2015 Sun City Anthem
Board
A Comedy of
Financial Errors & Failures !
(Part Two of
Three)
Previously we discussed their infinite "wisdom" displayed by a majority of board members who seem to have an overwhelming desire to make running a homeowners association a personal agenda....rather than a GROUP effort to better the community.
We discussed the absurdity of the
manner in which our restaurant problems continued to fester....as a result of POOR and INEXPERIENCED
LEADERSHIP...from the beginning...through the past two years...and now,
with the "heave ho" being
given.
Today, let's pursue that "expertise" in
our decision to transition to...
When that was decided....WITHOUT ANY COMMUNITY INPUT or VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP....by a group of individuals who had ZERO EXPERIENCE IN SUCH MATTERS, it was NOT properly explained to the residents.
Why ?????
...and it has become obvious that since
that decision has been made, more and more questions continue to remain
"conveniently" unanswered...
...questions that, if remain
unanswered, can and will, inevitably result in HUGE
INCREASES in annual assessments to homeowners.
Remember...the
budget submitted for 2016 SHOWED A DEFICIT...the well
is now DRY except for NEW MONEY !
There is no
cushion....spending more than
taking in... has only one conclusion now....MORE FROM
YOU !
We only know that a new General Manager
was chosen with benefits that far exceeded the norms in today's financial
environment which exist HERE IN
NEVADA...and...
...a starting salary of $250,000...a salary that will be
paid for an undetermined number of MONTHS prior to her taking the helm of her
new position.
That is chiseled in
stone...
...but other questions that brought
concern, have either not yet been addressed....or...are being KEPT IN SECRECY.
Perhaps the most alarming concern
is...
...a question THAT
AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE of Sun City Anthem....a subject
brought up by a former member of the Finance Committee, Barry Goldstein....an individual who has VAST EXPERIENCE REGARDING....
...The
Affordable Care Act...
Barry Goldstein's
concerns are legitimate....so much so...that I personally contacted a
number of accountants to obtain their opinions on this
subject.
And...ALL...said the same thing.
Literally, a new industry has been
created in merely administering that law...much less a company paying the costs
of the benefit package itself...
...with average
accounting fees increasing SUBSTANTIALLY as a result of often having to
employ an outside organization to do the physical administration of the
plans.
Just how has that been settled?
Anyone out there have a clue?
That subject and its cost, have
certainly disappeared from the discussion equation, haven't
they?
Why
?
We've made attempts to obtain
definitive answers, but each time we pursue this topic, we get the same
answer...
..."it's going to be addressed
!"
Once again, are we not ENTITLED to KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL FINANCIAL
LIABILITY THAT FACES EACH AND EVERY ASSOCIATION HOMEOWNER as a result of
hiring this lady pertaining to that law...AND...all
individuals that SHE WILL EMPLOY ON OUR BEHALF?????
Well ???
How is that being handled, Mr. Nissen?
You are the treasurer. You are the one WHO IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW...
...and YOU SHOULD
BE TELLING US !
What's the
plan ??????????
What about the future employment of a
Chief Financial Officer?
Just HOW MUCH IS
THAT GOING TO COST ?
What amount has been budgeted in that
regard and where will that substantial amount of money come
from?
...and even more concerning...JUST WHAT POWER WILL THOSE INDIVIDUALS
HAVE...and...
HOW WILL THEIR
ACTIONS BE EVALUATED AND POLICED ?
Have those guidelines been established
?????
What's the most frightening aspect of
these pertinent questions?
Most of the current
board WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE AS WHAT or HOW TO POLICE such matters
!
Just look at how they "policed" the
restaurant ?
Doesn't that give you an
indication?
Without the knowledge and expertise of
knowing what to examine, one could ROB US BLIND...and no one would be the wiser
(i.e. a restaurant)...until it was too late !
I'm not
indicting this new manager, nor am I in any way
questioning her integrity...
...but SOUND
FINANCIAL PLANNING REQUIRES SUCH QUESTIONS TO BE ADEQUATELY
ANSWERED.....if for no other reason...to fulfill a
fiduciary responsibility of examining all avenues to PROTECT the financial
well-being of our community.
There are no guidelines to our
knowledge, yet are we paying a General Manager a
handsome salary, laden with benefits, along with a future Chief Financial
Officer...
...to "wing"
it?
And how many
employees will Sun CIty Anthem employ?
How will their
salaries and/or bonuses be determined, and what benefits will they
receive? Medical insurance, 401(k), etc.
...and of course, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Have those costs been
budgeted...or...are those costs also...being
"winged"
??
Good luck, Sun City Anthem, we're going
into a new year...
...lead by a group of individuals who
also are "winging it", with a less than stellar
record at solving SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS...
...while giving authority to an
individual who has never been a Nevada resident, is unfamiliar with the Las
Vegas economy...
...and whose decisions may be guided
by CALIFORNIA EXPENSIVE STANDARDS
!
Let's understand...we hope all of this
works out, and we wish our new General Manager all the
best...
...but our concern is VERIFICATION....and...a BACK-UP
PLAN...
...if it doesn't
!
Those issues have been completely
UNRESOLVED.
These questions lead to the obvious
question of WHO IS BEST SUITED to "watch the store" as a
President of our association ?
Should be it a "community organizer"
without a college education that has never worked in the private sector who
spends freely?
Should it be an individual who has few
people skills who holds a history degree, having spent a career in a capacity
less than "senior management" who has demonstrated an ability to FOLLOW rather than
lead, in his free spending habits?
Should it be an individual who made
campaign promises that proved to be...let's say....less than accurate...has no
experience in the private sector... whose spending habits have also
reached out of control proportions...and runs to an association attorney at
every opportunity because of her inability to make a concrete
decision?
Should it be an airline pilot who is more concerned with keeping peace than keeping
efficient?
Should it be a CPA who believes in
giving additional loans to people who are delinquent on ones they currently
owe?
Those are some of our options....are any of them acceptable
to you?
Is the upcoming 2016 Board
of Directors election important?
It's perhaps the
MOST IMPORTANT TO EVER TAKE PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF SUN CITY ANTHEM
!
It's not merely important...it's CRITICAL !
Tomorrow...our final article...
The Liberty Center !
Need to comment?
Send us an
email.
Anthem Opinions
Administration
Who has an answer?
We need to work very very hard this year to get a board that is not "whipped" by the president, and a board that are not Berman's boys!!
Get people out to work on getting the right people.
Following my third article that will be published on Wednesday, December 23rd, I will also publish an "Epilogue" which hopefully might address the concerns you share...which are VITAL.
From Laura...to...Anthem Opinions
The more I read, the angrier I get.
I will also go on record to say that if our association dues go up because of the financial ignorance of our board, I will file a law suit against each and every one of them and will not pay any additional assessments.
They can't get away with this forever!