Blog Archives
Violence in HOA’s
Opinion
Lola Lauri
From an article in the Seattle Times:
Who would want to subject themselves to such friction by being part of a homeowners’ board? Some are genuinely drawn by the opportunity to volunteer, McKenzie said. But others relish the chance to wield influence over the neighborhood.
“Associations are seen as the bad guys,” Feingold said. “They’ve got a rap for being overreaching and overbearing. In America, we have `My home is my castle.’ You’re really challenging that proposition.”
Read the whole article here. Also, another HOA tragedy, here
We have had members threaten violence at the annual meeting, and at the monthly open meetings. Most times they are simply asked to leave and escorted out. I have often expressed my concerns over our Association not taking these things seriously enough. Let’s not wait for a tragedy here before we take action when someone threatens violence in our community.
ELA Haunted Funhouse
Stefania Johnson
The gypsy knows your fate!
Are they laughs of joy and fun or demented laughs of terror? Come find out at this year’s ELA Haunted Funhouse where our clowns have gone mad, our Ringmaster has lost control and the misfits were left behind to rot! Will you dare come through to see what is left? Are you afraid of being forced beyond your will to stay? Will the Gypsy Fortune Teller guide give you insight into your immediate future of whether you will stay or go? Dare us!! Better yet, dare yourself!
Watch out for this fellow.
The annual Emerald Lakes Haunted House October 17, 18, 19 – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. October 20 – 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Community Center. $6 for Adults and $4 for children under 10.
The ELA Road Plan Explained
Lola Lauri
The following information is based on the plan in place last year. If there have been any changes since then, I do not have them.
The board agreed to a 5-year plan presented by Gil Werner and the Maintenance committee, including Bob Lauri and Joe Miller. The plan begins with dedicating $200k per year to the roads.
First, Bob Lauri, our staff, GM, and the maintenance committee surveyed the roads and assessed the damage by designating roads as primary, secondary and tertiary. Then specific pieces of each road were rated based on the extent of the damage and the need for drainage fixes. Areas slated for repair were chosen using this data which, presumably, will be updated each year as situations change.
The first priority in repairing the roads is to prevent water damage. This happens by fixing the grading along the sides of the major roads and replacing damaged drainage pipes that run underneath them. It makes little sense to repair or repave roads when there is not proper drainage. The freeze/thaw cycle on roads with poor drainage is the main cause of the “alligator cracks” that are the beginning of road deterioration. Of course, there will always be routine maintenance that must be continued along with this drainage project.
With proper drainage, and with the work guarantees that were negotiated with contractors, paving should last longer in the future, and this frees up some of the $200k for more repairs to secondary roads. As we catch up with the drainage and repaving, hopefully, this will at some point allow for paving of those unpaved roads.
However, all of this is dependent on the board continuing to fund the project, and barring any major disasters that require immediate repair. Should we be lucky enough to have another mild winter or two, the project could be accelerated, but major storms and a lot of freeze/thaw fluctuations could set it back. So, with all these variables, it is hard to say exactly how long this might take.
There is a plan, or at least there was, but plans in our community are always dependent upon the whims of the current board, so it is important to let each board know what your priorities are, and to select candidates who will continue programs that you think are important. Even if you choose not to attend meetings, you might want to put a note on your calendar, as a “back to school” item, to write a letter to the board each September, reminding them of the things you believe are important in our community.
Does Pool Temp Really Matter?
by Bill Henry and Buz Whelan
For several years it has been argued that the Emerald Lakes Association could save a significant amount of money by lowering the temperature of the indoor pool. It was said that reducing the temperature from 84 degrees to 80 would save on both fuel and chlorine. Some of these arguments occurring during monthly open board meetings became quite heated. What are the facts? Here we present a comparison of the first four months of this fiscal year with the same period last year.
May thru August 2011 2012
Water Temperature (in degrees) 84 80
Com Ctr Heating Oil (in dollars) 6,242 7,124
Pool Maintenance (chlorine) 1,875 2,340
Totals $8,117 $9,464
These numbers seem to indicate that pool temperature has a negligible effect on costs. While the higher number for the lower temperature may be the result of some intervening variables, there is little evidence that any important savings can be had by reducing the temperature by 4 degrees. Yet those who use the pool for such activities as Adult Water Aerobics say the difference in comfort level is significant in a negative way. Simply put, 84 feels comfortable, 80 feels uncomfortable.
The United States Water Fitness Association recommends a water temperature of from 84 to 86 degrees for multi-purpose indoor pools. It’s hard to explain to pool users who complain of the colder temperature that they must endure it to save the association money. Perhaps it’s time to return to the higher temperature rather than aggravating a significant number of users for no defensible reason.
Cancer Awareness Day a Huge Success
by Buz Whelan
By any measure – attendance, enthusiasm or money raised – Cancer Awareness Day held in and around the Emerald Lakes Community Center was a great success. According to chief organizer June Solla, the event raised $1,500 for cancer research.
The day started with a buffet breakfast, continued with a car wash and that led into late afternoon entertainment
The newly-decorated dining room looks wonderful!
with Adrienne ‘Lady A’ Carver and Mike Gregorio providing musical performances and Adel Rivera doing facepainting. There was a Tricky Tray auction that began in the early afternoon and culminated with a drawing of winners between 6:30 and 7:00 pm. Over 100 items were donated for the auction including artwork, and themed
Some of the swag from the Tricky Tray.
baskets for such things as “A Night at the Movies,” “Italian Dinner,” and “Cat’s Delight.” And because the day became an all-day festival with people eating, drinking and visiting with each other even the Center itself profited with receipts up over $400 above normal. And since all the work and materials were donated, there was no cost to the association.
One young participant with her lovely face painting.
The event was supported by the Women’s Club and the 50+ Club and numerous volunteers, among them Eileen Avrich, Delores Amadio, Paul Capozzoli, Henry Chieffo, Melanie DePerro, Rich DePerro, Rachel D. Douglas, Margaret Fitzgerald, Dennis Green, Alex Leslie, Connie Lewis, ‘Cookie’ Litweinski, Joe Olall, Karen Peloubet, and Kay Ricciuto. Of course, without the prodigious efforts of June Solla, this event may not even have happened. For months June has been organizing, promoting and securing materials. She was tireless in her efforts and deserves a big ‘thank you’ from the community.
The bingo crowd, showing their support.
Washing cars in the rain. What good sports!
To Rent or Not to Rent
Opinion
Lola Lauri
Many of our residents are suffering from the noise and bad behavior of the tenants at a few local homes. There are parties and noise and traffic. There are septic failures that threaten our waterways. Every resident is entitled to the quiet enjoyment of his or her home, and that is not happening because of a few careless homeowners. Advertisements for these homes online suggest that they are great for “groups” and in some cases they claim to sleep up to 18 people. Reports of people standing on the docks and cursing and shouting loudly have shocked the attendees at the last board meeting. A number of residents have banded together to address the board and insist on help for these conditions, and they deserve relief immediately. No one should have to live with constant noise and discomfort. (To read their letter click here.)
At first glance, it seems that the obvious solution is to disallow rentals completely within our community. I have heard this suggestion more than once, but I believe it is too soon to take such a drastic measure that will impact the ability of all homeowners to rent their homes. Before punishing all homeowners for the actions of a few, I believe the community needs to look at the issue of enforcement.
“Party House” Causing Problems
Lola Lauri
The following email was forwarded to me today, and it illustrates a problem in our community that the board must address:
Hi Folks:
Time for an update. As you know, our letter to the Board detailed the overuse of the respective septic systems
of the three homes in question. And sure enough, the septic system at 146 Powderhorn Drive has failed.
The septic mound is not perking. The effluent is running out of the top of the mound.
Tobyhanna Township was notified either by the homeowner or the home owners septic pumping company.
The system was inspected and a plan was presented to obtain a permit from the Township to repair and expand it to maximum size permitted. The plan was approved, trees have been cut down and work is going forward.
The Township official told us that if the repair and expansion works, all well and good. He said he would periodically monitor
the system over time. He also said that if the repair and expansion partially works or fails, then he
could take certain measures including fines and require the owner to curtail the use of the system. He also noted that the area designated for expansion
is the only piece of property the owner has left for a septic mound. There are no other options for additional septic
space.
The Township official was unaware of the number of people occupying the house as well as the number of cars and SUV’s parked on
top of the septic mound periodically. Now that he is aware of the situation, he will monitor it.
On October 22, I made a presentation to the Board of Directors at its monthly public meeting. I advised them that ten families signed
the letter but now we have fifteen families supporting this important issue. Almost every lakefront property and some lake view properties
are now involved.
The audience gasped when I described the guy yelling F… You! off the deck of 146 Powderhorn at one am for a full twenty minutes.
I noted that the rules state that a rental must be “to one family” and the Board knows this but they do not enforce it.
Our letter indicted that there was an open pit fire cauldron without a functioning fire screen on Hunter Lane along with chairs and four, six by nine foot stacked
sections of a floating dock. The rules prohibit equipment on roadways. I asked Alan Roth, the Community Manager at a Rules and Regulations
meeting to remove this equipment. He has done nothing. I noted that 1210 and 1214 Hunter Lane had fireworks reported to Public Safety. No fines were issued.
The boat launch on Hunter Lane near 1214 is being used as a bathing beach creating an annoyance for the nearby homeowners. It was further noted that the rules prohibit the use of the lake for commercial purposes. The rental homes are operating as a business. The two Hunter Lane homes charge the tenants
extra to use the rental boats.
Etc. Etc.
Al Leslie, the President said that he is aware of the septic situation and the large number of people still occupying these three rental properties. He further stated that they are working with an attorney on the matter.
The next meeting of the Rules and Regulations Committee is Thursday, October 11th at ten am at the Office.
The next Board of Directors Meeting is Saturday October 27 at nine thirty at the Community Center.
It would help you and all of us if you could attend one or the other to show that we are many and serious about fixing
this awful problem.
We have several standing rules in the Rules and Regulations for ELA that are being broken by the owners of these homes, and the board and the GM need to develop a plan to enforce those rules.(see personal property on roads, public nuisance, lake beach and picnic area rules and rental rules) The fines incurred will serve as a disincentive to the owners to run this disruptive “business”, and without the financial motive, the misuse of the property should stop. Our rules are only useful if they are enforced consistently, and here is a case where they are not. This is not a case of an owner having an occasional party, it is a consistent disruption to the lives of the people living nearby.
Please consider attending the BOD meeting on October 27th, or write to the BOD at elaboarddirects@yahoo.com, to express your thoughts on this issue.
Related articles
- Septic tank management: A fragrant problem (draindoctor.wordpress.com)
Emerald Lakes- In It To End It- Cancer Awareness Day
June Solla
On Saturday, October 6, 2012, The Emerald Lakes Community Center will be host to the Cancer Awareness Day Events. This day is dedicated to bringing awareness and help to those who need it and to creating a world with less cancer and MORE birthdays! Saving lives begins with one act, one participant and one dollar at a time. Please, come out and support this worthy cause.
Events
Breakfast- 9am to11am, – $7.00 adults ,6-12yo $3.50, under 6yo free
Crush Cancer Car Wash 12pm-3pm – $5/cars $7/trucks/SUV
Basketball Games 3pm- entry fee-$
Tricky Tray Raffle -$1/ticket.- Tickets will be sold all day- drawing at 6:30pm (winner does not have to be present but name & phone # must be on tickets),
PLUS – Music ,Fun Games , Crafts, Presentations by American Cancer Society,Breast Friends Of Monroe County and The American Lung Association.Those attending the American Lung Association presentation will be able to receive a “free” Radon Testing Kit (limited quantities).
Drinks and Dinner Special.
Beat Cancer Bingo Fundraising Special-7:30pm
For One Night Only – Smoking will not be allowed in the building. You may still go outside to the designated smoking areas to enjoy yourself.
HOA Horror Stories – Cautionary Examples for ELA
Lola Lauri
The decisions made by the Emerald Lakes Boards of the past and present have been the subject of many conversations on our Facebook page. The bylaws revisions were soundly defeated, there is much debate over the new fee for putting our boats into the water, and who can forget the great “cover your propane tank” rule that cost many homeowners hundreds of dollars before it was finally deemed a failure? HOA’s are notoriously difficult to manage, and are often managed by fools. This is not an Emerald Lakes’ problem, it is actually quite widespread. I found some interesting HOA horror stories to share with you all. Some are funny, some are tragic, and many remind me of things that have happened here in our community. Click on the link below and tell me if you notice the similarities too:
http://gawker.com/5830257/the-horror-of-homeowners-associations
New Member/Volunteer Appreciation Party Pictures
Lola Lauri
Cutting the cake is former board officer, Claire Abbazio, who held the longest continuous tenure of 13 years, along with current ELA Board President, Al Leslie.
On August 25, 2012, Emerald Lakes honored its many volunteers and welcomed its new members at a party at the Community Center. The party was hosted by the Emerald Lakes Directors Alumni Society (ELDAS). ELDAS member Pat Galderisi put together some numbers to help us appreciate how much our volunteers contribute to the community, “AARP says in PA each volunteer hour is worth $20.51. With 128 volunteers giving approximately 3 hours per week times 52 weeks each year, these volunteers have saved our community $409,543.68!” We didn’t check the numbers, but there is no doubt that ELA volunteers provide many valuable and important services in our community. As Pat says, “God Bless Our Volunteers, they are unselfish and positive.”
Just a few of the army of 128 volunteers who keep Emerald Lakes going all year long.
- Some of our newest members. Welcome to Emerald Lakes!
Our Wonderful Vols. seated left front, Robin Mastrocola, Tobi Barnett, seated right front, Jean Petersen, Marge Indri and Bill Henry.
New Members, L. to R. Tatiana, Yuri and Natalia Sokolov, seated back row, Mark Colville.
Volunteers Phil Botti and Nancy Pitcher.
L. to R. Pat and Eric Bergstrom, Bob Walsh, Gilda Spiotta and George Haab.
Our New Members – Tiesha Phillip and Family
Treasurer Earl Frank and V. P. Millie Bishop
Sue Lodato, Mickey Lammardo and Dolores Saintil.
L. to R. Margaret Fitzgerald, Bob Leon, Former Dir. Louise Leon.
Former directors Dale Walsh and Pat Galderisi greet volunteers and new members.
Nancy Jean and George Hesser.
Adrian Saintil, Rosario Lammardo and Former Dir. Claire Abbazio.
…..
Emerald Lakes Free Press 