BAREFOOT BAY RECREATION DISTRICT

Board of Trustees/Home Owners Association Workshop
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
5:00 p.m. – Building D&E

The Barefoot Bay Recreation District held a workshop on March 27, 2007 in Building D&E, Barefoot Bay, Florida. Chairman John Keegan called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Ms. McCahan called the roll. All Trustees were present. Mr. Keegan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Dale Page, President of the Home Owners Association , introduced Fred VanWoert, Treasurer; Dick Gee, Vicky Rosso, Gabriele Davis, Nancy Eisele, and Ken Racik. Sue Reddy, Executive Secretary, was unable to attend.

Due to technical difficulty, the beginning of the workshop is unavailable, and starts with Ms. Davis’s question regarding snowbirds’ voting rights in Barefoot Bay affairs.

Ms. Davis commented the snowbirds pay assessments and belong to clubs. Barefoot Bay is a special district; there might be some way to set up a special circumstance that would allow the snowbirds a say in their District government. Ms. Crouse pointed out Ms. Voltz (County Commissioner) said snowbirds could vote for Trustees if election time is changed, but they could still not vote on anything having to do with legislation. For snowbirds Barefoot Bay represents “vacation homes”. Mr. Ferris concurred that the snowbirds pay assessments and taxes 12 months of the year. However, the charter would have to be changed again in order to allow the snowbirds to vote for Trustees.

Dale Page questioned how the Violations Committee came about since it is not mentioned in the DOR. Mr. Keegan responded the Violations Committee is allowed in Special Districts by charter. The name change from “Code Enforcement Board” to “Violations Committee” is “spelled out” in Resolution 2006-1. Mr. Page read from the DOR; the Board of Trustees is mentioned as being the body that determines whether someone is out of compliance and what measures will be taken. Mr. Keegan responded the Violations Committee was created by the Board of Trustees and answers to the Board of Trustees. The Board hears appeals. Mr. Page commented there needs to be more communication and “working together” among Code Enforcement, ARCC, and the Trustees.

Ms. McCahan pointed out the three bodies do communicate; through paperwork, and Mr. Austin attending ARCC meetings and reporting to the Board of Trustees with appeals from the Violations Committee, there is a great deal of communication. There is also a liaison designee to Code Enforcement and the Violations Committee. Mr. Page commented he had been told by the Violations Committee chairman the Violations Committee could do “whatever it wished to do” in the matter of fines. Mr. Page feels this is counterproductive to compliance, which is what the Violations Committee is supposed to be about. Mr. Allan commented every resident has ample opportunity to achieve compliance before fines are begun, and opportunities to appeal to the Board of Trustees. “It’s a straightforward process”, he said. Ms. Donahue concurred with Mr. Page regarding communication. Ms. Weglein commented any changes the ARCC has made since she has been Chair of that committee have been brought before the Trustees. She said there is a greater spirit of cooperation among ARCC, Code, and Trustees now.

Ms. McCahan commented some of the problems have stemmed from residents installing new homes. Residents don’t understand the house can’t be moved about on the lot according to “it looks better over there”. Ms. Weglein commented some residents resist getting permits at all. Mr. Page commented that even now some contractors are unscrupulous and complimented Mr. Austin on how he stands up for the residents.

Mr. Page commented Diane McCaulay is the new president of the Micco Homeowners’ Association, and anyone in Barefoot Bay can go to their meetings. A representative from St. John’s Water District is speaking at the Micco meeting next month. Mr. Page suggested if the homeowners associations from Barefoot Bay, Micco and Grant-Valkaria could stick together it would create more clout for this end of the county. Mr. Keegan commented his impression from the Rules and Regulations is that other associations can be invited to the Barefoot Bay meeting and do not need a Barefoot Bay badge.

Mr. Allan commented it is inconvenient to have the badges based on an individual birth date rather than to obtain them for a family all at one time. Mr. Bleau explained the problem might be the difference between renters’ badges and home owners’ badges. Homeowners renew once a year. Nancy Eisele reminded everyone Barefoot Bay is in Micco and therefore entitled to become members of the Micco Homeowners Association.

Ms. Davis commented on the proliferation of different kinds of fences in the Bay. She asked if the issue was going to be resolved in the near future. Mr. Allan displayed the boomerang envelope/ballot that is scheduled to be mailed April 16^th; the fence issue is one of the items on the ballot to be voted on. Ms. Davis asked if half the ballots come back, will the decision of pass/fail be based on the ballots in hand, or will the ballots that don’t come back be considered no. Mr. Allan said we will not count a ballot that is not returned to us. Ms. Crouse asked if the affirmation of a change have to be 50% of the total number of ballots sent out, or 50% of the number of returned ballots. Mr. Allan responded it was 50% of the number of ballots sent out. Ms. Crouse reiterated that in that case, any vote that does not come back isn’t counted; it just isn’t an assertive (or positive) vote. It just means people didn’t vote; it’s not negative.

Susan Reddy had requested more stand-type ashtrays at the pools, refurbished rest rooms, and a new “F” Building. Mr. Keegan suggested those items be considered in the new budget.

Vicky Rosso commented residents have asked where rules and regulations, ARCC information, and other basic information may be obtained. Is there a copy available of the amended DOR, whole and entire? Mr. Allan recommended the Board authorize the DOR be printed in font big enough to read easily after the ballots come back and are counted and the results recorded. The DOR could then be mailed to all the residents. Mr. Ferris suggested adding a copy of the general rules regarding use of facilities with the DOR mailing. Mr. Bleau explained residents may go to Building B and obtain copies of rules, regulations, and the DOR at any time. Ms. Eisele commented the residents can get any of this at the library, as well. Ms. Weglein suggested bundling the information and sending it with the budget as one mailing. Ms. Crouse commented the website would be a handy place for many residents to obtain the information.

Ms. Crouse commented on a need for weather radios in Barefoot Bay. She asked if the Home Owners Association had ever considered purchasing weather radios and devising a plan to distribute them. Ms. Weglein addressed the S.H.A.R.E. program. Dale Page responded the S.H.A.R.E. program depends on refrigerated transportation and originates in Orlando, which makes it difficult for Barefoot Bay to participate. Ms. Davis commented it might also be difficult to find volunteers.

Ms. Davis addressed the problem of aggressive sales people barging into resident’s homes. It happened in Dale Page’s home. He phoned 911 and was told nothing could be done. Ms. Crouse was told vendors have to have a permit to sell in Barefoot Bay. Ms. McCahan decided to let them vacuum her carpet as a demonstration, and then asked them to leave. Mr. Allan suggested phoning 911; most people will leave immediately.

Mr. Ferris said he thought the “tide has turned” in terms of cooperation between the Home Owners Association and the Board of Trustees. Ms. Weglein had mentioned in her presentation that only 3 meetings of this kind had been held in Barefoot Bay since the Association’s inception on June 11, 1974.

The workshop concluded at 6:15 p.m.

Sue McCahan, Secretary Barrie Jenkins, Recording Secretary

THIS DRAFT OF MINUTES HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE BAREFOOT BAY RECREATION DISTRICT BOARD. IT IS SCHEDULED FOR APPROVAL DURING THE NEXT MEETING.

PHONE: (772) 664-3141
FAX: (772) 664-1928