"We also don't know if there will be an access to Lowes from West Street - what impact will that have on being able to get into the complex?"
I am somewhat leary about this prospect. I have a gut feeling that this could occur, of course it makes no sense considering all the prior construction that was done with Rte. 94 to eleviate this very same scenario. But, if there is $$$ to be had, you might as well throw common sense out the window. I will be asking about this tomorrow evening. Happy New Year everyone!
Has anyone seen the amount of destruction the snow removal company has done.
I walked the complex today and counted exactle 117 parking blocks that are either on top of snow banks, in the middle of the grass or broken in half.
I have counted 4 tipped street signs and 3 completely broken ones.
I have counted 42 LARGE areas of grass ripped to shreds and from the little look I have taken the 4 wheeler that they are using to plow is being drive by a stunt driver that likes to do burn outs all over the place.
Who is paying for all this?
I asked a landscaper friend that works out of Northern New Jersey to come drive our development. He said that he would charge $20,000 to fix the grass damage, $5,000 to put all the parking blocks back in place, $2,500 to fix the tipped signage and countless amount of dollars to fix the skid marks all over the place.
Happy New Years fellow Whispering Hills residents and I'm really happy this blog is here. Its nice to see what my nieghbors feel about our community. I for one will start to get involved in community affairs.
Can someone post the information on the town meeting tonight? I think it is important that at least a portion of us attend.
I also want to comment on the landscaping company, seems to be the biggest issue here. It is a serious conflict of interest that we have the landscaping company who mows and does landscaping maintenance, also plowing our complex. Who's to say they don't rip the premises up in order to come back in the spring and charge us for the damage. At least if there were different companies performing separate duties, each will be accountable for their own actions.
If there is one thing they need to correct here, it would be the landscaping issue. As it stands we are paying 10's of thousands of dollars for negligence that we can be putting toward things like security and upgrades. Next time they say they don't have money for something this point should defiantly be brought up.
I hope someone is listening, this is a serious, costly problem.
They wouldn't rip the place up with the 4 wheeler if they maintained the sidewalk during the storms. I don't know why they don't, they use to. Is it really saving us money if they are doing all this damage?
"I received a Public Hearing Notice last week. I'm sure (I hope) that many of you are in receipt of this letter as well. The meeting is scheduled for 1/2/08 @ 7:30 pm, and will be held at the Chester Town Hall, Kings Highway." I was planning on attending, but I left early from work sick. Hope it is well attended by WH residents.
So the way they are making it sound is that the road WILL pass through our complex. WE NEED TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS!!!!! If I have to stand chained up to a tree I will!! It is disgusting and an absolute travesty!
WHAT THE HELL IS THE BOARD DOING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING?
You people have gone far enough(board), it's time to step up to the plate and put your money where your mouth is. It is your obligation as representatives of our complex to STOP this from happening. How many of you went to the meeting on Wednesday? What are your plans? Do you have one?
Be prepared on the 17th to be inundated by questions like you have never before. "NO" will not suffice, we need answers now! The landscaping issues are nothing compared to this. You people living on the main road, say by, by to the quite atmosphere. This will open a horrific gateway that will do nothing but add more hardship to the complex.
Absolutely incredible article under the news section. I am saddened that this is what this complex has become. The double road idea is completely moronic and the person that suggested it should be lynched.
FACT!
People across the board will be compensated in some fashion if this proposal goes through. There will be payoffs like you wouldn't believe. Trust me, I was in the business for 23 years, nothing is done honestly when it comes to building.
We are too big for this type of road, I would like to see the studies done on the area confirming that this will ultimately damage the entire ecosystem, not to mention the quiet Whispering Hills community.
Leave us alone! Why should we suffer for negligence on the developers behalf. He bought the property, we didn't. If the guy has half a brain he knew before hand that this problem existed! Lock him out, they can't force us to agree to this, there is procedure that needs to be followed. Educate your friends here and make everyone aware of the situation.
HOA,
When were you going to let us in on this road proposal? When the trucks start rolling tons of dirt through here? How about the board, are you representing the opposition or residents? Where do you stand on the issue?
It's a sad day folks. Attend the board meeting on the 17th and let these people know where they can shove their road!
Wake up people this is going to impact our net worth. When the price of your house declines 20%, how are we going to be compensated from the developer? Did they do a study on how it will affect the price of our homes or just traffic flow?
Can the blog set up a petition to oppose the road? If we get all residents to sign something before the next meeting in March, we can have some solid ground to stand on.
Access to thru Whispering Hills has always been on the master plan. When Klar built this place it was on the master plan. Why do you think the roads just come to an end by Apple and Peach? Members of the boards have nothing to do with town planning give them a break; it's your own stupitidy for buying in a condo development without knowing the facts. They have been there from day one. (Klar)
I agree with you 100 percent that this is not good for Whispering Hills and now is the time for all of us to voice our opinions at the Town Board hearing not at an WHOA meeting. Venting at them will do you no good they had nothing to do with it. Do your homework before you complain.
I would love to know where you came up with your speculative information! If that was the case, there wouldn't be controversy surrounding the project, it would be a done deal.
Even if if it were true, was current expansion factored into the equasion. You're talking about 20 years ago partner. Unfortunatly since then we have seen a significant increase in both population and growth. The so called "initial master plan" has absoultly nothing to do with Chester 2008. Yes, HOA does need to get involved. Yes, it is their duties to protect the integrity of the complex. Yes, they will about it.
I've lived here for 16 years, what you are saying is hogwash. The road ends because someone owned the adjacent property. That's the facts!
It's not our problem, it's on the owner who bought the lot. We need some people with a backbone representing us, not a scared dog with it's tail between it's legs.
Board members and management, It's time to step up to the plate! Weather you like it or not, this is on your shoulders.
The silence in respect to anyone (including Board members) attending the Town meeting this past Wednesday is deafening!!! As I had stated in an earlier post, I was all set to attend till an illness made me leave work early and to dash my plans to attend. Like politicians, developers count on, and thrive upon apathy and ignorance from the general public. Yes, we are all busy trying to bang out a living and keep up with never ending onslaught of cost of living increases, BUT that said this is a very serious issue that will dramatically, and negatively impact ALL of us! I am 100% in favor of the aformentioned suggestion of circulating a petition throughtout our community. I mean after all, we are the BIGGEST community in Chester and have in our possession a STRONG voting block. It all depends on people not being complacent, step off the rat race treadmill for a sec and get involved in any small manner. Every little bit helps in the big picture!
Defining is putting it nicely, more like unqualified and scared. Mr. or Ms. "your wrong" needs to post under their real name because your post is completely transparent. FYI, It's all of our responsibility to address the road proposal and ESPECIALLY WH management and board members. This does effect the integrity of the complex for God sakes and your attitude STINKS!
What is the management doing to discourage the road way? Correct me if I'm wrong but the board DOES communicate with management. The message needs to be sent loud and clear and if it takes a petition, then so be it.
I would suggest HOA inform ALL residents next time they send out their cushy little monthly letter. Let us know this is happening here and what your doing to oppose or encourage the road project. Give us ample amount of time to confront this issue. If you don't, I'm sure just like I received a flyer from this blog, someone will. It would be beneficial to Management to act first, if they are complacent on the matter, if you think the tension is bad now, wait.
If there is no action from Whispering Hills, I will personally take a full page advertisement opposing the road. I will also expose the fact that residents are acting alone on the issue with no help from management or board.
Get the hell off your high horse, start speaking or we will! We need to be informed.
I agree! We need to be, and must be informed every step of the way by our Board!!!!!!!! What other purpose do you serve but to REPRESENT US, AND TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS??? Who give's a rat's ass about bowling night for singles when the over-all health of our community is being overlooked. An oversight perhaps? I think not!!! Make the newsletter just that, a NEWSLETTER! Balance it out with issues and fluff.........
Neighbors, we need to show a united front in opposition of the planned road. Concerns about traffic and safety because of the location not to mention having only one entrance/exit.
I think the Chester and Whispering Hills needs to learn how to conduct business in an open and transparent fashion.
This is our complex, we need to stand up to big money. We need to take control of this situation and speak as one. If there is one thing we can all agree on, this road proposal is a terrible idea.
Have they considered where all the heavy traffic is going to go while Chester rips apart WH drive? There is only one route, straight through the centrer of our complex.
If ever there was a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted then this is it. Arranging to draw up our area development plan after the problems arise rather than have a plan in place to avoid them in the first place is a sign of very poor management. It should be obvious to the powers that be that this is a very bad idea and they need to stop it before it starts.
No matter how you slice and dice it, this road will have absolutely no benefit to the Whispering Hills community.
I have $100 bucks a child get hit by a speeding (passing through) car within 12 months of the road opening.
I have an additional $100 bucks that the police give out 1 speeding ticket per day totaling 356 speeding tickets per year.
I have one more $100 bill that says our crime rate multiplies by 5 because not it's not only easy access for emergency vehicles, residents, and potential emergencies, it's an escape route for criminals.
The only way this will go through is if there is something to gain on the back end. Think of our families and the amount of people here. We cannot let this road be built. A petition is a fabulous idea. Stop them in their tracks!!!!! NO BUILDING HERE, we don't want your road! We are a quiet community, let's keep it that way.
And someone in here previously posted they love the growth and building and destruction of all the greenery, just so that he's home value goes up. Where are thou oh wise one?
Remembers folks, board meeting January 17th. Should be interesting to see the turnout after the recent controversy. For whoever said hoa isn't responable for the road they want to build here is the one that should be shot. These people are here to represent us, they should be the first to defend the complex. It will be brought up, I would advise the entire board to be prepared to supply answers.
Why does the HOA need our social security numbers on the information sheets we fill out yearly? Even on my job for the State of NY personnel records in the computers only show the last four digits of a persons social security number. The Big Bopper wants to the know!
Why are the parking spots in the lots so tight. If you have a SUV you need to take two spots! Was this some gimmick to get more spots when the lots were repaved?
Hills of Chester, and its problematic through road, begins hearings By Edie Johnson
Chester — The long clash over a through-road crossing the Chester-Goshen border continued at a public hearing Wednesday night. On one side of the debate are the many practical advantages of having connecting roads; on the other, the desire of residents to preserve the privacy and safety of their neighborhoods.
The developer of the proposed Hills of Chester has proposed a cut-through to the Hills of Goshen. Although the Hills of Chester will have only 24 houses, it borders the massive condominium complex of Whispering Hills.
Long established as a kind of city unto itself, Whispering Hills has clubhouses, pools, and tennis courts, as well as its own subculture. Many parents in the complex are frightened at the prospect of a through-road that would allow upward of 700 vehicles to travel from Route 94 through their community, and its parks and playgrounds, to Arcadia Road.
Goshen has heard the same complaints from residents at the other end of the road, and so decided to limit incursions to “emergency vehicles and school buses only.” But, to date, there is no convincing plan for enforcing this restriction.
In general, planners consider it vital to have at least two access roads for any large development. Wednesday night’s public hearing on the subject brought up as many questions as answers.
Some Whispering Hills residents wanted to know: if Goshen can refuse access, why can’t Chester do the same?
Meanwhile, Orange County planners say “connectivity” between neighborhoods should be the highest priority but admit they cannot force either town to take action.
Confusing the issue, part of Whispering Hills is in the Village of Chester, part is in the Town of Chester, and part is in the Town of Goshen. This creates a grab-bag for apportioning out emergency services, school routes, road repairs, and snow plowing.
After some discussion over the proper name of the main access road off Route 94, several Whispering Hills contended there are actually two roads — one a road and one a lane. The one to the right, which the builder plans to use as his main access, passes the clubhouse and pool, and is privately owned.
“Putting the road there will put you right through our pool, and it is owned by the condominium complex,” said one resident, who said he is on the Whipering Hills board.
The lawyer representing the Hills of Chester promised not to go through the pool. This raises the question of whether the builder has a legal access road.
The only other alternative, where the entry road bears to the left and then past a kiddie park, is believed to be a village-owned road.
“What will you do to compensate us if we have to move our park?” asked a mother from Whispering Hills.
To make matters worse, village officials present at the meeting said they were amazed they had never heard of the project or been given the opportunity to give their input.
Planning Board Chair Ray Johanson assured the village its input would be welcome.
Ted Talmadge, a farmer on the other side of Route 17M, questioned the drainage pattern created by all three of these subdivisions.
“For years, developments have been adding water to the creek that goes along 17M,” he said. “They are pulling more and more water into our stream, and it just can’t handle any more.”
Talmadge said that if he should decide to subdivide his farm in the future, further saturation of that portion of his land might render it unbuildable. He said the project’s engineer excavated ditches along the upper portion of the property in order to get acceptable water tests. “I hope that when these ditches fill in you will still have water for houses on the high side,” he said.
Because of the many unsolved issues connected with the project, especially the legality of the main access road, the public hearing will be held open until the first Wednesday of March.
[Editor’s note: An editor’s error resulted in an old story on the Hills of Chester being reprinted in last week’s edition. The Chronicle apologizes for any confusion the reprint may have caused.] January 04, 2008"
...............now I am really confused and/or alarmed! If this road project were to come to fruition, is it going to incorporate Whispering Hills in it's present state, or will it modify to accomodate the aforementioned plans? Or is it the worse case secenario as hinted in the chronicle? That being another road entirely??????? Where the hell would that go, and who is/was the genius that spawned that idea??????? HOA MEETING THIS THURSDAY, 1/17.......LET'S SHOW UP IN FORCE PEOPLE, AND PUT THE BOARD MEMBER'S FEET TO THE COALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry to be absent for so long, but I have had limited time and computer access during business has been restricted.
I am thrilled to see so many people accessing this site - all of these comments and contributions are amazing - although I must say that the subject matter is most distressing.
This road issue is MAJOR. There are so many unanswered questions and the lack of a single word from the Board is simply unnerving. I also find it very curious that the HOA meeting is on Thursday and we have yet to receive a single scrap of paper regarding the meeting or an agenda.
We need answers so that the residents of this community can make a decision. Not the Board, the RESIDENTS. This is our complex, this represents our investments and yes, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
People with families live here. How many units have windows and doors that face Whispering Hills Drive? How many people have children that play outside to which and all of this potential traffic poses a serious risk?
Since the people that are supposed to represent our interests have been silent on the subject, we sadly have no answers except what we can decipher from the media. And unfortunately all that has done is pose more unanswered questions and put the residents of WH into a panic for fear that this situation is beyond their control.
I implore every resident, and everyone who reads this site to go tho the HOA meeting. Don't let this issue slip by without your imput.
If we sit idly by and do nothing, we will be left with nothing. Doesn't it appear odd that Goshen has basically said "NFW" (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean by that)and we may be left to have to live with THEIR decision - possible because our reputation for complacency has preceeded us?
"Why does the HOA need our social security numbers on the information sheets we fill out yearly?" They don't need your SS#, and you don't have to give it to them. I strongly suggest that you don't give it to them. When we closed on our unit, I saw that on the parking form we had to fill out and I refused to provide that number. Our attorney agreed that he saw no reason for it either. Guard that number with all you can- in this day and age once your SS# is compromised, you're basically screwed. Good call Bopper- and an excellent point to bring out.
"Why are the parking spots in the lots so tight. If you have a SUV you need to take two spots! Was this some gimmick to get more spots when the lots were repaved?" Bear in mind a couple of things with this scenario. WH was built in 1986 or so. How many people were driving SUV's? Also, most zoning requires a certain number of parking spaces per residence and there is a "standard" for parking space dimensions. It probably was not set up with any ill-intent, it is that times have changed, vehicles are larger and like most things, the average size of parking spaces has not caught up with what is needed in this day and age. Oh, and not for nothing, but what the hell are you driving? I see plenty of pick up trucks and SUV's parked around here and they do fit into 1 spot, although it is very, very tight.
Sorry . . . but the parking space size issue relates directly to the "gimmick to get more spots ". Years ago in Condo I, many areas were not even marked. Somehow, everyone managed to remain neighborly, parking in a civilized manner. But when there were considerable driveway parking issues/violation about 10 years ago, someone made the decision to "take the high road", instead of just enforcing the parking rules consistently. More spaces were added, but the problem ensued when a non-expert sized all the spaces to a Ford Escort---and failed provide for the fact that you really had to OPEN the doors to enter and exit. Complaints were ignored; and over the years, the lines were simply retraced with each re-paint.
And then the parents block the streets in thier autos waiting to pick them up to drive them 300 feet to the house! When coming home from work i try to beat the 3:30 PM hold-up!
95% of our residents who voted on the Hills of Chester proposed road poll, were against the new road. An on-line petition will commence following the Whispering Hills condo meeting on January 17, 2008 opposing the idea.
Have suggestions of what should be stated in the petition? Please post your thoughts under the “Opinion & Comment” section of WHB.
Keep to the issue at hand and that would be the HOA meeting. Who cares about that woman, she has nothing to do with the matters that need to be addressed tomorrow. Why bring that up again? What significance does it have over serious topics that need to be handled? How are you going to contribute at the meeting tomorrow anonymous?
Yes, the meeting is in Clubhouse II (The one where the office is).
I think we should wait and see what comes of the road issue at the meeting. Not expecting much, but we will have a better understanding of the Board's intentions (or not) with regard to how they intend to represent our community. That will be the best basis for out petition. I say we start on line, and if need be, I am again prepared to hit the pavement and go door to door if necessary so we don't get left without any recourse against Goshen and this developer who apparently didn't take the necessary steps to properly execute his plan for a community. His short sightedness should not be our problem.
I agree about the school bus issue. There's one that comes down the driveway at 7:30, honks, makes a u-turn (all the while the bus is beeping), picks up one student, drives 12 feet further, picks up another student and proceeds like this through thje complex. I have no aversion to safe passage for these students, but it does seem a bit excessive.
Hope to be able to see as many people as pooible at this meeting - please come - even if you're late- your presence does make a difference!!!
I agree..........."THE ROAD" is priority #I, but I feel that the issue of a Board member being investigated hopefully will be address this evening as well. Let's see how things play out tonight! I did inquire how this woman was elected to the board w/o any official ballots being tallied......the response was "NO COMMENT"!!! I told them I was not with the TH-Record but a concerned community member that ALWAYS VOTES!! To that response I repond: "BS!!!!!!"
Arrogant. Contradictory. Self Important. Just a few word that leap to mind.
I am at a loss that a single even can be both enlightening and a waste of time.
Out of 690 units, perhap 30 people showed up. That's less than 4%. 4%????? No wonder things are the way they are.
I must say, reading prior posts that go back over a year where people have written about what a, well, "load of crap" that gets handed to you at an open HOA meeting, I can now see why people get frustratred disgusted and ultimately discouraged.
I don't know what was more irritating. Board members wanting to speak so badly that residents couldn't get a word in edge-wise and others who were there for no other reason but to contribute idiotic snide remarks or residents there interuupting other residents in a pathetic attempt to defend the Board (specifically the moron woman sitting in front of me who kept interuupting me while I was trying to speak).
Right now, at this early hour, I have this to say:
Who gives a damn how long I have lived here (or anyone else for that matter)? I showed up at the meeting - which is more than you can say for the 96% of the rest of the residents of this complex. Being a Real Estate professional for over 20 years and working on all different aspects of property management, I do know what I am talking about and have EVERY RIGHT to voice my concerns. Further, to those of you who bought in 10+ years ago: It's residents like myself who recently bought in and paid CURRENT MARKET VALUE for my home have CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY to the current value of YOUR home. Think about that before you attemp to devalue somone's opinion because they "haven't lived here that long" and try to use that as a reason to devalue my opinion or concern. You have SOME nerve.
I'm also at a loss how a all the complaints against services in the complex were basically responded to with "we have no control over that". How can you, the paying owner of a property be in such a subserviant position? How can WH, being the size they are be in a position to just have to "deal" with contrators who do not provide services as expected, simply because we are desperate for a contractor who can handle a complex this size?
The nice woman behind me just wanted the trash company to stop showing up at 3AM. That's all, nothing crazy. She works hard, long hours and simply wants a good night sleep. Her issue was responded with "we can't control that". How is that so? Why is that, in a residential neighborhood, where the HOA has negotiated a contract with a private hauling company, terms such as "do not show up before 6AM" cannot be enforced? I really can't believe that was the response to her issue.
Do you think she'll attend another meeting? Or perhaps she just hasn't lived here long enough for her opinion to count.
Very nice letter. I can tell you why some answers are "we can not control that" comes from.
Can the Board control who throws out trash over night by our dumpsters? Can the board stop you from breaking basic Whispering Hills rules?
Can you control the utility company, can you tell a buyer when to buy. Can you stop a buyer from backing out. Can you control how many people show up for meetings etc.
Can the boards control the quality of work in here. Then that is yes. Can they control the companies they hire that's questionable especially with the garbage companies. I'm just greatful that they get the garbage out of here. Orange County is a green county and the residents of Whispering Hills don't even go by county rules let alone Whispering Hills rules. We could be fined $1,000.00per week per garbage bin. How would you like that?
I agree with you about new buyers and people who have lived here ten years. Yes it's the new buyers that make the old buyers look good. And then we have the case of new buyers defaulting. Can the board control that?
Arrogant. Self Important. Funny that you use these words. That is what I was thinking about your behavior at last nights meeting and from reading you blog entries.
Is it that if someone does not agree with your point of view they are morons?
I would bet the reason you were asked how long you lived here is to show the huge amount of progress that has been made. You may not care about that but the people who have lived here for some time do. They are appreciative of the work of the volunteer board.
Are things perfect, nope. Could certain areas be improved, absolutely! But what is the point of repeatidly attacking the residents who volunteer their time to help? They are at least the part of the 4% that show up. And continue to show up even though they are constantly yelled at, threatened (yes, it has happened), slandered, etc.
I did not realize that being in real estate automatically meant you knew how to run a Condo complex. But, yes you do have every right to voice your concerns but your delivery lacks much to be desired.
Question to you, before you bought your home and "CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY to the current value of my home" did you grill the office and/or board about the tennis court, supervision of the landscaping, the parking situation, if a feasibility study was done regarding a management company, etc.? Maybe if you did a little upfront homework you wouldn't have moved here and been so unhappy.
At least I have the nerve to post my name to my comments, and I have the courage to speak my mind and stand up for myself. I am confident – not arrogant. There was nothing in last night’s exchange that put me in an arrogant category. There was nothing to be arrogant about.
For your information, “Better than it used to be” is not acceptable. I could care less how it used to be, and for the money I pay to live here, I am concerned with the here and now -not how the complex was managed under the sponsor. Not how poor the landscaper was and gets better and better every year (hmmm – perhaps because they get more money??). Just because services were mismanaged horribly in the past and aren’t so bad now doesn’t mean they cannot be questioned or scrutinized.
Sorry if your didn’t like my delivery, however, you try talking from the back of the room when some rude person is sitting in front of you trying to talk over you and defend the Board and answer my question or address my concern. I wasn’t there to talk to other residents - I was there to address my concerns to the Board. I also don’t like being cut off by a double talking Board member who feels he can anticipate my questions and placate me with some nonsensical answer, or make snide remarks. Oh and no, I do not consider people who disagree with me morons. I consider someone who has nothing useful to impart, isn’t on the Board and repeatedly interrupts me a moron.
You don’t have any idea of my past dealings with the Board. Simple maintenance requests for a common area repair resulted in a run in with one very nasty and arrogant Board Member. A complaint letter to the Board President about the issue went unanswered. Misinformation at a Condo III meeting regarding a huge expenditure went uncorrected until the issue was brought up last night (and credit is due to the President for being forthright and apologetic about it). A request to review financials and minutes took 6 weeks to get a response. Being a resident, you can’t get answers. Do you seriously believe that someone who doesn’t yet live here would be responded to in a more expeditious manner? I highly doubt it. I’ve done my research to live here and there is simply no way to gather every fact, examine every scenario unless you already live here and live with it.
For the record, I am not unhappy here. I think it’s a nice complex and the units have the potential to maintain their value if not continue to grow. However, I am concerned – as are many other neighbors with whom I converse. I see a lot of things that are done on a maintenance level (and a lot that is not done) that I question. Oh yes, and I have the right to do so - I do pay my proportionate share – every month without fail and on time. I have been in property management for over 20 years. I have managed commercial, retail AND residential facilities. It’s not difficult to tell when someone is giving you a BS answer.
As far as the “4% of the residents there to help” if you are referring to the Board, they HAVE to be there- it was an open HOA meeting, planned a year in advance (please note that the Treasurer was not in attendance, but apparently on vacation). No one asked them to run for the Board. They took it upon themselves. And sadly, by doing so, they expose themselves to the ire and frustration of residents who feel they are being kept in the dark. That comes with the territory. They seemed to do just fine defending themselves and their positions – without your help – whoever you are.
And to the other person who wrote about control – you are correct – I agree with much of what you say – there is much out of our control, but there is much that is within our control. A simple request from someone who just wants to sleep not be awoken at 3AM shouldn’t be dismissed. Did you notice that no one on that Board offered to contact the carting company and see if they can enforce the time of the pick up? I would think that was all she wanted done. That type of non-reactive response seemed to be the theme of the evening.
Last night’s meeting was very alarming. Total disorganization, I especially liked it when the board member who strolled in late stated that it was snowing out. He was ready to adjourn the meeting 30 min into it. I also found it completely disgusting on how pompous these morons are. Yes, I said it, morons!! Especially condo 4 president, Mr. Calloway, who in particular danced around every question asked while chewing on his dinner. Mr. Calloway gave a 5 paragraph introduction that had absolutely nothing to do with the questions that were asked. Quite frankly, they don't know their facts and everything that was elaborated on was contradicted at some point or another during the meeting. There are so many disturbing points that must be addressed that I can sit here all day typing and it still wouldn’t be enough time to get them all down. From the destroyed tennis court issue to the landscaping company questions that still remain unanswered, an absolute firkin disgrace. BOARD MEMBERS….WE ARE IN CONTROLL, WE ARE PAYING THESE COMPANIES!! GET A BACKBONE AND YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASSES! ANYONE WHO THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING THE WHOLE STORY LAST NIGHT IS MISINFORMED! The members running the complex are clearly not qualified to do a professional job. It’s evident in their responses to the questions that were fired at them! The rebuttal to the management company issue was cost factor and the luxury of paying fees on premises. Big deal lets pull up some of the 5 bids you guys received and bring them to a professional corporate accountant to see what is in the best interest of the complex. Let’s crunch numbers and get rid of Joan and the crew. Let’s see how much money in salaries we can chop to get the right people in here to do the job. How about all the back HOA fee’s that people owe, that was never brought up. What are they doing to recoup 10’s of thousands of back fees? That’s right, us honest, hard working people ar picking up the tab. You better believe that if we had a professional in here, they would place liens on these peoples accounts or homes. Stop throwing money at problems over and over. Figure out a strategy and do the job right the first time because there is clearly none in place.
Well said Kelly. The only people who don't like the truth are the dishonest ones. I bet the cheerleader in the middle row wrote the anonymous post! Now I hope we all see why these meetings are worthless. They will do what they want regardless of who is for or against it. It's like talking to a brick wall.
If a board member was eating during the meeting. That is all the proof I need that THAT board member could care less about the meeting. How disrespectful !!
Another board member was on vacation? Didn't the board know they were on vacation when they scheduled the meeting? Didn't the board member know there was a meeting before they booked their vacation? How disrespectful !!
A board member was doubletalking? How RUDE !
Another board member arrived late ? How disrespectful !
Someone wanted to call off the meeting early because of 1 inch of snow? How disrespectful !
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund and the Mutual Fund manager came late to an investment meeting, came eating, was doubletalking, or suggested we end the meeting early...how well would you think they were managing your money? Would you put up with it?
Please people...wake up and smell the coffee. We need a professional company who will ACT PROFESSIONAL, and treat our situation, our community, and our money PROFESSIONALLY !!!!
It's no wonder why there is so much tension here. I was not at the meeting because I'm all too familiar with the bantering that occurs. It's was like a sales pitch every time I attended a meeting. Canned responses that are in no way to the point. Everything revolves around volunteer time and the threat to quit. They may even suggest taking their job. I bet that was said a few times last night.
You guys would be doing us a big favor by quitting. The way it stands now, you are doing a disservice to our community.
I think our community looks great, it doesn't necessarily mean the internals are healthy.
By the way Mr and Ms board members, everything brought up at meetings or here on the blog are legitimate concerns, not complaints. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing, its about finding a solution. Everything is combated with a defensive posture, as if you have something to hide.
Work with the grain, not against it! I can't stand people who like to hear themselves speak, thats exactly what was occurring last evening. I agree Calloway set a new low for professionalism and the president of WH should be ashamed these people are representing our community.
AWhy were they so concerned about questioning validity of the resident that is also an employee of WH. As soon as it was brought up, it was met with an offensive response. We ask the questions, you supply the answers, thats how it works!
WHY ARE WE THE ONLY CONDO (IV) THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEETINGS SET?!?!?!?! WHAT INCOMPETENCE.........HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LOSER THAT IS ON OUR BOARD THAT HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE OC GRAND JURY FOR KIDNAPPING? WHAT A LOSER AND WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
I do not know if I am doing this correctly but here goes. My name is George I have not lived here very long but like the community and just heard about this Blog. Are you folks really as crazy as you appear bad mouthing the community you invested in? I have only spoken to the office twice and a couple of Board members at a meeting and they appear hard working and knowledgeable. In fact they seem brilliant next to the folks writing here. The buzz and big bopper, give me a break are you people really owners or just teenagers pulling a gag?
oh lord there are so many drama queens. if you listen to half the people here, you would think they're building a 10 lane 75MPH interstate highway through WH.
Im for the road. It would be nice to get to goshen without having to go all the way around.
Go re-read the blog. It's obvious you haven't read anything because the concerns posted here are not only valid...they are scary valid.
Just because someone is nice does not mean they are qualified to manage 2 million dollars a year.
George have you looked at the damage the snow crew has made? George have you looked at the new dumpster surrounds that are ruined? George would you be concerned if your common charges went up $140 bucks in the past 5 years? Hey George...what would you say if you moved in to Whipering Hills and 3 weeks after you moved in you received an assessment (bill) for $600 bucks to pay for the lawsuit against the old landscaping company AND then found out it was the same landscaping company with a new company name?
George...do you know we had the pool almost removed and repaired (same pool) 2 years in a row? hey George did you know that a resident AND a board member gets paid to do contract work in the community? Wouldn't you like to know he is doing the best work for the best price? Did you know this same person cut cable lines in the ground to an entire building? Wouldn't you like to know who paid to fix this? Hey George this is OUR community we have a right to know the answers to these questions. If you think we don't then you are gravely wrong and I hope that your roof doesn't fly off or your tires get punctured with roofing nails or the landscapers don't cut down your bushes. And if they do...maybe then you will care about the direction your community is going.
Don't be so naive George. Educate yourself before speaking. It's obvious that you are clueless.
Bopper...
Who cares where you work? Stating that you work for a NYS police agency could mean you work for a soup kitchen. You need to stay on topic. When you are on topic you are great but then you go off on tangents and all of your previous posts are worthless. Stay with us man we need you.
No drama queens here. If you are for the road, so be it. Doesn't mean everyone else has to be.
Only stated where I work cause I don't like being referred to as a teenager. And I think YOU work in a soup kitchen slicing cold cuts. I am 1000% percent against a Whispering Hills Road being made a through road. Just imagine what Sunday afternoons in the summers will be like in here. Last month I was the one who posted against any more future growth in Chester and was knocked down for "real estate" value's going up. Well I don't want my real estate to go up, as well as my stress and worry that some animal will break into my home and I would have to use deadly force to cancel his Christmas.
Dear George the "clueless one", As stated in a prior post, you need to go read prior entries before you go running your misinformed mouth about folks posting here! It is not that we are bad-mouthing the community that we dwell in, just the management of it or should I say the mismanagement.......you need to wake up, or perhaps you will be awaken in the middle of the night when there is a much heavier traffic flow passing thru our community with the access road from Goshen you are in favor of! You better hope that it isen't your kid that is hit by a car just passing thru to get to Lowes!!!!! You must be kidding right Georgie ?! Hey "big bopper".........keep them posts coming!
oh lord there are so many drama queens. if you listen to half the people here, you would think they're building a 10 lane 75MPH interstate highway through WH.
Im for the road. It would be nice to get to goshen without having to go all the way around."
Drama queens????? Glad you are for the road! Poor baby has to drive all the way around.........who's the drama queen now?
Someone told me that the family that owns Sung Hing Chinese take out...their Whispering Hills Unit in the 4000 section got robbed the other week? Is there any truth to this?
Why OH Why wouldn't the board send out a notice letting people know to keep an eye out and beware?
Not to scare people but to prevent it from happening again?
I for one would like to know when a unit get's robbed. Like bopper said, if someone comes into my unit without my permission I can guarantee they are leaving....in a black plastic bag.
My neighbor told me about that robbery as well. Probably was a employee who was fired getting revenge or someone was watching them close at the restuarant while the other was on the cell phone cleaning the place out. I wish someone would come into my place, they will get a set of wings and halo one size fits all. I know one night when arriving from work at 3 in the morning a NY state police car was parked nearby in the dark, maybe had something to do with it. I'm very grateful where I live because in my section all of us look out for one another and tell each other when crimes happen and if someone strange happens by.
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The proposed road will not be Whispering Hills Drive. There are 2 areas that were mentioned as possibilites. One is Clubhouse Road, near the first pool closest to the entrance and the other is Peach, near the 4000 section. Not sure about anyone else, but this is quite a different scenario than which had been reported. The only entity that will ultimately have the power to do anything about the road will be the VILLAGE of Chester. Not the Town, and not Goshen.
The Board is against the road. I should hope so - they are supposed to represent our interests and with the exception of George and a few other lazy people who can't be bothered driving 90 extra seconds, you will be hard pressed to find anyone in favor of the road.
For now, it seems that any approvals are quite a ways away - no permits have been issued to build, and the only thing that has occurred was that the parcel of land has been purchased. As per the HOA Board.
Another thing that came about that I found most interesting is that no one seems to monitor the various contractors the HOA has agreements with. At one point, Mr. Calloway (between bites of his dinner, of course) said that the Board did spot check on the landscapers(apparently Landscaping and the related services we pay for are a big deal around here). By the time he finished his dinner, the residents we re asked to monitor the landscapers because no one from the HOA was doing it. Rather confusing - and contradictory.
I specifically asked if the landscaping was done on a "Time and Materials" basis or did we pay a flat fee for a specific scope of services. The reason I asked this (for those of you who think I'm nothing but a malcontent) was because of the fact that the snow removal company and the landscaping company are one in the same. I was concerned that the cost to repair the damage done by snow removal (torn up grass - or weeds - depending on where in the complex you live, replacement of the concrete car stops, etc.)was being buried in the money we pay to the landscaper. Well, the landscaping contract as we were told, is a flat fee for the season based on a specific scope of work. So, any extra work to repair the damages done during the winter are not being done at an EXTRA charge. As per the HOA Board.
The tennis courts near Clubhouse 1 are sinking. They are supposedly sinking because when they were built, the developer apparently didn't stabilize the ground below well enough (apparently that area was once wetlands). Cost to repair and reopen? Roughly a million dollars - so we were told. There is no repairing them, demo and rebuild is what would be necessary.
When the 4% heard that number, it was not well received. I can't say I blame them. Although I believe having tennis courts here is a nice amenity, I personally haven't used them. As a matter of fact, I see less people using the tennis courts than those who attend Board or HOA meetings (if that is possible). I would be remiss in seeing them go, but would be more upset at the amount it would cost me in assessments to have them replaced. But that's just me.
At any rate, it was agreed that when the time comes to decide what to actually do about that problem, it would be put out to vote by the residents. As per the HOA Board.
One real piece of information came about as a follow up to something that as far as I am aware, had only effected Condo III.
At the Open Cond meeting back in November, it was dislosed that $30,000 was paid to replace roofs that "blew off". I inquired why this was not handled as an insurance claim (believing all we would have to pay would be the deductible - which should have been less than $30K). I was told, that we didn't carry insurance for that type of coverage.
Needless to say, I nearly lost my mind over that one- I had visions of assessments being imposed to pay for damages done to the buildings that should be covered by a basic home owners policy. That was a potential financial liability that I was not willing to continue. It was simply unacceptable.
When I broached the matter at the HOA meeing, the Board President immediately appologized and said he had provided mis-information. He stated that it wasn't roofs that were replaced, but areas on the buildings (crickets? he called them as far as I was able to hear)were allowing wind driven rain and water to infiltrate some of the units. The $30K was spent to cover the cost to repair those items.
And as far as our insurance coverage? We are covered to repalce in kind on the buildings for damages incurred. Less our deductible per occurrance, ofd course. As per the HOA Board.
Those were some of the tidbits I thought worth sharing (for now). Some good, some bad, but we are expected to take what we are told at face value.
I encourage anyone who was there at the meeting to chime in and write up some of what you took away from the meeting that was told to you by the HOA. This could be a medium to keep tabs on what we were told and to keep them to their word.
I closing, I would like to say that I think Joan in the office is one of the few, shining assests we have here. She is always polite, helpful and informative. Anytime I have called, she has been pleasant and helpful. Those of you who want her head on a stick need to remeber that she is an employee, not a Board member. She is not in a decision making capacity - she does what is asked of her. That is her job. She is entitled to earn a lving for herself, isn't she? Don't drag her into the politics between the residents and the HOA. She has nothing to do with it.
P.S. Keep up the posts Bopper & Buzz - we need your feedback and support. Keeps the rest of us going :-)
I absoulutely love Joan. She has helped me numerous times and has gone beyond the call of duty of some occassions as well. I also have seen the abuse she takes from people and how she tries very hard to be polite to those in our society who always need to have a fight about something. Concerning the tennis courts, that entire area is always soggy and wet. I've tried taking my dog to the dog run area there and its always muddy and wet. I mainly see kids playing basketball there and since we have another basket ball court tear up the courts and make it greenlands again. Thanks to all who enjoy my posts even though I do have a warped sense of humour.
"In favor of Joan, Big- Bopper and Kelly"...........
I must admit (w/no hands tie) that all posted by the aformentioned folks are in gOOd standing in my eyes! I was quite relieved that the road issue is a mute point @ this time. This does not mean that we should rest, on the contrary we should keep this situation luminated at full throttle........... What a shame that ONLY 25-30 community members found the meeting on 1/17 worthy of their attendance! NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY who was not in attendance has any voice in chastising us who were! Got a problem with out united voice?
Well then, get off your collective asses and be there!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps, we might take your dissension seriously.
As in any situation, community, etc, etc, we have endless scenarios of promise and hope. We must be proactive if we are to see this "vision" come to fruition! Peace Out...........
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Anyone interested in The Hills and related access road - The Hills of Chester.........off Route 94, approx 24 homes (reduced from 200) - Background: The Planning Board objects to only access through Whispering Hills. The applicant was looking to get approval from Goshen for a connecting road to Arcadia but an emergency access is all that will be allowed. Public hearing open to Feb 6, 2008 - No further details at this time.
THE PRESERVATION COLLECTIVE website, link below, offers information about Development Projects critical to our quality of life here Whispering Hills. Please visit: http://preservationcollective.com/chester_developments.html to read about The Hills, the related access road and other current relivant matters of concern. If you want to thier monthly email newsletter on "what happening?" at the town meetings, just email info@thepreservationcollective.com
Next Town Board meetings: Regular Meeting Feb 13 and Feb 26
Next Planning Board Meeting: Feb 6 at 7:30 pm Agenda not yet posted. Public Hearing announcements for Tetz Mining Application and Hills of Chester subdivision.
Whispering Hills offers residents a functional system of process which supports all aspects of community support and development, protection of our quality of life and which serves as a platform to facilitate improvements. Our HOA, Condo Boards and community of owner/residents collaborate in a participatory process of cooperation and mutual respect. The owner/resident is the voice as well as the facilitator – our HOA and Condo Board Members are owner/resident volunteers, representatives of and for our community and with the same vested interest as all of their respected neighbors.
Our Condo Board Members are positioned to respectfully assemble community input (concerns, criticisms and suggestions) to share with our HOA and in collaborative effort develop action plans and take action to make change. The community decides what is important and works cooperatively with the Condo Board and its President as well as our HOA to effectuate change.
The HOA, is largely an administrative arm responsible for coordination of community services and community business. Additionally our HOA and Condo Board Presidents are our liaisons to the larger community of our vendors, our Town, the Village and beyond.
Voted in by our owner/members our HOA and Condo Board representatives will act on what the community by and large has expressed as its will - and will follow the expressed will of the community – not that of any particular individual including its own members.
At Whispering Hills we have the good fortune of having an HOA with the combination of depth of community historical knowledge, experience working with our local municipalities and regional knowledge together with an expressed will to do the work of our community.
Our HOA and our Condo Board Members and Presidents welcome, invite and urge all WH owner/residents to join the process. Communicate your concerns. Bring action plans and suggestions as to how to tackle any of the challenges at hand. Share your expertise. Commitment your time and skills. Become a positive active force.
Thank you in advance for anything that you do for the benefit of all. CD1
It would be nice if that were the way it was, but its not.
anonymous said...
"The HOA, is largely an administrative arm responsible for coordination of community services and community business. Additionally our HOA and Condo Board Presidents are our liaisons to the larger community of our vendors, our Town, the Village and beyond."
Your kidding, right?
As of the last weeks meeting I can assure you this is not the case. Nice fluff, its a bunch of crap! Read the post from Kelly detailing the minuets. Thats exactly what is going on here! Change needs to occur starting with exploring other management opportunities. It's clear we are bigger than ever therefore we need professional to take it from here. It may have worked 10 years ago when this area was primarily farmland, it ain't working now!
What is everyone complaining about? They do the best they can with the resources they have. Considering all the time they put in is volunteer, I think they do a hell of a job.
I have lived here for 14 years, first time I've been on this site. It took me 2 days to read through the posts which were very informative. It's about time someone took a stance on residents behalf. Over the years I have seen people and ideas come and go, nothing ever sticks. Glad to see this forum has a concerned audience, I was beginning to think there was no hope in regaining the respect we (homeowners)were once given. Whoever runs this thing, keep up the good work, something good will come of it. I see a few members of the board have posted in the past. It would be uplifting to see more management participation. Will write again soon.
Whispering Hills is the product of our collective efforts. If your position is that nothing ever happens and or "they" aren’t doing enough" or "they" don’t have "our" best interests at heart or that "they" mean well but are inept, et you need to realize that you have the power to make change. One way would be to contact your Condo Board Representative ask for a list of issues that have been presented as concerns by other citizens, ask for a list of other concerns - take these and post them on the blog - become a messenger of relevant information - Balance this by working with other members of your condo group, ask them what they are concerned about, and add your own concerns.
Present this information to your Condo Board - help them by adding to the effort to get others involved in the process.
We have an opportunity to serve ourselves there are no victims here - just a community that needs to realize its obligation to itself.
The good news is that while we are deciding whether to be active or sit back and complain the HOA and Condo Boards are covering the everyday business –
With sincere thanks and best wishes to our committed volunteers
If a board member was eating during the meeting. That is all the proof I need that THAT board member could care less about the meeting. How disrespectful !!
Another board member was on vacation? Didn't the board know they were on vacation when they scheduled the meeting? Didn't the board member know there was a meeting before they booked their vacation? How disrespectful !!
A board member was doubletalking? How RUDE !
Another board member arrived late ? How disrespectful !
Someone wanted to call off the meeting early because of 1 inch of snow? How disrespectful !
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund and the Mutual Fund manager came late to an investment meeting, came eating, was doubletalking, or suggested we end the meeting early...how well would you think they were managing your money? Would you put up with it?
Please people...wake up and smell the coffee. We need a professional company who will ACT PROFESSIONAL, and treat our situation, our community, and our money PROFESSIONALLY !!!!
No, the script at the bottom of the screen is nothing more than a representation of what we have planned. The entire site is being moved to a hosting provider this spring/early summer.
member was eating during the meeting- The member was likely hungry. Someone did bring snacks (I didn’t hear anyone thank anyone so if you are out there thanks for the snacks) Why shouldn't we make ourselves comfortable??? Ever heard of a working lunch? Isn’t multitasking " all the rage?
Another board member was on vacation? The board, like any group (even paid professional group) is able to function while allowing people to be people, they eat, take vacation, go to the bathroom , suffer illness or befall unforeseen extenuating circumstances -Unreasonable?????
A board member was double-talking? How RUDE ! Questions were raised and the board member gave in depth information (including references to history that were not appreciated by all). My sense is that the speaker was trying to cover a lot of ground and in that sense might have been speaking more broadly and with less precision than some might have liked.
Another board member arrived late ? It was snowing some of us have concerns about driving and or walking on icy surfaces.
Someone wanted to call off the meeting ????? Not really and of course that didn’t happen - but concern based on the weather was voiced.
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
I don’t know how you weigh the infractions that you perceive however unimportant to the productivity of the function weighs in as a counter weight to all of the good that the board does - there is a lot of work being done all be it " adequate".
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund ........
It would be rare to actually find yourself in a room with a fund manager, unless she/he was a family member at a must attend function. Like Board Management Fund management is a team effort with various specialists in various fields managing portfolios (of funds and investments) Unlike our Board Members Fund Managers never sit in a room with "the customers" - sales reps, referred to as investment advisers do that. The managers make money off of gains, reps make money off of each trade/transaction, there are incentives and everyone on the "other side of the table" is in business to make money and is under no obligation to act as with your best interest at heart = they are of course protected by you - read the fine print " Past performance is no indication of future gains, the market has risks ,et., and you sign here indicating that you accept full responsibility if things don’t go as planned - and you are happy to pay for this ?????
A management company might be a good idea, of course we need to determine related cost, to accomplish this we need to communicate exactly what the job is, we need a board or group that will liaison on the behalf of the community to ensure that the management company does act with our best interest at heart. We need to assess our needs as a community and be able to articulate those need so as to present performance criteria and need to monitor their performance. Actually, when you think about it we should start effectuating this plan now and use our HOA and Condo Board to work through trails - the only real differences would be that we don’t have to pay them, they are actually members of the community who do care about more than just padding their pockets, they have direct experience with the community and they are willing to do the job.
Lets try this - after all this is what we are supposed to be doing anyway - right?
Whats really funny is that some in here are complaining about what happenned in the meeting from what they READ in here. Big Bopper didn't make it because Mrs Bopper had to work late and was delayed due to the snow. So I won't say anything except I wish I was there for the free snacks!
When you work for a company your evaluated on a periodic basis. I suggest that every person who works for Whispering Hills be evaluated. If there is enough complains about a person then appropiate steps should be taken.
The process should go like this every persons name and scale one to five with a write in for comments on a person. The WHOA should send an evaluation to every homeowner in Whispering Hills.
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. -Plato I don't know if a management company would be any better.
Everyone should be aware that the community is subject to hefty fines for dumping of items other than regular trash in and around our trash huts and down around the receptacles at the " circles" . It’s so typical to see the huts and general trash areas over run with bulk garbage - especially when members do their Spring-cleaning, move out or move in – that this might be mistaken for acceptable behavior.
Just for the record it’s not OK to place assorted large items and non-trash items in and around the trash huts or the trash containers at the ends of our roads.
Our Community is subject to significant fines significant because of this. This is a tremendous waste of money that can be avoided.
The community rents a roll off dumpster (I know this since last summer I had to get rid a few things) for our use in disposing of large items.
If you have large and or non-trash items to dispose of please contact the office and make arrangements to drop off into the container. If the service hours don’t work for you or you dont want to have to handle this yourself arrangements can often be made for pick up and disposal of items through our office using our landscaping company for a nominal fee. This is a real convenience when need be.
If you are cleaning or moving or replacing things and have non trash items that need to be disposed of please do the right thing.
If you see anyone using the trash hut area for non-trash items let them know how to dispose of these items without subjecting all of us to unnecessary fines that drive up our operating costs.
If you have any ideas on how ot stop this happening please share Just an FYI - CD1
The idea is to create a “Whispering Hills Community Garden” for the Spring/Summer/ early Fall growing seasons. At the tennis court area that is too costly to repair and is currently without any good use –An “Urban Style Garden” might work for us at very low start up cost and with great results. Members would participate by growing potted plants such as herbs, potted vegetables, flowers and ET. in a “grow-your-own and share the extra community garden. The existing fence would serve as a barrier to keep the deer out. We would need some basic garden style tables; a bench or two would be nice too. This would work over the existing macadam to create an enjoyable space. Members can start bulbs in pots in our homes and move our plants over to the “Whispering Hills Community Garden” for the Spring/Summer/ early Fall growing seasons.
The challenge would be to bring water access to the location. We could eventually create rainwater capture, which is a fun way to go.
In the fall we might want to invite a local grower to bring in pumpkins for sale and in winter we might be able to work with a local grower or our landscapers to bring in X mass trees, wreaths and Chanukah bushes from a local grower. (?????)
A “Whispering Hills Community Garden- Grow your own” would add another amenity to the community, would encourage community interaction inclusive of all of our generations and would be aesthetically pleasing. I think this is a great way to replace a potential negative with a positive – what do you think?
The garden idea isn't bad but I think we should divide the space into 2 sections. 1 recreational and the other for the garden idea or something. We need the courts, If they cut the project in half and put 2 tennis courts opposed to 4 it would cost 1/2 the amount to fund the project. The reason no one uses the facilities is because they are in horrible shape! If they fix the area up, I guarantee people would play. We need recreation not a growing spot. Frankly, the garden idea is for old people.
I'm new. Why does the HOA need my SSN on the contact sheet? All the legal agreements have been taken care of during escrow. I dont see the need for me to give this out.
Interesting collection of recent posts. It's refreshing to see some new people chiming in (it's not that hard to tell when someone posting anonymously is new - especially when you are well versed).
Personally, I did not relinquish my SS# to the Board. They know where I live and know my vehicle plate numbers. My attorney at the closing agreed the did not need it for their records.
So, this past Monday (Martin Luther King Day) I sat down with 2 huge binders of minutes from Condo III that were collected over the last 20 years.
The beginning sets of minutes rreally didn't offer any useful information. The bulk of their discussions seemed to revolve around patios and imposing pooper scooper violations and collecting money from the sponsor. Occassionally, an estimate from a contractor would make an appearance, but really didn't provide any insight.
The later minutes were even worse. Projects awarded to contractors and no mention of the competetive bids nor the prices for the work to be done. The roofing contract was there, apparantly prepared by an attorney, and converted to a standard AIA contract. AIA stands for American Institue of Architects, and they have contracts and invoicing forms that are accepted industry-wide (that would be Real Estate and Construction Industry).
As time went on, the meeting minutes became more and more vague, and less than nothing was able to be determined by reviewing this "information".
Just to clarify, for those of you prepared to shoot me down, I was not seeking a verbatim account of each meeting. I was however, looking for the more important elements of business that are decided upon by our Board to be at the very least, mentioned.
When work is put out to bid, who are the competing contractors? How do we know the work is even being bid or are they just awarding to a company they have dealt with in the past? The only major project mentions that an alternate bid was obtained for was the roof work. What about the paving (yet to be done) that has cause my commons charges to increase in 2008? I see that Upstate Concrete & Masonry out of Harriman is awarded the contract, and they have been working in this complex for years. The process of awarding contracts in excess of $200,00 was less than clearly indicated.
Arrears were infrequently mentioned in earlier minutes, but not one in at least the last 7 years.
Good thing nobody hangs the purchse of their unit on reviewing that pile of paper- oh yeah - if you can even get permission to review it.
Bottom line, the biggest problem is the lack of communication between the HOA and the residents. Double talking, and snide remarks (Jeff Jones' contribution to the open meeting), Board Members showing up late (the meeting was planned a year in advance - leave your job early to get there on time - I did), Board members eating their dinner (again, the meeting was planned a year in advance, have a late lunch or eat before you get there) are all signs of disrespect to the rest of us who mad arrangements, left work early, made baby sitting arrangements, or whatever it took to be able to attend the meeting. That type of behavior just ampliphies an attitude that has resulted in the animosity we now have to deal with.
It is irrelevent that they are all volunteers. It does not allow them to withold information or to act in a disrespectful manner to residents. That was supposed to be an open meeting. A place to air concerns, complaints and ask questions. Contractors were defended, and resident's concerns were dismissed. It was a joke and I can see why people who have attended those meetings in the past have given up attending. Why seek out the aggravation.
At the last open meeting of HOA a woman voiced that she is repeatedly awakened by garbage collection in the early AM. Board members expressed resistance to idea that they could/would/should do anything about it.
Board members noted that the company that we use is private and their services are contracted at a rate far under the village/town rate and added that by using this company we avoid fines that we would be subject to if the town/city officials were contracted to handle our disorganized garbage.
Regarding the initial concern of early AM noise by sanitation services, that’s a tough one. It seems that they start at one end of the complex and work their way through and around – one way or the other someone would be the first AM stop on the schedule. These services typically start in early AM so ????? Any suggestions here?????
The women also advised that she had received a notice from O&R that they would need access to the interior of her unit - board members offered that they would oversee access if she wanted to give them a key. The woman declined noting that she would prefer to be in her home when the service inspection would take place. If anyone else is contacted by O & R and would like for a member of HOA to chaperone the service call contact HOA.
You wrote: When work is put out to bid, who are the competing contractors? How do we know the work is even being bid or are they just awarding to a company they have dealt with in the past?
If we want to know we need to ask and we need to be involved early on when these projects are first being discussed if we are going to take a position in how they are managed.
Who bids and whether bid and who to ask depends on whether the project is an HOA project or a Condo I, II, III, or IV project.
If you have a particular project in mind ask HOA and your Condo board president or members.
You wrote: The only major project mentions that an alternate bid was obtained for was the roof work.
When Condo II faced roof replacement Jeff (Condo II board President) asked for help from the Condo II subcommittee (a small group of volunteers that wanted to help). Since at least two other Condo groups had already had their roofs replaced there were some lessons learned by their experience that Condo II was able to benefit from. Condo II subcommittee members did some research and put together a project description (scope of project, et.), did a discovery to identify roofing companies in the region and researched references. Bid requests were sent out with the customary bid due by format and we called to ask whether the companies planned to bid the job more than a few did. Arrangements were made for each interested bidder to visit our site to evaluate the project. Jeff met with each representative and gathered a lot of very helpful expert advise regarding use of various comparative materials and procedures. Formal bid responses came in and were evaluated and some variables were researched then a final review was made, a consensus was reached and a contractor was selected. This was a Condo II project and the Condo II Board President asked for help from the community to do the work to get the job of selecting contractor done. Community members did some of the research and support work. Jeff put a lot of time and effort in to make it happen. The outcome was very successful in terms of cost value, quality of workmanship, execution and community involvement.
What about the paving (yet to be done) that has cause my commons charges to increase in 2008? I see that Upstate Concrete & Masonry out of Harriman is awarded the contract, and they have been working in this complex for years.
Please clarify what areas does this pertain to a particular Condo group or HOA? I do not believe that this involves all driveway paving, I’ve heard in the past that the Condo II schedule has driveways a couple of years out with no clear decision as to how to fund this work as of yet and no estimates yet.
The process of awarding contracts in excess of $200,00 was less than clearly indicated.
I am not aware of a specific dollar amount that provokes any certain process course such as bidding. I am an advocate of the bid process. CD1
In my opinion, all purchasing/contractural proposals involving the HOA/individual condo boards, should be regulated by a documented WHHOA Procurement Policy. That policy should include direction appropriate to the value of each bid and retention of the documents. Most regulated companies have the bar set at $5K--that is--any proposal $5K or more requires a minimum of 3(written) bids . . . but we may want to do some "fine-tuning" on that $ level for WH purposes.
Condo II roofing project was a complete mess. Unit 2823 had a roof leak that lasted over 8 months before it was fixed.
The driveway down the 2800 block is a complete mess. Anytime it rains the water backs up and flood the garages.
The residents are never given an opportunity to be involved in the bidding process because the people in charge are padding their pockets. That is why there are no other bids on record.
We use an alternate garbage company to avoid fines? That is a complete cover up. Again, more padding going on.
Response to you wrote 2823 had a roof leak that lasted over 8 months before it was fixed. I am not on the board and am not aware - I had a roof leak once, before our roof was replaced and the cause was need for work around my chimney - it was taken care of immediately????
You wrote The driveway down the 2800 block is a complete mess. Anytime it rains the water backs up and flood the garages. This sounds like a drainage issue. Some measures have been taken to remedy these problems - replacement of the driveways is part of the plan for the not so distant future but in the interim its my understanding that these problems need to be presented to the board president who does what he can to get something done to address it.
You wrote The residents are never given an opportunity to be involved in the bidding process because the people in charge are padding their pockets. I have been involved in the bid process along with other members so I cannot agree. I am not aware of how any board member would pad their pockets - are you?
You wrote That is why there are no other bids on record. I know for a fact that there were multiple bids presented on the Condo II Roof project - they might not be part of the records of minutes that you reviewed - have you asked anyone ????
You wrote We use an alternate garbage company to avoid fines? That is a complete cover up. Again, more padding going on. Really - did you do a comparative analysis of rates- if yes then please educate us if not then how do you justify making such an accusation - basically you are calling people thieves
You put ??????? after fixed immediately. Are you not sure if it was fixed immediately or are you asking me if it was??????
Not a drainage issue at all. Why would you assume it was drainage? It is a pitch problem.
What remedy has been take for the incorrect drainage problem? Did we spend money on a drainage problem. Sure sounds like you are saying we did.
How does presenting serious and immediate problems to a board of volunteers serve the community?
It's apparent you haven't ever been to an HOA meeting if you think just presenting problems get's anything fixed.
Anyone find out how many homeowners owe HOA fees in the tune of thousands? Didn't think so.
Has the board gotten comparitive bids on trash removal? Didn't think so.
Tell me this CD1. Why is a member of our own board doing MOST of the repair work? I asked for the comparitive bids on the deck work, the railing work, the pressure washing, balcony replacement, building numbering, saddle replacement and concrete work. Never heard back about my request.
Answer me that CD1.
CD1 answer me this. We just spent thousands of dollars replacing the doors to the garbage huts and thousands of dollars replacing the siding (which the board member did) on the garbage huts. Question: Why aren't we holding the landscaping company responsible for fixing it?
Seems you have alot of problems in 2800. What have you done to help? Which is easier. A Monday night quaterback or one playing on the field. It seems that you are truly a Monday night quaterback. You only have complaints no solutions. What have you done for this community? You pay your common charges and then complain. You my friend are a part of the problem you are definately not the solution. Get real.
We don't need your kind of person. If there was a garden in Whispering Hills you would be complaining that you didn't get your fair share. Is the glass half full or have empty. What type person are you. Type A.
dads8t2 - your post regarding - Suggestion for a policy for a bid process for projects including direction appropriate to the value of each bid and retention of the documents with the bar set at an appropriate level - I agree that this is a great way to go. I will ask what projects are on the table for the near future and whether scheduled projects will be put out to bid. I expet the list to include consideration being given to hiring a Management Company and the Driveway Paving Project. Will share when known. If you are aware of any pending projects please list them. Thanks CD1
Well, I feel like I can answer for the 2800 block since I live in it and not afraid to post my name. Carries more validity if you ask me.
There is exactly 1 garage in our block that floods and yes it is an angle problem. There was some patch work done and the angle leads the water right into someones garage. Actually, the gal hasn't complained once to me. I believe someone built her a "sort of" speed bump to block the water.
The roof @ unit 2823 was leaking. it was leaking for exactly 6 weeks before it was fixed. I was friendly with the neighbor. It did take a little time to fix but what doesn't.
For all that are complaining about the negativity....wait. As soon as boss locks this place down it will stop. Because people will then have a name and when people have a name and a face....peoples comments come with a whole lot more accountability.
I am not backing up the HOA, the mnembers or the like. I am just straightning out a few of the so called facts. I for one would like to know who is commenting on my block?
As for everything else commented here....this is exactly why I am no longer a part of the solution. I am not going to spend hours re-hashing why...it's just the way it is.
I am just plain old tired of exactly what everyone experienced at the last meeting. If I really get down and dirty...the improvement versus the fight just isn't worth it.
CD1 - No dissrespect but I can absolutely understand the negative energy from some of these people. Some people who have been involved for 20+ years have "just a bit" of negative energy built up. This is a great forum to let it loose.
Some others (like me) ignore it as much as possible.
This blog...just as a train wreck...you just need to look.
I hope to make this as clear as possible. I have been reading the blog entries and have noticed that I have been protrayed as a slack-minded, dinner-munching, non-chalant harbinger of non-professionalism. Allow me the lattitude to deal with these posts in a proper fashion. The reason and rationale for my "dinner munching" (they were cookies by the way), as disrespectful and non-professional as it may seem at first glance, is that after working a 14 hour day and having to go to the hospital in Westchester County to see my NEWBORN son (emergency birth at 25 weeks of gestation) I realized that I still had to make an OPEN board meeting. So either blow off the meeting or munch cookies at the meeting. Thank you for all of your sympathy, (OH!! That's RIGHT...NO ONE THOUGHT TO GET INFORMATION AS TO WHY....NO ONE THOUGHT THAT I HAVE A CAREER, FAMILY AND A NEWBORN IN THE NEONATAL ICU) That's the problem, no one thinks. Next time, regardless of the importance to the residents that would like questions answered, I think I will just blow off the meeting if I am to be attacked personally for trying to get something with the semblance of nourishment in my body AND not miss a meeting. But I digress. I apologize to the residents at large if my cookie munching showed any disrespect, but talking to me, finding the truth about a situation and not villifying me without any knowledge would be a lot easier (now that would be respectful). Next, Kelly, you have every right to voice your concerns and opinions, however, I am on the board to try and do the best I can with the tools I am given. Can things be done better, YES!! Can you contribute to these things? YES!! Will you run for the board and allow us to make use of your expertise? That remains to be seen. As I said at the meeting, If you have a problem with anything going on with the board, feel free to run for office and make the changes you feel would benefit the community at large. Don't sit idly by the wayside and complain without doing anything about it. I ran for Condo IV because THERE WAS NO BOARD!!! The entire board moved out of WH or resigned. I did exactly what I am telling you to do. RUN FOR THE SEAT AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Third, for those who think I was double talking and/or NOT answering questions at the meeting, I say this. When you put a question on the table, allow the board to ANSWER. Only then will you receive a full answer. I counted 12 times where I went to answer a question and was simply "talked over" and never got to fully answer anything posed to me personally. Next, in as much as a listing of meeting dates for Condo IV, I have just finished them tonight. (I have to consider everyone on the boards' schedule and not just my own, so coordination of dates is not the easiest) In addition, to the person that called me unprofessional and a moron, are you running for the board? Have you attended a meeting for Condo IV?? (I have a few hundred dollars that say you haven't been to a Condo IV meeting since I had to raise the common charges) ANY TAKERS?? I know due to the fact that the same 7 residents appear at every meeting and I know them by first name and unit number. Lastly, and I do apologize for the length of this post, Kelly, I am an accountant, with an extensive background in Construction Auditing. I for one, can read an AIA, in addition am well versed in change orders, charge-backs and RFP's. I am proud of the work that is being done with condo IV's roofing and am sure that the residents are also pleased.(At least that is what I am told to my face) I will address two more points then end this post. First, having NO BOARD AT ALL, constituting a brand new board and accomplishing what we have in the few years I have been president of IV has been a daunting task to say the least. No assistance, no minutes, guidance from a former board member (Thanks Jack), members that NEVER attended meetings (well, after the first one) and so on..... It has been said that it doesn't matter that we are volunteers, you are WRONG!!! We volunteered in the face of NOT knowing what we know now in order to become part of the SOLUTION. Can the same be said of those that seek to villify me? If so, I look forward to seeing you partake in the elections and make the changes you deem necessary for this community to function as you see fit. Then, when you see your efforts trashed by so many that are so adept at doing NOTHING, please revisit this site and re-read your previous posts. I am open to any assistance that Condo IV residents would like to provide. In addition, to converse in a dialogue allows BOTH sides to work together as allies not adversaries. A Good Evening to you all.
First off...congratulations to you and your family and my prayers are for a speedy and happy deliver of your newborn son to your home.
If you would have communicated as you just did to the members that night I am sure you would have not heard a peep as to how some felt about your eating during the meeting. You know what our wives say..."communication is the key to...bla bla bla :)"
As for no board or doing the best you can. I am sure everyone is appreciative of your efforts...as little or large amount of time you put in. I think the point is that we all have other lives, families and things to do and leaving the management of 2+ million dollars up to people who can't dedicate the amount of time necessary and people who have experience with the work at hand is unacceptable.
I hope Kelly doesn't run for a seat. Why, because then she won't be able to have the free time to do the things she loves with a clear head. She won't be able to have a life other than the board and her 9-5 because it's too much work for an group of un-trained, un-qualified, un-schooled individuals. This is just my opinion. We need professionals. AND the thought of the HOA not even entertaining the idea of getting FREE bids for the contract is beyond me.
How can we not call a few organizations and see what they have to say? How do we know if it cost more? Maybe it will? We don't know.
With such closed minds...I have no desire to dedicate 1 minute of my time. It goes to show me how much time and energy is put into all aspects of the tasks at hand.
I had a neighbor who ran for the board about 2 years ago. Honestly....part of the reason they MOVED OUT of Whispering Hills (1.5 years after they moved in) was because of her experience with the others. I don't know how much of it was because of that but I know for a fact it was a factor.
These are just my opinion and .02. Trust me when I tell you...I am not alone here. I feel blessed that my family makes enough money that I don't need to be bothered with increses in common charges. The simple fact is....it's not worth my energy, my time, and the pain and suffering to even think about it.
We all have problems, and issues, I hope yours resolves themselves and all end in good health as soon as possible. Even with a hectic schedule, your eating your dinner and talking with your mouth full gives a poor appearance. You needn't go to extremes to make your point such as blowing off the meeting to eat dinner.
In response to your comments:
"If you have a problem with anything going on with the board, feel free to run for office and make the changes you feel would benefit the community at large. Don't sit idly by the wayside and complain without doing anything about it." I am not sitting idly by - and why should I bother running for a board seat- members of the Condo III Board, Danielle I believe, discounted anything I said because "I haven't lived here long enough". And Jeff Jones, dismissed my questions with snide remarks because at present, I work in commercial real estate, not residential, although I have done my fair share of residential management. With attitudes towards residents such as that why would anyone want to run for a seat? My time is limited and free time is sporadic at best. I would like to be able to contribute more but cannot commit to a regular schedule of availability. If you could think of something that could be done on a limited basis, please feel free to let me know what it is - I'm all ears.
"Third, for those who think I was double talking and/or NOT answering questions at the meeting, I say this. When you put a question on the table, allow the board to ANSWER. Only then will you receive a full answer. I counted 12 times where I went to answer a question and was simply "talked over" and never got to fully answer anything posed to me personally." You did your share of talking over people and anticipating questions. I could count several times that you cut people off and didn't let them finish their questions or comments. In your effort to make a difference and help, please tell me what type of assistance was given to the woman behind me that asked if anything could be done about the garbage trucks picking up at 3AM? All she received as an answer was that - and this was your response - "we cannot control the contractors". To add insult to injury, we were treated to an entertaining lesson about how the private carting company is 1/3 less than municipal trash pick up. At no point in time, did ANYONE, yourself included, offer this resident a basic customer service type response such as "that is earlier than they should be on the property, we will make a call to the carting company and see what can be done". Is that so hard? Everyone sitting at that table was more concerned with justifying the actions of the contractors or vindicating themselves that the only issues I saw specifically addressed by the end of the meeting were that when the time comes to decide what to do about the tennis courts it would be put out to vote to the residents and that the Board would try to keep residents abreast of the progress on the road issue.
"I am an accountant, with an extensive background in Construction Auditing. I for one, can read an AIA, in addition am well versed in change orders, charge-backs and RFP's. I am proud of the work that is being done with condo IV's roofing and am sure that the residents are also pleased." That's great - I am thrilled that Condo IV is in such capable hands when it comes to reviewing an AIA draw form. I am not clear on how that expertise translates to my condo, which if you read my earlier post reflects the fact that there is no documentation for projects, sans the recent roofing project incorporated into the minute books or mention of the bidding process or who was formulating the scopes of work. Do you lend your talents to all the other Condos? Or just Condo IV and what crosses the HOA's path?
I would also like to mention that of all the things addressed on this blog site and all the potential responses you could have given on a number of issues, you chose to defend yourself. Will you ever read this site again? Will you take the opportunity in front of you to utilize this site as a means to communicate with the residents in a constructive manner? By reading the posts and concerns and comments there's a lot of questions and legitimate concerns. You need to be able to read between the lines and see what is really being said and filter out the snide remarks, negative rhetoric and well, sometimes, generally stupidity. This would be your big opportunity to get your point across, give your opinion uninterrupted and be the Board Member that reaches out to the residents and makes a difference by actually responding to people - which is apparently lacking around here. This is the means to communicate nowadays - especially for those with limited time. The Board doesn't seem to be interested in this site as a legitimate sounding board - are you willing let this site be part of the solution?
Best of luck with the new baby - I hope all is well.
To Big Bopper - Not Nutritional enough..... To David - I can and do understand the frustration and the headache all too well. However, when Condo IV was faced with having no board and a CC fee increase on 150 - 175 in order to bring a management team to run JUST CONDO IV, I had to think long and hard about A) Having someone with no vested interest in the community literally running it; B) Not knowing what kind of contract and service delivery would occur; C) Knowing that EVERYTHING down to the last nail in a fence would be treated with as much importance as I now get from Verizon when my cellphone charges are incorrect. Imagine having a leak in your roof, reporting it to a management company and expecting action that day..... Likely to occur?? I don't believe so. Can you call a management company on Sunday at 7am and have some sort of action taken? Nope!! These are the things that I thought about, and why I took the helm of Condo IV. In as much as the HOA, we have looked at management companies coming in prior and had the community as a whole reject it for similar reasons as listed above. If we all dedicate a small amount of time, then we all benefit as a community. If none of us takes action, that is to the detriment of all of us and we end up in an apathetic conundrum where few act and everyone is unhappy. As I said at the meeting, if someone knows a landscaper that can handle a project the size of WH, have them send in a contact sheet and references, if someone has experience in a certain area, step up to the plate and help us. I for one would stand up and make sure that any viable alternatives that will IMPROVE our COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WIL BE HEARD BY CONDO IV individually and HOA as a whole. I am not afraid to use my voice for a positive force, but a complaint without suggestions and action towards a viable resolution, is just that, an idle complaint. Come on people, we purchased here for a reason......let's make it a reality......
Kelly - The reason that I defended myself personally, is simple, I was attacked personally. I do not mind criticism when it comes to the operation of the HOA, condo boards and the like, however, when my character is villified, and I am called a "moron", "unprofessional" and the like, I take it personally. Some see being on the board as a hassle, I see it as a way to assist other members of MY community, as a way to get things done for MY heighbors. Will I avail myself to other boards, ABSOLUTLEY. Will I use my contacts and expertise to the betterment of the HOA, if requested, ABSOLUTELY. Will I assist a member of this community even though they aren't a condo IV resident, ABSOLUTELY..(as evidenced by me giving my personal cell number to a resident during the board meeting). I cannot and will not comment on other boards, since my involvement is minimal, to be honest. I am charged with Condo IV and as president of IV a seat on the HOA. I feel you would be of value to the board when there are construction needs of a large scale. Maybe you can use some of your contacts to come up with ideas for the tennis courts. You could coordinate the information and forward it to the board. Minimal time investment, maximum flexibility. Do you have any contacts that are independent contractors that could rip off an estimate of a few projects for the tennis courts? I am sure that if the cost to estimate is reasonable, the HOA could pay for it. (The board would have to discuss it, since I cannot commit WHHOA funds) But at least it starts the dialogue between the HOA and the residents...... And YES, now that I have found this blog, I will indeed try to keep up with things here and will try to be a conduit for residents and the HOA. I cannot promise anything to anyone, except that I feel WE as a COMMUNITY are sorely missing the last 5 letters in that word...... UNITY
I am sorry...you are ill informed if you think that is how a management company works.
When you have exactly 1/2 of 1 percent of (not residents) total units show to an annual HOA meeting...to me that shows how good of a job the association is doing to try and get people involved and how they have done their jobs to this point.
A simple door to door distribution over a 2 day period of flyers about this blog has brought more community unity than an actual annual HOA meeting.
13 days after the meeting and the community sign still not changed. [sigh] and a [shrug]
David, I don't think I am ill informed, just scared of the consequences of the apathetic attitude that has developed over the years. If you know any management companies, please forward their contact information to the board and let's rightfully see what they have to offer. But be careful what you ask for.....you just might get it. Then where will we stand if a management company IS decided upon, through attrition and apathy, and we fall into an abyss of stagnation by that same management company? Are we willing to take that chance with OUR neighborhood at stake. High price to gamble on. Again, I understand the frustration, however, WE can do something about it. The opportunity (there's those 5 letters again) is here, take it and see what we can make of it.
Well, like you said we need to ignore some of the tone and nonsense that gets posted on this site from time to time to get at the real issues, you need to rise above while on the Board to be able to really make a difference. I think we already have enough of the other type of attitude- you could be the breath of fresh air they need to snap the rest of them into reality on many issues. I understand where you come from - I get a lot of that on this site as well - and I pick and chose who I will defend myself to because it's not worth responding to some. This type of forum may be beneficial to you because once we have to sign in to access, many of the cowards who post anonymously (like snipers hiding in the tall grass) will have to acknowledge their names to post and you may be able to get some legitimate feedback and constructive criticism as opposed to more of the same attitude displayed at the recent meeting.
I was thinking something about the tennis courts and road issue - this is going to open a HUGE can of worms...but here goes:
Why should we pay $1,000,000.00 to restore a sinking tennis court that no one uses? I think we should take a wait and see attitude, because what if the road goes up Clubhouse Drive, as one scenario proposed? Should we spend money redeveloping an area for a use that is in all reality only utilized by a very small percentage of unit owners (we do have another set of tennis courts) that may ultimately be torn down? Once we do the work, and the cost is assessed to the unit owners, we can't undo the expenditure.
If we do end up being on the losing end of the road issue, allowing the road to access the Hills through Clubhouse Drive would minimize exposure to the bulk of the complex because it would be closer to the entrance. Also, having the retention pond, sinking tennis courts and dog run on one side of the road would also minimize exposure to many units as opposed to the road going through the entire complex and up Peach (the other proposed scenario) where there are units on both sides of the street. If this area is targeted, could we negotiate with the developer to foot the cost of demoing the existing tennis courts and build the new use area (whatever the new area is agreed to be - I think the playground idea and the garden idea were both really good ones - it appeals to more community members)? It would mean leaving the area in its current state for a while, but would that be better than spending a million dollars that in the end would be for naught?
And to answer your question, I can see what I could do about contacting builders I know to tap for bids. Can't make any promises, but it's never a bad thing to have an expanded contractor data base.
Again by reading your reply about the possibility of a management company.....you project this DOOM AMD GLOOM scenario.
When you use such words and phrases as: "scared of the consequences" & "be careful what you ask for" & "abyss of stagnation by that same management company" & "willing to take that chance with OUR neighborhood at stake" & "gamble" it's no wonder why you fit in so well on the board.
I'll do you one better and DOUBLE your 5 MAGIC letters to 10 and say you display no POSITIVITY.
On one side you say...sure get bids but on the other side you SLAM the very idea of entertaining the outcome of a management company. Is this "double talk" everyone was talking about?
I wouldn't want to take my time and go solicit bids from people to send the entire community into an abyss now...would I?
On the horizon - A bill in Albany that relates to condos an co-ops in New York is pending. The bill will require managers of multiple dwellings to be licensed and will also prohibit owners from operating without a licensed manager. Managers would be required to take building management courses with minimum a number of hours of classroom work conducted or approved by department of buildings and this provides criteria for determining competency to receive a license, how to apply for a license and the revocation and suspension of a license. It addresses judicial review of department of building’s decision to grant, refuse or renew and revoke a manager’s license. Looks like we might be releived of the freedom to choose between a professional management company and our owner members as managers. Of course the theory behind the legislation is that is is written to protect owners - FYI CD1
Sounds like they want to stop co-op boards that discriminate against applicants, like the ones that didn't want dispatcher Louie from Taxi. What will happen to Joan then? Does Joan live in Whispering Hills?
Bopper is ALL about Joan! Bop...Valentined Day is coming!!!
It's sad to need the to government step in on our personal business BUT in this case I am VERY appreciative of it. At least the gov't can see that private, un-trained, un-qualified, un-schooled, un-licensed individuals aren't qualified to manage the maintenance and up-keep of 600+ units and 2+ million dollars.
We sure can't see that...I'm glad they can.
Go Gov't!
P.S. - I'll tell you one thing...If my common charges EVER go up to pay for the current board to get schooled & licensed...ummmm let's not go there.
Bear in mind that a portion of co-op charges are tax deductible, whereas ours are not. I once lived in a complex where my charges were $650/month (this was nearly 10 years ago), but it did include my gas & electric charges and heat& water were included. PLUS, the tax deduction was about 40%. It is structured very different from Condo charges, which tend to be lower, but carry no deduction. The deduction usually has something to do with interest, be it for a building mortgage or the land itself.
Also, Property Managers have NO bearing whatsoever on co-op approvals of prospective residents. The are generally there to run credit checks, coordinate paperwork for Board review and act as the liason between the broker/prospective and the Board. Being licensed by the state may help them better assist the Boards they are hired to serve to ensure that the rules establishing Co-Op or Condo Corporations are properly adhered to, but they are not in a decision making capacity on the resident approval level.
Co-op Board can be an absolute nightmare in itself. Cliquey (sp?)and vindictive towards other Board Members they don't like, I have seen Boards bickering amonmgst each other to the point that they facilitate the financial demise of their own investment.
I think the licensing is a positive thing - it can estalish a level of training giving a prospective employer (meaning Condo Complex or Co-Op) a level of expectation that thie person handling their affairs has some knowledge of how to bid projects, process payments, reconcile CAM charges, manage contractors, etc. Otherwose you get nothiong more than a glorified superintendent.
It disturbs me that there is a pervasive attitude of fear, no response and commons charges spiraling out of control when it comes to bidding to a management company. I don't understand why no one seems to understand that YOU can pick and choose what services you would like them to handle. It is not an all or nothing scenario. A contract and scope of work is negotiated. The management company may offer services we don't need (or never will need - such as brokerage or marketing, or accounts receivables).
Property Managers are technically "on call" 24/7. They work from 9-5 like most of us, but if there is an emergency they can gernerally be reached by either answering service or pager. I know - I've been that person paged at 3:00 AM. Depending on the nature of the call (most are not REAL emergencies that cannot wait until the next business day, but you still MUST respond and acknowledge), sometimes it's the required CONTRACTOR that doesn't respond. Roof leaking? Can't patch a roof in the rain - but you would get a response and a service call is scheduled. Tree crashes through your roof? More than likely they will respond to that. ASAP, and at least secure the building until the next day when they can exact the repair properly.
Why doesn't someone put pen to paper and make a list of what services on a management level wouold be best to outsource and what you would like to keep in house. A complex this size DOES require an on-site office, however, some of the other elements of running this complex could be handled by others such as managing the contractors and collecting arrears more aggressively, bidding jobs, formulating budgets, etc. The Board may be more effective if some of this work is done by others leaving them to be more pro-active on governing and guiding the organization in a positive direction.
Is it not within the realm of possibility that if were to indeed secure an outside management co. that we could request that they open a satellite office in the newly renovated "professional" building @ the WH drive outlet? If this were to occur it would most certainly eleviate some of the concerns about accountability and quick turnarounds to service issues......my .02 for what it is worth!
Here's my .02 for the issue. I am all for getting any proposals together for mgmt companies, and/or anything else that will facilitate the ease of use of the services. I am first an owner and second a board member. If the state mandates education and mandatory classes, are we going to go to a management company? Who knows.... Will current board members take these classes to be licensed? Who knows... I for one might just take the classes to learn what I don't know now. Will I do it for the benefit of David? Nope....(C'mon David...no doom and gloom today just jokes) But I might do it if the board/community would benefit from it as a whole. Let's see what comes of it....we all know how FAST our gov't can move on an issue.... Kelly, I agree whole-heartedly, let's see what transpires with the road(which I believe we all are against if it traverses the complex) however, the majority of the owners will dictate what is done with the area......
and that's my .02...seems I gave a nickel now I want change.....
Hey..I am a NY JEW...we are born with a big sense of humor. You're reply is worth .1 cent change....that's all I'll give ya.
My feelings on the issue are pretty strong. I have a engineering/financial background and I'll go to the grave with my belief that NO VOLUNTEER...NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME THEY DONATE is enough. It's accountability, training, and schooling.
I know I sound like a broken record when I say it but....2+ million in cash a year income and the combined value of $120 MILLION in home value needs a MOUNTAIN more than any volunteer could EVER offer. That simple for me.
Just the accountability factor alone is well worth the risk in my opinion.
I am a travelling guy (45 weeks straight last year) and I have become dependant on delegating all of the financial aspects of my life to qualified individuals. I pay them very handsomly but that puts me in a position of being able to hold them accountable to such a high level of scrutiny.
We have none of that with the HOA now.
Again...it's simple for me.
I want to be able to call a number or walk into a satellite office and say "If you don't get off your ass and get the damn parking blocks and grass fixed by my unit today." I did it all the where I lived in Fairfax, Virginia. Not as harsh as that but I did it. If you ever said that to a volunteer they would say what Jeff Jones says or what you said "I am a volunteer, I work as fast as I can with the time at hand, if I am not doing a good enough job...run for a seat.
I don't want to run for a seat...that is why I pay.
The management co. we had in VA....it was written into the contract specifically how long certain issues would take to fix. Scope of work....
If a roof was leaking and it was not fixed within 72 hours we were able to deduct a certain amount of money from the master bill. At the end of the year in 1998 I actually got a $86 refund. That was the refund kitty for the jobs they weren't able to get done.
Every time something needed fixing over $2500 we would get a photo copy of all 3 bids EVERY TIME! We would get a copy of their license and any other pertinent info.
I used to get papers EVERY week about stuff that was being done, money being spent. As email got popular I would get emails with PDF attachments. My HOA checks got cashed in 2 days or I got a $10 credit on my account. Now...I wait 2 weeks.
WE TOLD THEM WHAT WE WANTED.
HOA meetings....90% turn-out. Agendas...pre-submitted questions they would have answers for...ready and prepared.
As for the claims of theft. I don't know...I doub't it but I will tell you this. I was raised in NYC and when someone was SO OPPOSED to change...it was for a reason. They had something personal to lose. I have never seen a group of people so OPPOSED to change in my life.
I am in a business of risk and reward. Try new things...experiment with new ideas...make mistakes and learn.
Same issue here Bopper. Again the landscaping company failed to deliver. Why would they salt 5am and not during the day yesterday. My walkway was a total nightmare, I'm mildly upset that it continues time and time again and is never addressed.
William, This is the type of issue that needs to be put to bed. We contract the landscaping company for snow removal service, lets get what we are paying for. As it stands, we are paying for half a job. Where I come from, the bigger the contract, the more attention that contract deserves.
This post was also entered @ the WH Information Exchange Condo IV blog: Dear William, I am glad to see that you are checking in @ this Blog and the general one as well! I am of the opinion that this is a great way to keep the lines of communication open without you (and other board members) being inundated with a multitude of phone calls. As long as information is forthcoming and readily available most folks will be satisfied. Of course I am speaking for myself and will be countered by this claim by others. Oh well............ BTW I WAS at the 1/17 meeting and did not take "offense" or agree with some of the accusations hurled your way pertaining to eating, etc. I also "overheard" you speak to a fellow board member about just getting back from the hospital caring for your child. I wish you and your family many healthy years together! I hope that the next meeting is more user friendly w/o people trying to talk over one another, and to put any and all beligerent behaviors off to the side so that a civil discourse can occur to EVERYONE'S satisfaction! We do afterall have a COMMON vested interest in this community!
Footnote: Hudson Valley Landscapers came by 3 times yesterday to the 3700 Section to salt.....we received too much and some received none! A slight imbalance to say the least!!!...........my .02 for what it is worth!
To the folks who are complaining about their walkways not being treated: You sound like "girlyman"!! You act like you have to go out there and remove a ton of snow over an acre of blacktop! JEZ, get a life folks! Yea, yea, yea, I know that we pay these folks via our CC's, but can we keep this in perspective please?
They salted nothing in the 4200 area. Even the driveway had an accumulation of ice and the nice residents of this section did not move their 4 cars. The Chrysler 300, the Chevy Malibu, the Ford SUV and the minivan with the "New England Air Space museum sticker" on the bumper! I had to shovel my walkway this morning just to walk my dog.
Girlyman!!?? Are we in the early 80's still? Can you come up with something a little more culturally relevent! While you at these phenomena at the height of thier popularity how about a Titanic joke!? CLEAN THE FRIGGIN ICE MEXICANS!
Girlyman!!?? Are we in the early 80's still? Can you come up with something a little more culturally relevent! While you at these phenomena at the height of thier popularity how about a Titanic joke!? CLEAN THE FRIGGIN ICE MEXICANS!" hey "bogbopper"! aren't you a cop? you scare me, alot!!!!!!!!!!
Not for nothing, it's for safety. Are we waiting for someone to fall to sue the hell out of the complex for negligence? Name calling aside, things need to be kept in perspective. Bottom line, if it was 1 time, no big deal, but it's every time!
Calm down Mr. Stone thrower, let's not make this personal, obviously if someone is addressing something, it is important to them. Keep it civilized!
Look at the Time Harold Record. 300 accidents four dead. What does that tell you about the weather.
Personally I think the Hudson Valley is doing a good job. Better than the cops that live here.
Do you get three bids on a dentist or doctor everytime you need to see one. As far as the cement parking blocks; being all over the grass. I agree with you. The Whispering Hills maintenace crew should go out over the next couple of days with the nice weather and pick them up. As a matter of a fact they should pick them up every fall and store them. That's not too much to ask. One last tib bit the village walk ways are in worst condition than Whispering Hills and I don't hear you complaining.
Hey Everyone, David, OK, I have to say that I can agree with what you say about risk and reward. I also agree with what you say about accountability and responsibility. If we happen to have anyone that knows of any management companies, I for one, would lke to look at a proposal and see if they have what we need. I'm not saying that I can make any deceisions, but I CAN look at viable options. Next, I for one am not afraid of change, nor do I shy away from accountability. If I am doing something wrong, let me know and give me some idea of how I can change it. Then I will do my best. That is all I ever state. I will do my best by all residents in IV. As far as being opposed to change because there is something hidden in the closet? Well, I personally have to say that anyone that wants to reach in the Condo IV closet is more than welcome. As long as you put the clothes back on the hanger and voice your positive findings along with the negative. Fairness is always tolerated in my book. I can honestly say that living in Parkchester in the BX for a few years, having the city as a management company is what has scared me away from management companies. David, yours may have been a good company to service that VA community, but the City of NY, just gave me a bad taste. Three days to get heat in December, 5 days to get widows unstuck, 3 days to get a LOCK on the front door...(complaints were met with "You can always move to a different complex")etc. These things soured me on management companies. We may be able to find a reputable one to send us some information, and if so, I would be more than happy to look at it and do what is in IV's best interests as I always do. I will bring these things to the table at the next HOA meeting. As far as the job that Hudson Valley is doing, I will bring the concerns voiced here to the board and we will see what the outcome is. I actuall spread salt myself if I see any ice on my walkway....but that's just my Long Island upbringing that's made me used to it (Mom used to ALWAYS make me shovel and put out salt.......) NOW GIVE ME BACK MY CHANGE DAVID...smile....
When you did the roofs you go more than one bid. Your got several bids. In fact you did not use the cheapest bid but I belive you used the most expensive bid. Is this true?
The people your responding too on this web site would condem you. I personally agree with you. When you take the cheapest bid you get what you pay for. You can just ask residents of condo 1 and two.
As far as a management company we don't need one. We need a facility faciliator to do work for all boards and report back to them; so they can make better decisions. This type of person would probally cost WHOA around 100 thousand dollars per year. Are the majority of homeowners willing to pay for this or are we responding to the minority?
On behalf of everyone contributing to Whispering Hills Blog, I want to thank you for your feedback. Your excitement & enthusiasm to questions from fellow residents have been overwhelming & invaluable; it's been wonderful providing a venue for the voice of the Whispering Hills Community. Our philosophy is helping Residents share information with people they want to share it with, you are obviously that outlet. It’s great to have you on board.
In addition, we would like to thank all Residents who raise concerns & positively add to our Community. Though things get a bit fiery at times, we are delighted to hear your voice.
As we mature as a blogging Community, we continue to improve Whispering Hills Blog. We ask ALL Residents to become a part of the process by providing feedback and offer suggestions. We hear your voice & appreciate all your support.
Nice job throwing the mattress out. Pink mattress in the recylable bin. You must belive in this motto: Rules are not for me. Out of site out of mind. Let someone else solve my problem. Your just the kind of person we are trying to get rid of here.
I hope this message gets back to you. What did you do it at night; that's your style.
Toi Anonymous: I actually received 7 or 8 bids. And to state things factually, I did NOT use the most expensive bid. I DID however, use the contractor with the most extensive warranty out of all the contractors (lifetime on materials AND 10 year labor). In addition, expertise, which in my opinion, is invaluable, and we received a SECOND generation roofer with outstanding references, a crew with an average of 7-10 years with the company AND a local corporation with 1M insurance. As I looked at the other bids, (3 years labor 5 years materials...etc) It was decided that Serrano II would get the job. BTW, from IV residents that had their roofing done, I have heard nothing except glowing reviews from all from the workmanship, through the 1...and I stress ONE leak, which was repaired by the contractor the day after it was reported. And as far as condemnation, if anyone would like to speak to the IV residents with a new roof, feel free,. They have told me the work was excellent, on time, courteous and professional. Not the cheapest, but the additional monies are for the protection afforded in the warranty. And finally, the costs for a TOTAL TEAR OFF are always more than a LAY OVER. There is a contractual difference in the scope of work performed.
.........as I have mentioned in earlier posts, (and being one of the Condo IV residents who had a new roof and gutters intalled) the quality of work at all levels was EXCELLENT! William, you did extremely well by us! Thank you sir!!!
Hmm . . . just curious, but why is it that with all the historical turmoil regarding parking, Whispering Hills appears to condone the storage of space-hogging commercial vehicles in the clubhouse parking lots? (Or, for that matter, adjacent to residences.) In most developments, the storage of such vehicles is part of the cost of doing business.
Dads8t2, I believe, and I might be mistaken, but most commercial vehicles that are parked in the clubhouse are there for one of two reasons: 1) They are conducting work on the premises, and 2) they are used by residents to conduct their trade. For either instance, would you prefer that they use the regular parking spaces? I don't know what we could do about additional parking space. (Anyone thinking maybe we could pave over the existing dilapidated tennis court for this purpose? SUV and Commercial parking?) Just a thought...
Sorry, but these are the same vehicles that are parked on the street (Condo I) in Summer months. ... and what I meant was: "In most condo developments, the storage of such vehicles is part of the cost of OWNERS doing business." In other words, (it's just my opinion) they should be parked outside the WH premises.
Anyone know why the power was out yesterday? My heat is broken as a direct result. My neighbor informed me that it was on and off for a few minuets and then went down for 6 or so hours.
I saw a fleet of O&R trucks working on a transformer at the entrance to WH's yesterday around 3pm, however power was already restored. Condo 3 lost power for about 1 hour 45 minuets
Dads8t2: Ahhhh, now I understand. I do not know if there are any hard and fast rules about commercial vehicles other than the fact that they are not to park in residential spots. Maybe I can check into it.
Whose in charge of the quotes in the Whispering Hills box when you enter the complex? This months say something about dancing to music you can't hear!!?? WTF? How about putting something in the box thats accidently amusing or mildly interesting!? Here's one they can use next month, "Welcome to Whispering Hills, NO CUSSING!"
177 comments:
* WHB was archived on 01/02/08. Old posts are listed under "Current Blog Topics" in the upper right pane of our site.
"We also don't know if there will be an access to Lowes from West Street - what impact will that have on being able to get into the complex?"
I am somewhat leary about this prospect. I have a gut feeling that this could occur, of course it makes no sense considering all the prior construction that was done with Rte. 94 to eleviate this very same scenario. But, if there is $$$ to be had, you might as well throw common sense out the window. I will be asking about this tomorrow evening.
Happy New Year everyone!
Has anyone seen the amount of destruction the snow removal company has done.
I walked the complex today and counted exactle 117 parking blocks that are either on top of snow banks, in the middle of the grass or broken in half.
I have counted 4 tipped street signs and 3 completely broken ones.
I have counted 42 LARGE areas of grass ripped to shreds and from the little look I have taken the 4 wheeler that they are using to plow is being drive by a stunt driver that likes to do burn outs all over the place.
Who is paying for all this?
I asked a landscaper friend that works out of Northern New Jersey to come drive our development. He said that he would charge $20,000 to fix the grass damage, $5,000 to put all the parking blocks back in place, $2,500 to fix the tipped signage and countless amount of dollars to fix the skid marks all over the place.
Who is paying for this?
Happy New Years fellow Whispering Hills residents and I'm really happy this blog is here.
Its nice to see what my nieghbors feel about our community.
I for one will start to get involved in community affairs.
Can someone post the information on the town meeting tonight? I think it is important that at least a portion of us attend.
I also want to comment on the landscaping company, seems to be the biggest issue here. It is a serious conflict of interest that we have the landscaping company who mows and does landscaping maintenance, also plowing our complex. Who's to say they don't rip the premises up in order to come back in the spring and charge us for the damage. At least if there were different companies performing separate duties, each will be accountable for their own actions.
If there is one thing they need to correct here, it would be the landscaping issue. As it stands we are paying 10's of thousands of dollars for negligence that we can be putting toward things like security and upgrades. Next time they say they don't have money for something this point should defiantly be brought up.
I hope someone is listening, this is a serious, costly problem.
They wouldn't rip the place up with the 4 wheeler if they maintained the sidewalk during the storms. I don't know why they don't, they use to. Is it really saving us money if they are doing all this damage?
"I received a Public Hearing Notice last week. I'm sure (I hope) that many of you are in receipt of this letter as well. The meeting is scheduled for 1/2/08 @ 7:30 pm, and will be held at the Chester Town Hall, Kings Highway."
I was planning on attending, but I left early from work sick. Hope it is well attended by WH residents.
Did anyone attend the meeting last night. Unfortunately I couldn't attend. Any feedback would be appreciated.
I really hope we had some representatives from our board there.
So the way they are making it sound is that the road WILL pass through our complex. WE NEED TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS!!!!! If I have to stand chained up to a tree I will!! It is disgusting and an absolute travesty!
WHAT THE HELL IS THE BOARD DOING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING?
You people have gone far enough(board), it's time to step up to the plate and put your money where your mouth is. It is your obligation as representatives of our complex to STOP this from happening. How many of you went to the meeting on Wednesday? What are your plans? Do you have one?
Be prepared on the 17th to be inundated by questions like you have never before. "NO" will not suffice, we need answers now! The landscaping issues are nothing compared to this. You people living on the main road, say by, by to the quite atmosphere. This will open a horrific gateway that will do nothing but add more hardship to the complex.
SOS.SOS.SOS.SOS.SOS.SOS!
The ship is sinking and I'm jumping off board!
Absolutely incredible article under the news section. I am saddened that this is what this complex has become. The double road idea is completely moronic and the person that suggested it should be lynched.
FACT!
People across the board will be compensated in some fashion if this proposal goes through. There will be payoffs like you wouldn't believe. Trust me, I was in the business for 23 years, nothing is done honestly when it comes to building.
We are too big for this type of road, I would like to see the studies done on the area confirming that this will ultimately damage the entire ecosystem, not to mention the quiet Whispering Hills community.
Leave us alone! Why should we suffer for negligence on the developers behalf. He bought the property, we didn't. If the guy has half a brain he knew before hand that this problem existed! Lock him out, they can't force us to agree to this, there is procedure that needs to be followed. Educate your friends here and make everyone aware of the situation.
HOA,
When were you going to let us in on this road proposal? When the trucks start rolling tons of dirt through here? How about the board, are you representing the opposition or residents? Where do you stand on the issue?
It's a sad day folks. Attend the board meeting on the 17th and let these people know where they can shove their road!
Wake up people this is going to impact our net worth. When the price of your house declines 20%, how are we going to be compensated from the developer? Did they do a study on how it will affect the price of our homes or just traffic flow?
Start a petition & go door to door. I'm sure 99.9% of us will sign it.
How will we be compensated? Are they going to lower my tax bill or common charges?
Boss,
Can the blog set up a petition to oppose the road? If we get all residents to sign something before the next meeting in March, we can have some solid ground to stand on.
The petition can be as simple as something like this.
We, the residents of Whispering Hills, are protesting this move on the grounds that it will:
Irreparably and negatively affect the character of the complex.
Increase the building density of the neighborhood.
Increase traffic.
Increase pollution.
Decrease resident safety.
etc.etc.etc.
Simple is better, it's sending out a message we don't want the road here.
The Facts
Access to thru Whispering Hills has always been on the master plan. When Klar built this place it was on the master plan. Why do you think the roads just come to an end by Apple and Peach? Members of the boards have nothing to do with town planning give them a break; it's your own stupitidy for buying in a condo development without knowing the facts.
They have been there from day one. (Klar)
I agree with you 100 percent that this is not good for Whispering Hills and now is the time for all of us to voice our opinions at the Town Board hearing not at an WHOA meeting. Venting at them will do you no good they had nothing to do with it.
Do your homework before you complain.
Fact Finding,
I would love to know where you came up with your speculative information! If that was the case, there wouldn't be controversy surrounding the project, it would be a done deal.
Even if if it were true, was current expansion factored into the equasion. You're talking about 20 years ago partner. Unfortunatly since then we have seen a significant increase in both population and growth. The so called "initial master plan" has absoultly nothing to do with Chester 2008. Yes, HOA does need to get involved. Yes, it is their duties to protect the integrity of the complex. Yes, they will about it.
I've lived here for 16 years, what you are saying is hogwash.
The road ends because someone owned the adjacent property. That's the facts!
It's not our problem, it's on the owner who bought the lot. We need some people with a backbone representing us, not a scared dog with it's tail between it's legs.
Board members and management, It's time to step up to the plate! Weather you like it or not, this is on your shoulders.
Not Wrong
Those roads were left like that so they could connect under the power lines to a developement of 250 condo's off Apple and homes off Peach.
It doesn't matter if I am right of wrong but that is the fact. Obviously you know very little about the village of Chester.
The silence in respect to anyone (including Board members) attending the Town meeting this past Wednesday is deafening!!!
As I had stated in an earlier post, I was all set to attend till an illness made me leave work early and to dash my plans to attend.
Like politicians, developers count on, and thrive upon apathy and ignorance from the general public. Yes, we are all busy trying to bang out a living and keep up with never ending onslaught of cost of living increases, BUT that said this is a very serious issue that will dramatically, and negatively impact ALL of us! I am 100% in favor of the aformentioned suggestion of circulating a petition throughtout our community. I mean after all, we are the BIGGEST community in Chester and have in our possession a STRONG voting block. It all depends on people not being complacent, step off the rat race treadmill for a sec and get involved in any small manner. Every little bit helps in the big picture!
Defining is putting it nicely, more like unqualified and scared. Mr. or Ms. "your wrong" needs to post under their real name because your post is completely transparent. FYI, It's all of our responsibility to address the road proposal and ESPECIALLY WH management and board members. This does effect the integrity of the complex for God sakes and your attitude STINKS!
What is the management doing to discourage the road way? Correct me if I'm wrong but the board DOES communicate with management. The message needs to be sent loud and clear and if it takes a petition, then so be it.
I would suggest HOA inform ALL residents next time they send out their cushy little monthly letter. Let us know this is happening here and what your doing to oppose or encourage the road project. Give us ample amount of time to confront this issue. If you don't, I'm sure just like I received a flyer from this blog, someone will. It would be beneficial to Management to act first, if they are complacent on the matter, if you think the tension is bad now, wait.
If there is no action from Whispering Hills, I will personally take a full page advertisement opposing the road. I will also expose the fact that residents are acting alone on the issue with no help from management or board.
Get the hell off your high horse, start speaking or we will! We need to be informed.
I agree! We need to be, and must be informed every step of the way by our Board!!!!!!!! What other purpose do you serve but to REPRESENT US, AND TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS???
Who give's a rat's ass about bowling night for singles when the over-all health of our community is being overlooked. An oversight perhaps? I think not!!!
Make the newsletter just that, a NEWSLETTER! Balance it out with issues and fluff.........
Voting
What ever town board members are in favor of the road must be voted out of office.
Everyone in Whispering Hills is against the road.
Let the town know just how against this idea we are.
Neighbors, we need to show a united front in opposition of the planned road. Concerns about traffic and safety because of the location not to mention having only one entrance/exit.
I think the Chester and Whispering Hills needs to learn how to conduct business in an open and transparent fashion.
This is our complex, we need to stand up to big money. We need to take control of this situation and speak as one. If there is one thing we can all agree on, this road proposal is a terrible idea.
Have they considered where all the heavy traffic is going to go while Chester rips apart WH drive?
There is only one route, straight through the centrer of our complex.
If ever there was a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted then this is it. Arranging to draw up our area development plan after the problems arise rather than have a plan in place to avoid them in the first place is a sign of very poor management. It should be obvious to the powers that be that this is a very bad idea and they need to stop it before it starts.
No matter how you slice and dice it, this road will have absolutely no benefit to the Whispering Hills community.
I have $100 bucks a child get hit by a speeding (passing through) car within 12 months of the road opening.
I have an additional $100 bucks that the police give out 1 speeding ticket per day totaling 356 speeding tickets per year.
I have one more $100 bill that says our crime rate multiplies by 5 because not it's not only easy access for emergency vehicles, residents, and potential emergencies, it's an escape route for criminals.
We are in trouble here people.
The only way this will go through is if there is something to gain on the back end. Think of our families and the amount of people here. We cannot let this road be built. A petition is a fabulous idea. Stop them in their tracks!!!!! NO BUILDING HERE, we don't want your road! We are a quiet community, let's keep it that way.
Anybody know who the head engineering and construction company are?
Thanks in advance.
k
And someone in here previously posted they love the growth and building and destruction of all the greenery, just so that he's home value goes up.
Where are thou oh wise one?
Remembers folks, board meeting January 17th. Should be interesting to see the turnout after the recent controversy. For whoever said hoa isn't responable for the road they want to build here is the one that should be shot. These people are here to represent us, they should be the first to defend the complex. It will be brought up, I would advise the entire board to be prepared to supply answers.
Why does the HOA need our social security numbers on the information sheets we fill out yearly?
Even on my job for the State of NY personnel records in the computers only show the last four digits of a persons social security number.
The Big Bopper wants to the know!
Why are the parking spots in the lots so tight. If you have a SUV you need to take two spots!
Was this some gimmick to get more spots when the lots were repaved?
Anybody out there? Kelly, where the heck have you been?
"
"The Chronicle"
Hills of Chester, and its problematic through road, begins hearings
By Edie Johnson
Chester — The long clash over a through-road crossing the Chester-Goshen border continued at a public hearing Wednesday night. On one side of the debate are the many practical advantages of having connecting roads; on the other, the desire of residents to preserve the privacy and safety of their neighborhoods.
The developer of the proposed Hills of Chester has proposed a cut-through to the Hills of Goshen. Although the Hills of Chester will have only 24 houses, it borders the massive condominium complex of Whispering Hills.
Long established as a kind of city unto itself, Whispering Hills has clubhouses, pools, and tennis courts, as well as its own subculture. Many parents in the complex are frightened at the prospect of a through-road that would allow upward of 700 vehicles to travel from Route 94 through their community, and its parks and playgrounds, to Arcadia Road.
Goshen has heard the same complaints from residents at the other end of the road, and so decided to limit incursions to “emergency vehicles and school buses only.” But, to date, there is no convincing plan for enforcing this restriction.
In general, planners consider it vital to have at least two access roads for any large development. Wednesday night’s public hearing on the subject brought up as many questions as answers.
Some Whispering Hills residents wanted to know: if Goshen can refuse access, why can’t Chester do the same?
Meanwhile, Orange County planners say “connectivity” between neighborhoods should be the highest priority but admit they cannot force either town to take action.
Confusing the issue, part of Whispering Hills is in the Village of Chester, part is in the Town of Chester, and part is in the Town of Goshen. This creates a grab-bag for apportioning out emergency services, school routes, road repairs, and snow plowing.
After some discussion over the proper name of the main access road off Route 94, several Whispering Hills contended there are actually two roads — one a road and one a lane. The one to the right, which the builder plans to use as his main access, passes the clubhouse and pool, and is privately owned.
“Putting the road there will put you right through our pool, and it is owned by the condominium complex,” said one resident, who said he is on the Whipering Hills board.
The lawyer representing the Hills of Chester promised not to go through the pool. This raises the question of whether the builder has a legal access road.
The only other alternative, where the entry road bears to the left and then past a kiddie park, is believed to be a village-owned road.
“What will you do to compensate us if we have to move our park?” asked a mother from Whispering Hills.
To make matters worse, village officials present at the meeting said they were amazed they had never heard of the project or been given the opportunity to give their input.
Planning Board Chair Ray Johanson assured the village its input would be welcome.
Ted Talmadge, a farmer on the other side of Route 17M, questioned the drainage pattern created by all three of these subdivisions.
“For years, developments have been adding water to the creek that goes along 17M,” he said. “They are pulling more and more water into our stream, and it just can’t handle any more.”
Talmadge said that if he should decide to subdivide his farm in the future, further saturation of that portion of his land might render it unbuildable. He said the project’s engineer excavated ditches along the upper portion of the property in order to get acceptable water tests. “I hope that when these ditches fill in you will still have water for houses on the high side,” he said.
Because of the many unsolved issues connected with the project, especially the legality of the main access road, the public hearing will be held open until the first Wednesday of March.
[Editor’s note: An editor’s error resulted in an old story on the Hills of Chester being reprinted in last week’s edition. The Chronicle apologizes for any confusion the reprint may have caused.]
January 04, 2008"
Can someone clarify what is going on with the road. Are they putting it through here or not?
...............now I am really confused and/or alarmed!
If this road project were to come to fruition, is it going to incorporate Whispering Hills in it's present state, or will it modify to accomodate the aforementioned plans? Or is it the worse case secenario as hinted in the chronicle? That being another road entirely??????? Where the hell would that go, and who is/was the genius that spawned that idea???????
HOA MEETING THIS THURSDAY, 1/17.......LET'S SHOW UP IN FORCE PEOPLE, AND PUT THE BOARD MEMBER'S FEET TO THE COALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello and Happy New Year!
I'm sorry to be absent for so long, but I have had limited time and computer access during business has been restricted.
I am thrilled to see so many people accessing this site - all of these comments and contributions are amazing - although I must say that the subject matter is most distressing.
This road issue is MAJOR. There are so many unanswered questions and the lack of a single word from the Board is simply unnerving. I also find it very curious that the HOA meeting is on Thursday and we have yet to receive a single scrap of paper regarding the meeting or an agenda.
We need answers so that the residents of this community can make a decision. Not the Board, the RESIDENTS. This is our complex, this represents our investments and yes, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
People with families live here. How many units have windows and doors that face Whispering Hills Drive? How many people have children that play outside to which and all of this potential traffic poses a serious risk?
Since the people that are supposed to represent our interests have been silent on the subject, we sadly have no answers except what we can decipher from the media. And unfortunately all that has done is pose more unanswered questions and put the residents of WH into a panic for fear that this situation is beyond their control.
I implore every resident, and everyone who reads this site to go tho the HOA meeting. Don't let this issue slip by without your imput.
If we sit idly by and do nothing, we will be left with nothing. Doesn't it appear odd that Goshen has basically said "NFW" (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean by that)and we may be left to have to live with THEIR decision - possible because our reputation for complacency has preceeded us?
Think about it...........
Oh and a couple of other things-
In response to Bopper:
"Why does the HOA need our social security numbers on the information sheets we fill out yearly?" They don't need your SS#, and you don't have to give it to them. I strongly suggest that you don't give it to them. When we closed on our unit, I saw that on the parking form we had to fill out and I refused to provide that number. Our attorney agreed that he saw no reason for it either. Guard that number with all you can- in this day and age once your SS# is compromised, you're basically screwed. Good call Bopper- and an excellent point to bring out.
"Why are the parking spots in the lots so tight. If you have a SUV you need to take two spots!
Was this some gimmick to get more spots when the lots were repaved?" Bear in mind a couple of things with this scenario. WH was built in 1986 or so. How many people were driving SUV's? Also, most zoning requires a certain number of parking spaces per residence and there is a "standard" for parking space dimensions. It probably was not set up with any ill-intent, it is that times have changed, vehicles are larger and like most things, the average size of parking spaces has not caught up with what is needed in this day and age. Oh, and not for nothing, but what the hell are you driving? I see plenty of pick up trucks and SUV's parked around here and they do fit into 1 spot, although it is very, very tight.
Sorry . . . but the parking space size issue relates directly to the "gimmick to get more spots ". Years ago in Condo I, many areas were not even marked. Somehow, everyone managed to remain neighborly, parking in a civilized manner. But when there were considerable driveway parking issues/violation about 10 years ago, someone made the decision to "take the high road", instead of just enforcing the parking rules consistently. More spaces were added, but the problem ensued when a non-expert sized all the spaces to a Ford Escort---and failed provide for the fact that you really had to OPEN the doors to enter and exit. Complaints were ignored; and over the years, the lines were simply retraced with each re-paint.
School Buses
Why do school buses have to stop at every street corner. Can't these kids walk to three of four common pick up spots.
Have you ever been behind one.
And then the parents block the streets in thier autos waiting to pick them up to drive them 300 feet to the house!
When coming home from work i try to beat the 3:30 PM hold-up!
re: school buses
I feel your pain! Back in the day, I had to walk to school up hill both ways!
LAzy kids of is it PC????????
95% of our residents who voted on the Hills of Chester proposed road poll, were against the new road. An on-line petition will commence following the Whispering Hills condo meeting on January 17, 2008 opposing the idea.
Have suggestions of what should be stated in the petition? Please post your thoughts under the “Opinion & Comment” section of WHB.
Thank You Residents,
The Boss
AND if you forget to pick up your child...we have some residents that will get them for you.
Even if they have to kidnap them
What ever happened to that little issue?
Keep to the issue at hand and that would be the HOA meeting. Who cares about that woman, she has nothing to do with the matters that need to be addressed tomorrow. Why bring that up again? What significance does it have over serious topics that need to be handled? How are you going to contribute at the meeting tomorrow anonymous?
Is the WHHOA meeting being held @ Clubhouse II?
The Big Bopper will be there in my San Diego Padres chicken suit!
Yes, the meeting is in Clubhouse II (The one where the office is).
I think we should wait and see what comes of the road issue at the meeting. Not expecting much, but we will have a better understanding of the Board's intentions (or not) with regard to how they intend to represent our community. That will be the best basis for out petition. I say we start on line, and if need be, I am again prepared to hit the pavement and go door to door if necessary so we don't get left without any recourse against Goshen and this developer who apparently didn't take the necessary steps to properly execute his plan for a community. His short sightedness should not be our problem.
I agree about the school bus issue. There's one that comes down the driveway at 7:30, honks, makes a u-turn (all the while the bus is beeping), picks up one student, drives 12 feet further, picks up another student and proceeds like this through thje complex. I have no aversion to safe passage for these students, but it does seem a bit excessive.
Hope to be able to see as many people as pooible at this meeting - please come - even if you're late- your presence does make a difference!!!
Will a light dinner be served and sleeping accomodations available?
I think that a board member commenting to the media on a pretty serious crimial offense is an important matter.
Agreed that it's not as important as roads, communuty destruction etc... but still important.
I agree..........."THE ROAD" is priority #I, but I feel that the issue of a Board member being investigated hopefully will be address this evening as well. Let's see how things play out tonight! I did inquire how this woman was elected to the board w/o any official ballots being tallied......the response was "NO COMMENT"!!! I told them I was not with the TH-Record but a concerned community member that ALWAYS VOTES!! To that response I repond: "BS!!!!!!"
Arrogant. Contradictory. Self Important. Just a few word that leap to mind.
I am at a loss that a single even can be both enlightening and a waste of time.
Out of 690 units, perhap 30 people showed up. That's less than 4%. 4%????? No wonder things are the way they are.
I must say, reading prior posts that go back over a year where people have written about what a, well, "load of crap" that gets handed to you at an open HOA meeting, I can now see why people get frustratred disgusted and ultimately discouraged.
I don't know what was more irritating. Board members wanting to speak so badly that residents couldn't get a word in edge-wise and others who were there for no other reason but to contribute idiotic snide remarks or residents there interuupting other residents in a pathetic attempt to defend the Board (specifically the moron woman sitting in front of me who kept interuupting me while I was trying to speak).
Right now, at this early hour, I have this to say:
Who gives a damn how long I have lived here (or anyone else for that matter)? I showed up at the meeting - which is more than you can say for the 96% of the rest of the residents of this complex. Being a Real Estate professional for over 20 years and working on all different aspects of property management, I do know what I am talking about and have EVERY RIGHT to voice my concerns. Further, to those of you who bought in 10+ years ago: It's residents like myself who recently bought in and paid CURRENT MARKET VALUE for my home have CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY to the current value of YOUR home. Think about that before you attemp to devalue somone's opinion because they "haven't lived here that long" and try to use that as a reason to devalue my opinion or concern. You have SOME nerve.
I'm also at a loss how a all the complaints against services in the complex were basically responded to with "we have no control over that". How can you, the paying owner of a property be in such a subserviant position? How can WH, being the size they are be in a position to just have to "deal" with contrators who do not provide services as expected, simply because we are desperate for a contractor who can handle a complex this size?
The nice woman behind me just wanted the trash company to stop showing up at 3AM. That's all, nothing crazy. She works hard, long hours and simply wants a good night sleep. Her issue was responded with "we can't control that". How is that so? Why is that, in a residential neighborhood, where the HOA has negotiated a contract with a private hauling company, terms such as "do not show up before 6AM" cannot be enforced? I really can't believe that was the response to her issue.
Do you think she'll attend another meeting? Or perhaps she just hasn't lived here long enough for her opinion to count.
Kelly
Very nice letter. I can tell you why some answers are "we can not control that" comes from.
Can the Board control who throws out trash over night by our dumpsters? Can the board stop you from breaking basic Whispering Hills rules?
Can you control the utility company, can you tell a buyer when to buy. Can you stop a buyer from backing out. Can you control how many people show up for meetings etc.
Can the boards control the quality of work in here. Then that is yes. Can they control the companies they hire that's questionable especially with the garbage companies. I'm just greatful that they get the garbage out of here. Orange County is a green county and the residents of Whispering Hills don't even go by county rules let alone Whispering Hills rules.
We could be fined $1,000.00per week per garbage bin. How would you like that?
I agree with you about new buyers and people who have lived here ten years. Yes it's the new buyers that make the old buyers look good. And then we have the case of new buyers defaulting. Can the board control that?
Arrogant. Self Important. Funny that you use these words. That is what I was thinking about your behavior at last nights meeting and from reading you blog entries.
Is it that if someone does not agree with your point of view they are morons?
I would bet the reason you were asked how long you lived here is to show the huge amount of progress that has been made. You may not care about that but the people who have lived here for some time do. They are appreciative of the work of the volunteer board.
Are things perfect, nope. Could certain areas be improved, absolutely! But what is the point of repeatidly attacking the residents who volunteer their time to help? They are at least the part of the 4% that show up. And continue to show up even though they are constantly yelled at, threatened (yes, it has happened), slandered, etc.
I did not realize that being in real estate automatically meant you knew how to run a Condo complex. But, yes you do have every right to voice your concerns but your delivery lacks much to be desired.
Question to you, before you bought your home and "CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY to the current value of my home" did you grill the office and/or board about the tennis court, supervision of the landscaping, the parking situation, if a feasibility study was done regarding a management company, etc.? Maybe if you did a little upfront homework you wouldn't have moved here and been so unhappy.
At least I have the nerve to post my name to my comments, and I have the courage to speak my mind and stand up for myself. I am confident – not arrogant. There was nothing in last night’s exchange that put me in an arrogant category. There was nothing to be arrogant about.
For your information, “Better than it used to be” is not acceptable. I could care less how it used to be, and for the money I pay to live here, I am concerned with the here and now -not how the complex was managed under the sponsor. Not how poor the landscaper was and gets better and better every year (hmmm – perhaps because they get more money??). Just because services were mismanaged horribly in the past and aren’t so bad now doesn’t mean they cannot be questioned or scrutinized.
Sorry if your didn’t like my delivery, however, you try talking from the back of the room when some rude person is sitting in front of you trying to talk over you and defend the Board and answer my question or address my concern. I wasn’t there to talk to other residents - I was there to address my concerns to the Board. I also don’t like being cut off by a double talking Board member who feels he can anticipate my questions and placate me with some nonsensical answer, or make snide remarks. Oh and no, I do not consider people who disagree with me morons. I consider someone who has nothing useful to impart, isn’t on the Board and repeatedly interrupts me a moron.
You don’t have any idea of my past dealings with the Board. Simple maintenance requests for a common area repair resulted in a run in with one very nasty and arrogant Board Member. A complaint letter to the Board President about the issue went unanswered. Misinformation at a Condo III meeting regarding a huge expenditure went uncorrected until the issue was brought up last night (and credit is due to the President for being forthright and apologetic about it). A request to review financials and minutes took 6 weeks to get a response. Being a resident, you can’t get answers. Do you seriously believe that someone who doesn’t yet live here would be responded to in a more expeditious manner? I highly doubt it. I’ve done my research to live here and there is simply no way to gather every fact, examine every scenario unless you already live here and live with it.
For the record, I am not unhappy here. I think it’s a nice complex and the units have the potential to maintain their value if not continue to grow. However, I am concerned – as are many other neighbors with whom I converse. I see a lot of things that are done on a maintenance level (and a lot that is not done) that I question. Oh yes, and I have the right to do so - I do pay my proportionate share – every month without fail and on time. I have been in property management for over 20 years. I have managed commercial, retail AND residential facilities. It’s not difficult to tell when someone is giving you a BS answer.
As far as the “4% of the residents there to help” if you are referring to the Board, they HAVE to be there- it was an open HOA meeting, planned a year in advance (please note that the Treasurer was not in attendance, but apparently on vacation). No one asked them to run for the Board. They took it upon themselves. And sadly, by doing so, they expose themselves to the ire and frustration of residents who feel they are being kept in the dark. That comes with the territory. They seemed to do just fine defending themselves and their positions – without your help – whoever you are.
And to the other person who wrote about control – you are correct – I agree with much of what you say – there is much out of our control, but there is much that is within our control. A simple request from someone who just wants to sleep not be awoken at 3AM shouldn’t be dismissed. Did you notice that no one on that Board offered to contact the carting company and see if they can enforce the time of the pick up? I would think that was all she wanted done. That type of non-reactive response seemed to be the theme of the evening.
Last night’s meeting was very alarming. Total disorganization, I especially liked it when the board member who strolled in late stated that it was snowing out. He was ready to adjourn the meeting 30 min into it.
I also found it completely disgusting on how pompous these morons are. Yes, I said it, morons!! Especially condo 4 president, Mr. Calloway, who in particular danced around every question asked while chewing on his dinner. Mr. Calloway gave a 5 paragraph introduction that had absolutely nothing to do with the questions that were asked. Quite frankly, they don't know their facts and everything that was elaborated on was contradicted at some point or another during the meeting.
There are so many disturbing points that must be addressed that I can sit here all day typing and it still wouldn’t be enough time to get them all down. From the destroyed tennis court issue to the landscaping company questions that still remain unanswered, an absolute firkin disgrace.
BOARD MEMBERS….WE ARE IN CONTROLL, WE ARE PAYING THESE COMPANIES!! GET A BACKBONE AND YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASSES! ANYONE WHO THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING THE WHOLE STORY LAST NIGHT IS MISINFORMED!
The members running the complex are clearly not qualified to do a professional job. It’s evident in their responses to the questions that were fired at them!
The rebuttal to the management company issue was cost factor and the luxury of paying fees on premises. Big deal lets pull up some of the 5 bids you guys received and bring them to a professional corporate accountant to see what is in the best interest of the complex. Let’s crunch numbers and get rid of Joan and the crew. Let’s see how much money in salaries we can chop to get the right people in here to do the job.
How about all the back HOA fee’s that people owe, that was never brought up. What are they doing to recoup 10’s of thousands of back fees? That’s right, us honest, hard working people ar picking up the tab. You better believe that if we had a professional in here, they would place liens on these peoples accounts or homes.
Stop throwing money at problems over and over. Figure out a strategy and do the job right the first time because there is clearly none in place.
Well said Kelly. The only people who don't like the truth are the dishonest ones. I bet the cheerleader in the middle row wrote the anonymous post! Now I hope we all see why these meetings are worthless. They will do what they want regardless of who is for or against it. It's like talking to a brick wall.
Let me tell you 1 thing:
If a board member was eating during the meeting. That is all the proof I need that THAT board member could care less about the meeting. How disrespectful !!
Another board member was on vacation? Didn't the board know they were on vacation when they scheduled the meeting? Didn't the board member know there was a meeting before they booked their vacation? How disrespectful !!
A board member was doubletalking? How RUDE !
Another board member arrived late ? How disrespectful !
Someone wanted to call off the meeting early because of 1 inch of snow? How disrespectful !
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund and the Mutual Fund manager came late to an investment meeting, came eating, was doubletalking, or suggested we end the meeting early...how well would you think they were managing your money? Would you put up with it?
Please people...wake up and smell the coffee. We need a professional company who will ACT PROFESSIONAL, and treat our situation, our community, and our money PROFESSIONALLY !!!!
WAKE UP WHISPERING HILLS !!!
It's no wonder why there is so much tension here. I was not at the meeting because I'm all too familiar with the bantering that occurs. It's was like a sales pitch every time I attended a meeting. Canned responses that are in no way to the point. Everything revolves around volunteer time and the threat to quit. They may even suggest taking their job. I bet that was said a few times last night.
You guys would be doing us a big favor by quitting. The way it stands now, you are doing a disservice to our community.
Not only are they doing us a disservice, they are probably stealing from us.
If they aren't, the job they are doing IS!
I think our community looks great, it doesn't necessarily mean the internals are healthy.
By the way Mr and Ms board members, everything brought up at meetings or here on the blog are legitimate concerns, not complaints. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing, its about finding a solution. Everything is combated with a defensive posture, as if you have something to hide.
Work with the grain, not against it! I can't stand people who like to hear themselves speak, thats exactly what was occurring last evening. I agree Calloway set a new low for professionalism and the president of WH should be ashamed these people are representing our community.
AWhy were they so concerned about questioning validity of the resident that is also an employee of WH. As soon as it was brought up, it was met with an offensive response. We ask the questions, you supply the answers, thats how it works!
The man in the white van strikes again.
Don't fire Joan! She is so cute and very good at her job!
Is she married?
Now that is the "post of the day"
What did someone say about my girl Joan!!??
It is what they said about you!!!!!!!!!
Now I remember why I stopped attending these meetings! It was DejaVu all over again!! I will post my observations tomorrow...........
WHY ARE WE THE ONLY CONDO (IV) THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEETINGS SET?!?!?!?! WHAT INCOMPETENCE.........HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LOSER THAT IS ON OUR BOARD THAT HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE OC GRAND JURY FOR KIDNAPPING?
WHAT A LOSER AND WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
Can someone just give the jist of it?
I do not know if I am doing this correctly but here goes. My name is George I have not lived here very long but like the community and just heard about this Blog. Are you folks really as crazy as you appear bad mouthing the community you invested in? I have only spoken to the office twice and a couple of Board members at a meeting and they appear hard working and knowledgeable. In fact they seem brilliant next to the folks writing here. The buzz and big bopper, give me a break are you people really owners or just teenagers pulling a gag?
Not only is the Big Bopper an owner for eight years now but I am a Sergeant in a NYS state police agency.
Relax, have some fun knobby!
Why Are You Affraid Of the man in the white van. He is your friend.
re:through road
oh lord there are so many drama queens. if you listen to half the people here, you would think they're building a 10 lane 75MPH interstate highway through WH.
Im for the road. It would be nice to get to goshen without having to go all the way around.
George...
Go re-read the blog. It's obvious you haven't read anything because the concerns posted here are not only valid...they are scary valid.
Just because someone is nice does not mean they are qualified to manage 2 million dollars a year.
George have you looked at the damage the snow crew has made? George have you looked at the new dumpster surrounds that are ruined? George would you be concerned if your common charges went up $140 bucks in the past 5 years? Hey George...what would you say if you moved in to Whipering Hills and 3 weeks after you moved in you received an assessment (bill) for $600 bucks to pay for the lawsuit against the old landscaping company AND then found out it was the same landscaping company with a new company name?
George...do you know we had the pool almost removed and repaired (same pool) 2 years in a row? hey George did you know that a resident AND a board member gets paid to do contract work in the community? Wouldn't you like to know he is doing the best work for the best price? Did you know this same person cut cable lines in the ground to an entire building? Wouldn't you like to know who paid to fix this? Hey George this is OUR community we have a right to know the answers to these questions. If you think we don't then you are gravely wrong and I hope that your roof doesn't fly off or your tires get punctured with roofing nails or the landscapers don't cut down your bushes. And if they do...maybe then you will care about the direction your community is going.
Don't be so naive George. Educate yourself before speaking. It's obvious that you are clueless.
Bopper...
Who cares where you work? Stating that you work for a NYS police agency could mean you work for a soup kitchen. You need to stay on topic. When you are on topic you are great but then you go off on tangents and all of your previous posts are worthless. Stay with us man we need you.
No drama queens here. If you are for the road, so be it. Doesn't mean everyone else has to be.
The man in the white van may be my friend but I am not so sure he has my wallet in his best interest.
Only stated where I work cause I don't like being referred to as a teenager.
And I think YOU work in a soup kitchen slicing cold cuts.
I am 1000% percent against a Whispering Hills Road being made a through road.
Just imagine what Sunday afternoons in the summers will be like in here. Last month I was the one who posted against any more future growth in Chester and was knocked down for "real estate" value's going up.
Well I don't want my real estate to go up, as well as my stress and worry that some animal will break into my home and I would have to use deadly force to cancel his Christmas.
Dear George the "clueless one",
As stated in a prior post, you need to go read prior entries before you go running your misinformed mouth about folks posting here!
It is not that we are bad-mouthing the community that we dwell in, just the management of it or should I say the mismanagement.......you need to wake up, or perhaps you will be awaken in the middle of the night when there is a much heavier traffic flow passing thru our community with the access road from Goshen you are in favor of! You better hope that it isen't your kid that is hit by a car just passing thru to get to Lowes!!!!! You must be kidding right Georgie ?!
Hey "big bopper".........keep them posts coming!
"
Anonymous said...
re:through road
oh lord there are so many drama queens. if you listen to half the people here, you would think they're building a 10 lane 75MPH interstate highway through WH.
Im for the road. It would be nice to get to goshen without having to go all the way around."
Drama queens?????
Glad you are for the road! Poor baby has to drive all the way around.........who's the drama queen now?
Someone told me that the family that owns Sung Hing Chinese take out...their Whispering Hills Unit in the 4000 section got robbed the other week? Is there any truth to this?
Why OH Why wouldn't the board send out a notice letting people know to keep an eye out and beware?
Not to scare people but to prevent it from happening again?
I for one would like to know when a unit get's robbed. Like bopper said, if someone comes into my unit without my permission I can guarantee they are leaving....in a black plastic bag.
My neighbor told me about that robbery as well. Probably was a employee who was fired getting revenge or someone was watching them close at the restuarant while the other was on the cell phone cleaning the place out.
I wish someone would come into my place, they will get a set of wings and halo one size fits all.
I know one night when arriving from work at 3 in the morning a NY state police car was parked nearby in the dark, maybe had something to do with it.
I'm very grateful where I live because in my section all of us look out for one another and tell each other when crimes happen and if someone strange happens by.
thats what they get for forgettin my eggroll
I am SO glad that our distinguished BOARD is on top of this!
Fu%$*! a*& h&^%
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Interesting things that occurred at the meeting:
The proposed road will not be Whispering Hills Drive. There are 2 areas that were mentioned as possibilites. One is Clubhouse Road, near the first pool closest to the entrance and the other is Peach, near the 4000 section. Not sure about anyone else, but this is quite a different scenario than which had been reported. The only entity that will ultimately have the power to do anything about the road will be the VILLAGE of Chester. Not the Town, and not Goshen.
The Board is against the road. I should hope so - they are supposed to represent our interests and with the exception of George and a few other lazy people who can't be bothered driving 90 extra seconds, you will be hard pressed to find anyone in favor of the road.
For now, it seems that any approvals are quite a ways away - no permits have been issued to build, and the only thing that has occurred was that the parcel of land has been purchased. As per the HOA Board.
Another thing that came about that I found most interesting is that no one seems to monitor the various contractors the HOA has agreements with. At one point, Mr. Calloway (between bites of his dinner, of course) said that the Board did spot check on the landscapers(apparently Landscaping and the related services we pay for are a big deal around here). By the time he finished his dinner, the residents we re asked to monitor the landscapers because no one from the HOA was doing it. Rather confusing - and contradictory.
I specifically asked if the landscaping was done on a "Time and Materials" basis or did we pay a flat fee for a specific scope of services. The reason I asked this (for those of you who think I'm nothing but a malcontent) was because of the fact that the snow removal company and the landscaping company are one in the same. I was concerned that the cost to repair the damage done by snow removal (torn up grass - or weeds - depending on where in the complex you live, replacement of the concrete car stops, etc.)was being buried in the money we pay to the landscaper. Well, the landscaping contract as we were told, is a flat fee for the season based on a specific scope of work. So, any extra work to repair the damages done during the winter are not being done at an EXTRA charge. As per the HOA Board.
The tennis courts near Clubhouse 1 are sinking. They are supposedly sinking because when they were built, the developer apparently didn't stabilize the ground below well enough (apparently that area was once wetlands). Cost to repair and reopen? Roughly a million dollars - so we were told. There is no repairing them, demo and rebuild is what would be necessary.
When the 4% heard that number, it was not well received. I can't say I blame them. Although I believe having tennis courts here is a nice amenity, I personally haven't used them. As a matter of fact, I see less people using the tennis courts than those who attend Board or HOA meetings (if that is possible). I would be remiss in seeing them go, but would be more upset at the amount it would cost me in assessments to have them replaced. But that's just me.
At any rate, it was agreed that when the time comes to decide what to actually do about that problem, it would be put out to vote by the residents. As per the HOA Board.
One real piece of information came about as a follow up to something that as far as I am aware, had only effected Condo III.
At the Open Cond meeting back in November, it was dislosed that $30,000 was paid to replace roofs that "blew off". I inquired why this was not handled as an insurance claim (believing all we would have to pay would be the deductible - which should have been less than $30K). I was told, that we didn't carry insurance for that type of coverage.
Needless to say, I nearly lost my mind over that one- I had visions of assessments being imposed to pay for damages done to the buildings that should be covered by a basic home owners policy. That was a potential financial liability that I was not willing to continue. It was simply unacceptable.
When I broached the matter at the HOA meeing, the Board President immediately appologized and said he had provided mis-information. He stated that it wasn't roofs that were replaced, but areas on the buildings (crickets? he called them as far as I was able to hear)were allowing wind driven rain and water to infiltrate some of the units. The $30K was spent to cover the cost to repair those items.
And as far as our insurance coverage? We are covered to repalce in kind on the buildings for damages incurred. Less our deductible per occurrance, ofd course. As per the HOA Board.
Those were some of the tidbits I thought worth sharing (for now). Some good, some bad, but we are expected to take what we are told at face value.
I encourage anyone who was there at the meeting to chime in and write up some of what you took away from the meeting that was told to you by the HOA. This could be a medium to keep tabs on what we were told and to keep them to their word.
I closing, I would like to say that I think Joan in the office is one of the few, shining assests we have here. She is always polite, helpful and informative. Anytime I have called, she has been pleasant and helpful. Those of you who want her head on a stick need to remeber that she is an employee, not a Board member. She is not in a decision making capacity - she does what is asked of her. That is her job. She is entitled to earn a lving for herself, isn't she? Don't drag her into the politics between the residents and the HOA. She has nothing to do with it.
P.S. Keep up the posts Bopper & Buzz - we need your feedback and support. Keeps the rest of us going :-)
I absoulutely love Joan. She has helped me numerous times and has gone beyond the call of duty of some occassions as well.
I also have seen the abuse she takes from people and how she tries very hard to be polite to those in our society who always need to have a fight about something.
Concerning the tennis courts, that entire area is always soggy and wet. I've tried taking my dog to the dog run area there and its always muddy and wet. I mainly see kids playing basketball there and since we have another basket ball court tear up the courts and make it greenlands again.
Thanks to all who enjoy my posts even though I do have a warped sense of humour.
"In favor of Joan, Big- Bopper and Kelly"...........
I must admit (w/no hands tie) that all posted by the aformentioned folks are in gOOd standing in my eyes!
I was quite relieved that the road issue is a mute point @ this time. This does not mean that we should rest, on the contrary we should keep this situation luminated at full throttle...........
What a shame that ONLY 25-30 community members found the meeting on 1/17 worthy of their attendance!
NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY who was not in attendance has any voice in chastising us who were!
Got a problem with out united voice?
Well then, get off your collective asses and be there!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps, we might take your dissension seriously.
As in any situation, community, etc, etc, we have endless scenarios of promise and hope. We must be proactive if we are to see this "vision" come to fruition!
Peace Out...........
Love ya Buzz! You're one of the True!!
"Just a reminder again...
Posts containing racism, hate or harm and derogatory comments will not be tolerated. The post will be deleted, in worst case the author's ip address will be banned.
Also watch your language. This forum does not allow swearing, and flaming other users will not be accepted!
Discussions and disagreements are part of blogging. Become a positive influence on fellow community members. Always keep your comments clean & respectful."
My apologies....... :<(
Anyone interested in The Hills and related access road - The Hills of Chester.........off Route 94, approx 24 homes (reduced from 200) - Background: The Planning Board objects to only access through Whispering Hills. The applicant was looking to get approval from Goshen for a connecting road to Arcadia but an emergency access is all that will be allowed. Public hearing open to Feb 6, 2008 - No further details at this time.
THE PRESERVATION COLLECTIVE website, link below, offers information about Development Projects critical to our quality of life here Whispering Hills. Please visit:
http://preservationcollective.com/chester_developments.html
to read about The Hills, the related access road and other current relivant matters of concern.
If you want to thier monthly email newsletter on "what happening?" at the town meetings, just email info@thepreservationcollective.com
Next Town Board meetings:
Regular Meeting Feb 13 and Feb 26
Next Planning Board Meeting: Feb 6 at 7:30 pm Agenda not yet posted. Public Hearing announcements for Tetz Mining Application and Hills of Chester subdivision.
Whispering Hills offers residents a functional system of process which supports all aspects of community support and development, protection of our quality of life and which serves as a platform to facilitate improvements. Our HOA, Condo Boards and community of owner/residents collaborate in a participatory process of cooperation and mutual respect.
The owner/resident is the voice as well as the facilitator – our HOA and Condo Board
Members are owner/resident volunteers, representatives of and for our community and with the same vested interest as all of their respected neighbors.
Our Condo Board Members are positioned to respectfully assemble community input (concerns, criticisms and suggestions) to share with our HOA and in collaborative effort develop action plans and take action to make change. The community decides what is important and works cooperatively with the Condo Board and its President as well as our HOA to effectuate change.
The HOA, is largely an administrative arm responsible for coordination of community services and community business. Additionally our HOA and Condo Board Presidents are our liaisons to the larger community of our vendors, our Town, the Village and beyond.
Voted in by our owner/members our HOA and Condo Board representatives will act on what the community by and large has expressed as its will - and will follow the expressed will of the community – not that of any particular individual including its own members.
At Whispering Hills we have the good fortune of having an HOA with the combination of depth of community historical knowledge, experience working with our local municipalities and regional knowledge together with an expressed will to do the work of our community.
Our HOA and our Condo Board Members and Presidents welcome, invite and urge all WH owner/residents to join the process. Communicate your concerns. Bring action plans and suggestions as to how to tackle any of the challenges at hand. Share your expertise. Commitment your time and skills. Become a positive active force.
Thank you in advance for anything that you do for the benefit of all.
CD1
It would be nice if that were the way it was, but its not.
anonymous said...
"The HOA, is largely an administrative arm responsible for coordination of community services and community business. Additionally our HOA and Condo Board Presidents are our liaisons to the larger community of our vendors, our Town, the Village and beyond."
Your kidding, right?
As of the last weeks meeting I can assure you this is not the case. Nice fluff, its a bunch of crap! Read the post from Kelly detailing the minuets. Thats exactly what is going on here! Change needs to occur starting with exploring other management opportunities. It's clear we are bigger than ever therefore we need professional to take it from here. It may have worked 10 years ago when this area was primarily farmland, it ain't working now!
What is everyone complaining about? They do the best they can with the resources they have. Considering all the time they put in is volunteer, I think they do a hell of a job.
I have lived here for 14 years, first time I've been on this site. It took me 2 days to read through the posts which were very informative. It's about time someone took a stance on residents behalf. Over the years I have seen people and ideas come and go, nothing ever sticks. Glad to see this forum has a concerned audience, I was beginning to think there was no hope in regaining the respect we (homeowners)were once given. Whoever runs this thing, keep up the good work, something good will come of it. I see a few members of the board have posted in the past. It would be uplifting to see more management participation. Will write again soon.
The Cowboy
Whispering Hills is the product of our collective efforts. If your position is that nothing ever happens and or "they" aren’t doing enough" or "they" don’t have "our" best interests at heart or that "they" mean well but are inept, et you need to realize that you have the power to make change.
One way would be to contact your Condo Board Representative ask for a list of issues that have been presented as concerns by other citizens, ask for a list of other concerns - take these and post them on the blog - become a messenger of relevant information -
Balance this by working with other members of your condo group, ask them what they are concerned about, and add your own concerns.
Present this information to your Condo Board - help them by adding to the effort to get others involved in the process.
We have an opportunity to serve ourselves there are no victims here - just a community that needs to realize its obligation to itself.
The good news is that while we are deciding whether to be active or sit back and complain the HOA and Condo Boards are covering the everyday business –
With sincere thanks and best wishes to our committed volunteers
CD1
Doing a hell of a job with what they have....doing the best they can?
Please tell me you are kidding?
PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE KIDDING?
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 2 MILLION FREAKIN' DOLLARS HERE PEOPLE.
THE BEST YOU CAN DO IT NOT NOT NOT GOOD ENOUGH. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
IF THAT IS THE ATTITUDE...WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DOOMED..DOOMED.
You call this mutually respectful?
Let me tell you 1 thing:
If a board member was eating during the meeting. That is all the proof I need that THAT board member could care less about the meeting. How disrespectful !!
Another board member was on vacation? Didn't the board know they were on vacation when they scheduled the meeting? Didn't the board member know there was a meeting before they booked their vacation? How disrespectful !!
A board member was doubletalking? How RUDE !
Another board member arrived late ? How disrespectful !
Someone wanted to call off the meeting early because of 1 inch of snow? How disrespectful !
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund and the Mutual Fund manager came late to an investment meeting, came eating, was doubletalking, or suggested we end the meeting early...how well would you think they were managing your money? Would you put up with it?
Please people...wake up and smell the coffee. We need a professional company who will ACT PROFESSIONAL, and treat our situation, our community, and our money PROFESSIONALLY !!!!
WAKE UP WHISPERING HILLS !!!
I really hope that javascript login at the bottom of the page is not meant to be used as any type of real security.
No, the script at the bottom of the screen is nothing more than a representation of what we have planned. The entire site is being moved to a hosting provider this spring/early summer.
Thanks for your concern,
The Boss
member was eating during the meeting-
The member was likely hungry. Someone did bring snacks (I didn’t hear anyone thank anyone so if you are out there thanks for the snacks) Why shouldn't we make ourselves comfortable???
Ever heard of a working lunch?
Isn’t multitasking " all the rage?
Another board member was on vacation?
The board, like any group (even paid professional group) is able to function while allowing people to
be people, they eat, take vacation, go to the bathroom , suffer illness or befall unforeseen extenuating circumstances -Unreasonable?????
A board member was double-talking? How RUDE ! Questions were raised and the board member gave in depth information (including references to history that were not appreciated by all). My sense is that the speaker was trying to cover a lot of ground and in that sense might have been speaking more broadly and with less precision than some might have liked.
Another board member arrived late ? It was snowing some of us have concerns about driving and or walking on icy surfaces.
Someone wanted to call off the meeting ????? Not really and of course that didn’t happen - but concern based on the weather was voiced.
Guess the "donated" time they are donating really isn't much...is it?
I don’t know how you weigh the infractions that you perceive however unimportant to the productivity of the function weighs in as a counter weight to all of the good that the board does - there is a lot of work being done all be it " adequate".
If you had 2 million dollars in a Mutual Fund ........
It would be rare to actually find yourself in a room with a fund manager, unless she/he was a family member at a must attend function. Like Board Management Fund management is a team effort with various specialists in various fields managing portfolios (of funds and investments) Unlike our Board Members Fund Managers
never sit in a room with "the customers" - sales reps, referred to as investment advisers do that. The managers make money off of gains, reps make money off of each trade/transaction, there are incentives and everyone on the "other side of the table" is in business to make money and is under no obligation to act as with your best interest at heart = they are of course protected by you - read the fine print " Past performance is no indication of future gains, the market has risks ,et., and you sign here indicating that you accept full responsibility if things don’t go as planned - and you are happy to pay for this ?????
A management company might be a good idea, of course we need to determine related cost, to accomplish this we need to communicate exactly what the job is, we need a board or group that will liaison on the behalf of the community to ensure that the management company does act with our best interest at heart. We need to assess our needs as a community and be able to articulate those need so as to present performance criteria and need to monitor their performance. Actually, when you think about it we should start effectuating this plan now and use our HOA and Condo Board to work through trails - the only real differences would be that we don’t have to pay them, they are actually members of the community who do care about more than just padding their pockets, they have direct experience with the community and they are willing to do the job.
Lets try this - after all this is what we are supposed to be doing anyway - right?
Whats really funny is that some in here are complaining about what happenned in the meeting from what they READ in here.
Big Bopper didn't make it because Mrs Bopper had to work late and was delayed due to the snow.
So I won't say anything except I wish I was there for the free snacks!
More double talk and excuses.
It's nice to know we now have a contributor that does nothing but justify every action of the board.
Hey Bop, my mom was there and gave me every detail of what went on.
Evaluation
When you work for a company your evaluated on a periodic basis. I suggest that every person who works for Whispering Hills be evaluated. If there is enough complains about a person then appropiate steps should be taken.
The process should go like this every persons name and scale one to five with a write in for comments on a person. The WHOA should send an evaluation to every homeowner in Whispering Hills.
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.
-Plato
I don't know if a management company would be any better.
Smarter:
Very intelligent (Plato) you must be a man of the arts?
Everyone should be aware that the community is subject to hefty fines for dumping of items other than regular trash in and around our trash huts and down around the receptacles at the " circles" .
It’s so typical to see the huts and general trash areas over run with bulk garbage - especially when members do their Spring-cleaning, move out or move in – that this might be mistaken for acceptable behavior.
Just for the record it’s not OK to place assorted large items and non-trash items in and around the trash huts or the trash containers at the ends of our roads.
Our Community is subject to significant fines significant because of this. This is a tremendous waste of money that can be avoided.
The community rents a roll off dumpster (I know this since last summer I had to get rid a few things) for our use in disposing of large items.
If you have large and or non-trash items to dispose of please contact the office and make arrangements to drop off into the container. If the service hours don’t work for you or you dont want to have to handle this yourself arrangements can often be made for pick up and disposal of items through our office using our landscaping company for a nominal fee. This is a real convenience when need be.
If you are cleaning or moving or replacing things and have non trash items that need to be disposed of please do the right thing.
If you see anyone using the trash hut area for non-trash items let them know how to dispose of these items without subjecting all of us to unnecessary fines that drive up our operating costs.
If you have any ideas on how ot stop this happening please share Just an FYI - CD1
The idea is to create a “Whispering Hills Community Garden” for the Spring/Summer/ early Fall growing seasons.
At the tennis court area that is too costly to repair and is currently without any good use –An “Urban Style Garden” might work for us at very low start up cost and with great results. Members would participate by growing potted plants such as herbs, potted vegetables, flowers and ET. in a “grow-your-own and share the extra community garden. The existing fence would serve as a barrier to keep the deer out. We would need some basic garden style tables; a bench or two would be nice too. This would work over the existing macadam to create an enjoyable space. Members can start bulbs in pots in our homes and move our plants over to the “Whispering Hills Community Garden” for the Spring/Summer/ early Fall growing seasons.
The challenge would be to bring water access to the location. We could eventually create rainwater capture, which is a fun way to go.
In the fall we might want to invite a local grower to bring in pumpkins for sale and in winter we might be able to work with a local grower or our landscapers to bring in X mass trees, wreaths and Chanukah bushes from a local grower. (?????)
A “Whispering Hills Community Garden- Grow your own” would
add another amenity to the community, would encourage community interaction inclusive of all of our generations and would be aesthetically pleasing. I think this is a great way to replace a potential negative with a positive – what do you think?
The community garden sounds great!
After we set up the garden hopefully Unicorns and Lepricons show up.
And some "magic weeds"!
Humboldt County!
The garden idea isn't bad but I think we should divide the space into 2 sections. 1 recreational and the other for the garden idea or something. We need the courts, If they cut the project in half and put 2 tennis courts opposed to 4 it would cost 1/2 the amount to fund the project. The reason no one uses the facilities is because they are in horrible shape! If they fix the area up, I guarantee people would play. We need recreation not a growing spot. Frankly, the garden idea is for old people.
Define "Old People"!
I'm new. Why does the HOA need my SSN on the contact sheet? All the legal agreements have been taken care of during escrow. I dont see the need for me to give this out.
Interesting collection of recent posts. It's refreshing to see some new people chiming in (it's not that hard to tell when someone posting anonymously is new - especially when you are well versed).
Personally, I did not relinquish my SS# to the Board. They know where I live and know my vehicle plate numbers. My attorney at the closing agreed the did not need it for their records.
So, this past Monday (Martin Luther King Day) I sat down with 2 huge binders of minutes from Condo III that were collected over the last 20 years.
The beginning sets of minutes rreally didn't offer any useful information. The bulk of their discussions seemed to revolve around patios and imposing pooper scooper violations and collecting money from the sponsor. Occassionally, an estimate from a contractor would make an appearance, but really didn't provide any insight.
The later minutes were even worse. Projects awarded to contractors and no mention of the competetive bids nor the prices for the work to be done. The roofing contract was there, apparantly prepared by an attorney, and converted to a standard AIA contract. AIA stands for American Institue of Architects, and they have contracts and invoicing forms that are accepted industry-wide (that would be Real Estate and Construction Industry).
As time went on, the meeting minutes became more and more vague, and less than nothing was able to be determined by reviewing this "information".
Just to clarify, for those of you prepared to shoot me down, I was not seeking a verbatim account of each meeting. I was however, looking for the more important elements of business that are decided upon by our Board to be at the very least, mentioned.
When work is put out to bid, who are the competing contractors? How do we know the work is even being bid or are they just awarding to a company they have dealt with in the past? The only major project mentions that an alternate bid was obtained for was the roof work. What about the paving (yet to be done) that has cause my commons charges to increase in 2008? I see that Upstate Concrete & Masonry out of Harriman is awarded the contract, and they have been working in this complex for years. The process of awarding contracts in excess of $200,00 was less than clearly indicated.
Arrears were infrequently mentioned in earlier minutes, but not one in at least the last 7 years.
Good thing nobody hangs the purchse of their unit on reviewing that pile of paper- oh yeah - if you can even get permission to review it.
Bottom line, the biggest problem is the lack of communication between the HOA and the residents. Double talking, and snide remarks (Jeff Jones' contribution to the open meeting), Board Members showing up late (the meeting was planned a year in advance - leave your job early to get there on time - I did), Board members eating their dinner (again, the meeting was planned a year in advance, have a late lunch or eat before you get there) are all signs of disrespect to the rest of us who mad arrangements, left work early, made baby sitting arrangements, or whatever it took to be able to attend the meeting. That type of behavior just ampliphies an attitude that has resulted in the animosity we now have to deal with.
It is irrelevent that they are all volunteers. It does not allow them to withold information or to act in a disrespectful manner to residents. That was supposed to be an open meeting. A place to air concerns, complaints and ask questions. Contractors were defended, and resident's concerns were dismissed. It was a joke and I can see why people who have attended those meetings in the past have given up attending. Why seek out the aggravation.
At the last open meeting of HOA a woman voiced that she is repeatedly awakened by garbage collection in the early AM. Board members expressed resistance to idea that they could/would/should do anything about it.
Board members noted that the company that we use is private and their services are contracted at a rate far under the village/town rate and added that by using this company we avoid fines that we would be subject to if the town/city officials were contracted to handle our disorganized garbage.
Regarding the initial concern of early AM noise by sanitation services, that’s a tough one. It seems that they start at one end of the complex and work their way through and around – one way or the other someone would be the first AM stop on the schedule. These services typically start in early AM so ????? Any suggestions here?????
The women also advised that she had received a notice from O&R that they would need access to the interior of her unit - board members offered that they would oversee access if she wanted to give them a key. The woman declined noting that she would prefer to be in her home when the service inspection would take place. If anyone else is contacted by O & R and would like for a member of HOA to chaperone the service call contact HOA.
You wrote: When work is put out to bid, who are the competing contractors?
How do we know the work is even being bid or are they just awarding to a company they have dealt with in the past?
If we want to know we need to ask and we need to be involved early on when these projects are first being discussed if we are going to take a position in how they are managed.
Who bids and whether bid and who to ask depends on whether the project is an HOA project or a Condo I, II, III, or IV project.
If you have a particular project in mind ask HOA and your Condo board president or members.
You wrote: The only major project mentions that an alternate bid was obtained for was the roof work.
When Condo II faced roof replacement Jeff (Condo II board President) asked for help from the Condo II subcommittee (a small group of volunteers that wanted to help).
Since at least two other Condo groups had already had their roofs replaced there were some lessons learned by their experience that Condo II was able to benefit from. Condo II subcommittee members did some research and put together a project description (scope of project, et.), did a discovery to identify roofing companies in the region and researched references. Bid requests were sent out with the customary bid due by format and we called to ask whether the companies planned to bid the job more than a few did. Arrangements were made for each interested bidder to visit our site to evaluate the project. Jeff met with each representative and gathered a lot of very helpful expert advise regarding use of various comparative materials and procedures. Formal bid responses came in and were evaluated and some variables were researched then a final review was made, a consensus was reached and a contractor was selected. This was a Condo II project and the Condo II Board President asked for help from the community to do the work to get the job of selecting contractor done. Community members did some of the research and support work. Jeff put a lot of time and effort in to make it happen. The outcome was very successful in terms of cost value, quality of workmanship, execution and community involvement.
What about the paving (yet to be done) that has cause my commons charges to increase in 2008? I see that Upstate Concrete & Masonry out of Harriman is awarded the contract, and they have been working in this complex for years.
Please clarify what areas does this pertain to a particular Condo group or HOA?
I do not believe that this involves all driveway paving, I’ve heard in the past that the Condo II schedule has driveways a couple of years out with no clear decision as to how to fund this work as of yet and no estimates yet.
The process of awarding contracts in excess of $200,00 was less than clearly indicated.
I am not aware of a specific dollar amount that provokes any certain process course such as bidding. I am an advocate of the bid process.
CD1
In my opinion, all purchasing/contractural proposals involving the HOA/individual condo boards, should be regulated by a documented WHHOA Procurement Policy. That policy should include direction appropriate to the value of each bid and retention of the documents. Most regulated companies have the bar set at $5K--that is--any proposal $5K or more requires a minimum of 3(written) bids . . . but we may want to do some "fine-tuning" on that $ level for WH purposes.
Condo II roofing project was a complete mess. Unit 2823 had a roof leak that lasted over 8 months before it was fixed.
The driveway down the 2800 block is a complete mess. Anytime it rains the water backs up and flood the garages.
The residents are never given an opportunity to be involved in the bidding process because the people in charge are padding their pockets. That is why there are no other bids on record.
We use an alternate garbage company to avoid fines? That is a complete cover up. Again, more padding going on.
CD1 are you on the board?
Response to you wrote
2823 had a roof leak that lasted over 8 months before it was fixed.
I am not on the board and am not aware - I had a roof leak once, before our roof was replaced and the cause was need for work around my chimney - it was taken care of immediately????
You wrote The driveway down the 2800 block is a complete mess. Anytime it rains the water backs up and flood the garages.
This sounds like a drainage issue. Some measures have been taken to remedy these problems - replacement of the driveways is part of the plan for the not so distant future but in the interim its my understanding that these problems need to be presented to the board president who does what he can to get something done to address it.
You wrote The residents are never given an opportunity to be involved in the bidding process because the people in charge are padding their pockets.
I have been involved in the bid process along with other members so I cannot agree. I am not aware of how any board member would pad their pockets - are you?
You wrote That is why there are no other bids on record.
I know for a fact that there were multiple bids presented on the Condo II Roof project - they might not be part of the records of minutes that you reviewed - have you asked anyone ????
You wrote We use an alternate garbage company to avoid fines? That is a complete cover up. Again, more padding going on.
Really - did you do a comparative analysis of rates- if yes then please educate us if not then how do you justify making such an accusation - basically you are calling people thieves
CD1 are you on the board?
Nope, are you ????
January 28, 2008
CD1
You put ??????? after fixed immediately. Are you not sure if it was fixed immediately or are you asking me if it was??????
Not a drainage issue at all. Why would you assume it was drainage? It is a pitch problem.
What remedy has been take for the incorrect drainage problem? Did we spend money on a drainage problem. Sure sounds like you are saying we did.
How does presenting serious and immediate problems to a board of volunteers serve the community?
It's apparent you haven't ever been to an HOA meeting if you think just presenting problems get's anything fixed.
Anyone find out how many homeowners owe HOA fees in the tune of thousands? Didn't think so.
Has the board gotten comparitive bids on trash removal? Didn't think so.
Tell me this CD1. Why is a member of our own board doing MOST of the repair work? I asked for the comparitive bids on the deck work, the railing work, the pressure washing, balcony replacement, building numbering, saddle replacement and concrete work. Never heard back about my request.
Answer me that CD1.
CD1 answer me this. We just spent thousands of dollars replacing the doors to the garbage huts and thousands of dollars replacing the siding (which the board member did) on the garbage huts. Question: Why aren't we holding the landscaping company responsible for fixing it?
I asked the board 2 times and still no answer.
Am I a member. No.
2800 Person
Seems you have alot of problems in 2800. What have you done to help? Which is easier. A Monday night quaterback or one playing on the field. It seems that you are truly a Monday night quaterback. You only have complaints no solutions. What have you done for this community? You pay your common charges and then complain. You my friend are a part of the problem you are definately not the solution. Get real.
We don't need your kind of person. If there was a garden in Whispering Hills you would be complaining that you didn't get your fair share. Is the glass half full or have empty. What type person are you. Type A.
To I am a member. No.
Way too much negative energy for me -
Thanks CD1
dads8t2 - your post regarding -
Suggestion for a policy for a bid process for projects including direction appropriate to the value of each bid and retention of the documents with the bar set at an appropriate level - I agree that this is a great way to go.
I will ask what projects are on the table for the near future and whether scheduled projects will be put out to bid.
I expet the list to include consideration being given to hiring a Management Company and the Driveway Paving Project. Will share when known. If you are aware of any pending projects please list them. Thanks CD1
Well, I feel like I can answer for the 2800 block since I live in it and not afraid to post my name. Carries more validity if you ask me.
There is exactly 1 garage in our block that floods and yes it is an angle problem. There was some patch work done and the angle leads the water right into someones garage. Actually, the gal hasn't complained once to me. I believe someone built her a "sort of" speed bump to block the water.
The roof @ unit 2823 was leaking. it was leaking for exactly 6 weeks before it was fixed. I was friendly with the neighbor. It did take a little time to fix but what doesn't.
For all that are complaining about the negativity....wait. As soon as boss locks this place down it will stop. Because people will then have a name and when people have a name and a face....peoples comments come with a whole lot more accountability.
I am not backing up the HOA, the mnembers or the like. I am just straightning out a few of the so called facts. I for one would like to know who is commenting on my block?
As for everything else commented here....this is exactly why I am no longer a part of the solution. I am not going to spend hours re-hashing why...it's just the way it is.
I am just plain old tired of exactly what everyone experienced at the last meeting. If I really get down and dirty...the improvement versus the fight just isn't worth it.
CD1 - No dissrespect but I can absolutely understand the negative energy from some of these people. Some people who have been involved for 20+ years have "just a bit" of negative energy built up. This is a great forum to let it loose.
Some others (like me) ignore it as much as possible.
This blog...just as a train wreck...you just need to look.
Dave,
Nice to see you back.
K
I hope to make this as clear as possible. I have been reading the blog entries and have noticed that I have been protrayed as a slack-minded, dinner-munching, non-chalant harbinger of non-professionalism. Allow me the lattitude to deal with these posts in a proper fashion. The reason and rationale for my "dinner munching" (they were cookies by the way), as disrespectful and non-professional as it may seem at first glance, is that after working a 14 hour day and having to go to the hospital in Westchester County to see my NEWBORN son (emergency birth at 25 weeks of gestation) I realized that I still had to make an OPEN board meeting. So either blow off the meeting or munch cookies at the meeting. Thank you for all of your sympathy, (OH!! That's RIGHT...NO ONE THOUGHT TO GET INFORMATION AS TO WHY....NO ONE THOUGHT THAT I HAVE A CAREER, FAMILY AND A NEWBORN IN THE NEONATAL ICU) That's the problem, no one thinks. Next time, regardless of the importance to the residents that would like questions answered, I think I will just blow off the meeting if I am to be attacked personally for trying to get something with the semblance of nourishment in my body AND not miss a meeting. But I digress. I apologize to the residents at large if my cookie munching showed any disrespect, but talking to me, finding the truth about a situation and not villifying me without any knowledge would be a lot easier (now that would be respectful). Next, Kelly, you have every right to voice your concerns and opinions, however, I am on the board to try and do the best I can with the tools I am given. Can things be done better, YES!! Can you contribute to these things? YES!! Will you run for the board and allow us to make use of your expertise? That remains to be seen. As I said at the meeting, If you have a problem with anything going on with the board, feel free to run for office and make the changes you feel would benefit the community at large. Don't sit idly by the wayside and complain without doing anything about it. I ran for Condo IV because THERE WAS NO BOARD!!! The entire board moved out of WH or resigned. I did exactly what I am telling you to do. RUN FOR THE SEAT AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Third, for those who think I was double talking and/or NOT answering questions at the meeting, I say this. When you put a question on the table, allow the board to ANSWER. Only then will you receive a full answer. I counted 12 times where I went to answer a question and was simply "talked over" and never got to fully answer anything posed to me personally. Next, in as much as a listing of meeting dates for Condo IV, I have just finished them tonight. (I have to consider everyone on the boards' schedule and not just my own, so coordination of dates is not the easiest) In addition, to the person that called me unprofessional and a moron, are you running for the board? Have you attended a meeting for Condo IV?? (I have a few hundred dollars that say you haven't been to a Condo IV meeting since I had to raise the common charges) ANY TAKERS?? I know due to the fact that the same 7 residents appear at every meeting and I know them by first name and unit number. Lastly, and I do apologize for the length of this post, Kelly, I am an accountant, with an extensive background in Construction Auditing. I for one, can read an AIA, in addition am well versed in change orders, charge-backs and RFP's. I am proud of the work that is being done with condo IV's roofing and am sure that the residents are also pleased.(At least that is what I am told to my face) I will address two more points then end this post. First, having NO BOARD AT ALL, constituting a brand new board and accomplishing what we have in the few years I have been president of IV has been a daunting task to say the least. No assistance, no minutes, guidance from a former board member (Thanks Jack), members that NEVER attended meetings (well, after the first one) and so on..... It has been said that it doesn't matter that we are volunteers, you are WRONG!!! We volunteered in the face of NOT knowing what we know now in order to become part of the SOLUTION. Can the same be said of those that seek to villify me? If so, I look forward to seeing you partake in the elections and make the changes you deem necessary for this community to function as you see fit. Then, when you see your efforts trashed by so many that are so adept at doing NOTHING, please revisit this site and re-read your previous posts.
I am open to any assistance that Condo IV residents would like to provide. In addition, to converse in a dialogue allows BOTH sides to work together as allies not adversaries.
A Good Evening to you all.
What kind of cookies were they?
William,
First off...congratulations to you and your family and my prayers are for a speedy and happy deliver of your newborn son to your home.
If you would have communicated as you just did to the members that night I am sure you would have not heard a peep as to how some felt about your eating during the meeting. You know what our wives say..."communication is the key to...bla bla bla :)"
As for no board or doing the best you can. I am sure everyone is appreciative of your efforts...as little or large amount of time you put in. I think the point is that we all have other lives, families and things to do and leaving the management of 2+ million dollars up to people who can't dedicate the amount of time necessary and people who have experience with the work at hand is unacceptable.
I hope Kelly doesn't run for a seat. Why, because then she won't be able to have the free time to do the things she loves with a clear head. She won't be able to have a life other than the board and her 9-5 because it's too much work for an group of un-trained, un-qualified, un-schooled individuals. This is just my opinion. We need professionals. AND the thought of the HOA not even entertaining the idea of getting FREE bids for the contract is beyond me.
How can we not call a few organizations and see what they have to say? How do we know if it cost more? Maybe it will? We don't know.
With such closed minds...I have no desire to dedicate 1 minute of my time. It goes to show me how much time and energy is put into all aspects of the tasks at hand.
I had a neighbor who ran for the board about 2 years ago. Honestly....part of the reason they MOVED OUT of Whispering Hills (1.5 years after they moved in) was because of her experience with the others. I don't know how much of it was because of that but I know for a fact it was a factor.
These are just my opinion and .02. Trust me when I tell you...I am not alone here. I feel blessed that my family makes enough money that I don't need to be bothered with increses in common charges. The simple fact is....it's not worth my energy, my time, and the pain and suffering to even think about it.
When I am dead...I'll be happy I didn't.
Again William....Congrats on the new addition!
William-
We all have problems, and issues, I hope yours resolves themselves and all end in good health as soon as possible. Even with a hectic schedule, your eating your dinner and talking with your mouth full gives a poor appearance. You needn't go to extremes to make your point such as blowing off the meeting to eat dinner.
In response to your comments:
"If you have a problem with anything going on with the board, feel free to run for office and make the changes you feel would benefit the community at large. Don't sit idly by the wayside and complain without doing anything about it." I am not sitting idly by - and why should I bother running for a board seat- members of the Condo III Board, Danielle I believe, discounted anything I said because "I haven't lived here long enough". And Jeff Jones, dismissed my questions with snide remarks because at present, I work in commercial real estate, not residential, although I have done my fair share of residential management. With attitudes towards residents such as that why would anyone want to run for a seat? My time is limited and free time is sporadic at best. I would like to be able to contribute more but cannot commit to a regular schedule of availability. If you could think of something that could be done on a limited basis, please feel free to let me know what it is - I'm all ears.
"Third, for those who think I was double talking and/or NOT answering questions at the meeting, I say this. When you put a question on the table, allow the board to ANSWER. Only then will you receive a full answer. I counted 12 times where I went to answer a question and was simply "talked over" and never got to fully answer anything posed to me personally." You did your share of talking over people and anticipating questions. I could count several times that you cut people off and didn't let them finish their questions or comments. In your effort to make a difference and help, please tell me what type of assistance was given to the woman behind me that asked if anything could be done about the garbage trucks picking up at 3AM? All she received as an answer was that - and this was your response - "we cannot control the contractors". To add insult to injury, we were treated to an entertaining lesson about how the private carting company is 1/3 less than municipal trash pick up. At no point in time, did ANYONE, yourself included, offer this resident a basic customer service type response such as "that is earlier than they should be on the property, we will make a call to the carting company and see what can be done". Is that so hard? Everyone sitting at that table was more concerned with justifying the actions of the contractors or vindicating themselves that the only issues I saw specifically addressed by the end of the meeting were that when the time comes to decide what to do about the tennis courts it would be put out to vote to the residents and that the Board would try to keep residents abreast of the progress on the road issue.
"I am an accountant, with an extensive background in Construction Auditing. I for one, can read an AIA, in addition am well versed in change orders, charge-backs and RFP's. I am proud of the work that is being done with condo IV's roofing and am sure that the residents are also pleased." That's great - I am thrilled that Condo IV is in such capable hands when it comes to reviewing an AIA draw form. I am not clear on how that expertise translates to my condo, which if you read my earlier post reflects the fact that there is no documentation for projects, sans the recent roofing project incorporated into the minute books or mention of the bidding process or who was formulating the scopes of work. Do you lend your talents to all the other Condos? Or just Condo IV and what crosses the HOA's path?
I would also like to mention that of all the things addressed on this blog site and all the potential responses you could have given on a number of issues, you chose to defend yourself. Will you ever read this site again? Will you take the opportunity in front of you to utilize this site as a means to communicate with the residents in a constructive manner? By reading the posts and concerns and comments there's a lot of questions and legitimate concerns. You need to be able to read between the lines and see what is really being said and filter out the snide remarks, negative rhetoric and well, sometimes, generally stupidity. This would be your big opportunity to get your point across, give your opinion uninterrupted and be the Board Member that reaches out to the residents and makes a difference by actually responding to people - which is apparently lacking around here. This is the means to communicate nowadays - especially for those with limited time. The Board doesn't seem to be interested in this site as a legitimate sounding board - are you willing let this site be part of the solution?
Best of luck with the new baby - I hope all is well.
To Big Bopper - Not Nutritional enough.....
To David - I can and do understand the frustration and the headache all too well. However, when Condo IV was faced with having no board and a CC fee increase on 150 - 175 in order to bring a management team to run JUST CONDO IV, I had to think long and hard about A) Having someone with no vested interest in the community literally running it; B) Not knowing what kind of contract and service delivery would occur; C) Knowing that EVERYTHING down to the last nail in a fence would be treated with as much importance as I now get from Verizon when my cellphone charges are incorrect.
Imagine having a leak in your roof, reporting it to a management company and expecting action that day..... Likely to occur?? I don't believe so. Can you call a management company on Sunday at 7am and have some sort of action taken? Nope!! These are the things that I thought about, and why I took the helm of Condo IV. In as much as the HOA, we have looked at management companies coming in prior and had the community as a whole reject it for similar reasons as listed above. If we all dedicate a small amount of time, then we all benefit as a community. If none of us takes action, that is to the detriment of all of us and we end up in an apathetic conundrum where few act and everyone is unhappy. As I said at the meeting, if someone knows a landscaper that can handle a project the size of WH, have them send in a contact sheet and references, if someone has experience in a certain area, step up to the plate and help us. I for one would stand up and make sure that any viable alternatives that will IMPROVE our COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WIL BE HEARD BY CONDO IV individually and HOA as a whole. I am not afraid to use my voice for a positive force, but a complaint without suggestions and action towards a viable resolution, is just that, an idle complaint. Come on people, we purchased here for a reason......let's make it a reality......
Kelly -
The reason that I defended myself personally, is simple, I was attacked personally. I do not mind criticism when it comes to the operation of the HOA, condo boards and the like, however, when my character is villified, and I am called a "moron", "unprofessional" and the like, I take it personally. Some see being on the board as a hassle, I see it as a way to assist other members of MY community, as a way to get things done for MY heighbors. Will I avail myself to other boards, ABSOLUTLEY. Will I use my contacts and expertise to the betterment of the HOA, if requested, ABSOLUTELY. Will I assist a member of this community even though they aren't a condo IV resident, ABSOLUTELY..(as evidenced by me giving my personal cell number to a resident during the board meeting). I cannot and will not comment on other boards, since my involvement is minimal, to be honest. I am charged with Condo IV and as president of IV a seat on the HOA. I feel you would be of value to the board when there are construction needs of a large scale. Maybe you can use some of your contacts to come up with ideas for the tennis courts. You could coordinate the information and forward it to the board. Minimal time investment, maximum flexibility. Do you have any contacts that are independent contractors that could rip off an estimate of a few projects for the tennis courts? I am sure that if the cost to estimate is reasonable, the HOA could pay for it. (The board would have to discuss it, since I cannot commit WHHOA funds) But at least it starts the dialogue between the HOA and the residents......
And YES, now that I have found this blog, I will indeed try to keep up with things here and will try to be a conduit for residents and the HOA. I cannot promise anything to anyone, except that I feel WE as a COMMUNITY are sorely missing the last 5 letters in that word...... UNITY
William , Thank You!!!!!!! For your efforts and Well Wishes to you and your family. CD1
I am sorry...you are ill informed if you think that is how a management company works.
When you have exactly 1/2 of 1 percent of (not residents) total units show to an annual HOA meeting...to me that shows how good of a job the association is doing to try and get people involved and how they have done their jobs to this point.
A simple door to door distribution over a 2 day period of flyers about this blog has brought more community unity than an actual annual HOA meeting.
13 days after the meeting and the community sign still not changed. [sigh] and a [shrug]
I wish you and everyone else luck.
David,
I don't think I am ill informed, just scared of the consequences of the apathetic attitude that has developed over the years. If you know any management companies, please forward their contact information to the board and let's rightfully see what they have to offer. But be careful what you ask for.....you just might get it. Then where will we stand if a management company IS decided upon, through attrition and apathy, and we fall into an abyss of stagnation by that same management company? Are we willing to take that chance with OUR neighborhood at stake. High price to gamble on. Again, I understand the frustration, however, WE can do something about it. The opportunity (there's those 5 letters again) is here, take it and see what we can make of it.
Well, like you said we need to ignore some of the tone and nonsense that gets posted on this site from time to time to get at the real issues, you need to rise above while on the Board to be able to really make a difference. I think we already have enough of the other type of attitude- you could be the breath of fresh air they need to snap the rest of them into reality on many issues. I understand where you come from - I get a lot of that on this site as well - and I pick and chose who I will defend myself to because it's not worth responding to some. This type of forum may be beneficial to you because once we have to sign in to access, many of the cowards who post anonymously (like snipers hiding in the tall grass) will have to acknowledge their names to post and you may be able to get some legitimate feedback and constructive criticism as opposed to more of the same attitude displayed at the recent meeting.
I was thinking something about the tennis courts and road issue - this is going to open a HUGE can of worms...but here goes:
Why should we pay $1,000,000.00 to restore a sinking tennis court that no one uses? I think we should take a wait and see attitude, because what if the road goes up Clubhouse Drive, as one scenario proposed? Should we spend money redeveloping an area for a use that is in all reality only utilized by a very small percentage of unit owners (we do have another set of tennis courts) that may ultimately be torn down? Once we do the work, and the cost is assessed to the unit owners, we can't undo the expenditure.
If we do end up being on the losing end of the road issue, allowing the road to access the Hills through Clubhouse Drive would minimize exposure to the bulk of the complex because it would be closer to the entrance. Also, having the retention pond, sinking tennis courts and dog run on one side of the road would also minimize exposure to many units as opposed to the road going through the entire complex and up Peach (the other proposed scenario) where there are units on both sides of the street. If this area is targeted, could we negotiate with the developer to foot the cost of demoing the existing tennis courts and build the new use area (whatever the new area is agreed to be - I think the playground idea and the garden idea were both really good ones - it appeals to more community members)? It would mean leaving the area in its current state for a while, but would that be better than spending a million dollars that in the end would be for naught?
And to answer your question, I can see what I could do about contacting builders I know to tap for bids. Can't make any promises, but it's never a bad thing to have an expanded contractor data base.
William,
Again by reading your reply about the possibility of a management company.....you project this DOOM AMD GLOOM scenario.
When you use such words and phrases as: "scared of the consequences" & "be careful what you ask for" & "abyss of stagnation by that same management company" & "willing to take that chance with OUR neighborhood at stake" & "gamble" it's no wonder why you fit in so well on the board.
I'll do you one better and DOUBLE your 5 MAGIC letters to 10 and say you display no POSITIVITY.
On one side you say...sure get bids but on the other side you SLAM the very idea of entertaining the outcome of a management company. Is this "double talk" everyone was talking about?
I wouldn't want to take my time and go solicit bids from people to send the entire community into an abyss now...would I?
On the horizon - A bill in Albany that relates to condos an co-ops in New York is pending. The bill will require managers of multiple dwellings to be licensed and will also prohibit owners from operating without a licensed manager. Managers would be required to take building management courses with minimum a number of hours of classroom work conducted or approved by department of buildings and this provides criteria for determining competency to receive a license, how to apply for a license and the revocation and suspension of a license. It addresses judicial review of department of building’s decision to grant, refuse or renew and revoke a manager’s license.
Looks like we might be releived of the freedom to choose between a professional management company and our owner members as managers. Of course the theory behind the legislation is that is is written to protect owners -
FYI CD1
Sounds like they want to stop co-op boards that discriminate against applicants, like the ones that didn't want dispatcher Louie from Taxi.
What will happen to Joan then?
Does Joan live in Whispering Hills?
Bopper is ALL about Joan! Bop...Valentined Day is coming!!!
It's sad to need the to government step in on our personal business BUT in this case I am VERY appreciative of it. At least the gov't can see that private, un-trained, un-qualified, un-schooled, un-licensed individuals aren't qualified to manage the maintenance and up-keep of 600+ units and 2+ million dollars.
We sure can't see that...I'm glad they can.
Go Gov't!
P.S. - I'll tell you one thing...If my common charges EVER go up to pay for the current board to get schooled & licensed...ummmm let's not go there.
In many cases common charges are sometimes $800 to $1000. At least here in Whispering Hills we only pay $200-$300.
It IS something to think about.
In many cases common charges are $80-$150.
Ours are $200 to $380
That IS also something to think about.
In NYC, coop and condo common charges can range from $800 to $1000.
THATS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ASSWIPE!
In Allentown, PA, coop and condo common charges can range from $80-150.
THATS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT !
Hey boss,
Do we stand for people name calling around here? Pretty childish, childlike, and immature.
He has a point. We more resemble Allentown, PA than NYC that's for sure.
Bear in mind that a portion of co-op charges are tax deductible, whereas ours are not. I once lived in a complex where my charges were $650/month (this was nearly 10 years ago), but it did include my gas & electric charges and heat& water were included. PLUS, the tax deduction was about 40%. It is structured very different from Condo charges, which tend to be lower, but carry no deduction. The deduction usually has something to do with interest, be it for a building mortgage or the land itself.
Also, Property Managers have NO bearing whatsoever on co-op approvals of prospective residents. The are generally there to run credit checks, coordinate paperwork for Board review and act as the liason between the broker/prospective and the Board. Being licensed by the state may help them better assist the Boards they are hired to serve to ensure that the rules establishing Co-Op or Condo Corporations are properly adhered to, but they are not in a decision making capacity on the resident approval level.
Co-op Board can be an absolute nightmare in itself. Cliquey (sp?)and vindictive towards other Board Members they don't like, I have seen Boards bickering amonmgst each other to the point that they facilitate the financial demise of their own investment.
I think the licensing is a positive thing - it can estalish a level of training giving a prospective employer (meaning Condo Complex or Co-Op) a level of expectation that thie person handling their affairs has some knowledge of how to bid projects, process payments, reconcile CAM charges, manage contractors, etc. Otherwose you get nothiong more than a glorified superintendent.
It disturbs me that there is a pervasive attitude of fear, no response and commons charges spiraling out of control when it comes to bidding to a management company. I don't understand why no one seems to understand that YOU can pick and choose what services you would like them to handle. It is not an all or nothing scenario. A contract and scope of work is negotiated. The management company may offer services we don't need (or never will need - such as brokerage or marketing, or accounts receivables).
Property Managers are technically "on call" 24/7. They work from 9-5 like most of us, but if there is an emergency they can gernerally be reached by either answering service or pager. I know - I've been that person paged at 3:00 AM. Depending on the nature of the call (most are not REAL emergencies that cannot wait until the next business day, but you still MUST respond and acknowledge), sometimes it's the required CONTRACTOR that doesn't respond. Roof leaking? Can't patch a roof in the rain - but you would get a response and a service call is scheduled. Tree crashes through your roof? More than likely they will respond to that. ASAP, and at least secure the building until the next day when they can exact the repair properly.
Why doesn't someone put pen to paper and make a list of what services on a management level wouold be best to outsource and what you would like to keep in house. A complex this size DOES require an on-site office, however, some of the other elements of running this complex could be handled by others such as managing the contractors and collecting arrears more aggressively, bidding jobs, formulating budgets, etc. The Board may be more effective if some of this work is done by others leaving them to be more pro-active on governing and guiding the organization in a positive direction.
Is it not within the realm of possibility that if were to indeed secure an outside management co. that we could request that they open a satellite office in the newly renovated "professional" building @ the WH drive outlet? If this were to occur it would most certainly eleviate some of the concerns about accountability and quick turnarounds to service issues......my .02 for what it is worth!
What part of Allentown do we resemble?
Here's my .02 for the issue.
I am all for getting any proposals together for mgmt companies, and/or anything else that will facilitate the ease of use of the services. I am first an owner and second a board member. If the state mandates education and mandatory classes, are we going to go to a management company? Who knows.... Will current board members take these classes to be licensed? Who knows... I for one might just take the classes to learn what I don't know now. Will I do it for the benefit of David? Nope....(C'mon David...no doom and gloom today just jokes) But I might do it if the board/community would benefit from it as a whole.
Let's see what comes of it....we all know how FAST our gov't can move on an issue....
Kelly, I agree whole-heartedly, let's see what transpires with the road(which I believe we all are against if it traverses the complex) however, the majority of the owners will dictate what is done with the area......
and that's my .02...seems I gave a nickel now I want change.....
Bill,
Hey..I am a NY JEW...we are born with a big sense of humor. You're reply is worth .1 cent change....that's all I'll give ya.
My feelings on the issue are pretty strong. I have a engineering/financial background and I'll go to the grave with my belief that NO VOLUNTEER...NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME THEY DONATE is enough. It's accountability, training, and schooling.
I know I sound like a broken record when I say it but....2+ million in cash a year income and the combined value of $120 MILLION in home value needs a MOUNTAIN more than any volunteer could EVER offer. That simple for me.
Just the accountability factor alone is well worth the risk in my opinion.
I am a travelling guy (45 weeks straight last year) and I have become dependant on delegating all of the financial aspects of my life to qualified individuals. I pay them very handsomly but that puts me in a position of being able to hold them accountable to such a high level of scrutiny.
We have none of that with the HOA now.
Again...it's simple for me.
I want to be able to call a number or walk into a satellite office and say "If you don't get off your ass and get the damn parking blocks and grass fixed by my unit today." I did it all the where I lived in Fairfax, Virginia. Not as harsh as that but I did it. If you ever said that to a volunteer they would say what Jeff Jones says or what you said "I am a volunteer, I work as fast as I can with the time at hand, if I am not doing a good enough job...run for a seat.
I don't want to run for a seat...that is why I pay.
The management co. we had in VA....it was written into the contract specifically how long certain issues would take to fix. Scope of work....
If a roof was leaking and it was not fixed within 72 hours we were able to deduct a certain amount of money from the master bill. At the end of the year in 1998 I actually got a $86 refund. That was the refund kitty for the jobs they weren't able to get done.
Every time something needed fixing over $2500 we would get a photo copy of all 3 bids EVERY TIME! We would get a copy of their license and any other pertinent info.
I used to get papers EVERY week about stuff that was being done, money being spent. As email got popular I would get emails with PDF attachments. My HOA checks got cashed in 2 days or I got a $10 credit on my account. Now...I wait 2 weeks.
WE TOLD THEM WHAT WE WANTED.
HOA meetings....90% turn-out. Agendas...pre-submitted questions they would have answers for...ready and prepared.
As for the claims of theft. I don't know...I doub't it but I will tell you this. I was raised in NYC and when someone was SO OPPOSED to change...it was for a reason. They had something personal to lose. I have never seen a group of people so OPPOSED to change in my life.
I am in a business of risk and reward. Try new things...experiment with new ideas...make mistakes and learn.
OK....now I want my change :)
How's the baby?
$80 or $800, NOBODY'S CLEANED MY FREAKIN WALKWAY YET, ITS LIKE A FREAKIN ICERINK OUT THERE!
Same issue here Bopper. Again the landscaping company failed to deliver. Why would they salt 5am and not during the day yesterday. My walkway was a total nightmare, I'm mildly upset that it continues time and time again and is never addressed.
William,
This is the type of issue that needs to be put to bed. We contract the landscaping company for snow removal service, lets get what we are paying for. As it stands, we are paying for half a job. Where I come from, the bigger the contract, the more attention that contract deserves.
I'm curious, are you happy with the job they do?
The quad plowing nothing is the real kicker. The guy is driving around like there is a foot of snow outside.
This post was also entered @ the WH Information Exchange Condo IV blog:
Dear William,
I am glad to see that you are checking in @ this Blog and the general one as well! I am of the opinion that this is a great way to keep the lines of communication open without you (and other board members) being inundated with a multitude of phone calls. As long as information is forthcoming and readily available most folks will be satisfied. Of course I am speaking for myself and will be countered by this claim by others. Oh well............
BTW
I WAS at the 1/17 meeting and did not take "offense" or agree with some of the accusations hurled your way pertaining to eating, etc. I also "overheard" you speak to a fellow board member about just getting back from the hospital caring for your child. I wish you and your family many healthy years together!
I hope that the next meeting is more user friendly w/o people trying to talk over one another, and to put any and all beligerent behaviors off to the side so that a civil discourse can occur to EVERYONE'S satisfaction! We do afterall have a COMMON vested interest in this community!
Footnote: Hudson Valley Landscapers came by 3 times yesterday to the 3700 Section to salt.....we received too much and some received none! A slight imbalance to say the least!!!...........my .02 for what it is worth!
To the folks who are complaining about their walkways not being treated: You sound like "girlyman"!! You act like you have to go out there and remove a ton of snow over an acre of blacktop! JEZ, get a life folks! Yea, yea, yea, I know that we pay these folks via our CC's, but can we keep this in perspective please?
They salted nothing in the 4200 area. Even the driveway had an accumulation of ice and the nice residents of this section did not move their 4 cars. The Chrysler 300, the Chevy Malibu, the Ford SUV and the minivan with the "New
England Air Space museum sticker" on the bumper!
I had to shovel my walkway this morning just to walk my dog.
Girlyman!!??
Are we in the early 80's still?
Can you come up with something a little more culturally relevent!
While you at these phenomena at the height of thier popularity how about a Titanic joke!?
CLEAN THE FRIGGIN ICE MEXICANS!
"Big Bopper said...
Girlyman!!??
Are we in the early 80's still?
Can you come up with something a little more culturally relevent!
While you at these phenomena at the height of thier popularity how about a Titanic joke!?
CLEAN THE FRIGGIN ICE MEXICANS!"
hey "bogbopper"! aren't you a cop? you scare me, alot!!!!!!!!!!
Not for nothing, it's for safety. Are we waiting for someone to fall to sue the hell out of the complex for negligence? Name calling aside, things need to be kept in perspective. Bottom line, if it was 1 time, no big deal, but it's every time!
Calm down Mr. Stone thrower, let's not make this personal, obviously if someone is addressing something, it is important to them. Keep it civilized!
Front Page
Look at the Time Harold Record. 300 accidents four dead. What does that tell you about the weather.
Personally I think the Hudson Valley is doing a good job. Better than the cops that live here.
Do you get three bids on a dentist or doctor everytime you need to see one. As far as the cement parking blocks; being all over the grass. I agree with you. The Whispering Hills maintenace crew should go out over the next couple of days with the nice weather and pick them up. As a matter of a fact they should pick them up every fall and store them. That's not too much to ask. One last tib bit the village walk ways are in worst condition than Whispering Hills and I don't hear you complaining.
Hey Everyone,
David,
OK, I have to say that I can agree with what you say about risk and reward. I also agree with what you say about accountability and responsibility. If we happen to have anyone that knows of any management companies, I for one, would lke to look at a proposal and see if they have what we need. I'm not saying that I can make any deceisions, but I CAN look at viable options. Next, I for one am not afraid of change, nor do I shy away from accountability. If I am doing something wrong, let me know and give me some idea of how I can change it. Then I will do my best. That is all I ever state. I will do my best by all residents in IV. As far as being opposed to change because there is something hidden in the closet? Well, I personally have to say that anyone that wants to reach in the Condo IV closet is more than welcome. As long as you put the clothes back on the hanger and voice your positive findings along with the negative. Fairness is always tolerated in my book. I can honestly say that living in Parkchester in the BX for a few years, having the city as a management company is what has scared me away from management companies. David, yours may have been a good company to service that VA community, but the City of NY, just gave me a bad taste. Three days to get heat in December, 5 days to get widows unstuck, 3 days to get a LOCK on the front door...(complaints were met with "You can always move to a different complex")etc. These things soured me on management companies. We may be able to find a reputable one to send us some information, and if so, I would be more than happy to look at it and do what is in IV's best interests as I always do. I will bring these things to the table at the next HOA meeting. As far as the job that Hudson Valley is doing, I will bring the concerns voiced here to the board and we will see what the outcome is. I actuall spread salt myself if I see any ice on my walkway....but that's just my Long Island upbringing that's made me used to it (Mom used to ALWAYS make me shovel and put out salt.......) NOW GIVE ME BACK MY CHANGE DAVID...smile....
Mr. Calloway
When you did the roofs you go more than one bid. Your got several bids. In fact you did not use the cheapest bid but I belive you used the most expensive bid. Is this true?
The people your responding too on this web site would condem you. I personally agree with you. When you take the cheapest bid you get what you pay for. You can just ask residents of condo 1 and two.
As far as a management company we don't need one. We need a facility faciliator to do work for all boards and report back to them; so they can make better decisions. This type of person would probally cost WHOA around 100 thousand dollars per year. Are the majority of homeowners willing to pay for this or are we responding to the minority?
Think about that?
Mr. William Calloway,
On behalf of everyone contributing to Whispering Hills Blog, I want to thank you for your feedback. Your excitement & enthusiasm to questions from fellow residents have been overwhelming & invaluable; it's been wonderful providing a venue for the voice of the Whispering Hills Community. Our philosophy is helping Residents share information with people they want to share it with, you are obviously that outlet. It’s great to have you on board.
In addition, we would like to thank all Residents who raise concerns & positively add to our Community. Though things get a bit fiery at times, we are delighted to hear your voice.
As we mature as a blogging Community, we continue to improve Whispering Hills Blog. We ask ALL Residents to become a part of the process by providing feedback and offer suggestions.
We hear your voice & appreciate all your support.
Stay tuned... The Boss
February 03, 2008
Mattress to Go!
Nice job throwing the mattress out. Pink mattress in the recylable bin. You must belive in this motto: Rules are not for me. Out of site out of mind. Let someone else solve my problem. Your just the kind of person we are trying to get rid of here.
I hope this message gets back to you. What did you do it at night; that's your style.
Toi Anonymous:
I actually received 7 or 8 bids. And to state things factually, I did NOT use the most expensive bid. I DID however, use the contractor with the most extensive warranty out of all the contractors (lifetime on materials AND 10 year labor). In addition, expertise, which in my opinion, is invaluable, and we received a SECOND generation roofer with outstanding references, a crew with an average of 7-10 years with the company AND a local corporation with 1M insurance. As I looked at the other bids, (3 years labor 5 years materials...etc) It was decided that Serrano II would get the job. BTW, from IV residents that had their roofing done, I have heard nothing except glowing reviews from all from the workmanship, through the 1...and I stress ONE leak, which was repaired by the contractor the day after it was reported. And as far as condemnation, if anyone would like to speak to the IV residents with a new roof, feel free,. They have told me the work was excellent, on time, courteous and professional. Not the cheapest, but the additional monies are for the protection afforded in the warranty. And finally, the costs for a TOTAL TEAR OFF are always more than a LAY OVER. There is a contractual difference in the scope of work performed.
.........as I have mentioned in earlier posts, (and being one of the Condo IV residents who had a new roof and gutters intalled) the quality of work at all levels was EXCELLENT! William, you did extremely well by us!
Thank you sir!!!
Whats IV mean?
Is it mean 3?
877-393-4448
"Big Bopper said...
Whats IV mean?
Is it mean 3?
877-393-4448"
that would be a roman numeral for 4!
Mr. Colloway
Your roofing crew did a excellent job. I only regret is that condo 1 didn't use them.
Hmm . . . just curious, but why is it that with all the historical turmoil regarding parking, Whispering Hills appears to condone the storage of space-hogging commercial vehicles in the clubhouse parking lots? (Or, for that matter, adjacent to residences.) In most developments, the storage of such vehicles is part of the cost of doing business.
Dads8t2,
I believe, and I might be mistaken, but most commercial vehicles that are parked in the clubhouse are there for one of two reasons:
1) They are conducting work on the premises, and
2) they are used by residents to conduct their trade.
For either instance, would you prefer that they use the regular parking spaces? I don't know what we could do about additional parking space. (Anyone thinking maybe we could pave over the existing dilapidated tennis court for this purpose? SUV and Commercial parking?) Just a thought...
Sorry, but these are the same vehicles that are parked on the street (Condo I) in Summer months.
... and what I meant was: "In most condo developments, the storage of such vehicles is part of the cost of OWNERS doing business." In other words, (it's just my opinion) they should be parked outside the WH premises.
Anyone know why the power was out yesterday? My heat is broken as a direct result. My neighbor informed me that it was on and off for a few minuets and then went down for 6 or so hours.
Why would anyone want to communicate why the power was out? Did the man in the white van cut more powerlines at OUR expense?
I saw a fleet of O&R trucks working on a transformer at the entrance to WH's yesterday around 3pm, however power was already restored. Condo 3 lost power for about 1 hour 45 minuets
Dads8t2:
Ahhhh, now I understand. I do not know if there are any hard and fast rules about commercial vehicles other than the fact that they are not to park in residential spots. Maybe I can check into it.
Whose in charge of the quotes in the Whispering Hills box when you enter the complex?
This months say something about dancing to music you can't hear!!??
WTF?
How about putting something in the box thats accidently amusing or mildly interesting!?
Here's one they can use next month, "Welcome to Whispering Hills, NO CUSSING!"
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