Venetia Online

What a great meeting tonight exploring the potential amendments currently before the community for a vote. Two representatives of the Association’s counsel Becker and Poliakoff were present. Attendance was great for a Town Hall meeting. It is wonderful to see such a high level of Association participation.

The first amendment discussed dealt with changes to the current power of the Association to properly screen and refuse individuals based on a list of criteria. These criteria would give proper definition of acceptable and unacceptable with regards to tenant screening which are currently undefined. Further power is given to the Association to evict tenants who are disruptive to the community and the unit owner does not take appropriate action. An additional provision to this section also provides the Association to collect rent directly from tenants where unit owners are not making maintenance and/or assessment payments.

This amendment received a great deal of tonight’s discussion and can best be heard on the video when posted. Many concerns were raised.

The remainder of amendments were not discussed at the same extent, however included the ‘no pets’ provision for tenants, bringing our Articles of Incorporation up to date with the Florida Statues, including the appointment of a residential director in the event of one of the two directors resignation. Widely questioned, was the same provision in our docs for a Commercial Director when they held two seats. The docs had not yet been adjusted for the change in Florida law and the proposed amendment corrects that.

Unfortunately, at 90 minutes into the meeting I ran out of tape. No conspiracy theories please - at that point the discussion of all Amendments was completed and additional discussion ensued regarding the legality surrounding how to change the allocation of maintenance fees on an appropriated rate as the State of Florida put into law one year after our Condo was formed. While now illegal to do the way it was done in our building, at the Developer’s discretion, the law only pertained to Condos created after the date the law went into effect. The only alternative is to get 100% of the Association vote to change it - and all mortgage holder approval - in sort, it would be impossible. Would commercial owners want to increase their maintenance fees far above their current levels? No.

The fourth and fifth floor studios were also discussed at length - not regarding their portion of maintenance - but receiving quality services for them in consideration of their higher rate (per sq. foot). Attendees noted conditions in the laundry, lack of air conditioning in the laundry and other issues. Sharon, the Board President, noted her prior motion the week before that studios get top priority.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

See you next Tuesday at the final in this series of Town Hall meetings- 7PM, 2nd floor conference room (2-12-08).