December 18, 2012
The source for the following article is TopRetirements.com. The name of this website clearly describes its subject matter. The report appearing below is part of a long running blog on that website. Because it requires numerous steps to navigate to this particular portion of the blog, we are asking readers who wish to go directly the site to do an internet search on the subject “TopRetirements.com + When Bad Things Happen to Good Communities” (without the quotes) and page down to this November 18, 2012 entry.
Immediately below this damaging article is the FACTS rebuttal.
Pete Drez says
It appears that “Admin” has decided to accept additional comments on this subject, as I read the submission by Sam Curry. Mr. Curry’s comments are at best misleading and your readers deserve “the rest of the story”. I hope you will afford me the opportunity to provide this information.
Let me first clarify some of Mr. Curry’s comments and then offer some info he decided to not mention. The Judge Wainwright Superior Court Order defined the bounds of the Fairfield Harbour (FFH) POA authority with specificity, including their lack of authority to acquire the local amenities, owned by third party MidSouth Golf. The only modification resulting from two Court of Appeals (COA) cases was a recognition that the original 1976 DOR did contain a common developer “out clause” that the POA must accept these amenities if offered for free and without any financial encumbrences. This is a fact, thus it was corrected, but there are no realistic actions possible because of the change.
As far as the Harbour Point Golf Course having improved appearance, I agree. The continuing problem is low utilization which has always, in the past, lead to financial problems and cut backs in maintenance. Time will tell.
And now for the awards. I originally thought this was a joke. But, there were two awards recently received, one by the community and one by the community manager. Here is the rest of the story on these awards. First, the community received an award for being the best in their
category, from a company named CAI, a company which has an attorney on their board that lost three court cases for the POA at a costs of approximately $100,000.00 in legal fees. Suppose the award will make someone feel better about wasting $100,000.00 with this CAI Board attorney, but not me. The second award was CAS awarding their employee for some undefined accomplishment. Hope it makes her feel better. Only problem is it will not buy bread at the supermarket.
Now for some information Mr. Curry did not mention. First, the conspiracy law suit by 24 POA members continues. A trial date is set for May 2013 and depositions are currently underway. The BOD VP of Finance will be done this coming Tuesday, 11/20/2012.
And the propensity for having POA members arrested and hauled off in the Sheriff’s cars continues. Even our POA President decided to take his turn and have an older gentleman, that most everyone just humors as he rambles, arrested. There have been 6 or 7 such arrest and no one has ever been convicted of anything. But I does add to the ambiance of the community.
The Red Army remains active. These soldiers were organized originally by a former POA President to visually identify those that support the Board and their policies. Today it is a fully organized group that wears red and carries out the dirty work of the Board. Primary activities include intimidating non Red Army members, conducting Red Army Parades, cheering and booing on command in community meetings, publishing both on hard copy and the internet RED Army propaganda, etc.
So, is FFH a great place to retire. My opinion is: NO. In fact I can not think of any good reason to live in FFH.
Pete Drez
November 18th, 2012
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FACTS rebuttal to Pete Drez article on TopRetirements.com dated November 18, 2012
The great majority of the 3000 residents of Fairfield Harbour are proud of our community and happy to call it home. We’d like to respond to this recent post by Pete Drez, a Fairfield resident who is not happy in our community. We’d like to set the record straight.
First, Pete Drez has gotten his initials and his facts confused. Recently, Fairfield Harbour received Community Association Institute’s Extra Large Mixed Use Community of the Year of North Carolina for 2012 – 2013 of the more than 50 communities nominated. This award was based on the community progress of the past 12 months in Fairfield Harbour, where the majority have come together for the common good of the community. CAI (Community Association Institute) is not a company. CAI is a national organization. Feel free to Google it. The judges were all from other states to preclude any in-state influence of favoritism.
Fairfield Harbour was voted “Extra Large Mixed Use Community of the Year” by out-of-state management professionals with no personal agendas. This can all be verified quite easily.
At the same presentation ceremony, Fairfield Harbour’s community manager, Ms. Mystre’ Van Horn, received the Institute’s award for North Carolina Community Manager of Distinction. The award for Community Manager of Distinction was given by CAI, and again, the judges were from other states. This, too, can be verified.
Recognition for this manager continues. The Council of Community Association Professionals (CCAP) was established by a number of highly regarded professional companies that worked closely with thousands of associations across the United States. Members of the organization are in a unique position to evaluate the managers of these associations and nominate them for awards such as this one. The CCAP has just released their 2012 list of the “Top 50 On-Site Managers” in the country, and Mystre’ Van Horn is the only manager from North Carolina to be so honored. She is also now being considered for the 2013 National On-Site Manager of the Year award by this same group.
Community Associations Institute (CAI) is an international organization with nearly 60 chapters dedicated to building better communities, CAI provides information, education and resources to all community association stakeholders, including community managers and homeowner leaders. “Our mission,” CAI says on its site, “is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in communities that are preferred places to call home”
Community Associations Services,Inc, (CAS), our community management company, and our community manager’s employer, is, no doubt, extremely proud of Mystre’, but CAS had nothing to do with any of the awards she received.
His statement about “…an older gentleman, that most everyone just humors as he rambles…” being arrested, is true. POA members and supporters have a right to privacy and security. No one should be inundated with repetitive e-mails, messages sent to family members, and uninvited appearances at his or her private residence.
Pete Drez is correct when he says the depositions in the lawsuit twenty- four property owners have brought against the BOD and our community are continuing. He and his fellow litigants constitute less than 1% (24 of an approximately 3,000 residents) of a wonderful, loving community.
The lawsuit has been expensive and time consuming, a distraction, but it hasn’t managed to prevent our community from participating in more than 30 community activity groups, volunteering here, and in nearby New Bern, and enjoying all that beautiful Fairfield Harbour has to offer.
When our community learned of the lawsuit against our elected officials, and against us, we paraded in support of those officials and the community we love. Pete Drez and his friends were certainly surprised at our numbers.
We are, indeed, an army – an army of residents who love our community and who continue to come together at many subsequent community events. We are proud of the recognition we have received, proud of the Board and of the community groups who helped us earn this recognition. Our statement is not mere “propaganda.” It’s the truth.
It’s evident that Pete is unhappy in Fairfield Harbour. Perhaps he can offer some constructive ideas to improve his experience here. Or, perhaps our community is just not a good “fit” anymore, if it ever was. People sometimes make mistakes choosing where to live. If that’s the case, why remain? His energies might be better spent researching other communities in which to live.