Board of Directors Budget Meeting to Take Place on November 1st
By Steve Smith
By now each of you have received a copy of the 2022 Proposed Annual Budget which will be discussed and voted on by the Board on November 1st. According to Section 6.3 of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC & R’s) filed with Orange County in 2001 by the Developer of North Shore at Lake Hart, the Board shall prepare and approve a budget of the estimated Common Expense of the Association for the coming year, together with any amounts necessary to fund any deficits from prior years and to provide reserves for future expenses.
As it is the case each year, the Board asks the Finance Committee (which consist of three homeowner volunteers) along with the assistance of the Community Association Manager (CAM) and HOA Treasurer to put together a budget to recommend to the Board to consider. The committee, along with the CAM and Treasurer spend many hours poring over information and numbers to bring the budget together. The result of this work is the 2022 Proposed Annual Budget.
To assist homeowners during the Covid-19 Pandemic the Finance Committee recommended and the Board approved spending $472,690 from accumulated surplus in 2021 to supplement the budget which resulted in monthly assessments only being $120. Without that supplement monthly assessments for 2021 would have been $158. For the 2022 budget the Finance Committee is recommending spending $339,795 from accumulated surplus which, if approved by the Board, will keep monthly assessments at $140 instead of $167, which is what they would be without this supplement.
As we have done in the past and as we prepare for the November 1, 2021 budget meeting we welcome your budget-specific questions. To provide the best possible answers to your questions, it is beneficial to have these questions sent in advance of the meeting. Not only will we be able to provide information based on research, but it will save time during the meeting to avoid answering duplicate questions.
Helpful information about budget questions:
- When submitting your question, please be as specific as possible. Doing so will allow us to be more specific in our answers.
- As this is a budget meeting, only items involving the budget will be discussed. Please limit your questions to items within the proposed budget.
- Please be sure to review the notes in the right-hand column of the proposed budget that was mailed to you. These descriptions may be helpful in answering your questions.
- During the meeting itself and at the appropriate time, homeowners will still be able to ask questions regarding the proposed budget. Depending on the question an immediate answer may not be possible due to requiring further research.
Please submit all budget questions to jdecrotie@accessdifference.com.
- For additional information on the proposed budget, CLICK HERE.
- For information on Reserve Funds, CLICK HERE.
Steve Smith is the treasurer of the North Shore at Lake Hart HOA.
HOA Attorney Says Homeowner New Suit will be Dismissed – Again
Homeowner Lynn Sandford and her attorney Bruce Burtoff, also a North Shore homeowner, recently filed an amended lawsuit against North Shore at Lake Hart HOA in an apparent effort to correct the many defects with their original suit, which gave a judge cause to dismiss it last September.
Upon dismissing the case, the judge gave the plaintiffs 30 days to file an amended complaint if they so desired, which they now have. This is Sandford’s and Burtoff’s third attempt at a viable suit. They have failed twice before.
“This amended suit has even more legal problems than the prior attempts and it is just as unsubstantiated,” said HOA attorney Jennifer Englert. “I am confident that it will not prosper. It is regrettable that the plaintiffs continue to waste time and money on divisive actions that lack a legal foundation and accomplish nothing positive for the community they call home.”
Though originally seeking damages that could have totaled $20 million, the recently amended suit reduces that ask by more than 98 percent to $350,000. The complaint does not state a reason for this, or whether this is an admission that the plaintiff is unclear as to what the alleged damages are since they are based on purported wrongdoing they have yet to prove.
Another notable difference is that Jane and Joe Doe no longer appear as plaintiffs. No reason is given for this either. But last month, upon the lawsuit dismissal, the HOA Board authorized Englert to seek out the identity of these two plaintiffs and to recover 100 percent of all legal fees expended while defending homeowners against this unfounded case.
Also, interesting enough, this third version of the suit names just four defendants, including the HOA. The original complaints included present and past board members as well as HOA volunteers. Again, this exclusion appears to be random, as the amended suit does not offer any insight into why all the individuals who Sandford and Burtoff had accused of terrible actions are now no longer liable in their opinion.
The new suit alleges that the defendants, HOA Board President David S. Gordon, former board member John Dick and attorney Englert accessed HOA funds for “personal use and benefit”. What follows are nine pages of incoherent narrative that does not substantiate the accusation.
Sandford, Jane and Joe Doe filed their first lawsuit in September of 2020. If successful, this suit might have cost homeowners up to $20,000 each. Homes in North Shore would have faced possible litigation and assessments against each homeowner’s account, resulting in reduced home values and the diminished desire to buy here. In May 2021, the suit was amended by the plaintiffs. HOA attorney Englert filed a motion to dismiss the case on numerous legal grounds. The judge agreed to the dismissal.
New Golf Carts, Storage Shed and Tennis Court Upgrades Approved at October’s HOA Board Meeting
The purchase of golf carts to be used by staff, a utility work cart to be used by the new porter, a storage shed and upgrades to the tennis courts lighting system were approved at the North Shore at Lake Hart Board of Directors October 12 meeting.
The board unanimously approved purchasing two golf carts and a maintenance cart for a price not to exceed $26,000. The electric carts will be housed in a new storage shed that will be built behind the tennis courts. The windscreen on the courts will block visibility of the shed. The 20’x 40’ shed will allow for storage of equipment, all four carts and various other HOA assets. The board approved expenditures not to exceed $60,000 for the new shed, which includes a concrete foundation and running electrical power for the structure.
No dues will be used to purchase the new shed and golf carts, which will be paid for with proceeds from the Orange County Eminent Domain suit which were previously designated by the Board to be used for capital expenditures, said Steve Smith, Treasurer of the HOA, at the meeting.
The tennis courts will get new light fixtures and state-of-the-art LED lights following approval by the board. The cost will not exceed $12,000 to come out of the Reserve Fund. This is the first time the lights have been updated since the courts were built. The new lighting should last up to 10 years.
Also at the October meeting, Community Association Manager John DeCrotie told the board that he is getting quotes to run electricity and water to the Lake Hart walkout and observation deck. This will allow the installation of security cameras and significantly reduce annual expenditures by allowing HOA staff (instead of outside vendors) to maintain the dock with twice yearly pressure washings and an annual sealing of the wood. Based on a recommendation from DeCrotie the Board also approved the expenditure of up to $5,000 to convert the office in the fitness center to a file storage room. This will provide for files to be stored in a more secure environment and accessed more efficiently by staff. The board also approved a new Fitness Center policy that residents will receive in an e-blast as well as it being posted on the community website.
Residents will soon notice that the traffic control device will be relocated to record northbound traffic data including the speed of each vehicle and the number of vehicles passing by the device each hour of every day on North Shore Golf Club Boulevard.
Following recommendations from the Grounds Committee, the device will be moved to multiple locations during the next several months to record northbound speed. The data collected is shared with Orange County to aid them in determining ways to better control speeds and the volume of vehicles traveling through our community.
Volunteer Spotlight
Susan Broadwell: Becoming Part of the Solution
Susan and her son Samuel
When Susan Broadwell became concerned about the increased traffic along North Shore Golf Club Boulevard, she decided to be part of the solution.
The mother of three whose Marsh Pine home backs up to North Shore’s main thoroughfare volunteered to serve on the HOA Grounds Committee six years ago. She helped start a campaign urging homeowners to email former Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson about the increased traffic, met with traffic engineers, researched traffic calming devices and polled North Shore residents about ways to prevent cars from speeding through her neighborhood.
“I’m the last person that would think I’d ever be involved in a committee,” Broadwell said. “But it’s been a real learning experience. I’ve met county commissioners, looked up laws, used my people skills and researched the history of North Shore.”
Broadwell said she has enjoyed interacting with residents and being a voice for change.
“It’s been so rewarding to help make a difference,” she said.
Broadwell’s hard work helped the Board and Management secure additional raised crosswalks at North Shore. She was instrumental in bringing then newly elected Orange County Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero to North Shore to see the traffic problems. She rode with the commissioner on a golf cart to show her how traffic backs up during rush hour and the impact of the traffic on residents.
North Shore has 1,049 homes with more than 4,000 residents but traffic counts show that 10,000 cars a day travel on the two-mile North Shore Golf Club Boulevard, which has become a shortcut between Moss Park and Narcoossee roads.
The traffic issue is only one of the many problems Broadwell has helped tackle as a member of the Grounds Committee. She and the committee have been actively involved in recommending to the Board updating the landscaping throughout North Shore, replacing old plants with new native species. The committee also recommended the installation of pet waste stations for pet owners and with the help of the Compliance Committee recommended even and odd street parking to improve access for firetrucks and ambulances.
“Susan is a valued member of North Shore at Lake Hart and has been very instrumental in working with Commissioner Cordero encouraging solutions to stem the excessive speeds and traffic volume on the boulevard,” said John DeCrotie, community association manager. “She has volunteered her time, efforts and abilities to help make North Shore a great place to live.”
Broadwell and her husband, Dave, moved to North Shore seven years ago from Melbourne, Australia. They bought a house in Marsh Pine to be close to work. She said they like the Lake Nona area, along with the larger lots and mature trees in North Shore.
She encourages other residents to get involved in the community to become part of the solution to the community challenges. Broadwell said the one to two hours a week she volunteers has helped her get to know her neighbors and given her a deeper understanding about the community’s needs.
Volunteering: Jump Right In, Promote Change from Within
By Linda McCauley
Volunteers are valuable assets to our North Shore at Lake Hart Homeowners Association. Residents are always welcome to join any of our HOA committees and offer their valuable ideas to improve our community.
The Architectural Review Board (ARB), Compliance, Grounds, Communications and Social committees are all in need of members. The committees follow the guidelines of the North Shore’s declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), which outlines our community rules. The committees present their ideas and suggestions to the NSLH Board of Directors, which decides how to proceed.
Volunteering for a committee is a great way to ensure that new ideas are brought forward to influence positive changes and to build a better community for all of us. It is also a great way to meet other residents and create new friendships.
The world in which we live seems frightening at times, but by reaching out right here where we live we can all create a more positive environment. More than 4,000 people reside at North Shore, all with different talents and ideas. Imagine if more of us would put those to work for our community. Oh, the things we could accomplish.
You cannot sit in a car and get where you want to go from the back seat. Jump in the front and help steer this vehicle. It is much more gratifying to know you are part of steering it in the right direction than complaining about the ride.
I hope you will consider becoming a volunteer. Jump right in and become part of the solution.
Linda McCauley is a North Shore at Lake Hart resident and serves on the Grounds Committee. If you have any questions or would like more information about the committees, please contact our management office.
For Family, Community and Clients, HOA Attorney Englert Goes Above and Beyond
Jennifer Englert knew since she was very young that she would become an attorney. No one in the family of this New Jersey native had graduated from college. She did not personally know an attorney and was not particularly fond of any TV show centered around the profession. Yet, she innately knew.
“It came out of nowhere, really,” said Englert, founder and managing partner of the Orlando Law Group and North Shore at Lake Hart’s attorney for the last seven years. “I decided in the fifth grade that it was what I wanted to do and never deviated.”
The pursuit of her childhood goal had its share of challenges. Englert’s parents, who moved the family to Volusia County when she was 10, couldn’t afford tuition at Stetson University or at the University of Florida Law School. So, Englert worked at Publix for years to cover expenses. She started out as a cashier and was soon promoted to do office work.
“I paid for everything,” Englert said. “I was always working or studying. It was difficult at times, but that experience enriched me and helped me develop solid work ethics early in life.”
Today, the law firm she started in 2009 in her East Orlando living room with her college roommate is thriving with four offices across Central Florida and 25 employees. Practice areas include real estate, family law, probate, business and commercial litigation and, of course, HOA representation.
In the years that Englert has represented North Shore, she has effectively protected homeowners’ best interest amd soundly defeated unfounded lawsuits that would have cost the community millions had they prospered. This past September, she successfully argued for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by homeowner Lynn Sandford and other unidentified individuals presumed to be residents that sought damages ranging between $10 million to $20 million. This could have cost residents thousands of dollars in special assessments.
Englert’s day-to-day work on behalf of North Shore has a direct positive impact on the community’s coffers. By reviewing all vendor contracts -big and small- to make sure they are appropriate, offering legal support for compliance enforcement issues, collecting past due accounts, making sure the HOA is properly represented in bankruptcies filed by homeowners, managing environmental concerns involving the lake as well as the conservation areas owned by the community, advising on government relations, and litigating when needed, she saves the HOA thousands of dollars annually on potential liability.
“Jennifer is instrumental to the efficient operation of community business,” said HOA Treasurer Steve Smith. “She has done a superb job helping us protect homeowners’ from unnecessary liability and ensuring that board members and residents know their rights and responsibilities under law.”
Englert finds herself just as busy at home as the very involved mom of two active teenagers. Still, she makes time to be fully engaged in the community. She has been involved with Kiwanis for the past twelve years including helping start the Lake Nona Kiwanis Club, which works with many of the local Nona schools. She also serves on the Board of Matthew’s Hope, The Orlando Health Foundation and the Greater Orlando Builder’s Foundation, as well as being very involved with the business community through the East Orlando and Seminole County Chambers of Commerce.
“Volunteering alongside other people who care about making a difference in their neighbors’ quality of life is very fulfilling,” Englert said. “I encourage my staff to get involved in the causes they care about because in addition to this being something every responsible citizen should do, volunteer work broadens our perspectives so that we can better understand the circumstances of other members of our community.”
Check it Out! North Shore Tennis Courts Up their Game
By John DeCrotie
Over the past year, our tennis courts have undergone a transformation to remain a valued asset for our community and one of our most popular amenities. The improvements have been many. Here are a few of them:
- The courts have been resurfaced and the drainage improved to protect the surfaces from becoming uneven, which had been an issue for some time.
- New fences and gates were installed providing a fresh new look as well as limiting access to NSLH residents only.
- New windscreens were installed replacing the old and tattered ones.
- A pickleball court was added to make the popular game readily available to residents.
The improvements don’t end here. Recently, the HOA Board approved a major upgrade to the lighting on the courts, which will improve visibility after dark while conserving energy and money with a modern and efficient LED system.
So, if you play tennis, hit the North Shore courts. Up you game!
Real Estate Roundup, ‘Flying Cars’ Coming to Lake Nona
By Bob Schoneman
Have you heard about Vertiport? The City of Orlando and aviation company Lilium have joined forces to build a port for flying cars right here in Lake Nona.
These electric-powered flying machines take off and land vertically and can travel at a reported 186 mph, which would make traveling anywhere in Central Florida a breeze as you pass over the traffic below you on Interstate 4. It seems to still be in the development stages, but some reports have said that this exciting technology could be here as early as 2025. The project could bring as many as 140 new jobs to the area, according to Orlando City Commissioner Jim Gray.
In other exciting news, the LPGA will return to our backyard January 20-23 at Lake Nona Country Club. The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions will bring to town champions from the LPGA Tour from the last two seasons as well as more than 50 well-known celebrities to compete side-by-side for $1.2 million and $500,000 in prize funds, respectively.
Real Estate Update:
At the closing of this edition, there are just two homes for sale in North Shore out of the 1049 homes in our community. Both are in Lakeshore on Lake Hart. Two homes sold in September. The average sales price was $462,500, or $188 per square foot and four days in the market. There are nine homes pending (under contract) as well, four of which are golf course condos.
For the month of September there were 56 homes sold in the 32832 zip code with an average sales price of $436,432, price per square foot $201, with an average of 11 days on the market.
If you are thinking of selling and taking advantage of this “HOT” market, you still have time before the holidays.
Bob Schoneman is an USAF Veteran, a Real Estate Broker, Author of SOLD! 8 Simple Steps For Successfully Selling Your Home, Co-Host of The RIOT Podcast and North Shore homeowner since 2005. He is married to his beautiful wife, Crystal, and is the blessed father of Samantha. Bob can be reached at 407-687-1490, www.facebook.com/bob.schoneman or www.expbob.com for any real estate questions.
Yards of the Quarter
Many of our neighbors truly go out of their way season after season to have beautiful yards. Anyone who has been in Florida longer than five minutes understands how challenging this can be. We are grateful that so many of you spend time and resources ensuring your homes look nice.
These are this quarter’s Yards of the Quarter. Congratulations!
9548 Osprey Landing Dr
9613 Turtle Landings Ct
9621 Heron Pointe Dr
9831 Secret Cove Ln
10013 Marsh Pointe Dr
10014 Hidden Dunes Ln
10080 Hart Branch Cir
10419 Sparrow Landing Way
10222 Marsh Pine Cir
Announcements
Hit us with Your Best Shots for a Chance to Win Free Ice Cream
Isn’t our community gorgeous? Resident Linda McCauley did a great job capturing the beautiful natural life all around us and you can too. Send us your best North Shore at Lake Hart photos for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Menchie’s in Lake Nona Village. The monthly photo contest winner will be featured in the November NSLH Newsletter. We’re looking for pictures of fall holiday decorations, Halloween trick or treaters, colorful leaves and anything that screams “fall” at North Shore at Lake Hart.
Send your photos to: northshore@accessdifference.com
Photo credit: Linda McCauley, North Shore at Lake Hart resident
Time to Clean Out the Closets
The North Shore at Lake Hart Garage Sale is just around the corner and a great excuse to clean out the closets. Every North Shore resident is invited to participate in the Saturday, Nov. 13th sale.
NSLH HOA will take care of the county’s required garage sale permit. All you need to do is move your treasures to the driveway.
To register, send an email by October 29 to NorthShore@AccessDifference.com.
Be sure to include your first and last name, community name and street address.
Halloween Decorations at North Shore
Photo credit: Linda McCauley
