After years of hiding behind lawyers, property managers and "zoom" meetings a re-constituted HOA board actually held a meeting with the people that they serve without intermediaries. Apparently major changes are afoot.
- New board member.
- Florida Skyline Management, fired! The Florida Skyline contract will expire at the end of December and will not be renewed.
- Starfire Management Services, hired. Starfire will charge $500.00 less per month than Florida Skyline.
- The board solicited for another board member, asked for volunteers.
- People complained about cats, bad paint, sprinklers and garbage cans.
- Some people voiced concerns about the legibility of the address signs on the fences of the buildings creating a dangerous situation when emergency workers can't find a given building.
- Board solicited Christmas decorations.
- Painting of the gutters was discussed.
- A representative from Starfire Management was heard whispering but nothing could be heard, Maybe they should bring a boom box or some other type of sound system so residents can actually hear what board members and guests are saying.
- Palm Beach County Schools sent a threatening letter to the Boca Rio Townhomes HOA demanding removal of trees on Boca Rio Townhomes property. One board member claimed to have a quote for $29,000.00 to remove the trees and claimed it would be cheaper than hiring a lawyer. Maybe they should call a lawyer and find out. Do we have a money tree somewhere to pay for all the tree work?
- Most of the board agreed that there are big changes coming! We'll see.
Starfire Management is a bit of a mystery, they don't have a web site but do have a "story" posted on the nextdoor web site, you can read it here. Their corporate info lists their business address as a residence on Boca Rio Drive with the registered agent listed as Letha Willocks, here is the Sunbiz link. In the year 2023, it's difficult to comprehend how a legitimate business doesn't have a functioning web site. Actually it also seems strange that our HOA hasn't seen fit to put one up.
In regards to the letter from the school board demanding the removal of our trees, the board may want to look at Florida State law regarding trees before pushing another $29,000.00 to their favored tree company. One board member seemed to be in a hurry to pay the tree company without consulting an attorney regarding our property rights. The law states that if the adjoining property owner alleges interference on their property, they can mitigate the encroachment (roots and limbs) at their own cost, why would we pay? Will this lead to another special assessment? The relevant law is here:
A landowner is not liable to the adjoining property owner for an alleged nuisance caused by overhanging branches and roots from a tree on his or her property; however, the adjoining property owner is legally entitled to trim back, at the adjoining owner's own expense and only up to the property line, any encroaching tree roots or branches and other vegetation that had grown onto his or her property. If the branches or roots are dead, or a dead tree falls onto the adjoining landowner's property, then the landowner of the property where the tree was originally located may be responsible. If a live tree falls onto the adjoining landowner's property, then the adjoining landowner is responsible for any damages.
Handbook of Florida Fence and Property Law
Hopefully good changes are on the way for Boca Rio Townhomes but there does seem to be a lingering desire to spend money with the tree company while many basic repairs and enhancements such as fence, signage and sprinkler repairs are neglected.
HOA Board Actually Holds an HOA Meeting!