Article Courtesy of The Sun
Sentinel
By Hemmy So
Published October 7, 2007
Executive directors at
Century Village in Deerfield Beach handily rejected a petition to have a
special meeting on Tuesday, causing ire among members who accuse the top
officers of holding back information from residents.
More than 25 directors of the Condominium Owners Organization of Century
Village East signed and submitted a petition in early September to
President Ira Grossman to discuss insurance matters relating to Hurricane
Wilma at a special meeting. Although the board has 350 directors, only 25
are needed to formally ask for a special meeting — something rarely
requested in Century Village, according to members.
The directors who signed the petition wanted specific questions discussed
and answered, including how much money the organization received from
insurers, how much money has been spent, and what advice attorneys have
given in writing. Mel Schmier, a director who represents Cambridge E, said
the issues need to be resolved because of $14 million to $18 million in
potential claims against the retirement community.
"Because this is such a complex issue, it requires a meeting where we
discuss nothing else and we get reports in writing," Schmier said.
Many residents feel the group's executive officers make it difficult for
people to get information about important issues. Schmier and other
directors say they don't receive written back-up materials regarding
agenda items before meetings and must listen to materials being read aloud
before voting on them.
"We sit there like idiots and they read. They tell us what they want
to tell us and only that," said Roy Landesman, a delegate to the
board. "For an item on the agenda, there should be pros and cons from
a lot of people, but if people don't know what's coming up on the agenda,
you have to wing it."
Executive board members, however, say that because of the limitations of a
volunteer staff and the timing of when certain types of documents such as
financials are generated, they're not able to provide all documents
desired by various directors. "We provide as much information as we
have available," said Judy Kirshner, the group's first vice
president. "It depends on what they're asking for, the research it
takes to compile that information, and what they're looking for."
The executive board rejected the petition based on Robert's Rules of
Order, Grossman said. Because the insurance matters weren't considered an
emergency item or occurred after the last regular meeting but before the
next one, a special meeting wasn't necessary, he said. Instead, the
executive board answered the petition with a two-page response.
"These people in the last COOCVE meeting were answered,"
Grossman said. "We made 400 copies. We had a quorum at the meeting at
287 people. They all know we answered it."
Schmier called the answers "perfunctory" with no room for
discussion. He said the directors who supported the petition won't go to
court over the matter but hope that after December elections a new board
will provide delegates with the documents and reports to help them make
educated decisions about issues affecting Century Village, especially
insurance.
The current executive board members say they already have started making
their work more available by publishing meeting minutes in the community's
newspaper, Century Village East Reporter, recording certain
meetings and having meetings during the summer.
"This body here is going to do its utmost best to give out
information," said Steve H. Fine, Reporter editor-in-chief.
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