BOARD APPROVED AS CORRECTED APRIL 19, 2010

TRAILER ESTATES PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

CONTINUED FROM APRIL 5, 2010

APRIL 12, 2010

10:30 A.M.

SMALL HALL

1903 69TH AVENUE WEST

BRADENTON, FL  34207

 

 

The continuation of the April 5 Board Meeting began at 10:39 a.m.  Trustee Harry Fitzpatrick was absent.

 

NEW BUSINESS (CONTINUED)

 

1.  Class Information

 

Martha read the new PP6, which was written with the help of the attorneys.  Joe discussed the chart of activities and rates for classes.  The subsidy given by the park is $17.50 per hour for up to three hours, across the board.  Martha felt the China painting fee should be $1 and Art by the Bay should be $4.50 or $5.  Joe kept it at $4.  Martha asked if we should consider a cap on the weeks we pay for.  Joe’s recommendation is 15 weeks.  A motion was made by Martha, seconded by Pam:  The Seasonal Social and Recreational Trustee shall be authorized to enter into contracts with instructors up to a maximum of $100 per session and a maximum of 15 sessions.  After some discussion, the motion was withdrawn and will be brought up again at the April 19 meeting.

 

2.  Organizational Chart

 

We looked at the PP41 organizational chart where the new position of Marina Trustee was added and at PP40 where the duties of this trustee are listed.  A motion was made by Martha, seconded by Joe, to revise PP41 to include the Dockmaster and Assistant Dockmasters under the Marina Trustee and add his duties on PP40.  The duties of the Marina Trustee are:  1.  Plan, implement and supervise district operations and activities related to the marina.  A.  Work with the Dockmaster to ensure appropriate administration of the marina related to docks, dock rentals, etc.  B.  Work with the office manager to assist in management of dock rentals.  2.  Provide information/data and recommendations to the Board regarding marketing, renovations, repairs, etc.  3.  Assist the Board in the development of goals related to the marina.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

3.  Trustee Duties

 

            a.  Secretary:  While looking at the duties of the secretary, Gail recommended that #2 and #3 on the form be transferred to the Chairman.  These involve correspondence and working with committee chairmen, which Gail feels actually fall under the chairman because he/she is more informed in these areas.  Under #13 of secretarial duties, newspaper advertisements for the public hearing on the budget will be under the auspices of the treasurer as well as any other treasurer newspaper advertising matters.  Martha will do the meeting schedule for the newspaper from October 2010 through December 2011, and the secretary will then handle this duty from December 2011 forward.  Martha will bring to the Board a PP34 to shift #2 and #3 duties from the secretary to the chairman.

 

            b.  Maintenance:  In #3, change the word “approve” to “oversee.”

 

            c.  Treasurer:  Oversee the publication of all notices relating to the budget and all other treasurer matters.

 

Margo made a motion, seconded by Fred, to revise trustee duties and Marina Trustee duties as noted.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

4.  By-Law Revision

 

Martha will bring this forward next week.

 

5.  Auditor Selection

 

A motion was made by Pam, seconded by Ken, to authorize the chairman and attorney to work with the auditing firm to contract for Trailer Estates Audit 2009-2010.  Joe questioned why we need to go to the attorney for this.  Martha said, “To write the contract.”  Pam, “Why couldn’t we do this?”  Joe felt there were so few changes that Martha could do this herself.  Martha felt all contracts should be run first through the attorney.  The motion passed 7-1 with Jim voting against.

 

6.  Kitchen Policy

 

Vicki from the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants turned our situation over to its legal counsel who has determined we need a license to run our kitchen.  Gail said she was in the office when Vicki was here.  Vicki stated at that time that the complainant said Trailer Estates charges $5 for some diners and $7 for others.  Both Gail and Mary Lou McNulty, who was also present, stated that this isn’t true.  TJ was also in the office.  Gail asked Vicki why she simply accepted the words of the complainant and never contacted us.  The Board read and discussed PP60 regarding the new kitchen policy.  Clubs will decide for themselves if they want to get a temporary license and invite people from outside Trailer Estates.  Gail asked Martha to discuss the topic of discrimination with the attorney if other mobile home parks run their kitchens under rules we are not allowed to engage in.  Martha will check into this as well as the status of shuffleboard guests.  A motion was made by Joe, seconded by Margo, to adopt the kitchen policy as written.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

 

 

 

7.  Dockmaster Duty Revisions

 

The attorney feels we need to have a clause in the lease that states:  If a renter requests the electrical cord not be removed, we will charge $5 per day.  Pam asked, “How do we collect?”  Martha, “Send a bill.”  Pam, “And watch the boat sink.”  Martha stated that Bruce Smith wants major changes to the Dockmaster policy.  She will write a PP34 and will present it at the April 19 meeting.

 

8.  Changes to Tab 4, 6A; Section III A, and PP42

 

Joe said he spoke with Tim Norwood, candidate for Ron Getman’s seat in Manatee County.  Tim lives in Bayshore Gardens and Joe said we can speak with him about how they rent their facilities.  Gail said residents spoke with her about the potential rental of the Large and Small halls.  They feel our rental fees are too low and we should have our renters hire a security guard.  Jim said sometimes you get more problems hiring a security guard than not doing so.  A motion was made by Martha, seconded by Margo, to read “approved by the Secretary Trustee” rather than “approved by the Board” on Tab 4, 6A.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

A motion was made by Martha, seconded by Joe, to add the following sentence to page 5 of Section III Rules Governing Admission to Facilities:  Special requests will be considered by the Board of Trustees on an individual basis.  Motion passed 8-0. 

 

A motion was made by Joe, seconded by Fred, to revise Section III again to read:  Commercial renting of park facilities will be considered by the Board of Trustees on an individual basis.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

Two sentences were removed from the newly created PP42:  Outside clubs, organizations and non-residents must pay a rental charge of $500 for the Large Hall and $250 for the Small Hall.  It is non-refundable.  A few words were added to the sentence that states:  Any damages in excess of the deposit will be charged to the person, club or organization making the reservation.  A motion was made by Jim, seconded by Pam, to approve PP42 as revised.  Gail will make the changes on PP42 and will turn it into TJ.  Motion passed 8-0.

 

9.  Large and Small Hall Amenities

 

Gail passed out an amenities sheet.  We will discuss this at the April 26 Workshop.

 

10.  Residents Use of Halls with Commercial Vendors

 

A motion was made by Margo, seconded by Jim, to adopt the following as Section III B, page 5 of Rules and Regulations:  Commercial vendors visiting Trailer Estates with plans to sell merchandise during an event sponsored by Trailer Estates residents, clubs, or organizations must pay $75 before the event to do so.  Motion passed, 8-0.

 

REPORTS OF CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

 

None

 

 

 

TRUSTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

Ken--Bingo:  There were 1,524 players with an average of 169.  $6,754 was taken in and paid out.  The jackpot was $5,353.  There will be a potluck April 21 at 5 p.m. in the Large Hall.  Coffee Break is April 17.  It will feature Trailer Estates talent.  Tickets will go on sale this week.

 

Fred—Within two days Bay Drive will be open to golf carts all the way to U.S. 41; but, don’t use the sidewalk by the bridge.

 

Gail—Received a letter from Sharon Denson that was supposed to be presented at the April 5 meeting.  Because the server in the office was down, Gail did not receive the letter until the meeting was over.  Sharon asked that Gail announce the Candidates Forum but since Gail didn’t receive the letter until the meeting was over, she wasn’t able to make the announcement.  Fortunately Pam had done that.  Sharon stated that the Board should come to the Forum to welcome the candidates.  Gail stated that the last time trustees had done something nice like that, they—Peg Durham, Joe and Harry—all received Sunshine Law violations.  Sharon stated that her notice on Channel 95 had been changed.  Gail stated that she has nothing to do with Channel 95 but the people who run that do a great job and it was probably a simple error.  Sharon stated that her notices were being removed from the bulletin board.  Gail replied that Sharon is not alone in this problem, but Gail cannot patrol the boards 24/7.  A resident told Gail about a quote in the recent Newsweek magazine:  “An attack unanswered is an attack believed.”  Gail thought a lot about that and decided to address issues to squelch beliefs that may not be true:  1)  The letter in the paper from Marion Bartholf:  We cannot replace the judge because we have no control over that and Trailer Estates residents are being sued along with the four defendants.  2)  After reading and hearing criticisms of the perception that the Board acted improperly at the court on March 22, Gail, who was at the court, gave the other side of that issue.  3)  A resident was pressured by another resident to believe the Board could drop the lawsuit and spoke with Gail about this.  Gail stated that if the Board pleaded guilty to everything, the lawsuit would be dropped; but, we’ve already won 30 allegations against us so why would we plead guilty?  It is only the Plaintiffs who can drop the lawsuit.  4)  Finally, Gail challenged Chet Force’s e-mail of April 6, 2010, entitled “Meeting.”  Gail stated that she took an oath to uphold the Sunshine Law and Public Records Law but did not take an oath to believe in them.  Bev Lew obtained the Trailer Estates database containing personal and private information on residents, non-residents but Florida residents, and non-residents of the state of Florida including Gail’s daughter’s married name, home address and cell phone number.  The latter is unattainable any other way.  Gail is angry about that.  Attorney General Bill McCollum states that “the purpose of the Public Records Law is not to gather private information on individuals.”  Gail felt the database should not have been released but should have gone to court instead.

 

Margo—None

 

Jim—1)  In today’s Bradenton Herald newspaper, there was a story about a man who wrote something derogatory in an e-mail and has now paid $15,000 to defend himself.  2)  Jim feels the 3-minute rule is not written in stone.  He stated that one resident last week was given longer than three minutes.  Jim feels the Board should vote on whether or not residents should receive a time extension.

           

            Martha and Gail reminded him that the resident was given her entire 3 minutes because Martha had interrupted her presentation.  Gail expressed the fact that voting on an extension of time on an individual basis was a potentially discriminatory issue.

 

Joe—The April 10 dance brought in $245; total for the year is $7,665.  Cost for the dances for the year is $6,800.  Difference is an $865 profit.  50/50 was $45; total for the year, $1,759.  Showtime brought in $2,622; total cost was $2,850.  Loss is $228.  He checked at the Van Wezel, which he has been a part of for 20 years.  They insure the volunteers.  Waver and disclaimer forms were shown from two agencies.

 

Pam—None

 

Pam made a motion to adjourn.  The meeting was adjourned at 1:12 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Gail Opper, Secretary