website… Harvey:  not a problem…

Arnie:  one of the Board members made a remark that nothing gets passed at 75% and I happen to disagree; I think the ballroom got over 90% when we voted for the ballroom and so when you say that nothing gets passed at 75% to try and tell us something, which is completely wrong in my opinion, ok?  I’ll let it go at that right now. 

2.  Roberta Alter: [Editor’s note:  this resident wanted clarity on the survey; Jeff noted this has nothing to do with maintenance and repair, and only concerns new construction.  This resident also was concerned about the ballroom capacity and was not happy about what it was doing to the Entertainment Committee.]

3.  Judie Delman: [Editor’s note:  Judie’s concern is exposing elderly people to the virus by opening the clubhouse more; she also wanted to know about the FirstService Residential contract and how much we pay them.

Richard stated they get $50,000 per year for finance, accounting, monthly reports, etc., not including payroll.  Payroll, taxes, health insurance totals $377,000 for 2022 not including the $50,000.  Richard said it is included in your maintenance fee.]

4.  Vicki Roberts: [Editor’s note: Your Editor stated that the FirstService contract is available to anyone; I also stated that the survey questions are available on the FirstService resident’s portal.  I stated all Board packets are uploaded to that portal and usually available within 24 to 48 hours after every Board meeting.  I indicated it helps me if I need clarification for my synopses and that’s a service to and for the residents.

Deborah credited Susan Hersh and her staff with getting them posted so expeditiously.  Harvey noted there is an easy link to it on the HOA website.]

5.  Eileen Olitsky:  … meeting in the clubhouse… main concern is the residents… January 5^th is disturbing to me… people are traveling over the holidays… the Owl is very difficult to listen to… Zoom is very convenient, allows us to really focus on the Board members … reconsider.

[Editor’s note:  we agree with every single point Eileen made.]

6.  Lillian Astrachan:  Zoom meeting…I agree with Eileen… way more convenient, easier… summer people… not on campus can participate… Jeff:  we will consider it.

7.  Mike Blackman:  …I’m on the road… I’m disturbed it passed.  Both the Zoom and the Owl technology in your January meeting – I had a conversation with Richard Greene, other people, Jeff Green [the other one, the alleged election sign-kicker and Covid Cavorter, not the Board member] …not comfortable with that working well… as Chair of the CIT Committee I sent that back to you; not one of you came back to me… I think you’re going in the wrong direction… Arnie also agrees… it was unanimous.

Richard:  Jeff Green [the other one, the alleged election sign-kicker and Covid Cavorter, not the Board member] for the pickleball meeting said it was very effective…

[Editor’s note:  your Editor was on the Zoom for the pickleball meeting; the visual was ok; audio, not so much; it was difficult sometimes depending on where the person speaking was sitting or standing and where he or she was facing.  When the individuals were facing the audience, it was harder to hear them on the Zoom. 

Also, are you going to have a monitor at the resident input podium?  How would that work?  And a monitor for each Board member?  It’s cumbersome.] 

Sue:  is it possible, comments just made, especially by the experts… defer, and have the Zoom in January.  Reconsider and revote… unanimous consent, I hate, and second, it’s not a public meeting.

[Editor’s note:  there is no unanimous consent allowed; see our dedicated page called Unanimous Consent under our HOA Issues page for the discussion and statutory authority for our report.]

Sue:  motion to defer, stay on Zoom for the January 5^th meeting and see how the statistics go considering the technological issues involved.  Linda:  Second.

Jeff:  in house meeting for the survey, should include that.  Sue:  to have two additional meetings would be overload; combine it.  Harvey:  you have to make a motion to defer going back to in-person meetings.  Jeff:  not set a date to start in the ballroom… Harvey:  motion to rescind… Sue: that was my motion.  Bob:  I agree with Sue.  Should we do this in Round Table Discussion? Sue:  I stand corrected.

8.  Anita Goodman: [Editor’s note:  this resident wanted to know if the payment to FirstService included all employees; Richard stated if we needed a new employee we would be over budget and if we lose one, we would be under budget. 

The resident then asked if instead of hiring there could be volunteers from the community and the answer was no; Deborah stated we lost Cicely who was full time and hired Darlene who is part time; Richard stated that for January we will be below budget.]

9.  Roberta Alter:  is the informational meeting on Zoom also?  Jeff:  we just said, we’ll make the motion to take that off as well.  Roberta:  why don’t you do that outside?  Harvey:  you can’t present the power point outside.  It’s best that we have one Zoom meeting.  Roberta:  other communities, not as many employees, Jeff, my phone call with you yesterday.

10.  Howie Feuer:  I agree with Zoom… Gate Key, results how it’s working, problems, and have all the guards been trained… we’ve had some problems with it… have you addressed some of the problems… Deborah:  gate down this morning; other than that, the system is working fine.  The transponder and readers issue, working on.  The guards, with each new guard, they have to learn; there’s a learning curve.

Howie:  people on our list, given a different tie… one got a thirty-day pass, one had to wait a half hour before they could get in… Harvey:  document it and give it to the office… training for the residents, CIT Committee… reaching out to people… more educational sessions…

11.  Eileen Olitsky: I’ve had some problems with Gate Key… getting notices of people coming in, and they’re not here… three times already… Deborah:  let us know the time, date, who it is… the person’s name… going forward…

Round Table Discussion:

Sue:  motion to rescind the previous past motion regarding holding the January 5^th Board and informational survey meetings to Zoom meetings only.  Linda:  Second.  Harvey:  I will input the link on the website to the survey itself… continue Zoom only until further notice…

Sue:  further Board meetings, until further notice.  The manner in which future meetings will be held will be determined by the Board and properly noticed.  Linda:  second.  Deborah:  one or two Zoom [for the town hall]?  Jeff:  one.  Linda, 3pm or 7pm?  Linda:  7pm at night.

Harvey:  can we simplify that and just say, motion to rescind the vote to hold Board meetings in person in the ballroom and continue Zoom meetings until further notice.  Bob:  yeah.  Sue:  that’s fine with me, Harvey, if you can send that to Bob [Bob is indicating a thumb’s up], the exact wording that you used so that he has it.  Jeff:  that’s fine.

Harvey: [joking] you couldn’t write that down, Bob?  Bob:  ha ha ha, you talk too fast, at least I can try.  Sue:  he’s writing down too much; the least we can do is send him the stuff.  Harvey:  it’ll be on the record -- it’s recorded anyway.  Bob:  yeah, that’s right; I’ll go through the recording. 

Jeff:  …all in favor?  5-0-1.  [Richard abstained.]

[Editor’s note:  and that was the end of the Owl for now, but it was a “wise” decision.]

Sue:  wish everyone a happy and healthy new year and Mike Blackman a good year, more healthy year…

Linda:  there’s a rumor going around that we don’t enforce rules, eating and drinking at the pool.  Will put on the agenda to discuss rules and regulations and determine how we have to enforce the rules… health and happy… enjoy.

Richard:  happy new year…

Bob:  happy holidays, happy new year, Christmas, whatever’s coming up, better things for next year.

Harvey:  FirstService link that Vicki mentioned is under Community Links and I will send that to Deb with a cover letter and post the link… and on January 5^th I will then send the link with the cover letter to the Jot form… Merry Christmas if you celebrate, happy new year, Kwanza, Festivus for the rest of us.

Jeff:  happy holidays… thank you to Arnie and Anita… Mike… we all appreciate.  Motion to adjourn.  Linda.  Second:  Sue. All in favor?  Unanimous.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.  [adjourned at 11:20am]

Bob:  Phew!!  Oooph!!

[Editor’s note:  Bob is discovering that being Secretary is hard work.  He’ll probably never think of a secretary the same way again, and that’s a good thing.  Maybe he’s even starting to enjoy it!  Bob, would you like us to order a custom t-shirt for you?]

[Editor’s note:  A big shout-out to Zoom operator Arnie Green and, as backup if needed, Anita Goodman, for doing a great job administering the Zoom meeting.  We thank them for their continued service and volunteerism.]

And so concludes the Board meeting of December 15, 2021; next meeting: January 5, 2022 at 9:30am. 

Thought for the Day:

On your special day, it’s nice when your significant other gives you two presents instead on one!

Special Reminders:

1.  Don’t forget to join the community on the Cascade Lakes Boynton Beach Facebook Page, a place where you can interact and communicate!  Click here:

Cascade Lakes Boynton Beach

2.  Let’s congratulate our December Resident of the Month!  Click here:

Resident of the Month

Cheerio until next time!  

Your faithful scribe,

Vicki Roberts