Moving forward at Sparrow!
I just re-joined the board this year and I want to get to know you to serve you best.
Please fill out the following survey: https://forms.gle/e3s3U62uxQxLuFTdA
We need to stop managing our 15 million dollar asset with volunteers. I understand and appreciate those that have volunteered over the years, but professional management is needed.
I was on the board for several years and I am coming back because we need to make progress. We have a great property at Sparrow, but we need better management in order to preserve our homes and investments.
- Professional Management
Sparrow is in need of accountable professional management. The problems at Sparrow are not unique to us. Almost all associations our size are run by professional management companies. The solution is professional accountable management. We had problems at our unit that stemmed from years of disrepair and lack of attention to roofing repairs. Licensed, professional work is imperative to protect our homes and investments.
- Transparency
Making Sparrow more transparent isn't a hard thing to do. Board meetings should be available to owners virtually. Only 34 of the 158 units at Sparrow claim homestead exemption. Most owners are unable to keep up with what is going on as Sparrow because they are unable to be present. We must be virtual in order to make sure hat all owners can be involved with Sparrow.
Email need to be better utilized. All meeting notices, completed minutes and all other mailouts can be easily emailed to unit owners and posted privately on a website for all owners. All documents that can be the subject of a standard records request should just be available to the unit owners without having to request them.
Currently there is essentially one person at Sparrow that is acting as the secretary, treasurer and president. We have had a very hard time getting basic financial information about the health of our association, which is part of the reason that I want to run. We cannot have accountability with only a single person holding all the cards.
- Roofing Repairs
I have personally asked the board many times about the rooves and what the plan is to fix them. I have asked for a schedule of what still needs to be done and when it is going to happen. We have been unable to get this information, which probably means that there is no real plan or that our management is unable to grasp to scope of this project. Roof leaks and the problems this has caused is the biggest threat to our shared asset. A bad roof caused a $50,000 special assessment a few years ago. This has been a very expensive project and needs to be addresses professionally. I have no problem with paying dues, but I need to know why they need to be set like they are. We have putting over $9,000 / month into the roof reserve and we need to know what is going on!
What will this cost us?
Returning Sparrow to a great condition won't be cheap, but it won't be too expensive either. I empathize with owners who are paying $300-400 / month who want to see results. I understand that you do not want to pay a nickel more, and neither do I. But the best thing we can do to project our homes and investments is to act now. If we continue to ignore problems that will only make the problems worse.