OK, I hate controversial and complicated issues being debated on forums like this as you get bits of information and not the full understanding to make an informed decision so I am going to stay away from the issues directly so not to further muddy the waters.
However I would like to give personal comment on some specific issues raised.
Q. Why don’t the presidents keep us informed?
A. Well there are a number of reasons for that one, firstly from when I first became a President to just recently Mileniun would not provide me with the ability to contact the owners on my garden stating they could not do so for data protection purposes. It has taken till now to convince them this isn’t the case and that I am there properly appointed legal representative with responsibility for their interest and finances within my garden and as such have need to communicate with the owners on my garden. So now I am able to communicate with almost all the owners on my garden I do my best to provide them with regular updated and opinions from me and now send them a copy of official Minutes of meetings at the same time as inviting any relevant questions from them. Some other presidents do similar to this, if yours doesn’t you should ask them why and if you are not happy with the response, vote in a president who will keep you informed. Some presidents have the firm belief that after they are voted in it’s for them to undertake the responsibilities without further consultation, not the way for me but if your community is happy with that so be it.
Q. why are we not asked our opinion on these issues?
A. Well other than the above many of these issues and there are a number of important issues being dealt with by your Presidents at the moment which are detailed and complex and require a great deal of time to understand them, which we all could do if we wish. However we vote in our representative to represent us and they should do just that and keep you informed of their actions.
I don’t know of any other realistic alternative that would work. It’s the democratic way thing are done.
Q. Why have the presidents gone against the advice of our attorneys and Mileniun?
A. well I am not going to get into any specifics hear but if you are interested in detailed information then just question yours or any other president for their opinion on this. However we arrive at our decisions by following the legal structure of the Statutes of our Community and the requirements of the Horizontal Properties Act, which is the legal framework that we have to follow. As far as decisions on individual topics are concerned your presidents listen to the opinions and evidence presented to them and then has a democratic vote to decide the way forward, for individual Presidents some you win and some you lose, that’s democracy.
Q. how can decisions be taken by a small number or Presidents?
A. well this comes down to the Presidential structure of the Community, each Garden or Block votes in a President to represent them who are known as the Level 3 Presidents. The Level 3 Presidents vote in 5 Level 2 Presidents (including La Isla) and in turn the Level 2 Presidents vote in the Level 1 President. All these positions are voluntary and all have increasing responsibilities and powers. So as you invest the responsibility of your Garden or Block in your Level 3 President in turn your level 3 gives responsibilities to the level above them L2, L1. And in the same way you can vote to change your Level 3 President if you don’t like the way they represent you, so can the presidents change those above them in the same way. Now as I said each level has increased powers and responsibilities given to them under the Statutes and Horizontal properties Act which clearly defines the areas they have individual or collective responsibilities for. You Presidents can ONLY take action within the powers they have which has been given to them though the democratic process. So if a small number of Presidents vote on an issue it’s because they are empowered to do so under the law as it stands which is clearly understood by those involved. One last comment on this bit, even though they have no legal requirement to do so, often the Presidents at Level 1 and Level 2 consult the levels below them for their opinion before making a final decision on issues, so most often all presidents have their say on the big issues of the day.
Q. What’s wrong with Mileniun.
A. I wish I had the answer to this one to most of you will see them as excellent and in many ways they are look at the summer event we had last year which they were responsible for although you may not be aware that a number of your President had a hand in them too. However a number of your Presidents would like Mileniun to be more cooperative and open in the way they work with us which they seem to not like to do. I can only speak for myself now when I say that I get frustrated by having to repeatedly ask them to do something but they decide without reason or explanation to not do and when asked a question a question by me in my official capacity as garden President they decide to not respond to me again without reason despite their contractual requirement to do so.
It is also frustrating when information they have had knowledge of for weeks and months they only release to the presidents when they have to and then expect us to make a rushed decision about. I won’t get into specifics about this last point but some of the significant issues of the moment are relevant to this problem. I like a number of President DO NOT wish to see a change of Administrator and have seen numerous improvements in our resort due in no small way to the work of Mileniun. However there are some important issues in the way they work with your President they must understand they have to improve the way they work with your Presidents or unfortunately it will end up by us losing some very good Presidents from our community.
I hope the above is helpful.
Phil Mather
President L3 Naranjos 8