Agenda and minutes Committee meeting August 2nd 2007

Committee meeting Thursday August 2nd 2007. TIME 16.00 ATTENDED JOHN STEPHENSON, VICTOR CALLAGHAN SMITH & JOHN HEALY


AGENDA & MINUTES


1. Obtaining three quotes from Administrators and details of what these include e.g. meetings phone calls inclusive/exclusive. Gaining of recommendations/comments from Urbanisations already using these Companies.It is of the opinion of all those present and also other members of the Committee that Fincas Network no longer gives value for money. The Community is under much better management at the moment and the need for such an expensive Administrator is not so great. The big issues have remained for the past two years and may never be resolved so it was decided to obtain quotes from other firms of Administrators, to see if we could get the same amount of work for less cost. John and Victor will obtain these quotes before October 1st when it is hoped that the agenda for the A.G.M. will be posted.
2. Obtaining three quotes from Swimming pool Maintenance Companies and details of what these include e.g. how many times a week summer/winter emergency call outs inclusive/exclusive etc. Gaining of recommendations/comments from Urbanisations already using these Companies.
It was stated that the Urbanisation is more than happy with the work of the current contractor. However, now that other urbanisations have been running about the same time as ours there are now more and more certified Companies who have been doing the work for two or more years. Victor and John will once again obtain quotes and speak to the Officials at other urbanisations and see if there is a better (price wise) option for the Community
3. In view of the total lack of interest/apathy of the current Administrator and the seriousness of the problem over the state of the drains, should we pay an independent company to do a full written survey of both phases and therefore, obtain three quotes for the service?
All those present were in agreement that the situation with the drains needs at least checking before any or all guarantees are void. John and Victor will phone several Companies next week and cost the price of this exercise. It may not be possible to get written quotes as it is not a contract. They will however, get the best price/value for the Community and if these come in as excessive it would of course go to the A.G.M. before any Community money is spent.
4. As we have a lot of owners waiting either to the last possible minute (before penalties) or making excuses as to why the Community fee is arriving late, we propose, in the interest of the Community, to raise the current fee to 330 euros. There will be a deduction of 10% i.e. 30 euros for payments received before Saturday 2nd February 2008 and the existing Community rule of 20% penalty for payments received after April 1st shall apply to the new figure of 330 euros i.e. 396 euros
This was seen as an excellent idea and the only query was is 300 euros going to be enough for the next year or should it go up with inflation. We have at the moment just over 16,000 euros in the bank and of course an amount over 7,000 outstanding. The aim is to keep a fund of 10,000 to one side and there is no expenditure foreseen other than daily running costs and maybe a few plants now that the work on the pool area is complete. Therefore, this will be included on the agenda for the 4th A.G.M.
5. As John is to not stand next year as President, are any of the existing Officials willing to stand for President, Vice President or the Committee?
In answer to this question it was stated that Vice President Dennis Dixon of 25 phase 2 had already decided to resign and not stand for any future position due to pressures of work. Victor would be prepared to stand either as Vice President or on the Committee but this naturally would depend firstly on who is elected President, and who the next Committee is formed of. John Healy did not commit either way only to say that he would not stand as President. It was discussed that John may be hard to replace to which John replied that it was no longer his problem or concern but he felt sure that someone will volunteer and both John and Denise would like to make public their feelings on the subject below.

John and Denise wish to make public the reason behind their decision. They, as many are aware, have never asked for the position but were elected and re-elected by the Community and were pleased to carry on as they believed they were doing a good job. Last year, bearing in mind the terrible problems they had with the pool and the threats etc, they received from guests; they asked the Community to provide a life/security guard for the main summer season. This was costed out at approximately 900 euros which equated to just under 9 euros per apartment per year i.e. just over six English pounds. The Community voted against this and once again decided that John and Denise should police the pool, listen to all the complaints, and be subjected to the threats of guests. In addition they have once again had to sort out the mess when the pool became too dirty to use because of all the inflatable’s/large boats which are dragged down the roads and thrown straight into the water. The amount of inflatables in the pool would be something of a joke was it not for the fact that a swimmer with problems cannot be seen underneath them which is the reason they are banned under Spanish Law. Only when this happens, and a death occurs will owners and their guests say that the rule should have been enforced
Secondly, despite asking on numerous occasions and pointing out that 1. It is against Community rules. 2. It greatly inconveniences incoming guests and 3. In the event of an illness or fire the emergency services cannot access the apartments because of the insistence of owners parking their cars in the internal walkways. In the event of a serious incident it would be John as President who would have to attend court and not the apartment owner, which is one reason why we feel we have had no or little backing over this problem. Several owners have been asked on several occasions or know about the rule but choose to ignore it but still persist.
The next problem is the washing lines that have appeared at several of the apartments once against despite having a Community rule banning the use and once again totally spoiling the pleasure of their neighbours view and the general look of the Urbanisation. It was stated at the latest meeting that some of these washing lines were below 2 metres but as the Community rules state “washing lines not to be above wall level” it made little or no difference. As both John and Denise said following December every owner can do exactly as they please. In view of these and of course many more issues to long to mention John and Denise feel that their wishes for a decent and well run Community will never be achieved, and that in essence they are wasting not only their time but money trying to turn it into one. Hopefully, the incoming President will have more success and of course they wish him/her success and will of course hand everything over in a better state then they found it.
They would like to add that they wish to thank several owners for there backing over the last three years and will do this personally when they next meet them.