HOLIDAY LIGHT SURVEY RESULTS

Hi Everyone,

Survey on lights results:    794 NO votes      to       235 Yes votes
The results of the survey regarding the White Holiday Lights wrapping the palms are overwhelmingly against moving forward. This should not come as a surprise. Our community has consistently shown that it does not support spending money on non-essential items when we have serious, ongoing infrastructure issues to address. We do have Holiday Lighting and decorations that are not costing us anything.

The Difference
White holiday lights may look nice for 5 weeks, but they add no lasting value and are not a required or protected common asset. In contrast, the Board has a legal obligation to maintain and repair critical components of the community. This includes fixing broken pipes in the clubhouse and repairing all damage, repairing a major pool leak that drove up our water bill by $1,000 per month, repairing a roof that was actively leaking and causing mold concerns, resolving storm drain backups that lead to flooding during heavy rains, maintaining the perimeter zone, wall and entranceway monuments and landscaping, maintaining the lakes, walking path, tennis/pickle ball courts, etc. The Board also has a legal responsibility to make sure residents are in compliance with our documents, and our documents are updated as needed. These are not optional decisions on spending money, and they are not subject to a community vote.

Why the Survey
After receiving a few complaints about past lighting changes, I made the effort to survey the entire community so we could move forward based on actual data—not a handful of opinions. I want to make sure the Board is reflecting the majority of the community’s wishes. 1029 residents participated, which is more engagement than we have ever seen in any election. Only 235 supported spending money on white lights, while 794 did not. The community has spoken clearly.

Possibilities
For those who still feel strongly about having the white holiday lights, you are free to organize and fund it privately. If the owners that voted yes want to pool money (approximately $75.00 per household), hire a licensed and insured company, present a plan, and supervise the job, the Board will review it. We are also open to alternative decoration ideas—provided they are brought forward in a constructive and organized manner. I will have a sign-up list in our office for anyone wanting to join a committee and chair it to handle this project. Keep in mind that this is not something you can get done at the last minute, so if the “Yes” voters want to do this, time is of the essence.

Backstory
Last October, I asked for volunteers to form a committee that would work on the holiday decorations. As President of the Board, I already had my hands full with major issues our community was facing so I asked for help, as I have consistently done over the years. No one stepped forward. I’ve read comments on Nextdoor stating that the owners had no choice on the decorations. Those comments are 100% false. The entire community was asked to volunteer to handle the decorations, and no one volunteered. Since no owners stepped forward to take on the decorations, a Board member and his wife generously gave their time to put up decorations for the community.

Unnecessary Nastiness
It is disappointing to see nasty comments posted on social media by residents who did not volunteer their time to help but criticized the decorations. Criticism is easy. Volunteering time, solving problems, and taking responsibility is not—and that is what your Board members are doing every day. While everyone is entitled to their opinions, it’s important to recognize that maintaining and improving our community requires time, effort, and a willingness to contribute. Negative comments from the sidelines do nothing to help your community and portrays it in an unfavorable light, which lowers our property values. At any time if you have a concern or an idea to help, please call me or the office. I have always gone above and beyond to help owners that have asked for it.

Positive Alternative Behavior
We encourage everyone to get involved, volunteer, and be part of the solution. Working together constructively is the best way to move our community forward. I’m sure we have many owners that are in professions that could help our community. It would be great if you would volunteer your expertise, like the Board is doing and help the community. I will also have a list in the office for those professionals to sign up on if they are willing to help us with various repairs that would cut the costs of having to hire someone. Any electricians, plumbers, landscapers, IT, handyman/women, etc. In other words, anyone that can donate their expertise to our community is more than welcomed to help us out.

Minimally, if you support the work being done, show up at Board meetings. They are less than an hour long and held about every other month. I have also held Town Hall Meetings for owners to come out and discuss any concerns or ideas they have. Participation in these meetings is less than 5% of our community. Participation matters. Constructive involvement matters.

If you want to form a committee, let the Board know and I’m sure you would be welcomed to do that. We have had a few ideas like, social committee, welcoming committee, landscaping committee, neighbor assistance committee, decorating committee, security committee. Although we have had suggestions, no one has taken the lead to form any committee.

I also need a committee to monitor the Airbnb/VRBO for owners advertising their homes for short-term rentals. I had appointed a committee a couple of years ago, but only 1 person on that committee has continued monitoring this and she needs help. We need committed people to check these sites and others often, so we are aware of the owners who are violating this policy.

We will continue to prioritize what is necessary. Cosmetic improvements will be done as needed to keep our property values up. We will always act in the best interest of the community as a whole. Thank you for all of the positive feedback. I am aware that 95% of you are very happy with all the work the Board has done and continues to do on our community’s behalf and I sincerely thank you for all of your nice emails, calls and texts.

Warm regards,
Nancy J. Perry
President
BLMA