In my opinion, the plan to impose a café on the residents of Baywinds is a terrible idea. To suggest that this amenity will increase the value of my home is ridiculous. In these harsh economic times we do not need to incur an additional expense or surcharge to our fixed homeowners’ fees.

I enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning as much as anyone, and part of the enjoyment is its preparation, then sitting out on my patio, reading the newspaper or chatting with my wife, and taking in the beautiful view. If I care to have coffee or breakfast out of my home, there is a clean, new McDonalds just up the road, without having to leave our community and go into traffic on the street. McDonalds' serves good specialty coffee at a very reasonable price, and offers easy listening music of the 50s and 60s to go with it. Or, I can go out to a restaurant of my choice with various breakfast items, and sit down and be served.

Many of our residents are retired people living on a fixed budget, and to impose a mandatory additional expense of $200 to our present homeowners’ fees, whether we want it or not, can in no way add value to my home. For those who find this “amenity” so attractive and necessary, perhaps it should be run like all other clubs, organizations, and functions in Baywinds, and that is on a voluntary basis. They would have to cover the cost of the food provider, set up, clean up, and any damages incurred to the club property due to spillage.

Let us not forget that we just spent nearly a million dollars to repair and decorate our clubhouse, and it is my understanding that the board is now planning to borrow money for an emergency back up reserve fund. To encourage the idea of drinking coffee and other beverages and eating various foods on a daily basis inside a newly renovated and redecorated clubhouse is asking for trouble. I envision a sorry looking mess in no time at all, not to mention the possibility of drawing vermin and insects into our clubhouse. And what will it take to cover the additional cost of insurance to run a café on our premises by a private enterprise? Or when the provider decides he needs a higher fee to keep the café running how can the residents be assured that they won't be gouged by the vendor or further assessed?

Think all of this through before making an irrevocable decision which we will all regret. For those who envy the communities who have this “amenity”, perhaps they should consider moving to one of those developments.

Rick Rosich, Harbour Cove