Candidates and interested unit owners gathered in the clubhouse tonight to get to know each other. Cindy Potts (BOD President) ran the meeting. Each candidate was given five minutes to introduce themselves. Questions and answers were to follow a three-minute limitation. For the most part, everyone was well-behaved.
One unit owner used her turn to speak to become rather accusatory toward someone. She became so animated that she left her seat and walked ten feet toward another individual and looked rather threatening. That quickly ended when the BSO security guard threatened to remove her, and she remained civil after that.
There was much talk about money. What will be the impact of a lawsuit that has been filed against the TAJ Association by a candidate have on individual unit owners, some asked. How can we raise the money to repair our buildings that are deteriorating and are under the threat of condemnation by the city of Plantation, others asked. Who will settle an old lawsuit against a former construction company, another asked. There was much disinformation bantered about, as one candidate (understandably upset because the sale of her home fell through) passed on incorrect information about our community that she obtained from an ill-informed real estate agent. Many people panicked over the threat of community-wide special assessments, lawsuits that take money from individual unit owner pockets, and exponential increases of monthly maintenance fees -- all ideas that were put forth by a couple of candidates.
Generally, the candidates seemed well-intended and well-mannered. There are pictures and brief summaries of candidate statements, below.
Esther is retired and has time to donate to the cause, and has been on the BOD many years ago. Sean has an idea to fund the rebuilding of the community -- $99 from each and every unit owner, community wide, per month, until the work is done. Carol says she is the only one with complete knowledge of the association financial records and functioning, and has been on the BOD for the past eight years.
Below:
Mark professed his integrity and has dedicated the past eight years to service on the BOD. He made allusions to past failed bank loans and other financial issues, and invited anyone to come visit him in his home for a more full explanation of what he knows.
Steve offered his services, cited his past experience on the BOD and as author of the TAJWatch blog, and his commitment to civil discourse as a member of the BOD where things are prone to becoming uncivilized.
Lee is retired and pledged a high level of personal integrity and fiscal discipline.
Tracy said she supports other candidates (Josh, Lee, and Jesus who was not present tonight). She said that financial matters are her top priority. She asserted that she could serve on the BOD and also sue the Association (current litigation) without a conflict of interest.
Josh listed many impressive qualifications and exuded an air of professional competence.
Paulette cited her previous service on the BOD and credited herself for financial safe-guards (two-person signature requirements, etc) and the establishment of separate bank accounts for every building (each building is a separate condominium).
Not pictured are Flavio, who essentially withdrew his candidacy due to relocating to a residence outside the community, and Jesus who was not in attendance tonight.
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