The following letter was reprinted from the August 28, 2008 Baywinds Breeze

I am writing this letter unknowing if it will be published or not, however more homeowners have to react to the position we are in.

I know from experience that serving on the Board is a thankless task and requires hard work and discipline.

I have attended the last few Board meetings and am quite concerned that the Board is trying to act in the best interests of the community, but there appears to be Egos rather than intelligent thinking in running this Association. We have an inept management company that just reacts rather than being proactive in assisting the Board in their endeavors.

The main concern now is the clubhouse. This was a major undertaking since we really stripped the clubhouse down and a major renovation was being done. This was way beyond the scope of the Boards expertise and we should have searched for professional help in taking on this task. I perceive that the Board was concerned that maybe an assessment would result and for some reason that clouds intelligent thinking. An architect should have been hired to scope out the plans. We would request him to draw plans on how we can reconfigure the clubhouse to best utilize the space we have to satisfy 1100 families. His second chore would be to see if we could expand the clubhouse to increase the amenities.

After the plans are reviewed we decide in what direction we would go. At that time a General Contractor is hired with the direction to hire the appropriate subs with our approval.

Committees are then formed with people in our community who are experienced in the trades to assist in this project. We then have a check and balance on what is going on. At the present time we have a media room that seats 20. We have 1100 units in our development. We have a ballroom that seats 200 people at a show which means 80% of our homeowners miss shows.

Our gym is deplorable. In season you have to wait a half hour to get on a treadmill that are dangerous.

I sat at our last meeting listening to the report on the air conditioning and was amazed. It was like listening and watching an old Laurel and Hardy movie. The Directors had no idea of what the person was talking about and over time i think he knew less. The Board of Directors are just that. As in any corporation the Board reports to the stockholders as to the policy . In our case the management company should be carrying out the wishes of the board. It is strange that the management company expects the unit owner to police the other unit owners. We can't tell a person who is really not a guest to leave, or to direct someone that their child does not have swimmies on. What about young adults diving and swimming in the aqua track pool. Checking once an hour is not the correct way to do it.

Which brings the problem of cost. This is not a free standing community where you have independent choice on certain things to do with your house and community. If you have a stand alone house and it needs painting you can delay that as long as you want, however here when the association tells you that your house needs painting it has to be done whether you have the funds or not.

Our clubhouse is the core of the community. The state of the clubhouse and common grounds puts the value on your house. The answer is not that "if you want to live in an upscale community you should have moved to Valencia". I think the Board has to take an introspective look at the operation of the community and the management company and seeing progress not disregard for the homeowner.

Howard Williamson

Baywinds Breeze Editor's Note: Howard Williamson is a former member of the Baywinds Board of Directors.