"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters."
- Albert Einstein He also said:
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
"Mind like parachute - only function when open." --Charlie Chan |
All letters are currently being sent to the Board Secritary.
I can only post letters that are sent to me. |
We need to run PMWF as a business, and people need to pull together.
One idea is for the garage sale is charge $10.00 a table and have it held at the club house:
reason 1 - we make money
reason 2 - we do not have people driving all over our community.
Next idea: Why can't we adopt a road? I would be more then willing to adopt my road and keep it clean 2 - 3 times a year.
At the clam bake if members want to invite outside guest then those outside guests should pay double (income)
On our ballots to vote there should be a spot asking people if they would like to help out (volunteer) with there phone number and trade (or skills.) People, lets get real, we are a community lets start acting like one.
One thought for the people who want the pool, why don't they start some funding raising to pay for it. Also we do have people in this community who are retired and need a price break.
Thank you, Maggie Radcliffe - May 20, 2008 |
Everyone should, at a minimum adopt the road in front of their house... Keep it trash free, trees trimmed back, mow the grass and keep it looking neat.
Folks, don't feel that you have to wait to be asked to do something for the community, if you feel you need permission, ask, you already know what the answer will be.
Lori McCrory, one of our newly elected board members will be organizing volunteer activities. Please support her, or reach out to her if you want to help.
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Hi, Recently I receive plans to build a house on my lot #72. Who can I contact to have them approved?
Rich Metz June 17, 2002
Please contact the PMWF office. They will provide you information on all the required documentation. |
Was any Gypsy Moth Spraying done in our community this year? I have heard numerous comments about spraying that was done but cannot confirm. The Pike County Conservation Dept does not show any record of our community being sprayed this year. I also don't see any allocations in the budget for spraying...?
Thanks,
Michael Magill - June 16, 2008 |
No spraying this year. This looks like an opportunity for the board to let you know how they plan to spend YOUR money.
The good news is we have a funds earmarked for Gypsy Moth Spraying, and we are applying to be part of the spray program again next year. (We did not qualify this year.) |
I am writing as a property owner who is both disgusted and concerned. Last fall several of us property owners worked hard in extreme heat to clean up the disgusting pile of garbage and building materials from the canopy picnic area in order that all could enjoy shelter from the sun or rain depending on the circumstances. This is why the canopy was built! At the recent clam Bake , I could not believe my eyes. There under the canopy instead of picnic tables for all to enjoy is a monstrous pile of scrap metal. Adding to this ridiculous situation one can’t help but notice all the road materials are being kept alongside the dam where people like to park and fish also where the fire trucks fill up. I assume we are not going into the scrap metal business, yet cannot understand why xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Please rethink these moves so that more people will be able to enjoy the recreation area and not feel as though they are sitting in a junk yard. Thank you for your interest.
Perplexed,
Grace & Ted Wetzel - June 15, 2008 |
Many people worked hard to clean up that area last year, and there was also volunteers that worked to clean up the clubhouse earlier this year as well. It is a violation of our restrictive covenant to store rubbish or garbage ANYWHERE in the community.
" 6. NO lot shall be sued or maintained as a dumping ground for any rubbish. Trash, garbage or other waste shall be kept in sanitary containers. No motor vehicle or any substantial part of one shall be kept on the lot unless than currently licensed for operation on public highways."
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Currently, we are under siege by gypsy moth caterpillars. As a member in good standing of section six of the PMWF I would like to request and encourage the return of spraying our community with BT to thwart another yearly attack of the devastating gypsy moth. According to the Pike County Conservation Office the deadline for the spraying application is July, 31, 2008. I respectfully ask that we proceed with the application and contract for gypsy moth spraying for April- May 2009. Our trees are vital to a good quality of life.
Tricia Adler - June 11, 2008
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I hope that the board signs us up for this program. It is a lot cheaper and safer then spraying the trees ourselves. As was published in our winter news letter, were not accepted into the 2008 program this year because of the number of gypsy moth egg masses per acre - can you believe it - but I think we are on track to qualify next year.
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Just a thank you for the permanent speed bump installed on Water Forest Drive near my home I hope this slows people down.
For those who are still flying over the speed bump and reading this please consider that the people who live on the main road are your neighbors and deserve consideration and respect. The speed bump should be a clue to you that WE ALL NEED TO SLOW DOWN. After all, your probably just on your way home. Its better to get there a little slower and in on piece. Remember its your family waiting for you, and they also want you in one piece.
Again thanks,
John Pearston - June 2, 2006
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I was very disappointed that both the Budget Increase and the Pool Financing did not pass. The short sightedness of the community is hard to understand. General upkeep of the community is as important as general upkeep and maintenance of a home. You shouldn't wait until a worn and old 30 year old roof begins to leak before you decide to replace it. The same goes for the roads, the clubhouse and the pool in our community. When a house or the community are not properly maintained property values fall - and the homes in this community, for most of us, are the largest and most precious asset we have. In a time when property values are falling we should do our best to make PMWF an attractive place to live.
Whether you use it or not, the pool is a big plus for the community - and a big selling point when and if you ever do sell. Just ask people in Sunrise Lakes that have no pool and very few services how they like it and how their property values have suffered greater than most over the last few years. Because of this it is certainly not a desirable community to buy a home or to live in. Sunrise Lakes is not a Community like ours, as the people who live there have little or no say as to what gets done - and therefore not much gets done. Fortunately, our community is different and we do have a voice.
Let's stand up and do the things that need to be done to keep our community a pleasant and attractive place to live - while keeping property values strong. I know this will cost money and it may not be easy, but it's the right thing to do. Let's look at the big picture and keep the future of our community bright and our property values strong.
Allen Doane - May 27, 2008 |
I don't understand how the term bankruptcy keeps being used as a scare tactic. We have assets. We have a clubhouse, property etc. If the reserves are depleted, it is not the end of PMWF. To say this is careless. The only way we as a community can ever be in any kind of financial noose is when we take out loans/borrow money we can't pay back. We don't have any major debt. As far as a disaster, that is when the board can and should assess the association. As long as we have equity and little debt, we can always get money from a bank. I would like to make it clear that I don't blame Ron for our problems. I like Ron and think he has the best of intentions. I don't think it's neccesary for NEGATIVE comments to be made about property owners at meetings. If some people were out of line, those of us at the meeting saw/heard it. I also would like to say thank you to the pool commitee. I know they all worked very hard, and hope it will pay off for us all.
Michael Manheim - May 21, 2007 |
Bankruptcy is not a scare tactic, its when you don't have money in the bank... you get there by spending the money that you have in the bank. We are not Bankrupt, and I will do my part to make sure we don't get there. You can be bankrupt and still have assets, just like you can be lost and still have gas in your car. I don't think we should sell the clubhouse, and community property. I assume you're just listing some assets.
I'm glad that you feel confident we can borrow money when were broke, yet I don't understand why you are so against it when we're not broke and can get better rates.
This seems inconstant. Additionally, community approval for using the assets as collateral is required.
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In response to Ron's letter I would like to state that I sat in the back at the meeting and raised my hand before I spoke. I chose to sit in the back to be considerate of some of the older owners who may have trouble hearing. As far as being a "cash deplete", you answered your own question. Three years we had close to $340,000 and now we have barely above $200,000.00. I feel we should spend some of it on something solid like a pool before it trickles away to nothing. Even though we have board members with backgrounds in accounting, I still get nervous when I have people telling me that we have $22,000 left over from last year to apply to this years repairs when as I understand, we went over the budget last year even after the $50 per lot assessment. This works out to what, around $20,000. Then we hear the board asking for a dues increase when they just raised the dues (after the membership voted against it) over $100 per year! I feel that as soon as the "reserves" are no longer there as a kitty, we will actually start spending what we have to spend. As far as negative campaigning, informing people of the current activities of board members is not negative capaigning. A board member, recommeding another board member during the election on the community web site is improper campaigning. I also feel that continued threats of quiting the board if you don't get your way is childish. Don't think for a minute that anyone can't be replaced. In closing, I would like to say that maybe if the community were presented with more than one option for the pool, or the budget increase, perhaps we would have gotten more support.
Michael Manheim - May 20, 2008 |
There were comments from the back... I wouldn't take that personally, as you say, it wasn't you. Your choice to leave room for others in the front is commendable.
Ron's point was that the reserves are trickling away to nothing. Also, the number was actually closer to $23,000 that weren't spent on the roads last year, as several board members insisted that the roads were fine. Ask Don about that, as he may be able shed some insight on his thinking. The foresight on the board to recognize that the roads are not fine, and future planning is necessary is what created the earmarked additional funds to use on the roads. This money didn't even cover the pot hole repair this year.
The $50 assessment was the 2006 - 2007 fiscal year, not the July 2007 - December 2007 fiscal year.
As soon as the reserves are no longer there, we are in a situation called Bankruptcy. Seriously, no kidding, bankruptcy. Let's not do that. Some reserves are absolutely necessary, and best practices for facial planning is 1 years dues. (There are actually a legal issues have too much reserves as a non profit as well, and that's the PMWF had to reduce the reserves. We got a new bridge by my house. What a waist of money, but it is a nice bridge, and it seemed a good value for what we got. Perhaps our leadership at the time, not Ron, could have been more creative.)
We will actually do spending what we have to spend - as in need to spend. The board is willing to consider spending $50,000 to get the pool fixed, but we are not necessarily going to spend that money, I hope, unless it makes sense. We all want a pool, we all don't want to pay for it. I don't want to throw good money after bad.
Regardless of the membership votes, the board has a legal obligations to fulfill that are in the bylaws and state laws. We cannot ignore them. I'm sure you wouldn't ask us too.
Do you think that multiple options for the pool would have changed the outcome. The vote was about financing. The new board is not allowed to finance the proposed pool this year. Who know what comes next, a new pool anyway? More increases? No pool? A temporary fix? The new board will figure that out. I agree that options are good, good planning is better, communication, and other factors lend even more ability to be successful, but here we are. It is, what it is.
I do agree that communicating the options that were examined, and soliciting feedback on a larger scale would likely have improved things, but it's water out of the pool. The Pool folks did work very hard. Many are very disappointed, and that is understandable. Let's cut them some slack here, ok.
Actually, Ron was one of only 2 board members that actually voted NOT to have a budget increase on the ballot. He felt we could live within the current budget. The rest of the board wanted it because prices tend to go up, gas, electric, asphalt, snow plowing, etc.
Apparently the people of the PMWF, obviously can't afford a $29 increase - oh well, you get what you pay for.
Ron is doing a great job, he is the treasurer, he has turned the finances of the community around in the past 2 years. He didn't create the situation we are in, he is dealing with it.
The idea of living closer to the edge of bankruptcy, as you suggest here, has merit. We will look much harder at every dime we spend. Services and quality will suffer, and we will be 1 small disaster away from the end of the PMWF, but I think we will have lower spending. |
Hello Webmaster, I assume that Amanda was referring to me and I do own lots(plural) with my partner Hans Spengler in PMWF. If you know Ted Wetzel pl feel free to ask him about me. As some one that I have have known and cosidered a friend for over 20 years, he should be able to clear up any questions that you might have. I do apologize if I sounded rude, and of course that is not an excuse, but having been an owner for over 20 years I was shocked to see the deterioration that has taken place in all of the infrastructure in the community. I was also dissapointed to see that there was very little long term capital planning in place to address this detirioration. In my time of coming to PMWF I have never had to attend a board meeting but was driven to it this year. I was absolutly and totally dissapointed in how, even though the members appear to be well intentioned, the board itself is so ineffectual. Amanda. I don't know what your basis of comparison is, but I would be more than happy to meet with you and share my experience with different boards an their level of effectuality. It allways seems that it all revolves on long term planning and budgeting. Now that I have retired, I plan to attend all of the committe meetings in order to familiarize myself with the issues and members. It is a possibily that I might decide to run for the board the next go aroud. My backround in financial and credit planning might be helpful I might also volunteer for some of the committees in the interim. I been in conversation with some of my neighbors on the board on creating computer graphics commonly used when preparing and setting in place a capital improvement and spending plan; also a data base for the roads that would be helpful in planning and scheduling road repairs. I do hope that some of your question and surmises have been been answered and look forward to meeting not only Amanda but the Webmaster.
Jose Munoz-Nieves - May 19,2008
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Jose,
Thanks for your letter. Our records don't show you as a lot owner. Please bring documentation to the office to correct this.
I am very concerned about our long term plans as well, but often get sidetracked by the more urgent issues of running the community.
With any luck, some of the new board members will be as involved in the taking advantage the opportunities that exist for helping our community to prosper.
I believe that all of our members have a right to be heard, so long as we remain civil and move forward.
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Dear webmaster,
I just attended the PMWF community meeting. I was much better then many of the meetings I went to in the past. The board really seems to be doing a good job.
There was one guy sitting on the couch with his wife. He spoke many times during the meeting. I felt they were both very rude and disrespectful to everyone, especially the board members and waisted a lot of our time. I heard that he is not a lot owner. Aren't you supposed to be a lot owner in good standing to attend the meeting?
Amanda - May 18, 2008 |
| This meeting did go fairly quickly and smoothly compared to many, I think it was because the board didn't spend much time fighting with the members. I think you do have to be a member in good standing. I don't know who that man is. He did have a card for voting, so I assume he is a member in good standing. I agree that he commented on every issue, and didn't suggest many constructive solutions, but all of our members have a right to be heard, so long as the meeting remains civil and the meeting moves forward. I have much higher tolerance for people that run for the board, because at least they are willing to do something to make a difference, not just complain. |
Please see pool opinions for the complete letter...
Reasons NOT to build the pool...
(1) Having had some experience with the victims of petty theft, I can assure you they would rather have monies spent on security than on a pool used 3 months a year.
(2) Plus, there are expenditures not included in the pool proposal necessary for operation and maintenance.
(3) And last but not least, we have a lake, Del. Township has a recreation area with swimming etc.
(4) There are many in this community that simply can not afford $150.00 and to fail to consider them is unconscionable. ...
John Henderson, May 17, 2008
Thanks for your input John! The pool is a much more contentious issue than is shown on this website. There are valid argument on both sides, and I think the ones you put forward represent the "No Pool" view very well. If the pool does not pass, the Delaware township pool may be a reasonable alternative that will meet the needs of many of our community members. Can you forward information ($ times, and who can use it, web link) after the election, if our pool doesn't pass.
Cash Control - Thanks Ron!
PMWF has shown a net loss of $(1,251.47). That's about as close to zero as you can get over that long a time frame.
Ron,
It's only with your guidance and perseverance that the numbers are what they are. We all owe you and the money people you work with a debt of gratitude.(like the way I worked a financial word in there?? Debt, get it) oh, well..thanks....Really!!!! and Andy, really nice job on the website...it's easy to navigate and has lots of updated info...Thanks for all your time and input....
Jane Opfer, Board Member, May 12, 2008
Jane,
It's our collective decision making that made this happen.
- Ron Pietranowicz, Board Member / Treasurer, May 12, 2008
Thanks Jane!
Reinstall the Speed Bumps - Speeding is out of Control
Was wondering when the speed bumps are going to reinstalled and also if any were going to be added like on the top of the hill coming from 739 Summer is around the corner and as always the speeding is out of control.
Thank you
John Pearston, May 10, 2008
Housing Slump And The PMWF
Recent reports on CNN Money state that the Rochester; Syracuse; Binghampton; Scranton areas has actually increased in real estate value by as much as 2.2% . Ihope the PMWF is part of that geographical area!
-Ronald Pietranowicz, Board Member and Treasurer, May 9, 2008 http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/06/real_estate/100_forecast.moneymag/index.htm
Pool Meeting Screaming Free For All
In the attempt to be a good, concerned resident, I attended the pool meeting last night [May 7, 2008].
As with all meetings that I have attended, it became a screaming free for all.
Those of us putting our hands up to speak were basically overlooked. I did manage to get in one comment and question though. In defense of the board, the residents do get out of control. Apparently, the Pearstons are NOT the only ones with grievances. I thank the residents who are of the same opinion, but they need to BE NICE, as I was told. I am very proud of myself for being nice at the meeting, albeit that I had to walk out early out of frustration. Sorry, guys, my top priority is still my blood pressure. In closing, may I suggest that you hand out an agenda for the next meeting such as announcements, short details regarding whatever is being discussed, and then question and Answer.
Also, I don't think it would be out of line to announce that ANYONE SHOUTING out of turn will be asked to leave. Unfortunately, I have a previous engagement on the 18th. I would love to see if my suggestions were considered.
RESPECTFULLY YOURS,
- Barbara Pearston, May 6, 2008
Don't Exclude Weekenders
Having the Special Pool Meeting on a Monday excludes the weekend people from this informational meeting. If the meeting was held on a weekend it would include all.
- Allen Doane, April 28, 2008
Your right! The unfortunate reality is that there is no meeting time we can set that is good for everyone. This is just an informational meeting, and this is when the committee (Pat, Joan, Laurie) wanted to schedule it. I am a resident and a board member an I couldn't attend either.
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