Friday, September 5, 2014

BENEATH THE SURFACE

     This is going to be a very frank article. It concerns just exactly what is going on here in our Village. It refers to the basic philosophy of the current administration - towards the residents and the maintenance of the Village and the truth and transparency of communication or lack thereof with the residents. These truths  might be hurtful for some to read, but here they are.
     Yesterday, David Israel sent out one of his IFI emails, which, in itself, is a good thing as information is passed on. However, I wonder how many people even read them or just click them off. But one in particular in yesterday's caught my eye and seemed to exemplify the attitude of the current UCO president. These are the minutes of the August 6, 2014 committee meeting of  Program and Services, which basically goes around to the pools and other WPRF venues and reports on their conditions. Don Foster actually submitted quite a detailed minutes report, detailing the enormous amount of things gone wrong and/or being neglected in these areas. Eva was on the hot seat the entire time and we constantly see the phrase, "This report was acknowledged and noted by Ms. Rachesky."
     This detailed minutes report is wonderfully informative, too much so for the chair, Fausto Fabbro, and David Israel and made them too uncomfortable for this truth to out, and they suggested that the detail in minutes needs to be curtailed. "Only what was done, not what was said" according to David Israel and must be kept to one page.
     Well, really, where are these rules written? Why are they so afraid of detail? Perhaps because the truth will out and we will see how neglected our property, our Village, is becoming despite all the moneys we pay into WPRF for its upkeep? Why are we paying thousands of dollars for pickleball when the basics at the pools, on Duck Island, and elsewhere are being neglected?

    And what is Eva's response to all this? She
 ".... reminded Committee of budget constraints and the necessity of prioritizing projects with resident
use in mind. Ms. Rachesky also mentioned that she is considering proposal to Operations Committee of a new "all-inclusive" landscaping vendor that would handle projects like the above mentioned. Cost increase for new contract would be significant, but would combine landscaping, irrigation, pest control, and other special project work that is now charged "al a carte".
     Is this the answer? More and more money, a more expensive contract? And why would it be more expensive if it is combined with other aspects for which we now pay separately? When things are combined it generally runs to a net savings, not to be more costly. But this appears to be a Bizzarro land where things are the opposite of what should be.
    On top of this proposed increase from WPRF David Israel is still pushing for an increase in budget to UCO for the Wi Fi proposal, unnecessary and costly! How deep does this man think our pockets are? How many of us can afford to keep up with this constant rise in fees?
     I have been told, and told often, by adherents of David Israel, that the people in the Village are stupid, too dumb to understand what is going on. They do not care about anything except that they can go to their pools and shows and then leave them alone. In other words, all they care is that "the trains run on time" and thus David Israel and company have free reign to grossly mismanage our Village.
    I do not believe this. I believe that the residents just need for the truth to be told, for transparency to have its role in UCO. I believe that they understand the need for process and procedure, for the principles of management to be applied to  UCO and the administration of the Village. I believe they understand that this situation cannot continue and that the pools and the shows will no longer be there if this situation keeps rolling along.
     I have faith in the residents, if only they will be told the truth and if only they will be open to hearing it.
    Reread this posting and understand what we are getting and not getting here in the Village. David Israel and company MUST go!

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