The family was rolling
out the red carpet, so to speak, but the homecoming was dampened by the
homeowner association rules.
"They removed the
welcome home signs and balloons and flags," says Natalie Boitet.
Boitet says when they
tried to recover the signs it turned into a confrontation with the
association manager.
The Boitet family says
the signs could have stayed up for a couple of hours. They say in the
past the association had ignored other signs.
"There have been
signs for birthdays and parties and they've never taken them down,"
says Dyan Boitet.
Boitet says there has to
be exceptions to the rules.
Alan Williams is
President of the Pace Island Homeowners Association. He said the problem
is the signs and where they were located. Williams says flags are exempt
from HOA rules.
Williams says the signs
were in common areas and a resident complained that they could be viewed
as political and supporting the war. Williams says that's why the signs
were removed.
The association president
says there are exceptions.
Williams says any
resident can pick up the phone and call any board member for prior
approval.
Williams says that did
not happen.
Dyan Boitet says he will
propose changes to the association rules at its next meeting.