One very important issue that we, the Cedar Run Concerned Homeowners,
want to address is regarding who should serve on this new board. While most homeowners in Cedar Run have made it clear that they are strongly opposed to he idea of bringing Robert Sher, the Shaw family, or any of Sher's/Shaw's previous board members back into power, we
haven't received many inquiries about who the alternatives are to the Sher/Shaw group. Most homeowners seem to support an "Anybody But Sher/Shaw!" doctrine.
We actually discourage this attitude because it is this attitude that actually brought the Sher/Shaw group into power. Most people had no idea that Sher would turn Cedar Run into a cash cow for his family, drive services to an all-time low, alienate homeowners, abolish elections, and drive us into receivership. Nor did they realize that Sher had no knowledge on how to run an association. But most people did not ask nor demand that Sher give a detailed plan as to what he would do once in power. They just knew they were unhappy with the status quo and decided to take a chance on an outsider who vowed to change things.
CRITICAL THINKERS WANTED!!
After waiting patiently for the Civil Courts to order an election in Cedar Run, we will now have one on August 4th, 2016. As we approach this important election, where homeowners will have the opportunity to make in important decision about the future of our community, the Cedar Run Concerned Homeowners will be compiling a list of candidates. We encourage any and all homeowners who want to help restore Cedar Run to put their names in and volunteer as a Director. Those who do not want to be directors, but still want to participate, can volunteer to serve on a committee and still provide valuable input to help govern our community. Only homeowner involvement can make this community work for the homeowners.
Our Core Values
We have created a list of core values that we feel are intrinsic in restoring Cedar Run.
As Our Articles of Incorporation clearly state: "All of said [responsibilities of the board] to be fulfilled and performed without pecuniary [aka financial] profit to any director or member of the Corporation."
First and foremost, we believe in an ALL VOLUNTEER board. No director will be paid, for any service, whatsoever....Period!!
We believe in transparency and checks & balances. Only, we actually mean it!! We demand open board meetings (as required by law). We demand to see a budget BEFORE the fiscal year begins. We want all meeting minutes and documents available for those who wish to review them.
We believe that the law is the law. We demand that the new board follow all state laws as well as our REAL governing documents, to the letter. We do not believe in being quasi-legal or ignoring the law and just hoping that nobody can or will sue.
We believe communication is key in meeting homeowners' needs. We encourage the new board to restart something called the 'Cedar Reader', which was a true newsletter that provided actual news, facts, and announcements for the community. We do NOT want newsletters to be used as a propaganda tool.
We believe in embracing technology as a tool to serve homeowners. We want an association website that homeowners can use to pay assessments, make requests, read the rules & regs, access meeting minutes, subscribe to email announcements, and many many more possibilities. We believe that technology can be used for convenience AND it can save us money.
We believe Cedar Run should be professionally managed by a qualified company that will be selected based on homeowner input and homeowner needs. We have a long list of requirements for such a management company including sufficiently accommodating Spanish-speaking homeowners.
We believe in singular management - one company to manage the master board and all phases. Nobody will need to worry about which board or management company to call with questions or concerns. We can also get a much more reasonable rate from a management company if they manage the entire property. This can only be accomplished through collaboration with the phase boards. This cannot be accomplished through strong-arm tactics or hostile takeover attempts as Robert Sher has proven.
Along with singular management, we believe in a single monthly payment for each homeowner's assessment. This will also require collaboration with phases, and we want our new board to work diligently to make this so.
We believe in telling homeowners the truth, even if/when the truth hurts. We do not anyone pointing fingers at others and blaming them for any disappointing news.
We want a board that will do all that is necessary to avoid raising assessments, but we also to get the best value for our assessment dollar, including preventive maintenance, amenities, capital reserves, and adequate insurance coverage. If assessments must be increased, we expect our board to be transparent as to the reason(s) why.
Priorities after establishing a responsible board
As we've stated previously, Sher never had a plan. We do not want to repeat his mistakes.
Our first priority will be to end any and all lawsuits in which Cedar Run is involved. The main lawsuit that is draining our funds is the lawsuit with the banks. The Sher group is still in contempt of court, and this is causing the case to drag on forever. They have also filed frivolous counterclaims and discovery requests that make the situation even more costly. We intend to comply with all of the existing court orders and work with all parties to end this lawsuit. Ending this suit will be the single-most long-term beneficial accomplishment in terms of money savings. (A settlement is very close to being reached....so we already have a head start!)
Next, we expect the new board to select a qualified, professional management that meets the standards of our homeowners and provides the best value. We have actually already spoken with a few management companies, so we may be able to narrow down our choices for an easier transition.
We hope the board will establish committees to help identify the most pressing concerns for homeowners. These committees will include crime prevention & safety, parking, swimming pool planning, rules & regulations.
Once again, with the cooperation of the phase boards, we encourage the board to shop for discounted, bundled insurance plans that provide the best value in terms of coverage/cost/deductibles. We believe that bundling the insurance policies will result in the best value for our dollar.
We encourage the board to meet with any and all contractors/employees performing work on the property (including individual homeowners hired to do grounds-keeping) and review their respective contracts/arrangements. Any contractor or employee that provides a value-added service should be retained, so long as they are properly licensed, bonded, or insured wherever necessary. (The receiver has already straightened out some of these issues, including the termination of an uninsured contractor)
Those employed by the association must be paid via check and receive a 1099 or appropriate payroll tax withholding. Gone are the days of using association funds to pay homeowners' mortgages, taxes, insurance, or utilities as a back-door way to compensate them and help them avoid reporting their income. The same applies to discounted/waived assessment dues and free parking passes as a means of compensation. The same applies to letting homeowners 'work-off' their delinquent assessment dues instead of paying them. We believe the above tactics (regularly practiced by the Sher/Shaw group) put Cedar Run at great risk. (The receiver has already straightened out most of these issues, such as withholding payroll taxes for clubhouse employees)
Conclusion
If the above ideas & plans sound good to you, then please consider signing our proxy (once the election announcements are made) and locking in your vote to Restore Cedar Run!!
We actually discourage this attitude because it is this attitude that actually brought the Sher/Shaw group into power. Most people had no idea that Sher would turn Cedar Run into a cash cow for his family, drive services to an all-time low, alienate homeowners, abolish elections, and drive us into receivership. Nor did they realize that Sher had no knowledge on how to run an association. But most people did not ask nor demand that Sher give a detailed plan as to what he would do once in power. They just knew they were unhappy with the status quo and decided to take a chance on an outsider who vowed to change things.
CRITICAL THINKERS WANTED!!
After waiting patiently for the Civil Courts to order an election in Cedar Run, we will now have one on August 4th, 2016. As we approach this important election, where homeowners will have the opportunity to make in important decision about the future of our community, the Cedar Run Concerned Homeowners will be compiling a list of candidates. We encourage any and all homeowners who want to help restore Cedar Run to put their names in and volunteer as a Director. Those who do not want to be directors, but still want to participate, can volunteer to serve on a committee and still provide valuable input to help govern our community. Only homeowner involvement can make this community work for the homeowners.
Our Core Values
We have created a list of core values that we feel are intrinsic in restoring Cedar Run.
As Our Articles of Incorporation clearly state: "All of said [responsibilities of the board] to be fulfilled and performed without pecuniary [aka financial] profit to any director or member of the Corporation."
First and foremost, we believe in an ALL VOLUNTEER board. No director will be paid, for any service, whatsoever....Period!!
We believe in transparency and checks & balances. Only, we actually mean it!! We demand open board meetings (as required by law). We demand to see a budget BEFORE the fiscal year begins. We want all meeting minutes and documents available for those who wish to review them.
We believe that the law is the law. We demand that the new board follow all state laws as well as our REAL governing documents, to the letter. We do not believe in being quasi-legal or ignoring the law and just hoping that nobody can or will sue.
We believe communication is key in meeting homeowners' needs. We encourage the new board to restart something called the 'Cedar Reader', which was a true newsletter that provided actual news, facts, and announcements for the community. We do NOT want newsletters to be used as a propaganda tool.
We believe in embracing technology as a tool to serve homeowners. We want an association website that homeowners can use to pay assessments, make requests, read the rules & regs, access meeting minutes, subscribe to email announcements, and many many more possibilities. We believe that technology can be used for convenience AND it can save us money.
We believe Cedar Run should be professionally managed by a qualified company that will be selected based on homeowner input and homeowner needs. We have a long list of requirements for such a management company including sufficiently accommodating Spanish-speaking homeowners.
We believe in singular management - one company to manage the master board and all phases. Nobody will need to worry about which board or management company to call with questions or concerns. We can also get a much more reasonable rate from a management company if they manage the entire property. This can only be accomplished through collaboration with the phase boards. This cannot be accomplished through strong-arm tactics or hostile takeover attempts as Robert Sher has proven.
Along with singular management, we believe in a single monthly payment for each homeowner's assessment. This will also require collaboration with phases, and we want our new board to work diligently to make this so.
We believe in telling homeowners the truth, even if/when the truth hurts. We do not anyone pointing fingers at others and blaming them for any disappointing news.
We want a board that will do all that is necessary to avoid raising assessments, but we also to get the best value for our assessment dollar, including preventive maintenance, amenities, capital reserves, and adequate insurance coverage. If assessments must be increased, we expect our board to be transparent as to the reason(s) why.
Priorities after establishing a responsible board
As we've stated previously, Sher never had a plan. We do not want to repeat his mistakes.
Our first priority will be to end any and all lawsuits in which Cedar Run is involved. The main lawsuit that is draining our funds is the lawsuit with the banks. The Sher group is still in contempt of court, and this is causing the case to drag on forever. They have also filed frivolous counterclaims and discovery requests that make the situation even more costly. We intend to comply with all of the existing court orders and work with all parties to end this lawsuit. Ending this suit will be the single-most long-term beneficial accomplishment in terms of money savings. (A settlement is very close to being reached....so we already have a head start!)
Next, we expect the new board to select a qualified, professional management that meets the standards of our homeowners and provides the best value. We have actually already spoken with a few management companies, so we may be able to narrow down our choices for an easier transition.
We hope the board will establish committees to help identify the most pressing concerns for homeowners. These committees will include crime prevention & safety, parking, swimming pool planning, rules & regulations.
Once again, with the cooperation of the phase boards, we encourage the board to shop for discounted, bundled insurance plans that provide the best value in terms of coverage/cost/deductibles. We believe that bundling the insurance policies will result in the best value for our dollar.
We encourage the board to meet with any and all contractors/employees performing work on the property (including individual homeowners hired to do grounds-keeping) and review their respective contracts/arrangements. Any contractor or employee that provides a value-added service should be retained, so long as they are properly licensed, bonded, or insured wherever necessary. (The receiver has already straightened out some of these issues, including the termination of an uninsured contractor)
Those employed by the association must be paid via check and receive a 1099 or appropriate payroll tax withholding. Gone are the days of using association funds to pay homeowners' mortgages, taxes, insurance, or utilities as a back-door way to compensate them and help them avoid reporting their income. The same applies to discounted/waived assessment dues and free parking passes as a means of compensation. The same applies to letting homeowners 'work-off' their delinquent assessment dues instead of paying them. We believe the above tactics (regularly practiced by the Sher/Shaw group) put Cedar Run at great risk. (The receiver has already straightened out most of these issues, such as withholding payroll taxes for clubhouse employees)
Conclusion
If the above ideas & plans sound good to you, then please consider signing our proxy (once the election announcements are made) and locking in your vote to Restore Cedar Run!!
thanks for all your effort and hard work to make up this blog ,whats the story now with the election ?how about the parking program stating that the booting was cancelled that reds towing was who to call any idea ? whats with the spanish sign up front enterance only invalving mexicans ,what about the germans why are we only giving parties to mexicans when we all are paying assesments to pay landscaping that sucks ,whats with that half cut down tree with pile of branches in front of pool off cedar run an idea ?
ReplyDeleteIf you have not read our latest blog entry, the court has finally ruled that Cedar Run must conduct an election to make up for the last two skipped election cycles. See the main blog page for details.
DeleteElection issue is still in the hands of the courts. Unfortunately the court system is very slow and Anne Shaw is a pro at playing procedural games and delaying things. The election will eventually be ordered, but we are not clear on the timeframe.
ReplyDeleteWe will post more about the parking program soon. Officially speaking, there shoud be no booting, and Red's is the towing service. Oddly enough, cars were spotted with boots and violation notices even after Sher announced that the booting program had been stopped. The parking issues are still a mess.
Our only comment about the party/celebration is that it is a political move to gain support from hispanic homeowners. Our position is that we embrace diversity and have no problem with a Mexican Independence Day celebration, but we don't feel that homeowner funds should be used to fund celebrations or events like this, or the fishing derby, community fun night, or any other event like this. Assesment dollars are for maintaining the property. Any surplus funds should be turned over to the homeowners in the form of an assessment reduction.....not spent on parties.