A Message From The President
Hello friends and neighbors,
I am so excited for the RAIN! As the irrigation is getting corrected and repaired throughout the community by our awesome landscape/irrigation group we are also getting much needed water to help it all along. Even though much of our landscape is weeds (as it has been for years) at least it is green and filling in the spots that were driven over and dug up.
The improvements around the pool and around the individual buildings have easily increased all of our property values and as the plants fill in and decks get completed, we will be back to our sunsets in true paradise.
It’s been a tough road with Clout. We have been fighting payments, change orders, and their lack of ability to follow through. After much research and deliberation, we have given the required termination outlined in their contract. We have teams coming out this week and the end of the month that will document the condition of the work done thus far. We also have four new contractors bidding to finish the job. We will likely have to jump through some hoops such as taking care of lenis placed on the property from Clout and the subcontractors that we will have to bond out, but we are prepared to tackle that as it comes.
We are also in the process of securing a new Builders Risk policy that can be used with a new contractor assuming we go through with the termination. Clout may try to sue us as well if we terminate, which is why we have teams coming to document the issues that have happened so far. The good news, we won’t be held up by Clout anymore. Once we have a new contractor in place the
building can be finished in a timely manner based on the plans and permits already in place (with a transfer of permits). Bonding the liens will allow units to keep transferring/selling between owners.
If you see people around your decks/patios/stairs please let them do their job and document the current issues. They will not be able to answer any questions from homeowners, but they are helping us move forward so please let them do that.
Trespassers: several people have reported people cruising up to the beach over the past few weeks and using our pool, spa and even anchoring boats and getting into a car parked here and driving out of the gates. Pictures have been shared but when approached the trespassers have said they were owners next to “insert name here” or they are visiting their grandparents in “unit number”. Several of the suspects are using the same owner’s name yet the owner is nowhere to be found. Guard hours were changed earlier this year to do more overnight hours in order to try to dissuade the car break-ins but on the weekends, if owners don’t feel comfortable confronting these people guard hours might be more important in the afternoons again. Over the years we have tried different methods, nothing really works so we need new ideas, or we have to live with the people coming off the beach and/or we can fine the owner who’s names keep coming up.
We are starting budget meetings in August and would like a committee of 5, right now we have 3 committed, so if you have experience with finance/budget/etc and would like to join please email the office.
Thanks everyone!
Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Tori Elvir ~ President, Bermuda Bay Board of Directors
Update on Maintenance and Staff Performance
Dear Residents,
I hope this message finds you well. I'm pleased to take a moment to update you on the recent performance of our maintenance team and the overall staff over the past 90 days. First, I'm delighted to report that our new maintenance staff has been exceeding expectations. Since their arrival, they have shown dedication, skill, and a commitment to ensuring our community remains in top-notch condition. They have tackled a range of tasks from minor repairs to complex projects with professionalism and efficiency.
When they first came on board April 1, 2024, their work order open list was at 346 and currently they are down to approximately 130. Our subcontractor has completed over 36 damaged windowsills and
continues to move forward with the project. It is very time-consuming due to the conditions of the different windows. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us shape their approach, and we are thrilled to see how well they have integrated into our community.
In addition to our maintenance team, I want to recognize the hard work of our Senior Administrative Assistant. From maintaining the front office demands as well as the rental and leasing documentation needed to securely protect our community, she has been working diligently to enhance your living experience. Whether it's responding promptly to inquiries, maintaining cleanliness in our common areas, our entire staff’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
A kindly reminder from your Maintenance Staff: “It’s a hot summer so far and the Air Conditioners are running constantly. For preventative measures please pour 1 cup of white vinegar into your AC drain line at least once every 90 days. This will help eliminate the buildup in your AC drain lines.” The maintenance staff will be going around vacuuming the outside AC lines as well.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to maintaining this level of service
excellence moving forward. Should you have any feedback or suggestions, please do not hesitate
to reach out to us. Your input helps us continually improve our services and ensure your comfort
and satisfaction.
Thank you for being a valued member of our community. We look forward to continuing
to serve you and make this a place you are proud to call home.
Warm regards,
Ray Ferreris, LCAM
Property Manager
Bermuda Bay Beach Condominium Association, Inc.
Construction Update July 2024
After much consideration and as a last resort, Paul Terry, on behalf of Bermuda Bay, is served the contractor on July 15 with an Order of Suspension and a Seven Day Notice of Intent to Terminate the Contract. The engineer has already provided us with the Certification of Sufficient Cause to Terminate the Contract required by the contract documents. We have a forensic architect, Martin Currasco of Fiebig Architecture, inspecting the project on July 30-31, 2024 to document the defective conditions. If we do terminate Clout; we will thereafter interview four experienced contractors: Tailored Reconstruction, Reconstruction Experts, EmpireWorks and Viktor Construction to select one to take over the job, correct the defects and finish the balconies. The first three contactors specialize in repairing construction defects, and our attorney has worked with all of them for over 10 years.
The Board will then entertain a Town Hall meeting, with Paul Terry present, for questions and answers after we have bids from the four construction firms.
Treasurer’s Report - No New Report
There were no NEW updates at the July 17, 2024 meeting because CA had not yet sent, so these numbers below are from( May 31, 2024)·
Bank Accounts
Overall, we have a total of $878k in the various bank accounts.
· Operating Account
In the operating account the balance is $134k. That amount is probably light as it is customarily prudent to have the value of 2 to 3 months expenses on hand. Our monthly operating expenses are typically in the $200 to 225k range.
There are several expenses that will go well over budget if the 5-month trend continues. The usual culprits are:
Ø We incurred a substantial increase in the cost of insurance overage so we will be about $85k over budget.
Ø It is hard to predict what will occur going forward but legal fees will very likely end up well over-budget, largely due to construction issues.
Ø Plumbing issues continue to be a problem and the total cost is projected to be over-budget by about $70k. But it changes from month to month so it can’t be stated with certainty how we will end the year. Many of our plumbing problems are caused by people flushing improper items. This also causes problems with the lift station.
Ø The trash expenses are considerably over budget.
The operating account balance is $117k.
With only 25% of the year’s data to go by, it is still early but there are a few items
I am projecting will end the year over-budget.
The insurance overage is currently up for renewal and there will be a
substantial increase over what was budgeted.
It is hard to predict what will occur going forward but legal fees will very likely
end up well over-budget, largely due to construction issues.
Plumbing issues continue to be a problem and the total cost is projected to be
significantly over-budget.
· Reserve Fund
The Reserve Fund currently has $452k in the bank.
Even though we have a bank loan financing the bulk of the Balcony Project, it is a part of the Reserve Fund. Currently, we are encountering difficulty drawing funds from the loan so payments to the contractor are several months behind. It recently came to light that, during the time of the Property Manager turnover earlier this year, an insurance policy covering the construction was unknowingly allowed to lapse. We are having a hard time getting replacement coverage and the bank is holding up loan advances until we do get coverage. All that is putting the project on hold. I am having daily phone and/or email contacts with the parties involved – the contractor, the bank, the lawyer, and the insurance broker - trying to get this resolved. In the meantime, one of the sub-contractors has placed a lien on our property because of non-payment by the primary contractor.
· Delinquencies
Delinquencies amounted to just under $35k - an increase of $29 hundred since last month. That is not a good trend as it ideally should be reducing, not increasing.
The majority of delinquencies are less than 60 days old or are of smaller amounts. But there is a total of $23k - about 80% - that is more than 90 days old. Maintenance fees account for $17k and $6k goes back to 2022 Special Assessment. Three accounts are with the attorney for collection. Demand letters and/or reminder notices have been sent to the other owners who are in arrears. While in arrears, these owners are incurring interest charges and notice fees.
· Balcony Deposits
We have $273k in deposits from owners for extended balconies. Payment for the last two holdouts was made earlier in the month so we are finally up to date. But the total on deposit has not changed since last month. I have to find out where those last deposits went.
These deposits are on hold until the respective balcony is completed at which time the applicable amount will be used to partially offset the payment we make to the contractor.
Kind of a Play on Words...but if you are in doubt as to what you can plant??????
Here is the updated list of invasive plants not allowed at Bermuda Bay.
Here are some other educational links:
https://plantatlas.usf.edu/flip/
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/us/florida
You are also encouraged to contact anyone on the Landscaping committee. Cindy Hansen, Gail Cunningham, Bari Martinson, and Barb Barnard. They are more than willing to assist with your questions and all your landscaping needs.
What is the Florida invasive species app?
IveGot1
IveGot1 allows for both online and offline reporting with reports saved on your phone for uploading when you have network connectivity. Images and information on Florida's worst non-native invasive animals and plants. Real-time point distribution maps centered on your current location.
Bermuda Bay Beach Condominium Association, Inc.
Email: bermudabaymgr@condominiumassociates.com
Website: https://condo.cincwebaxis.com/
Location: Bermuda Bay Beach and Racquet Club, 4201 38th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
Phone: 727-864-0735
Twitter: @BermudaBayStP