Pool Fobs - What's the Real Story?

Wouldn't it be nice if the Board of Directors issued a factual, true statement about the State of the FOB?

Several years ago the HOA contracted with Johnson Controls to install electronic gate access at two pools and issue key fobs to all homeowners. Well, not actually "issue", but make available to those current in the dues to pick up at the office.

The cost was over $40,000. Somebody probably remembers the year and the dollar amount. Justin Martin was President of the HOA at the time and led the effort.

I always wondered where the money came from for that unplanned expense. As I recall, it hadn't been a Project and the money had not been budgeted. But a little concern like that never stopped any Board from charging ahead, once an idea had grown legs.

There were those who thought it was a bad idea at the time. How has it turned out?

There have been rumors of canceling the contract with Johnson Contracts. Or suing them for performance, since there were more than a few problems with access. A yearly fee was a surprise.

Notice how this has never been talked about in public at a monthly board meeting? It's one more example of lack of transparency.

"Everything is in good shape." How many times have you heard that? Hardly ever, since Vernell Butler resigned as Treasurer and left the Board. 

And things weren't in good shape. The HOA was spending money on Operations that was supposed to go into Reserves. That why your dues didn't go up, even though expenses did. They weren't necessary spending "out of Reserves"; the budgeted money was just never making it into Reserves.

The Treasurer should have been calling that to everyone's attention every year. If the Treasurer didn't, then the Finance Committee should have been doing so.

They didn't, and they aren't doing so now.