I attended the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association meeting on January 24. I sat in the audience and listened to Alan Siegal. How he went on for a long period of time ? 15 minutes plus ? and then he insisted that the property owners and investors of the community were allowed only three minutes each.
Then the association went into an executive session at 7 p.m., and the meeting concluded at 8 p.m. after most of the people left due to the executive session ? the part of the meeting that is for the board members only. No wonder no one shows up at the meetings, so they could speak. They know they won”t be heard.
Siegal”s belief is that the community association is more important than the people that pay to support it. So was the communist doctrine which placed the state above the individual.
We pay $86 dollars a year, and he is in a voluntary non-paying position. He was not even elected. People do not even run for the board. This board is leveling fines against homeowners and property owners. They do not attempt to mitigate the situation with the homeowner. They fine you, and then it goes to a collection agency.
John Stoddard, who has lived in this community for 26 years, did the work requested, and he has to still pay the assessed fines. They don”t follow things up. I realize I am not important to Siegal being being a former Board President of this community association.
And where is the money going? Do the math ? 2,880 x $86 is approximately $240,000 annually. There should some investigation on that. Supervisor Rob Brown was in attendance, and had mentioned he would not live in a homeowners association community
Brown”s right. This association is obsolete. Due to the density of the area, it is the county”s cash cow.
Then the county is asking the community to pay for road resurfacing in the community. These are public roads; remember that you pay taxes for that work to be done, and you pay the county to provide parks. We are finally getting a park by the elementary school.
You pay property taxes for the police, and there are over 30 deputized police officers living in this community. They are more effective at stopping criminal activity in the community. A punk seeing a patrol car in a neighborhood is less likely to conduct criminal activity.
The Fire Department”s concern is our community safety, and not having an Oakland Hills fire. They send personnel out to understand the lay of the land. These are trained professionals. The county has code enforcement also. These are things you pay for in your taxes.
An association can be dissolved. The Clear Lake Riviera homeowners and property owners should have the final say. Thumbs up or thumbs down.
Tony Gniadek
Kelseyville
