The Colonies Co-Owner Community 2013 Holiday Wish List for 2014

T’is the season and everyone, no matter what their religion or beliefs, a person has wants and wishes.  What better way to start 2014 than with a Colonies Co-Owner Wish List:

1.   A Complete Board of Directors that actually work in the best interest of their fellow co-owners vs. working their own agendas

·            Currently The Colonies Board of Directors has 2 of 7 (28.57%) Board Members actually making every attempt to fulfill their fiduciary duty as Board members and are being fought tooth and nail by the remaining 5 members; 1 of those 5 members does not always fight them and does question the Board on matters interest of the co-owners  

2.   Transparency from the Board of Directors to the Colonies Co-Owners to include full disclosure of straightforward information vs. Board Members manipulating events to their advantage

·       A few Board Members and members of the Management team met with an outside advisor during the Spring.  Colonies financial information was shared with this individual and the Board relayed that it was an information gathering session; SHARE with the co-Owners what information was gathered by being TRANSPARENT!!!!!

3.   Make The Colonies Clubhouse Non-Smoking

Rental income has been on the decline in recent years as per the following Audit Figures:

o    2012: $15,113

o    2011: $16,990

·       The resident beer drinker who raised an issue over his beer being stolen at the recent Board Meeting will certainly have a problem

·       The Colonies Clubhouse needs to be fumigated at the worst degree (smoke throughout the years in the carpet and furniture needs no further comment)

·       Entails amending Colonies Policy Resolution I-B-17 Smoking in the Common Elements

4.   Make the Administration Building Non-Smoking

·       Feasibly achievable after Friday, January 17, 2014 when General Manager Carlton retires (Carlton will be serving in a Consultant/Advisor capacity after her retirement date)

o   Should be noted the Administration Building’s address, 7681 Provincial Drive, where the offices are based, contain two 2-bedroom units owned by The Council of Co-Owners that were converted to the offices

5.   Cease the conflict of interest that exists with an Officer of the Board of Directors working as a Part-time employee in The Colonies office; Colonies co-owner Kelleher serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer working part-time in the Management Office is inappropriate.  Kelleher voted on the passing of the 2014 Budget which would include a salary increase (2.8% increase over 2013’s budgeted amount), a breach of Item 2 of Colonies Policy Resolution I-B-4 Code of Ethics that states:

I agree not to use my position for material gain and agree to avoid all personal considerations which might give rise to actual or apparent conflict of interest.  In cases where potential conflicts of interest arise, I agree to abstain from discussion and/or vote.

By voting on the 2014 budget, Treasurer Kelleher violated the Code of Ethics item!  Pick the Part-Time position on The Colonies payroll or serving as an Officer on the Board of Directors!

6.   Have the Board of Directors actually use resources within their own Board; Vice President of the Board Pollak is a highly respected property management professional with many years’ experience and Board Member Crane’s extensive litigation experience particularly with contracts and proposals are an asset to the Board and co-owners alike

7.   A Board of Directors where ALL members actually adhere to the following Colonies Policy Resolution I-B-4 Code of Ethics items (not listed in any particular order of priority):

·       I agree to keep co-owners informed as to The Colonies’ business and to counter all attempts to mislead co-owners (Item 9)

·       I agree to express my opinions responsibly after full consideration and examination of the facts and recognition of the impact of my statements on The Colonies’ reputation and/or property values (Item 5)

·       I agree to promote constructive suggestions which benefit the community and to avoid derogatory expressions of opinion unless warranted by facts (Item 6)

·       I agree to enforce The Colonies Declaration', Bylaws, and Resolutions (Item 4)

·       I agree to fulfill my fiduciary responsibilities to The Colonies by giving it my loyalty, by acting at all times honestly and in good faith, by fair dealing in all instances and by exercise of sound impartial business judgment (Item 1)

·       I agree not to use my position for material gain and agree to avoid all personal considerations which might give rise to actual or apparent conflict of interest.  In cases where potential conflicts of interest arise, I agree to abstain from discussion and/or vote (Item 2)

8.   Colonies Board of Directors and Management be open to new ideas and change

·       Explore all options to include putting items/services out for bid to ensure co-owners are getting best services at the best value

·       Solicit more than 3 bids (multiple emails received talk of how vendors discussed at Board Meetings are never more than 2 cited)

  


9.   A Board that actually listens to co-owners and considers them as equals!





Any additional suggestions, feel free to email me at colonies.mclean@gmail.com.



Have a Happy and safe Holiday Season and let's hope for a better 2014!

Colonies Inefficiency Yet Again

Hope everyone is having a good Summer and getting to enjoy the swimming pool!

I have received multiple emails concerning the distribution of the August 2013 Colonies Crier to resident co-owners and residents.  The issues they received had labels clearly belonging to that of an investor co-owner!  If the Colonies was trying to foster some sort of buddy program among resident co-owners and investor co-owners, the VERY least they could do would be to publish an article in the Colonies Crier alerting people to this 'partnership' vs. sharing what could be private information!!

With metro and much other development coming to the area that will hopefully mean positive 'increased' returns on our investments, The Colonies needs to represent itself as a community more efficiently (and, us the co-owners as they are our representatives too - our $525/month says so).  They can start with their pathetic website (http://www.thecolonies.com/)...  Basic spell check alone (see below) and fact our community boards discussions are about topics such as building(s) not having been worked on in over 15 years (our condo fees again going MORE toward elevated salaries and not the betterment of the community) and tagless cars on the property!  The only way we as a community will be able to move forward with the times is to have the Colonies professionally managed with a MANAGEMENT Company!  All I can ask is you think of your investment(s) in these changing times!

Whatever happened to the Smoking petition to cease smoking in the Office that was sent around sometime ago?  With the number of unit sales in recent months, it would be interesting to see what the results would be.  The Smoking in the Administration Building and the Clubhouse is most appalling!  The time to think of your investment and community is now!

Colonies Annual Meeting/Election and Issues Perspectives

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 is the Annual Meeting/Board of Directors Election at The Colonies.  The 'Official Ballot' of the 2013 Annual Meeting for the Election of Directors was postmarked April 11, 2013.  Co-owners were left with no options but the old guard...  Three (3) nominees running for Board of Directors seats and co-owners are instructed to 'VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN THREE (3) of the candidates'; that does not leave much for choice and there is no space designated for write-in candidate(s) (adding lines with checkboxes would not be too far-fetched as HOA ballots found online do have such areas designated for write-in candidates).  Some thoughts on the three candidates 2013 Statement of Views on Major Issues:

·         Bates Brown (Current Board of Directors President and should be noted her ‘views almost exactly parallel those sent in the Meeting Packet two years ago)

I strongly advocate emphasis on maintaining sufficient reserve funds to cover future improvements and repairs in our aging community. The Colonies is fortunate in that we have gone for more than 30 years without a special assessment - a feat most communities cannot match. With continued guidance from our brilliant finance committee and fiscal responsibility we can insure we are well prepared for the future. I have always been proud to live in The Colonies. It is like a small oasis in a busy urban area. My visitors frequently comment on our beautiful grounds and tranquility. There is nowhere else in the Washington area I would rather live!

Brilliant Finance Committee?  Where has she been?  The monthly condominium unit fees have increased $45 over the last two years ($30 increase commencing January 2012 and $15 2013).  A scary thought is our monthly condominium fees will continue to skyrocket; our taxes will increase as metro arrives along with next year’s increase in condo fee.

·         Kelleher (Current Treasurer and works part-time in the Administration Office; cited as a conflict of interest by many)

Continue with the policy of funding the reserve funds to achieve and maintain the $1,000,000 level.  Preserve property values of owners by persuading everyone to be proactive in reporting and identifying the perpetrators of vandalism.  We need to: 1. Continue to select members of the Finance Committee who are highly qualified and work with budgets and funding within their careers. 2. Research new ideas for cost savings by introducing automated services within the current accounting system.  3. Support and defend a budget process, guided by our fiduciary responsibility which represents the majority of the owners views and wishes.

Give me a break especially point 3 – she is the biggest puppet of them all and hardly an advocate of fellow co-owners!  Why introduce services within the current system?  Sometimes it is cheaper to get a new system (most vendors will work with clients to migrate existing data to a new system)!  Within the last several years prior to the 2011 Election, the Finance Committee had a volunteer co-owner MORE than qualified and because he asked so many questions, he was removed (coincidently enough it was one of the Petition Candidates from the May 2011 Election)!!

·         Pollak (Current Vice President of the Board and works in Property Management)

The Colonies continues to be fortunate to have Management and staff with long tenures dedicated to maintaining and preserving the community.  I am proud of the work that the Board of Directors has done these past 3 years, especially with respect to building our reserves.  I look forward to contributing to the success of The Colonies.

Pollak attempted to curtail smoking in the Administration building and mentioned the subject of “smoking” at a Board Meeting only to be shot down by Board President Brown.  Additionally, he has tried to speak at meetings including questioning policies only to be stifled by the OLDER Board Members.  A Property Management professional/multiple Property Management Association award recipient considers The Colonies fortunate to have the Management we have?  What work has the Board of Directors done?  How about noting the work the Board of Directors has done?  His Statement of Views on Major Issues was the briefest (a mere 56 words) so he still had plenty of ‘space’ to work with.

All 3 candidates cite the increased reserve funds as an accomplishment; let’s be real – that was really only able to be achieved because there were no major repairs to address and minimal snow removal this past winter to have to address!  Members of The Colonies Board of Directors seem to forget they are co-owners too and represent only their interests vs. those of the community at large, i.e., General Manager Carlton is still smoking away while she toils in the Administration building despite a Petition eliminating smoking in the Administration building having been circulated to Colonies co-owners.

Hard to believe two (2) years have passed since the infamous election when four (4) petition co-owner candidates ran for seats on the Board advocating for positive change and co-owner involvement only to have two candidates be narrowly defeated.  Where oh where has The Colonies Coalition been?  Those educated professional co-owners were promoting POSITIVE change and thinking ahead for the betterment of The Colonies.  It should be noted no real changes have occurred in The Colonies over the two years other than the Administration Building and Clubhouse remain as smoke-filled as ever, excess money continues to be wasted on Management salaries and monthly statement postage expenses to name a few items. 

The topic of ceasing mailing Monthly Statements to co-owners for the monthly association dues has been raised at Board Meetings. Board Members response has been the mailing of monthly statements is a testament to the low delinquency rates.  The Rotonda Condominium, an 1,168 unit property has a less than 1% delinquency rate as stated in the Delinquency Report portion of The Rotonda Condominium Unit Owners Association Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Meeting Tuesday, February 26, 2013 section on page 15 of the March-April 2013 issue of the Rotonda Rostrum Community Newsletter (http://www.rotonda.org/document_view.asp?id=1186).

For an example of how a community operates, informs their co-owners of community/local events like the tax district situation and actually lets their co-owners have a say on matters (surveys, selecting carpet), read the Rotonda’s Community Newsletter, the Rotonda Rostrum http://www.rotonda.org/document_view.asp?id=1186

If only The Colonies would actually get a consensus of co-owner opinions on issues; so many Colonies co-owner survey possibilities:

• Banning smoking in Administration Building and Clubhouse
• Banning smoking from inside the Swimming Pool gates
• Canceling the Mailing of Monthly Statements to co-owners
• Having a Management company run The Colonies vs. it being a self-managed community

It has been reported to me by multiple sources two Colonies Management personnel were seen all cozy in a dark booth at J. Gilbert’s in McLean.  Was there Colonies talk during their cuddle session or do they have a rule that only occurs during their 'discreet' sessions that happen while they are still on the Colonies clock?  Could the Property Manager and General Manager have been sharing their respective countdown to retirement calendar with each other during their snuggle session?  Anyone who is anyone knows a good Property Manager is never 'off the clock' as there have been numerous crises on the property after hours but The Colonies Property Manager is usually nowhere to be seen during such times.  J. Gilberts may be a place to look for him during the next crisis and if he is there with his cohort, you will get two for the price of one and she could renew your facilities pass and/or register your pet if need be!

In other news, former Board President Lauricella was reported seen back on the Plantation having returned from his Florida Villa sporting a tan likely to be calling co-owners to ensure a quorum is reached (have to love having Caller ID) for the Annual Meeting.  Having held reign for as long as Lauricella did over The Colonies and the egomaniac he is, former US President(s) returning to the White House for visits of an official nature do likely have no self-aggrandizing feelings in comparison to Sal when he ambles into The Colonies Administration building.  During his reign, did long-term Colonies employees hum the lyrics ‘Hail to the Chief’ when he walked past (saluting would be over the top even for Lauricella)?  A modified version of Hail to the Chief fitting for Lauricella (and a majority of current Board of Directors members; 2 members are only ones of any worth but they seem to be stifled anytime they attempt to question anything):

Snub the Chief chosen blindly for the Colonies,
Snub the Chief!  We loathe him, one and all.
Snub the Chief, as we work for these phonies
In fulfillment of a terrible, lowly call.

Lauricella’s aim is to make this grand property poorer,
This he will do, that's our strong, firm belief.
Snub the one selected as commander,
Snub the President!  Snub the Chief!

Given the mindset of the Board Members (no adoption of new ideas/change) and allowing themselves to be controlled by ‘Nurse Ratched’ General Manager Carlton, the majority would have to resign; to give some perspective, the birth information of the four oldest members of the Board (57.14% of 7 total members) are as follows:

• March 1932 (81)
• September 1942 (70)*
• March 1946 (67)
• April 1948 (65)*

* Up for election

In closing, the only ways positive change will happen is if:

• Management personnel retires (including ‘Nurse Ratched’ General Manager) or opts to pursue other opportunities
• Many Board Members actually realize the best interest of the community would be to welcome change by stepping down versus fighting it as they have for so many years
• Co-owners question operations/budgetary processes; for example 7 ‘corporations’ registered in The Colonies to the Clubhouse and Administration building addresses were unearthed by a group less than 2 years ago with Management personnel and their relatives listed as Officers 

NO Transparency at The Colonies

Sorry for not being in touch but work travels have kept me busy but you all have not been forgotten.  There has been much activity since my last posting.

Why pray tell must one go on an investigative expedition to find out when the next Board Meeting is?  The March edition of The Colonies Crier had the March 13 Board Meeting date conveniently buried in the Calendar located on the next to last page vs. publishing it on the front page.  Noticeably The Council of Co-Owners of the Colonies Condominium at McLean had absolutely NO issues with listing the date of the Annual Meeting (headline: Countdown to The Elections)  at the top of the center column on page 1.  Of course the esteemed Council of Co-Owners of Co-Owners of The Colonies Condominium at McLean (publishers of The Colonies Crier) would list the upcoming election and Annual Meeting information literally front and center so all of us co-owners will re-elect the existing quacks to the Board (one person up for re-election is Treasurer Kelleher who works part-time in The Colonies Management office; an EXTREME CONFLICT OF INTEREST observed by the average individual with an IQ above 10 (medium idiot/feeble-mindedness level)).  Funnily enough, the March 13, 2013 Board Meeting is also not listed on the Upcoming Events schedule posted throughout The Colonies  (it would have been completely practical to have made the Daylight Savings Time graphics smaller to accommodate a line to add the Board Meeting).  It is glaringly apparent Management and the Board of Directors would rather have the lowest possible turnout of co-owners at Board Meetings so they are not held accountable for anything!  Dates of Board Meetings should be publicly posted at least 3 weeks prior to the Meeting so co-owners are informed and can make scheduling arrangements to attend vs. seeing the Agenda posted the Friday before.


Colonies February-March 2013 Events

The battle of pet waste throughout The Colonies property continues.  Several points were brought up in recent Colonies Connection postings.  However what are the pet registration fees used for?  Would the availability of litter bag dispensers with each pet waste receptacle located throughout the property combat this problem?  No reason pet registration fees could not be used for that AND supplying the bags (buying the bags in bulk would be nominal).

The January 27, 2013 $0.02 increase in postage to $0.46 per first class postage stamp further raises the monthly expense absorbed by all co-owners since Management refuses to cease mailing the monthly statements to all co-owners.  The most recent Board Meeting was a joke covering this topic as excuse given by (too) LONG-TERM Board Member Levin (a perfect example as to why Board Member term limits need to be implemented ASAP) was our low delinquency rate is attributed to the statements being mailed monthly.  Many of the Board Agenda topics are decided before the Board Meeting convenes.  Sending a survey was suggested a proposed form was supplied that was created and suggested it be mailed in the Annual Meeting package.  Giving co-owners 6 months notice or even saying the mailing of monthly statements will cease with December 2013's statement would be plenty of time.  Postage costs relating to the mailing of monthly statements are as follows (the 418 units is accounting for co-owners with multiple units and the 2 units owned by The Council of Co-Owners):

	Postage Rates
	Pre 01/27/2013 $0.44	Current Rate $0.46	Annual Amount (based on current $0.46 rate)
459 Units (Total)	$           201.96	$   211.14	$         2,533.68
418 Units	$           183.92	$   192.28	$         2,307.36

Other postings of late have been concerning the implementation of the greater Tysons area being also allocated as a separate tax district (The Tysons Tax District did pass at the County and State level).  Many co-owners did express their comments and took action by writing to Fairfax County Board of Supervisor members and Delegates opposing the tax.  Interestingly enough The Colonies Crier did not mention it in their March edition.

In closing, fellow co-owners, we cannot seem to fight the tax but we can unite to deal with the poor Management and our Board.  You do not have to vote them in and can write people in who my not be running officially (last year 3 people had votes by write-in; 2 of which had run in the 2011 election by petition).