Minu   MINUTES OF EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING (January, 16  2007) 

On January 16, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Drayton Place Home Owners Association (the “DPHOA”) held “Emergency Board Meeting” at Victory Lutheran Church on Kernan Blvd. Present at the meeting were directors and officers of the DPHOA: Sandy Taylor, Denise Nicholas, and Barbara Cotsifas. 

The purpose of the emergency meeting was to discuss the serious increase of crime in the neighborhood and proposed solutions. 

The meeting was called to order by DPHOA President Sandy Taylor at approximately 5:30. She thanked all persons for attending and announced that the meeting was being videotaped by the DPHOA (Notwithstanding, past President Dave Tagliaferri and resident Shaun Miller, respectively, were making their own video tape of the proceedings)     

Ms. Taylor, then addressing the Board, described how neighborhood crime was a  serious community emergency needing immediate attention. Since October of last year, Ms. Taylor stated there had been a remarkable increase in crime-remarkable in both the number of incidents and the nature of the incidents; on a weekly basis, the residential property owners, the HOA as owner of common area, and our volunteer director and officers are experiencing the following:

1)      home invasions, burglaries, forced entries throughout day;

2)      garage theft (tools, generators, equipment)

3)      yard theft (toys, lawn mowers, plants)

4)      car burglaries/vandalism (on driveways)

5)      car burglaries/vandalism (on street—far more serious)

6)      neighborhood vandalism (HOA fences, owners fences, mailboxes, yards, entry gates)

7)      drinking/partying on common areas (entry pillars are trash cans)

8)      rampant curfew violations (from other neighborhoods)

9)      killing of ducks and turtles

10)  littering in common area/lakes (urinating in lakes)

11)  our children being threatened by older/other neighborhood teens

12)  paint-balling of residents and property;

13)  “peeping tom’s” (lurking in/on bushes, backyards, arbors, lake banks, common area---caught looking in windows (of adults and children)

14)   Lastly—violence to directors and officers (the volunteers)

a)      cars vandalizes

b)      tires slashed

c)      tires deflated

d)      obscene phone calls

e)      feces left on cars

f)        physical threats to directors, officers-----and children

g)      trash being dumped on property

h)      threatened with being “run over” by cars

i)        stalking;

j)        trespassing on property;

k)      landscapers being threatened

l)        parking outside residence

m)    accosted in Publix

n)      accosted at work;

o)      missing monies (estimated between $1200-$1500)during tenure of previous president/treasurer (for the first time, statements were reconciled, expenses verified---and homes counted—past presidents never even knew how many homes in neighborhood and past treasurer had no idea of dues collected/owing.

The Board then passed out financial statements.

Ms. Taylor then discussed several actions she was taking or contemplating as President to respond to the serious crime problem including:

1)      direct engagement of Sheriff’s office for dedicated patrols-approximately $30 per hour for minimum of 10 hours ($300)—hours of patrol are assigned by sheriff not HOA. As a minimal, this is needed (perhaps another 10 hours needed);

2)      direct engagement of private security--$28.00 per hour.

3)      revamping/overhaul crime watch program—demand participation (each neighbor responsible for neighbor on either side---every 10 homes have block captain, decal program to identify residents versus outsiders, tag registrations, no resident parking on streets  

4)      direct engagement of management company-more economies of scale for direct security engagement, scheduling with sheriffs office, removing hostility from staff, managing books,  providing additional staff to HOA to address previous problems;

5)      Need for dues increase for additional security protection—dues were last increased  in  2003.

At this point, Ms. Taylor told the Board that several residents had requested to speak through the completion and submission of written “Request to Speak”, which for the first time, were made available to residents at sign-in. Ms. Taylor stated the residents would be allowed to speak for “three minutes” and  “only” on the agenda at hand that was limited to crime. Ms. Taylor requested all speakers to walk to the front of the church when their names were called to address all in attendance.

The first resident to speak was past DPHOA President David Tagliaferri who requested to speak on “all topics”. Though Mr. Tagliaferri stated he was only speaking on behalf of himself, several attendees acted to the contrary.  When asked what “specific” crime matter on the agenda he was addressing, a foiled  Mr. Tagliaferri was unable to answer, but then, after he was shown the items on the crime agenda, he disingenuously said  he was speaking on the subject of  general “safety” that was nowhere on the agenda. Ms. Taylor allowed him speaking indulgence if related the topic of “safety” to the crime agenda

However, Mr. Tagliaferri was unconcerned with neighborhood crime and proper reverence. Rather, Mr. Tagliaferri only sought to question the Board as to previous construction of the new fence. He was continually reminded the purpose of the emergency meeting was crime and not a question and answer session. Yet, despite warning from Ms. Taylor and Directors, he persisted. Several attendees demanded that Mr. Tagliaferri sit down and shut up about the fence. Mr. Tagliaferri told the attendees to leave, pointed to the door, and persisted.  Ms. Taylor told Mr. Tagliaferri he was finished, but Mr. Tagliaferri would not leave.

Attendee, Bill Davis then walked to the front of the Church, tenderly embraced Mr. Tagliaferri, and escorted him  back to his seat.

Mr. Tagliaferri shouted that he was recording the events and, then as representative of certain attendees, exclaimed that the Board would hear “from our attorney”, and for the remainder of the meeting exchanged notes, heckled, met and dialoged with attendees as he angrily roamed the church.    

The next resident to speak was Jan Davis. She described various paint ball damage to her property.

The next speaker was Susan Munez. Rather than speak on the crime, she spoke on the new fence.

Ms. Taylor the recounted an incident in which a persons have been trying to obtain home access on the guise of “Kirby” demonstrations and a mysterious white van that has been circling the neighborhood.  

Another attendee alerted the BOD that there was a suspicious white van with black tinted windows and American flag parking near the community children’s bus stop, and in various areas in the community.

The next speaker was John Smith. Rather than speak on crime, he spoke on the need for covenant amendment to allow sheds and requested all in attendance to sign petition.  

The next speaker was Dori Ayres. Ms. Ayers suggested that more concerted effort be made to know neighbors via block parties or other means so residents can meet neighbors to distinguish strangers, and to be able to watch out for one another. Many attendees rudely heckled    

Attendee Bill Davis submitted written request to speak. However, he withdrew his request.

Attendee Shaun Miller submitted written request to speak. However, he withdrew his request.

The next speaker was June Van, who specifically inquired of crime patterns, time of day, perpetrators for community watch purposes.

As the meeting was concluding, Bill Davis stood up, yelled for people to sign some petition he was waiving to the crowd amidst attendee calls that the meeting would continue.      

Ms. Taylor concluded the meeting.