Regardless of what was said at the Brassie Grille Symposium, where the Residents were invited to speak and offer opinions for 3 minutes per person, the mere suggestion to move forward or not on a renovation of the Brassie Grille is a Board action that should be put off until a more stable economic and political landscape appear on the horizon. Simply put, inflation is running rampant with no reasonable policy to stop it, other than the current Fed policies that are fueling it. Construction materials are sky high in cost, labor rates and general construction costs continue to climb. Is this the time to spend on a discretionary amenity, i.e. The Brassie Grille? Does the partying portion of the Residents and the Board have their heads in the sand ignoring the current economic and political landscape? Is the need for enjoyment trumping the coming economic downward spiral? Will this cost improve the general appearance and value of Aquarina, rather than addressing its pressing needs, e.g. tired and worn roads and entrance, infrastructure maintenance, and building our Reserves? When a potential buyer or visitor comes into Aquarina, what will they first see, a subsidized food source (The Brassie Grille), or a well manicured and maintained community? In our case, they will see a tired and neglected infrastructure, which sullies the community, and our Reserves are spent like Monopoly Money. After all, the Board’s selfish decisions are creating costs on all Residents, rather than these costs just being personally taken on by the decision makers, i.e. the Board, and its followers.
This Blog has made multiple suggestions how to fine tune The Brassie Grille in a manner that is cost effective, and which will provide the basic food and beverage needs that may be required by the Community. If the folks in Aquarina that crave group partying and eating together (which is understood in a healthy community), then go gather to one of our Club Houses, where cover dishes and refreshments can be brought by the party-goers. Should it be a Resident subsidized restaurant? Why place this cost on all the Residents?
Do you want a Board that has the fiduciary duty to maintain our community and oversee our funds to be applied to the community’s maintenance and infrastructure needs, or do you want a Board who apparently wants to be in the restaurant business, where its time is spent with food, beverage, and employee oversight. It could be expected that there would be full community support if The Brassie Grille functioned as a profit center or even a breakeven operation. However, the Residents are prohibited from seeing the books, e.g. Journal Entries, which would show itemized expenses and itemized income. But wait! Aren’t the Residents’ funds, that feed The Brassie Grille if its income is insufficient or even non-existent, thus spent to keep The Brassie Grille running? Is there a specific line item in the Aquarina Budget to show an amount allotted to the Brassie Grille, or is it buried in the general AGI Budget? Hmm.
Have our new Board members, who had touted themselves for financial transparency, now absorbed and apostatized by past Board members? Unfortunately, Florida HOA Boards have more latitude with Resident funds than you could imagine, but they have, by Florida Statute, an obligation to show the Residents how each penny is spent. Do we have that occurring in Aquarina? What we do have is a past and maybe new Board that has spent the Residents’ funds to hire attorneys to prevent Residents who may want to see specific financial records of the AGI and the Community.
As past ways have shown, and what may still be continuing in the present climate, is that this HOA Board beseeches the Residents’ input, but in the end, history shows it does what it wants with its spending priorities, which is to cuddle the cadre that places pleasure and fun over the reality of Aquarina’s immediate needs.
I have spent decades living, owning, and selling and buying for clients in communities like Aquarina that have a “resort” flare. All these communities had excellent presentation with a focus on appearance and a working and maintained infrastructure, including well kept amenities. It was ensured that all assets of these communities were equally addressed, where one or more assets were not neglected for other assets. In addition, a full time and visible maintenance staff were onsite daily, working and tending to these communities. What should Aquarina’s priority be – a salaried, daily, and onsite Aquarina maintenance staff, or a Resident paid salaried restaurant staff? Wouldn’t it be better if the Board could balance both equally for the whole community within a Budget creating no assessments?
There may be the admonishment of ”If you don’t like it here, then leave.” However, after being here since 1995, it certainly shows my appreciation of Aquarina, and I feel there are other folks, like me, with the same perspective that I have been preaching with this Blog. Leaving is an easy remedy, but to share my belief, that there should be more prudent financial oversight and a balanced approach to spending, and vision for the “whole” Aquarina community, is a policy worth heralding to, over these past years, thousands of this Blog’s readers.
