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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2016 13:19:46 GMT -5
I dropped off my January maintenance fee on Friday the 15th. I also included a letter to explain my " FORMAL OBJECTION" to the fees as presented to the members. And while I have always promoted each and every one of us to pay our fair share of maintenance fees each month, I STILL promote that same ideal. Each member is responsible to pay their fair share of the common expense charges, known to most as the maintenance fee each month. But the question has come to light, " Why are we paying the wrong amounts?". Each of us has a "percentage interest" in the common areas and it is a number used to determine, exactly what each unit owner is responsible to pay to the Association. Not more and not less. Sounds simple doesn't it? Yet 366 unit owners are paying the wrong amount! Why? According to the Master Deed of Burnt Tavern Manor Condominium, there are only 2 fee amounts to determine the monthly maintenance fees. One is for the apartment style units and the Twin Lakes area townhouses. The other is for the 3 bedroom townhouses along Central Blvd down to the Recreation building. The percentage interest is stamped in stone, as it were, or simply black and white in the Master Deed, as of October 1984. So why were there 3 different fees being charged, at least through the year 2000? Why are we now set at 2 fees with those, even calculated wrong, causing every unit owner to pay the wrong amounts? At first sight, it would seem only two reasons exist for the errors. Corruption or incompetency. - Corruption - The wrongful billing practice for decades gives the townhouse units in the front a major discount. And to manage those discounts and balance the budget, the apartment units and the Twin Lake townhouses are charged an extra premium on their fees. If corruption is involved, the primary suspect would be those who make up the calculations and also own discounted units. Mary Anne and Paul Hayes.
- Incompetency - The wrongful billing practice, even though has been maintained for decades, could be an example of a gross lack of skill to do simple math. Or to ask an accountant. Or ask anyone with a calculator. Although, add in the long standing practice to keep financial information from the members, I find incompetence to be the least likely.
So for all of you who have no problem paying extra, glad there are those able to give their money away. For those who want to pay the correct amount, I've added the letter I supplied to the office with my payment. It spells out all the legal details, so no one will have a mis-understanding. The 2016 assessment has already been objected to, as per the By-Laws requirements. If you want to join in and voice your objection, print the letter, add your name and unit address on the bottom and send it to the office. I've had a few owners ask for a copy of this and suggested it would be good to provide it to all. So here it is. |
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chris
New Member
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Post by chris on Jan 21, 2016 13:45:02 GMT -5
Although I agree with your correct math if that is what our official by-laws state, I would tread carefully. While this may lessen the burden upon yourself and those paying $214/mo, I can assure you $267/mo for those living in the 3bdrm homes is not going to be appreciated. If people are barely paying $245 now, good luck getting blood from a stone.
I happen to live in a 3bdrm unit and pay my fees well ahead of time (3+ months). I also do not happen to particularly like the current management. I do appreciate the work and dedication of yourself and a select few. As noted I agree with your math, however, If forced to pay $270 I will be relocating out of BTM.
60 people paying $245/mo is far better for everyone than 30 people paying $270/mo
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chris
New Member
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Post by chris on Jan 21, 2016 14:14:13 GMT -5
Perhaps we can find money elsewhere to fill this gap for every member - like cutting $$$ from the $14,000 we spend on geese police. Or find out the breakdown of the $84,000 paid for 'administration.'
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Post by Mister D on Jan 22, 2016 15:15:36 GMT -5
I too agree with the math.. and although it would create a burden for some, it is only right to enforce this since it is in the by-laws. For those who live in the three bedroom townhouses, do you think it's fair you pay only $15.00 more per month than those of us in a one bedroom apartment type home? I can tell you, I don't. Let's face it, this development is not even close to being attractive enough to be worthy of these absurd fees regardless what type of unit we own. I also think it is a crying shame that those of us who do pay our fees are forced to pay more, due to the deadbeats who refuse to pay their share. There should be a way to force these folks to pay up or get out! The fact that I pay for these people to use all the water they want on my dime is sickening. Why isn't our board making a move legally to prevent this situation... that's what I'd like to know. Then perhaps we could all afford to pay the right fee for the right service.
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chris
New Member
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Post by chris on Jan 22, 2016 16:55:37 GMT -5
Well, to be honest I don't think its fair i pay $15/mo more since nothing gets done at either location...
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2016 15:16:25 GMT -5
Perhaps we can find money elsewhere to fill this gap for every member - like cutting $$$ from the $14,000 we spend on geese police. Or find out the breakdown of the $84,000 paid for 'administration.' I fully agree with your comments. This wasn't brought to light to point blame at any group of unit owners. This is a problem created by property managers who have manipulated everyone to maintain control of the Board and to allow them to hide their manipulation of the fees. If it were possible to go back in time and have an honest representation of the fees, it is likely many of the owners currently here, would have decided to buy elsewhere. Or they may have bought a smaller unit for the lower maintenance fees. I'm not an attorney, but, I would view fraudulent representation of fees and legal responsibilities could easily be a lawsuit matter, from many current owners. That's another problem the property managers have subjected the Association (and cost to the owners). Mary Anne Hayes, president of Metro Associates, admits fraud at the Jan.2016 meeting. And the property manager declares, they will continue the fraud! This is not just a matter of all the owners being overcharged and undercharged, it's a matter of all owners are being subjected to fraud. It's not hard to realize, the property managers own 3 bedroom units and if the fees were correct, they would work to keep expenses in check and not subsidize their fees from everyone else. Expenses for geese police, were previously pointed out, by Charles Griffith, could be maintained at a much lower cost by hiring a different company. The administration cost, also previously discovered to include overcharges. The maintenance costs, are impossible to fathom. We have numerous inadequate and substandard repairs spread all over the community. "Sub-standard" and we all pay for it time and again. Other associations, with beautiful grounds and well maintained buildings, are paying a huge amount less than we are. With all the potential expense cuts available, it is likely the 3 bedroom fees could stay where they were in 2015 and the smaller units reduced to what they should have been, AND - we would still replace the missing moneys from our required reserves. The best way to resolve most of the problems in this or any association, is to start by reading the Master Deed and By-Laws. The Master Deed is based on the NJ Condominium Act, which is based on the NJ Corporation Act. All with numerous solutions, already worked out through the centuries, to fix and resolve most issues of the Association. Issues like, those who don't pay; corrupt Board members; Fraud; Theft; sub-standard repairs; damages and/or driving on the lawns; even parking space problems. |
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Post by Admin on Apr 20, 2016 14:16:39 GMT -5
I too agree with the math.. and although it would create a burden for some, it is only right to enforce this since it is in the by-laws. For those who live in the three bedroom townhouses, do you think it's fair you pay only $15.00 more per month than those of us in a one bedroom apartment type home? I can tell you, I don't. Let's face it, this development is not even close to being attractive enough to be worthy of these absurd fees regardless what type of unit we own. I also think it is a crying shame that those of us who do pay our fees are forced to pay more, due to the deadbeats who refuse to pay their share. There should be a way to force these folks to pay up or get out! The fact that I pay for these people to use all the water they want on my dime is sickening. Why isn't our board making a move legally to prevent this situation... that's what I'd like to know. Then perhaps we could all afford to pay the right fee for the right service. You ask why isn't the Board making a move? The Board is the culprit committing the crime. So the Board isn't about to make a move to stop it, while they are the ones acting against the members of the Association. So the majority of owners are forced to pay extra resulting in the Property Management and their friends getting a discount. The Board isn't going to make a move to stop the intentional over-charging while they are the culprit of the crime.
To put this crime into a better perspective for many, it means that for 2015 alone, many over-paid enough to make a $233.00 car payment, or 2-3 night dinners out with friends, or or even 1-2 weeks of grocery shopping. All stolen from owners. In the old time movies, with mobsters and organized crime, this was referred to as "protection money", extortion money or blackmail money. After all, for those whose refuse to over-pay lose their legal rights to participate in the Association.
As long as owners are willing to accept this situation, criminals will continue to steal from them and their families. |
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