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About a year ago, the developer of The Villages proposed the idea of the Straw Vote in which residents would gain decision-making authority in the VCCDD. Residents took the developer at his word that he wanted Villagers making decisions in the VCCDD. So, the Straw Vote happened last November and the majority of Villagers voted to take over decision making in the VCCDD. However, the VCCDD scuttled the idea when CDDs 1 and 2 didn’t go along with the idea. No comparable offer for a Straw Vote was made to residents in the SLCDD area. This was because the developer eventually wants to sell the $1 billion or so of common property to residents. The developer knows that residents would never go along with the inflated prices he has charged the VCCDD. So, decision-making authority was never proposed for SLCDD residents. After scuttling the idea, the VCCDD proposed a Resident Advisory Council for the VCCDD area. Sounds interesting. However, the POA believes that this token gesture will be almost meaningless for any important decisions that might be at odds with the thinking of the developer. A good insight into the thinking of the developer surfaced recently with the resignations of supervisors in both the VCCDD and the SLCDD. One would think that if the developer was really serious about giving residents decision-making authority in these central districts, it would have been ideal timing to bring residents onto both boards as replacements for the resigning supervisors. However, the other developer-appointed supervisors, who choose the replacements, voted in two employees of the developer and ignored the pleas of a resident who urged them to select Villagers as replacements. Below
is an abbreviated transcript from the May VCCDD meeting.
***** Michael
Berning, VCCDD Supervisor and a business associate of the developer - He
read his letter of resignation and concluded with the following:
“¼I
wish this Board and its members continued success ... under Chapter 190 if a
vacancy occurs during the term of an elected supervisor, the remainder of the
Board shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the unexpired term. My
term expires November, 2008. In
that regard I would recommend that the Board consider Mr. Tom Brooks to
replace me for the remaining months of my current term. Mr. Brooks is a CPA
with more than 30 years of experience in public accounting and is extremely
knowledgeable of operations of the Villages and the community development
districts within the Villages. He would be an outstanding addition to this
Board..”
Killingsworth
- “Well, Mike, you have done a good job while you have been here. I hate to
see you go. Do we have any discussion, do we have a motion to nominate Mr.
Brooks?” Wise
- “I nominate Mr. Brooks.” It
was seconded Gorman
- “Mr. Chairman, a question.” Killingsworth
- “All in favor” Gorman
- “Mr. Chairman” Killingsworth
- “Wait a minute, let me finish this.” Gorman
- “This pertains to what you are about to do.” Killingsworth
- “Okay” Gorman
- “May I speak?” Killingsworth
- “Certainly.” Gorman
- “Can you tell us a little bit more about Mr. Brooks, where his current
employment is and so on?” Killingsworth
- “Mr. Brooks works at The Villages as a Vice-President of Finance.” Gorman
- “Does he live in the Villages?” Killingsworth
- “No, he does not.” Gorman
- “I would like to ask that before you proceed with this nomination that you
also consider nominations of other individuals who are residents of the Villages
and more familiar with the issues, problems and concerns of the residents. This
is a wonderful opportunity for you to proceed along the lines of what we just
discussed where the developer was interested in eventually having control of
various aspects of the VCCDD in the hands of the residents.
I think it would be a shame if you passed up an opportunity to consider
having a resident considered for replacement of Mr. Berning’s position on the
Board. I would ask that you defer any further action today until you have had an
opportunity to consider nominations of residents of The Villages to this Board.
Would that be possible to do?” Killingsworth
- “Right now we are in a motion, we have had a second, all in favor....” VCCDD
Supervisors - Unanimous aye from Board. Killingsworth
- “Meeting adjourned.” ***** Hopefully,
you as the reader see the autocratic way in which the replacement was selected.
This would have been a perfect opportunity to get a resident on the VCCDD
board. But, the developer wanted one
of his employees selected, and that was the way it was done.
The heck with what the residents want. By
the way, this scenario was repeated in the SLCDD in its May meeting.
Same type of resignation; same type of nomination; same comments from Mr.
Gorman; same indifference to Mr. Gorman’s plea for a resident; same result
with a business associate of the developer appointed as a replacement. Developer 2; Residents 0. That is probably the way the Resident Advisory Council will operate. Did anyone have any illusions that it would be any different?
In the May meeting of the VCCDD, there was some discussion of the role of the VCCDD, how it performs its function in The Villages, and the tone of the audience comments and questions.
Joe Gorman, Resident and President of the POA - “Mr. Chairman, I’m kind of disappointed with the comments that you just made about your concern about the level of the discourse at these meetings. I am not sure I would characterize what was said (by a resident) at the last meeting as a personal attack. I think I would characterize it more as a concerned citizen that was directing some comments at the Board and the functions of the Board and the official duties of the Supervisors and how they conduct those duties. That citizen ... was very concerned about those particular issues and was frustrated that he wasn’t getting the kind of response that he was looking for. I would remind you that this is a ... freedom of speech issue ... residents and citizens should be allowed to express their ideas and try to get some reasonable response from the administrators of their government. I would ask you to perhaps look a little kindly on residents as they bring these things up in the future and allow a little more leeway to residents who are justifiably and understandably concerned about the function of their government.”
Killingsworth - “Joe, by no means am I making that comment to restrict any kind of speech between the two parties. As a matter of fact that is quite the opposite. My reason for making those comments was so that we would have more of an open forum. It depends on which side of this table you are on when you hear those kind of things and some that have taken place in the past ... and by no way am I trying to restrict anything. I want an open forum.”
Irv Yedwab, Resident - “... I think this Board does a terrific job in supporting everything that is beneficial to the developer. The only thing is I don’t think this Board ever considers, EVER, what would be in the best interests of the residents of The Villages because this Board, unfortunately, in the way it is constituted and under the abortion that we have here, which violates the very intent of Chapter 190, is not a residents’ Board. It’s a Board that is here strictly at the request and with the election by the commercial interest, which means the developer, and this Board reflects exactly what is in the best interest of the developer and all of their decisions are strictly in terms of what the developer wants. I don’t think there is EVER, EVER, any decision in favor of the residents when the wishes and desires of the residents come in conflict with the wishes and desires of the profit margin of the Morse family, and unfortunately, that’s been allowed to happen because of the lobbyist in Tallahassee who created Chapter 190 to permit this abortion of the laws, abomination in my mind, and to keep it going, but that may be another story. But ... this Board, to my recollection, has never voted, EVER, in support of residents’ rights or what the residents want and that should be part of the consideration since this is the government of The Villages.” The
POA will have its June 20 meeting at the The
speaker for the evening will be Mr. Michael Francis, Sumter County Commissioner
and a resident of The Villages, speaking on important Sumter County Issues. We
also plan to provide an update on the activities of the Vinyl Siding Committee. If you haven’t been to one of our meetings in the past, please join us on May 16, plan on making some new friends, and learning more about government in your hometown. The
POA is often criticized for complaining or being negative regarding Villages
news which it reports. Well,
let’s examine this idea in light of the recent appointment of a new supervisor
for the VCCDD, You,
the reader, has already seen the lead story on the first page giving the
verbatim transcript of the story about the new supervisor of the VCCDD and the
pleadings of a Villager that the replacement supervisor be a resident familiar
with our community and actually living here.
That plea was ignored by the VCCDD chairman and a developer-appointed
replacement was voted in. Then, the
meeting was quickly adjourned with no further discussion allowed.
Compare
the POA’s front-page story with the following in the Daily Sun the next day: “In
other business, supervisors accepted board member Mike Berning’s resignation
and appointed local CPA Tom Brooks to complete Berning’s term, which expires
in November, 2008.” Notice
that there is no mention of the discussion or the plea to have a resident fill
the position. Wouldn’t you like to
have seen in the Sun story the pleadings of a Villager about appointing a
resident to that position? Your
conclusion from these two versions of the same story might be that the Daily Sun
whitewashes the information. So,
you can’t rely on the Daily Sun for the complete story.
(But, you probably already knew that in general from previous stories
about something important in The Villages.) And,
where the developer’s interests may conflict with the interests of residents,
you better get your information elsewhere. And,
please, don’t tell us that this was an insignificant matter.
Another non-resident supervisor, employed by the developer, and appointed
over the objections of a resident, is not an insignificant matter.
The POA Bulletin often uses a variety of abbreviation and acronyms in the pages of the Bulletin and in conducting its monthly meetings. Here is a summary of the key terms with definitions: CDD - This stands for Community Development District, which is a form of special purpose government in Florida. CDDs are somewhat similar to other forms of government such as towns, municipalities, and cities. In The Villages, there are ten residential CDDs and two central CDDs which administer the functions of The Villages. Please read the Bulletin article entitled: "CDDs - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" in the CDD section of the POA website for additional information. The Florida law that created CDDs in 1980 and continues to regulate them is Chapter 190. VCCDD - This stand for the Villages Center Community Development District. This is the primary form of government for administration of The Villages area north of highway 466. The VCCDD is a CDD and is often referred to as a central CDD. The actual geographic boundaries of the VCCDD are roughly the downtown area around the Spanish Springs town square and encompasses the area bounded by Avenida Central and Highway 441/27 with an extension for the area of the Target shopping center in Rolling Hills. The VCCDD administration area includes CDDs #1-3, in Sumter, CDD #4 in Marion County, and also the areas of The Villages in Lake County on either side of highway 441/27. The district administrator of the VCCDD is Ms. Janet Tutt and the assistant administrator is Mr. John Rohan. SLCDD - This stands for the Sumter Landing Community Development District. This is the primary form of government for administration of all The Villages area south of highway 466. The SLCDD is also a central CDD and basically encompasses the downtown commercial area of the Sumter Landing Square. Because there are no residents (and never will be) within the boundaries of the SLCDD, the developer will always appoint the supervisors of the SLCDD. The SLCDD administers CDDs #5-10 in Sumter County. The district administrator of the SLCDD is Mr. Pete Wahl and the assistant administrator is Ms. Monica Andersen. Chapter 190 - This is the Florida statute passed in 1980 that authorizes and continues to regulate Community Development Districts (CDDs). See the direct link to and the comments about Chapter 190 on the POA website in the CDD section. Be prepared for a long read -- Chapter 190 is over 40 page long. But, it is required reading if you want to understand our government and how it functions. The Villages - The residential community where we live is referred to as The Villages. The developer of The Villages is the corporation of the Morse family known as The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. (VLS), which we often also call The Villages. Thus we have the confusion in how we often refer to either our community or the developer of our community. The Developer - We often refer to Mr. Gary Morse as the developer of The Villages. Mr. Morse is the son of the founder of The Villages, Mr. Harold Schwartz, and continues to serve as the chief executive officer of The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. His son, Mr. Mark Morse, is taking on more and more of the daily executive functions from Gary and could be named CEO in coming years as Gary Morse retires from day to day activities. The POA - The POA (The Property Owners’ Association of The Villages, Inc.) is the original property owners’ association in The Villages, founded in 1975. The POA is an independent organization with no ties to the founder of The Villages which might compromised its ability to speak out for Residents’ Rights and the best interests of all Villagers. The VHA - The VHA (Villages Homeowners’ Association) is the bigger of the two property owners’ associations in The Villages, founded in 1991 with the encouragement and support of the developer of The Villages. The VHA is closely aligned with the developer and will never take an independent position different from that of the developer on any Residents’ Rights issue. Thus, the VHA will often neglect or compromise the positions and interests of our residents.
I
have a copy of the article that was in the POA Bulletin back in December, 2006,
regarding the "Settlement For Gas Pipe Replacement." There
has been a series of e-mails sent out through the Sunset Point Social Club list
regarding the CSST Settlement and what you have to do to get on their list for a
voucher to get a Lighting Protection System or Bonding and Grounding. I
did complete the initial requirement and now have a second form to fill out and
send in. Having
read through the papers I have received, and seeing the estimated cost that
their vendor will charge ($2000 to $3500), and the fact that the voucher will
only be for $1000, I am wondering if the POA and residents are aware if this is
really a scam in the Villages and hitting on the elderly. I did check and a
lighting rod system would only cost about $500. If
you have any other information I would appreciate it.
Thank you. Art Agamaite
I
am writing you to express my deep concern pertaining to the actions of the
VCCDD as reported in the May, 2007, Mr. Yedwab’s accompanying article is on
point regarding this issue. It is
clearly a breach of contract The
POA would be wise to hire an attorney and file for injunctive relief, a
declaratory action or perhaps an outright class action against the developer. It
is clear that unless the residents band together the lifestyle promised by the
developer will evaporate faster than water. I
am not yet a POA member but will join your organization shortly. I
was not aware of the POA when I first arrived in the Villages (August, 2006)
and believed the VHA would fairly represent residents. However
their action, or lack thereof, regarding a number of issues, reported in the
Village Voice, causes one to pause and ask why? The
developer marketed The Villages as a gated community with free golf and
entertainment. As
we have all learned The Villages is not a gated community thanks to the
developer, and golf and entertainment are not free.
The costs are absorbed in many fees, the cost of housing, etc. The
fees charged at the championship courses exceed those in the community.
Add to those fees the cost of priority membership and the fact that most
residents use their own carts increases the cost to golf at these courses even
higher. The
developer is banking on the fact that resident being retirees will not want to
expend their precious time taking the developer to task. I
desire to have the developer continue to live up to the image that it advertised
and continues to advertise. If
not then the gentlemen who lives outside The Villages was right when he told me
he had the benefit of The Villages lifestyle without the inflated cost of its
housing. The
Villages population will continue to grow and the demand made for services will
expand disproportionately. So unless
we focus on residents first we will lose much in our investment and the reason
we chose to live here. Dennis J. Petrucelli
My
Neighbor makes a good point! All you
people do is bitch! Why
don’t you start a legal fund to fight some of this crap? If
we could get “class action” status, things would change in a hurry. Also,
if the members of the VCCDD board were sued individually, they would have a more
difficult time bowing to the developer. Blair
L. Fileger Editor’s Note: If you don’t like what you read in the Bulletin, that’s ok, that is your right to call it the way you see it. But, please, don’t kill the messenger. As for suing somebody, please note that the POA has been raising money recently for a Legal Action Fund. Lawsuits are not cheap. Have you taken the opportunity to contribute?
The
developers continue to give away the residents benefits in order to make more
money for themselves. Their greed
is unparalleled. The latest is the
Freedom Pointe amenity give-away. I
have been in the Villages over 3 years. I
have seen many good things and enjoy living here, but the developer’s greed
and unwillingness to look out for or honor Residents Rights is out of control.
Almost
without exception I hear the voices of disgust with the developer’s tactics
and a lack of knowledge as to how to fight this problem. I
have an observation: The older
residents are aware of what is going on but feel powerless to do anything.
We are overwhelmed by the total control the developer has. The
newer residents are indoctrinated from the day they arrive.
The VHA has a welcome with a script that is probably written by the
developer’s people. Then they are
further indoctrinated by the developer’s people.
These include the appointed VCCDD supervisors, Pete, Monica, Janet, John
and many others. All they are
allowed to hear is what the developers want them to hear. There is heavy control
of information here. The
developer controls the media. They
are only allowed to print or speak what the developer authorizes.
I speak of the VNN TV Station, the radio station, the Daily Sun paper,
the bank, and others such as the VHA. I
thank the POA for their help in bringing out the concerns of the residents.
It is the only voice that stands up for our rights.
I hear some people say our paper is too negative; I say to them they have
been brainwashed and won't accept the truth. Please
carry on, help us with our rights. That
is all that we ask. We do not want anything that is not rightfully ours. We are
simply overwhelmed and need help. Thank
you for your continued assistance in this fight for what is right.
They have the might, but we are right and will prevail.
Who keeps dropping off old telephone books at the postal stations? It really looks messy! The charity group that picks up the aluminum cans will not take them, nor will the contractor that empties the postal trash cans. There is a sign at each station saying not to not leave telephone books at the postal station and several times a year there is a reminder not to do it in the newspaper. But the telephone books continue to be dropped off almost daily. Perhaps we should ask the local code enforcement officer to stake out a station. A $500 fine for littering might just slow the flow down a little. Any other new ideas?
The
next meeting of the Village Greens will be the fourth Wednesday of the month,
June 27th, 6:30PM at Laurel Manor. The
program will be built around RECYCLING. In
the last month we have made some progress.
We convinced Thanks to all of you who took the time to write letters to the editor of the Reporter expressing your belief in recycling and your desire to have it implemented here. What a shame the Daily Sun has not supported this idea. It would help our cause if you would write letters to The Daily Sun about wanting recycling. Maybe if they are bombarded with enough letters they will start to print the letters and the developer will reconsider his position. (Let’s keep at it. Village
Greens has planned our first outreach educational trip to Florida House in
Below
is an exchange of emails regarding the article in the previous Bulletin by Mr.
Irv Yedwab, an attorney, about how the Freedom Pointe deal may breach our
amenities contract. The POA directed
the Tom Bender letter to Mr. Yedwab for his comments which are presented
immediately below: ***** There
is a lot of smoke about Freedom Point (forget the E), but where is the lawsuit
if they are violating contract rights? Tom
Bender ***** There
is no easy answer, but you could consult with an attorney to find out what the
cost would be for a suit for an injunction to enjoin the VCCDD from going ahead
with its vote approving Freedom Pointe's future residents from enjoying the use
of our facilities, or, in the alternative, an action for a declaratory judgment
that the VCCDD's action was an illegal breach of our contract.
If the attorney likes the case and the cost is not prohibitive a fund
raiser would cover it. I believe a
lot of residents would contribute. Irv
Yedwab ***** Editor’s Note: Remember that the focus of this concern is the action of the VCCDD in approving the amenity plan. The POA continues to view Freedom Pointe as a welcome and needed facility in our community. May
10: We live in district #3 in The Villages.
We are opposed to the Freedom Point Proposal.
There should be a “formal petition,” for those of us residents who
are in opposition to this proposal, to sign. We see this proposal as a negative
impact on our way of life here in The Villages.
We, would sign it. Thanks
to Thomas N. Shaw for his letter in the current issue of your paper. I
came here from In
talking to other residents who have moved here from other states, I have found
out that there are many states doing the same. Mr.
Shaw is absolutely right, we should all be fighting for the same benefit for our
Senior Citizens. Just think, if we
didn't pay School Taxes, the money that would be saved could be used to take
care of our roads here in The Villages and we could become a true gated
community. The
states that give relief for School Taxes do so because as Seniors do not usually
have children of school age living with them, and in The Villages they are not
allowed to live here. So
why are we paying the tax?
I have been a member of your organization since coming to The Villages in 1997.
Now to the real issue with me and the reason I have not renewed my membership. What kind of country would be have if everyone thought that way?
Listed
here are comments from the POA Forum on the POA website regarding the electrical
switches problem. Full details are
available on the website at www.poa4us.org. May
4: I read the blurb regarding
"flickering" electrical switches in The Villages.
I have a number of these switches. I
understand that the manufacturer will replace these switches via mail. May
4: The company (Pass & Seymour)
phone number is 800-223-4185, ask for tech support.
They will be replacing the switches until July 1.
They said that 99+% of the problems with these switches is occurring in
The Villages. Power surges are the
suspected contributor to failure. May
4: We too had the same flickering
problem with them a short while after occupying our new home.
Several were replaced before the warranty expired.
We, also, were told that the contractor had received a "bad
batch." After the warranty had
expired, we continued to have the problem. We
went to a plumbing supply store on Rolling Acres Road for replacements.
Well, they are flickering again. Apparently
the plumbing supply store has the same "bad batch" as the contractor.
Those type switches were considered as an "upgrade," so we paid
extra for them. The switches are
made in May
4: I came across the message giving
the 800# for free replacement of the switches.
I called and they are replacing them.
They need the count of the single and 3-way for your house.
He said that they have a factory in May
7: I was reading the May, 2007,
issue of The POA Bulletin and saw the Letter to the Editor on electrical
switches. I have had the same
problems with these toggle/neon indicator electrical switches.
I purchased my house May, 2005, moved in August, 2005, and already had 3
light switches defective, either flashing or completely out.
The electrician stated that there was a whole batch of defective switches
purchased by The Villages from the manufacturer.
He stated he was replacing these all over The Villages, but home warranty
would not allow all the switches in the house to be replaced.
They would only approve replacing them when they failed.
Sometime over the summer 2006, I called home warranty back that I had
more defective switches, they stated that my 1 year warranty was up and that
they would not replace them. I have
13 more defective electrical switches. That
is 20 defective electrical switches in less than 2 years.
The Villages should replace all the switches in my house!
May
10: Call the manufacturer before
July 1 to get replacements. May
11: I have many blinking switches
and received new ones from the manufacturer.
Problem: I do not know how to replace them and was told to hire an
electrician. All started blinking
after our warranty was done. May
11: Before my one year warranty
expired I had the contractor change 11 blinking rocker type switches, but 4 have
failed again. I found a place online
that sells these switches made for Pass & Seymour/Legrand. Model TM870-LASL
(light almond) costs $4.95 retail. In
an article in The Reporter dated May 10, 2007, entitled “Villages Land Plan
Controversy Continues,” it states that the Wise site (on highway 42)
has also been PROMISED utilities by the Village Center Community
Development District. Is
this statement accurate? What type
of utilities, i.e. water, sewer? How
can the VCCDD promise utilities to a private party outside The Villages
Development? Maria
Sauerwald Editor’s
Note: The Central Districts (VCCDD and the SLCDD) can sell services or the
use of facilities to outside parties. As
an example, the Patti
Davis, daughter of former president Ronald Reagan, wrote the following about
her father in the July 16, 2003, issue of Newsweek.
This has been condensed for space requirements here.
Remember
Father’s Day this year on Sunday, June 17.
Happy Father’s Day. ******************************* Sometimes
I think we need to look no farther than the pattern of footprints stretched
out behind us to understand the lives we’ve lived.
We
can follow the first tentative steps of our infancy through the long,
defiant strides of adolescence and young adulthood -- the running away
years, the years of putting distance between ourselves and our families, of
burning up time -- to the more solid footprints, set down as we grow older. These
are the tracks we leave on the earth. If
we look closely we can also see our parents’ footprints, often close to
us, as they guide and lead us, at other times far behind, as they wait for
us to turn and remember them. We
slow down, finally, to look longer and more carefully at our parents.
My father, who strode confidently onto the stage of history ... was
always polite – achingly so – and even in the depths of his illness,
still (was).... I didn’t stop
to linger on the sweetness of that quality, or to learn from it. There
are people who would say that my father’s footprints are larger and deeper
than those of other parents because his political legacy gives them weight,
creating indelible marks in the halls of history....
I see his footprints pressed into the wet sand of the beach as he
walked toward the sea to catch steep waves and ride them back to shore.
His stride was as smooth and certain as it was when he walked into the
White House, and onto the stage of history.
I see a small girl on that beach as well, pressing her feet into the
shapes that her father’s feet have left to see how much bigger his
footprints are. I
have gotten lost in those footprints during my life; I have fought hard and
bloody battles to pull myself away. These
are the tracks I have left on the earth.
Although there are still many things to be addressed with regard to vinyl siding installation here in The Villages, after nine months of hard work we are finally beginning to see the light.
The siding subcontractors are being more cooperative and courteous – but don’t think they got to be so accommodating on their own. Someone must have given a little push in the right direction! And don’t give them too much credit for finally being pushed to do what they should have done in the first place: a good job.
We paid top dollar for these homes. We were assured of a 1-year period to fix anything that is wrong. We paid for a job we didn’t receive.
The poor workmanship can have effects years from now. If there is damage during a storm, will an insurance company deny claims later because of shoddy installation? If we have to resell our homes in the future, is a conscientious home inspector going to tell prospective buyers about the poor workmanship? If we do not disclose the problems to a potential buyer, is that honorable? Will The Villages get a reputation for not making things right?
All these things can affect our investment in our homes. Why shouldn’t we insist on a job well done? We trusted the developer to sell us a quality product and to stand behind it. Why wouldn’t The Villages want to make things right?
Perhaps functionally, the closer seams are not an issue, but why wouldn’t The Villages want our homes to have the best possible appearance? Why have more seams on a wall than absolutely necessary? It’s easy enough to install it with fewer seams in the first place. Why does The Villages feel they need to get a special dispensation to change what has always been in the manual?
There was never any statement in the manual that you can’t have the seams 2-feet apart or closer – just to avoid it if you want the best appearance.
Why do the local subcontractors even need a letter from Alcoa? Just be up front and tell us you don’t care how the homes look! Then you can explain why. If homeowners want to accept something less than Alcoa’s standard, published recommendations (or the concurring, standard, published recommendations of other major siding manufacturers such as Georgia Pacific), it should be up to them, not up to the contractors or subs who just want to get out of re-dos.
This tactic is similar to the last Alcoa “approval” that was used to avoid using the manufacturer’s parts: the undersill/finish trim. In this instance, the developer requested Alcoa’s approval on an “alternative” method to using undersill. The method was never tested by Alcoa and was not being used anyway. Subcontractor’s reps then waved Alcoa’s “approval” letter (without any diagrams or pictures showing what the “alternative” consisted of) in front of homeowners who had called requesting repairs, and then telling homeowners that they do not use undersill/finish trim here, rather an alternative method “engineered” by Alcoa. We witnessed this being done and made strong objections to the contractors regarding the misuse of this letter.
It appears that the letter is no longer being used in this fashion, and, we are happy to note, undersill/finish trim is now being used on the new construction as well as on repairs to existing homes.
They’re putting in the manufacturer’s parts for undersill finish trim, and nailing better on the new construction we’ve seen, but there are still problems: On May 12th, we looked at a new designer home on Allenwood Loop. From the street you can see the bottom panel of siding cut too short and the outside corner cut incorrectly at the bottom. Some of the siding was also loose. That was just a quick glance.
Some questions we have for the Warranty Department regarding the repairs now being made are: do we now have one year’s warranty from the completion of the repair, or just for the duration of the original year? And why don’t you publish what the 5-year “courtesy service” mentioned in the VHA Villages Voice consists of so everyone can understand exactly what it is. Our inquiries at your office tell us there’s not much to it. If a piece of siding falls, you’ll send someone to push it back, or if it needs a few nails, you’ll send someone to take care of it. But what about extensive repairs such as those being done now throughout Duval, where some entire homes are being re-sided, and many have sheets of buckled sheathing that are also being replaced? We’re told no, that’s not what the “courtesy service” is about. Why then, is the VHA Villages Voice implying that this “service” is the solution to the siding problems and leading residents into a false sense of security so they put off repairs? Perhaps it is the extent of the “courtesy service” and not the extent of the siding problems that is being “overstated.”
Homeowners – its important that you take care of the siding problems before your year runs out.
For the siders who read this, please be aware that there are several of us who will be checking on the re-dos, so please do the work correctly so you don’t have to do it a third time.
Certain contractors, such as Dean Carter, can now be seen on some repair sites, checking up on the work while it is being performed and having the siders re-do it immediately if it’s not right. On one job Mr. Carter had the workers take the siding down several times before the repair was completed satisfactorily. This is what is needed: a person with integrity overseeing the work and making sure it’s done right.
Mr. McDowell, we shouldn’t have to force you to do the job right. Don’t you have any pride in a job well done? There shouldn’t be any argument – have the integrity to fix our homes properly, whether it’s loose panels, improper stapling or nailing, buckled sheathing, stepping, finish trim, improperly installed corners, or whatever else the problem may be. Don’t ask Alcoa to change their directions to suit you! We are not going to accept a shoddy job the second time around, either, regardless of any “approval” letters you get from Alcoa after the fact.
Mr. McDowell has also instructed his subcontractors not to re-do the corner pieces, only to re-nail the horizontal panels. Well, Mr. McDowell, what if the corners are not installed properly in the first place? Our committee members have seen many, many instances where the corners have staples right through the vinyl, not in the slots where they are supposed to be. There are instances where the corners are not straight or not square, some are not fastened at all and some are even damaged. When the siding is down, that’s the time to fix it, not just cover up the problem again. Ignoring the corners means the repair is also incomplete. Why are you still taking shortcuts? These houses need to be sided according to the manufacturer’s manual. Do the right thing – not half a job. Are you just hoping we won’t see it – again? For the homeowners who are having your homes repaired, while the work is being done and panels are down, check and document notes with photos, if possible:
1. Check the position of nails or staples—they should go through the center of the slots. Look for staples going through the vinyl instead of straddling the slots. Fasteners going through the material interferes with expansion and contraction of the vinyl. The parts are manufactured with slots for a reason and that is where the nails or staples belong;
2. Check the depth and straightness of the nails or staples. Nails or staples should be driven straight—not too loose or too tight—just the thickness of a dime behind the vinyl when it’s in place. Staples that are too tight can end up cutting right through the vinyl when it expands resulting in no fastening at all. Tight or crooked nails or staples also restrict movement. Loose fasteners allow too much movement, panels that rattle in the wind, and that are more likely to become detached in heavy wind or allow rain underneath. Following the windy rainstorm on Sunday, May 13th, we have seen a number of fallen panels in the neighborhood.
3. Check the distance between nails or staples—they should be no further than 16” apart. One of the reasons the committee is finding so many loose panels is insufficient nailing. Sometimes nails or staples are placed as much as 49” to 60” or more apart, and 28” to 30” on average. Looseness caused by insufficient fasteners also allows too much movement, as do loose fasteners in 2, above;
4. Make sure the green house wrap is replaced if its integrity has been compromised by excessive nail holes left from removed siding;
5. Make sure damaged or warped pieces are not reused, and that care is taken not to damage the vinyl when it is removed from the building. Remove the staples or nails carefully—don’t let them rip it off.
6. Check the J-Channel (the 1” piece at the top of every wall, and around windows and doors) before the siding goes back in place. There should not be any nails or staples though the material either, only in the center of the slots, so as not to restrict expansion and contraction. Also, J-Channel should always follow a straight line, whether it is used horizontally or at an angle along a gable (peak) or a roof line. It should never be placed directly on shingles which will become hot in the sun. Mitered corners around window frames or doorways should be neat and tidy, not sloppy and overlapping.
7. Check the inside and outside corners before the panels are installed. The corners should not have any nails or staples through the material either, only in the center of the slots, for the same reasons of expansion and contraction. Outside corners should be square and even (if it’s not a square corner, such as on angled windows, the angle should be consistent all along the corner piece);
8. Check that corners (inside or outside) are about 3/4” below the lowest horizontal siding panel. They should not hang lower than that and especially not be embedded in the concrete;
9. Single or double finish trim should be used inside the J-Channel. Double is best for Dutch Lap style panels. The siders are putting the double finish trim on the new construction now, but be sure to insist upon it as part of the repairs – all around the house, not just part of it;
10. The siding on your home should not have “stepping.” This is where the finished appearance is a series of “staircases” along the wall. This is an aesthetic issue – a matter of appearance, but Alcoa’s manual recommends a staggered look with fewer vertical seams and at least 3-feet between the seams, every 3rd course of panels. This will give a better visual appearance;
11. Stand at each corner an look down the each wall. Check that there are no wavy panels, bulges, or bellies, especially, but not limited to walls with gables (peaks at the top). These are symptoms of underlying problems that need to be addressed – it may be as simple as loose nails, but it could also be a sign of warped sheathing or bowed studs. Make sure it is investigated and repaired.
12. Check that overlaps are consistently lapped the correct way: away from the road, away from the doorway as you leave the house, J-Channel on gables should be lapped downward to prevent water from entering. All laps should be neat & tidy.
Of course there are more details that professional installers should know and practice, but just following the rules for these basic items will result in a much better installation. If attention had been paid to these few things the first time around, we wouldn’t have the problems we have now. But it wasn’t and we do.
So keep an eye on the workers to make sure the job is done right this time. Applying vinyl siding properly really isn’t any more difficult than installing it badly – maybe just a little more training for the installers, a little extra time to pay attention to what they’re doing and to recognize and correct mistakes as they happen, not waiting for the job to be done, then waiting to get caught. And, of course, following the simple steps outlined above: proper nailing, using manufacturer’s parts and basic tools for straight, level and plumb lines – and watching what you are doing. Certification doesn’t mean anything if the workers don’t follow the instructions they’re taught – then it just means they’re misusing that piece of paper just like the “alternate method” approval letter from Alcoa may have been misused.
The volunteers on the Vinyl Siding Committee are working hard to help our friends and neighbors become aware of and to educate themselves about vinyl siding. The POA is also working to define and resolve the problems in a productive way. If we all understand it, we will all be better able to communicate with Home Warranty and the contractors as to what our expectations are for a resolution of the problems found on many of our homes. With the knowledge of a proper installation, we will be better able to insist upon the repairs that are needed and to see that they are properly accomplished.
We trusted The Villages to sell us a quality product. We trusted their integrity. That is what their advertising implies and the image they promote. It’s what Mr. Schwartz wanted.
We sincerely hope that Mr. Morse will take steps to deserve our trust and make sure his contractors and subcontractors act with integrity and do what is right. This does not mean getting Alcoa to change their published manual to suit the contractors’ desire to not fix the problems that they and their subcontractors created.
We homeowners will not accept shoddy workmanship, shoddy repairs or “approvals” for less than standard workmanship from Alcoa, a company with a lot to lose if they don’t comply with The Villages contractors’ demands to change their instruction manual. “Alternative” methods are not acceptable, they’re just an excuse for a shoddy job.
The people of The Villages are what community is all about. We respect Mr. Schwartz for his vision of an ideal hometown and Mr. Morse for continuing to make the vision a reality. Its a pleasure to walk down the street, to meet people and have a chat – to feel that sense of community, of concern and caring for one another. This is what a community is supposed to be about. We love The Villages and feel privileged to be here and we appreciate all of our friends and neighbors who trust in us and in our effort to make The Villages an even better place in which to live. At
the POA Meeting in April, the Vinyl Siding Committee was formed to address these
problems. The committee is meeting
almost weekly to discuss the situation, monitor progress, and help with house
inspections. We are updating the POA
membership at the monthly meetings and through the POA Bulletin.
Interested residents should consider coming to the next POA meeting on
June 20th at the |
