The Saga of Cafe V
Continues
Despite the Vagueness
of the Explanation
At a special meeting held on Thursday,
July 16, 2015 by the Sun City Anthem Board, for some
strange reason, the subject of Anthem Restaurant Partners LLC, owners of Cafe V,
was curiously omitted....until
the end of the meeting when a question was asked from the audience as to
their bill payments, and most importantly, the status of their
liability insurance.
At that point, Secretary Jean Capillupo briefly addressed the
issue.
She stated that the restaurant had
finally paid their June and July,
2015 rent, the current monthly payment on the
outstanding $20,000 note, and had presented her with
a Certificate of Insurance.
The question of the outstanding utilities was answered in a rather odd
manner....
"It is in the
hands of the association attorney".
Utilities
dispute?
What dispute...and why is there
a dispute over the utilities?
Shouldn't that be fully addressed in
the lease agreement between the parties?
Did someone DO SOMETHING WRONG that is
being held back from the community to create this
"dispute"?
Why has this issue has been placed
"in the hands of the association
attorney"?
OK...for now it looks like Cafe V has
been thrown a "lifeline", but in our opinion, after
all the past secrecy and "bits and pieces" supplied
by this and past boards to residents, in our
minds....
"IT DIDN'T PASS
THE "SMELL TEST".
...and that "smell
test" includes years of past insurance experience of knowing the right
questions to ask...as well as...consulting with other members of the community
with similar backgrounds, all of which brought the same
conclusion....
...that the members of this and the
past board aren't telling us everything they should be
!
Regarding the insurance matter, there
is little doubt that the overwhelming number of board members have little, if
any experience at WHAT CONSTITUTES PROPER
COVERAGE.
And so...since it was merely a statement of Mrs. Capillupo that the "certificate" was supplied...we thought about the past...and the lack of complete information that has been given to the community to date...
And so...since it was merely a statement of Mrs. Capillupo that the "certificate" was supplied...we thought about the past...and the lack of complete information that has been given to the community to date...
...and WANTED TO
SEE THAT CERTIFICATE with our own eyes in
order to examine it for both authenticity as well as
thoroughness.
She did not produce
it at that meeting....instead stating that it was in the hands of the association attorney for EXAMINATION.
Why it was provided
to an attorney that BILLS THIS COMMUNITY BIG BUCKS... instead of merely making that request of the insurance broker or
company that would provide that FREE OF
CHARGE...
...and giving that
to a Finance Committee for FREE
EXAMINATION...
...is baffling...and...in our opinion....a further WASTE OF ASSOCIATION FUNDS.
Did she at the very
least make a copy of what was SUPPOSEDLY presented to
her?
And now...the real questions appear in
our mind !
When the insurance matter was
originally brought to our attention, we wrote several articles, but what shocked
us more than anything, was a comment from a resident and
current member of the Finance Committee, Barry
Goldstein.
Stated by Mr.
Goldstein:
"Just to let you know the Board of Directors has
known about the lack of a certificate of insurance from the restaurant for
months."
"Behind the scenes, for months I have been
requesting Certificates of Insurance from both the restaurant and FSR that were
required by their contracts."
"I have the emails on my computer as
proof."
"Some the Certificates of Insurance from FSR
expired in April and I have not seen any proof that they were renewed and
updated certificates were provided. I am glad that this issue has now seen
daylight. I guess the board does not think protecting community assets is as
important as self-management."
Just who is Barry Goldstein?
Let's take a ride into the recent
past.
Mr. Goldstein ran for the Board of
Directors in the last election, was equipped with both a proper financial
education, and had an extensive insurance
background...
...and as a
result....
...we at Anthem Opinions, in checking
his past, fully recommended him for election because of THOSE EDUCATIONAL AND
BUSINESS QUALIFICATIONS.
He was in our opinion, the "missing link" to financial knowledge and experience that
was severely lacking in our leadership.
But Mr. Goldstein evidently made a
"fatal error" when he was seeking
election....
HE ASKED QUESTIONS
!
...and asking the "wrong questions" to "the wrong
people" seems to be the "kiss of death"
amongst those who have ruled Sun City Anthem in the
past.
Mr. Goldstein WANTED TO EXAMINE the insurance situation, and he was shocked at what
he uncovered.
He first discovered that there was a
discrepancy between the Sun CIty Anthem contract with FSR, our management
company, and the coverage provided by our insurer....
...one of which ...was that the
automobiles on the Sun City Anthem Community Patrol...believed to be included in
our entire association package....HAD BEEN OMITTED from the
Association's EXCESS LIABILITY INSURANCE.
That's right... you are reading this
correctly.
THE COMMUNITY
PATROL VEHICLES WERE ONLY COVERED FOR BASIC INSURANCE...AND LEFT COMPLETELY
UNPROTECED FROM EXCESSIVE LIABILITY !
That problem evidently (and thankfully)
was quickly rectified....but there was another issue that he had discovered in
his insurance examination....
He could find NO
EVIDENCE OF CAFE V being insured and NO Certificate of Insurance could be
found.
As a member of the Finance Committee,
he rightfully believed that THIS HAD TO PROMPTLY BE BROUGHT
TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD (the old
board)...
...and he did...as early as March,
2015.
After all...he felt it was a matter of
due diligence that had to be addressed immediately.
The result of this revelation to the
board...
HE WAS IGNORED and
BRANDED AS A TROUBLEMAKER !
...and certain individuals, including
an alternative blog, knowing that the "system" could be in jeopardy BY EXPOSING
that lack of board action and incompetence if he was elected....did everything
possible to make sure that did not happen...and...sadly...they succeeded, and he
was defeated.
Mr. Goldstein also made an attempt to
be a part of the insurance discussions with the association insurance
broker...and...despite his extensive background in the insurance field in which
he also holds several insurance PROFESSIONAL
DESIGNATIONS, that old board further DID NOT ALLOW
HIM TO ATTEND.
It has now been FOUR MONTHS since Mr.
Goldstein had made his initial inquiries...and to date...HE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SECURE the information he requested
and fully entitled to RECEIVE...
...still considered a troublemaker for merely making an attempt
to...
...ENSURE THE
FINANCIAL FUTURE OF SUN CITY ANTHEM.
As a matter of fact we learned
that THE ENTIRE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN BARRED from
making ANY COMMENTS at all by this current Board...at the supposed
recommendation of the association attorney.
But where Mr. Goldstein seems to have
been unsuccessful in obtaining that information that was apparently provided to
an association attorney...
...also happens to
be WITHIN THE LEGAL RIGHTS of residents to
obtain.
Accordingly,
WE HAVE made that request as a resident of the Sun City
Anthem community.
On July 17,
2015, a Document Request Form was submitted to FSR to obtain the
following information:
1. Copies of Anthem Restaurant Partners LLC "Certificate of
Insurance" liability policy (from inception of lease agreement to current
date).
2. Copies of current FSR insurance "Certificates of Insurance"
pertaining to the contract with Sun City Anthem Homeowners Association and FSR,
the association management company.
3. Please provide effective dates of coverage for Requests #1 and #2,
along with current paid to date status, the premium modal frequencies (if the
policies are paid on a monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annual basis), and
the limits of liability on each respective
policy.
What we at Anthem Opinions promise you,
our readers, is to pursue that information to the fullest
extent....
....and keep you abreast of what , if
anything, we receive...
...as well as...WHAT WE DO
NOT.
We also pledge to you that if this is
not provided within the prescribed period of law (believed to be 20-21
days)...
WE WILL ALSO FILE FORMAL COMPLAINTS to
the proper authorities to obtain it.
We believe YOU need
to know...and...as quickly as possible for a very good
reason...
Why?
YOU ARE AT RISK IF
PROPER DOCUMENTION IS NOT PROVIDED AND AUTHENTICATED BY QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS.
Until that is provided to us....past
knowledge of what prior boards have made public...should make the entire Sun
City Anthem community wary of various board actions.
Our belief...described in the words of
the late President Reagan...
"Trust...but...Verify"
Asking all of you
to...
...think twice before you patronize any establishment that has
existing litigation against it (which we uncovered in a previous article); and
in our opinion, has brought continued financial grief since its inception on our
property.
Your thoughts?
Is The Board and
Anthem Restaurant Partners ...
?
Tell us by sending them to
us.
Anthem Opinions
Administration
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
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From Valerie Lapin...to...Anthem OpinionsReplyDelete
Whenever I read about the continual Café V saga it makes my blood boil that they have been allowed to get away with their actions and they continue to be here as a financial liability to SCA.
Mrs. Capillupo and Mrs. Meese keep covering up for the restaurant.
They and the rest of the Board and the restaurant should all be given their walking papers sooner rather than later before it’s too late.
Why is it always that the good guys that run for office that are willing and able to make the necessary changes are never elected, and we continue to get incompetents elected?
It’s about time that there is a positive regime elected that are concerned with the fiduciary and safety functions of SCA.
Another soap opera in the history of SCA continues......... -
From Barbara Sidary...to...Anthem OpinionsReplyDelete
One of the women I play cards with heard the check from V's had bounced.
Have you heard anything about that?
I am also branded a troublemaker as I try to get things changed and Maurice asked how I liked the new card tables and chairs and I said the chairs with no arms were too short for women and he replied:
"you aren't satisfied with anything, are you".
Very nasty and snotty.
The new tables are higher, we fight over the chairs that can be raised and we will see how long they last. -
Barbara,ReplyDelete
We heard the same rumor...and...perhaps one of the board members can confirm or deny this comment.
It certainly wouldn't surprise many people if true.
As far as Maurice Talley, he has been the subject of NUMEROUS complaints as to his behavior toward residents.
A few years ago, when Anthem Opinions commenced operations, we placed flyers at the Liberty Center to make residents aware of our blog..
First, they disappeared...and we were happy, believing that the community was interested in our publication.
When they disappeared a second time, we were made aware that THEY WERE REMOVED at the instruction of Maurice Talley.
Those flyers were costly, and when we contacted Mr. Talley, we were told "it was against the rules".
We asked him to provide those rules ...and...they never existed.
We then told Mr. Talley and a Mr. Feldman, at that time, it constituted THEFT of PERSONAL PROPERTY...that it they were not returned ASAP, we would file criminal charges against both of them for THEFT.
When they "could not locate" the flyers, we were FULLY REIMBURSED for the cost we incurred.
The moral of this story is simple....DON'T LET PEOPLE PUSH YOU AROUND...and...if told something that you don't understand, DEMAND TO SEE THE RULE IN WRITING.
It they cannot produce it, THEY CANNOT ENFORCE IT.
Let's hope Mr. Talley's actions are noted by the new self-management team and hopefully, when the transition is made, he is sent packing.
Anyone else have a problem with that individual? We'd like to know. -
ReplyDelete
From Laura Shapiro...to...Anthem Opinions
First of all, thank you for all you do to keep our community informed. I would not eat in that restaurant even if it was for free. It's just very frustrating that this restaurant is allowed to remain open. This is a travesty of justice and the residents of Sun City Anthem deserve better. The "Board" should be ashamed of themselves!!!
Sincerely,
Laura Shapiro -
Laura, thanks for the compliment, but the one who really deserves the thanks is a man named Barry Goldstein for doing his best to make our community a financially safer place.ReplyDelete
Why he is criticized for "doing the right thing", is so sad, and it tells the story of the "politics" that are senselessly demonstrated so often.
As a matter of fact...I have a favor to ask of you....AND...EVERYONE WHO READS ANTHEM OPINIONS.
Send Barry Goldstein a "thanks"..for his trying his best, despite those who would like to silence him.
He's made of "The Right Stuff" and I'm sure he would like to hear from those who believe he should be thanked for his courage.
Barry Goldstein's email address is:
BarryVG50@cox.net -
From Forrest Fetherolf...to...Anthem OpinionsReplyDelete
Why is our SCA Board of Directors stalling locking the doors on Cafe V?
Why do they ignore the fact the owner of Cafe V Larry Hughes was operating the restaurant without insurance, behind on debt obligations, struggling to stay in business and many residents dissatisfied with the food and service?
Why does our BOD keep giving Cafe V more and more concessions to stay in operation?
The answers are simple...
President Bella Meese and Secretary Jean Capullipo have made it clear they "need a place to eat lunch" and they believe a restaurant increases home values.
Having three restaurants attempts (Tirzo, Tubin, Slark) did not keep the home prices from tanking to a all time low of 40 to 60 cents on the dollar.
Nor has Cafe V helped SCA to regain property values in excess of the normal home value increase throughout the Las Vegas area.
Leadership is scared to death that SCA might be counter sued if they decided to throw Larry Hughes out, as was the case with the original Trumpets restaurant.
Trumpets apparently began failing soon after Pulte no longer funded the restaurant to help sell new homes.
Trumpets did not meet their debt obligation for almost two years...SCA finally sued...for some reason, most likely due to poor representation by our attorney...SCA lost the case and had to pay an additional $250,000 to Trumpets.
In addition, SCA's attorney isn't in a rush to take action against the restaurant...he is paid a hefty hourly sum to shuffle papers...the longer the shuffle...the more $$$$ we pay the attorney.
The eviction process is not that difficult to execute and can be completed in about a month if the procedures are followed and a desire to take action. -
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Sunday 7/19/15. 6:30 PM.... Compare Buckmans vs Cafe V. In addition huge event in Anthem Center Grand Ballroom Chinese Club with potluck.
V couldn't have served them anyway because the kitchen is broken.
How much will the repair cost us?
A few weeks ago V closed the salad bar because of ant infestation.
What next before the doors are closed for good?