MIAMI – The last time
we saw Ben Dvir, he was driving away in his matte gray BMW.
He’d just bumped Local 10 News reporter Layron Livingston
with the side view mirror of his car. Livingston was hoping
to get a response from Dvir, who’s been accused of abusing
his power as president of the Blue on the Bay condominium
association in Miami.
Dvir owns multiple units in the Edgewater high rise.
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Ben Dvir owns multiple units in Blue on the Bay, but residents have had issues with his aggressive, rude behavior for years |
“It’s not in anyone’s
interest in the condominium to have that kind of altercation
going on,” said Alessandra Stivelman with Eisinger Law.
Stivelman has no connection to Blue on the Bay, but she is
board certified in condo association law.
“The problem is liability,” she said. “You’re acting as an
agent of the association.” Stivelman said every association
action should be voted on at a board meeting, and board
members need to be sure they’re complying with applicable
laws.
“A lot of times, we see individuals take the power to the
next level – it gets to their head,” said Stivelman. “They
start acting where maybe they’re thinking it’s in the best
interest of the association to do something on their own.”
Stivelman said that can lead to serious consequences and
complaints.
The security company is now planning to take legal action.
One Blue on the Bay owner contacted Local 10 News and asked
to remain anonymous. That owner’s suspicions were confirmed
when the city of Miami flagged the building as “unsafe” in
August. City records show work done in the building’s gym --
including boring into the ceiling, and the installation of
new lighting fixtures -- was done without approved plans, or
permits.
At the time of this publication, city records showed that
case was unresolved.
“What happens is there’s no
accountability and some board-members, and sometimes
property managers, are spending association monies without
any oversight,” said Tamara Reyes, president of South
Florida Property Owners Consulting.
Reyes and her team were hired by an owner at Blue on the
Bay. She’s pored over two years of bank statements, balance
sheets, and credit card transactions; her team has reviewed
bids and contracts involving Blue on the Bay property
management, and its association president.
“Our hope for the homeowners is always that our suspicions
are wrong,” said Reyes.
We asked if she came across anything that warrants further
attention. Reyes said, yes, and that her team is still in
the investigative process, waiting for supportive
documentation.
Local 10 reached out to Blue on the Bay’s property manager
for a response to the code violations. We also wanted to a
response to the recorded incidents involving board president
Dvir; to discuss the condo association and property
manager’s policies, procedures.
Their comment was, “no comment.”
Local 10 News has not heard from Dvir since he bumped
Livingston with his car, and drove away.