The Board of Governors Meeting Took Place at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Classroom “A”, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida at 7:00 P.m. Thursday, February 27, 2009
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION:
Mr. Rene Guerra, President, Called the Meeting to Order and Welcomed Those Present. Mrs. Sissy Ruffe, Vice President; Mr. Jose Bared, Second Vice President; Mr. Bill Box, Secretary; Directors; Mrs. Bunny Bastian and Mrs. Cristina Miranda. Unable to attend were: Mr. Anthony Argiz, Treasurer; Mr. Daniel Canel and Mrs. Trish Bell. Guest Speaker was Mr. Eddy Esquivel, General Manager of the Wackenhut Corporation, Florida Regional Office. Also in attendance: Mrs. Marta Guerra, Mrs. Barbara Kelly, Mrs. Joyce Dickerson, Mrs. Irka Choate, Mrs. Pat Bean, Mr. and Mrs. Lazaro Milton, Mrs. Rava Fridman, and Mr. Nicolas Finazzo.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD:
The President proposed to the Board adopting a “Presidential Award” as a means of giving recognition to members and non members of the Club who have gone beyond the call of duty. He explained the following:
Scope and Purpose:
Responsibility:
Procedure:
Presentation:
Records:
Eligibility:All members in good standing and non members who have worked towards the betterment of Gables Estates Club, Inc., beyond the normal commitment. This could include; leadership, commitment of time, effort, involvement and talent. for Gables Estates Club, Inc., will be maintained indicting the recipients of the Gables Estates Club, Inc., Presidential Award.The presentation of the Gables Estates Club, Inc., Presidential Award will take place with proper notification given to the full membership in writing. Presence of the recipients and their family members will be requested at the presentation ceremony. The Administrator will maintain a list of nominees of members in good standing and /or non members whom contributed to the Club beyond the normal call of duty. Nominees will be evaluated by the President along with the Board of Governors to determine if meritorious requirement have been fulfilled. Final determination will be the decision of the Board of Governors. Members may make nominations to the Administrator, President and/or Board at will. The Board of Governors will administer the policy and process recommendations for this award.To provide procedures to acknowledge with special recognition of exceptionally meritorious acts of service to and for the Community of Gables Estates Club, Inc.The President stated the first time presentation will involve a formal invitation prepared and printed from the Board requesting the presence of the recipients to a presentation ceremony. Members will be encouraged to bring their family members. He stated all Past Presidents living in Gables Estates will be honored the first year of presentation. Past Board Members: Arch. Jose Milton, Dr. Phillip George, Mr. Arthur Finkle, Mr. Jose Ortega, Mrs. Patricia Wallace and Mr. Jack Ross. Posthumously: Mr. Fred Havenick and Mr. Guillermo (Bill) Miranda. Other nominations that were approved thus far are: Mrs. Audrey Ross, Mrs. Patricia Cruz and Miss. Lamar Curry. Mrs. Ruffe moved to approve the Presidential Award and guidelines for said award as submitted by the President. Mr. Box seconded the motion and all were in favor.
BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE REPORT:Clipping Pile Hedges: Mrs. Ruffe, Chair of the Beautification Committee Gave the Following Report: Twenty one new clipping pile hedges have been installed on the right of ways and 49 additional hedges will be installed, once funded in next year’s budget.
Phase II Ground Lights: She said Phase II of the Additional Ground Lighting for the 200 and 300 Arvida Parkway and 665 Leucadendra Drive Bridge Locations are complete. The plans for the ground lighting for the Second Island Behind the Gatehouse on Casuarina Concourse are in the permit stage and will be installed once the City issues the permit.
Cost for City Survey: Mrs. Ruffe explained that this Board had requested from the City on numerous occasions a change of clipping pile pick up from Monday to Friday. The Chair discussed the response request from Mr. Dan Keys, City of Coral Gables Public Service Director which is to have the Club pay $1,000. for his department to mail out a survey ballot allowing the northern neighborhood to vote yes or not for the pick up date change. She stated this survey requires 51% no votes in order for the change not to happen. (See attached survey) Discussion took place. Mr. Bared moved to approve the expense for said survey and Mr. Box seconded the motion and all were in favor.
The President added that as per his conversation with the City of Coral Gables Manager, Mrs. Maria Jeminez, a second seawitch is being purchased by the City and the old seawitch will serve as a back up. He stated the cylinder buried at the entrance in the main canal was located by the City and will be removed by the City in March. He also mentioned Mr. Alberto Delgado, Director of the Public Works Department, has committed to repairing two roads every year for three consecutive years until all the roads in Gables Estates are repaired.
CREATE FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO GO OVER BUDGET (2010) AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TREASURER:
The President stated the Club’s income and expenses are on target with our budget; however, he would like to propose a non-Board member committee to review the past year’s budget 2007-2008 with this year’s budget 2008-2009 and make recommendations for savings where possible in the next year’s fiscal budget 2010. This Committee would be given guidelines and report directly to the Club’s Treasurer, Mr. Argiz, and Mr. Argiz would make recommendations to the Board for Board action. Mr. Guerra would like to recommend Mr. Arthur Finkle, past President, to serve on this Committee along with Dr. Ricardo Pines. Both have agreed to serve. Mrs. Ruffe moved to accept the formation of said Committee along with the nominees noted. Mr. Bared seconded the motion and all were in favor.
CODE AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE BASED ON AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
(See Attached) The President explained the amendments have allowed the Board of Governors to make rules and regulations governing the properties located within Gables Estates; specifically for contractors, Realtors and landscape contractors, as well as levy fines on those who refuse to comply. He stated non-Board members would serve on the oversight committee to make recommendations to the Board on fines being levied. Ms. Lilliana Farinas-Sabogal, from Becker & Poliakoff, went over the Compliance and Enforcement Committee Guidelines, the Courtesy Warning Notice and the Notice and Compliance of Violation Forms with the Board and Club members in attendance. (See Attached.) Lengthy Discussion took place. Mrs. Barbara Kelly, as Chair, Mrs. Irka Choate and Mrs. Joyce Dickerson have agreed to serve on the Compliance and Enforcement Committee. Lengthy discussion took place. Mrs. Ruffe moved to approve the formation of this Committee and accept the volunteers submitted to serve on this committee. Mrs. Miranda seconded the motion and all were in favor. Mrs. Farinas-Sabogal was thanked for her time and departed the meeting.
SECURITY COMMITTEE REPORT:The Chair, Mrs. Miranda gave the Following Report:
1. A Comcast cable line has been ordered for the Riley Camera, once this line has been installed, an infrared camera will be installed at this location.
2. Our President, Mr. Rene Guerra, working with Wackenhut Management has designed pins for Officer of the Year, Appreciation, Recognition and Distinction. These pins were created to enhance morale and pride among the Security Staff serving Gables Estates. For the same purpose one year, five years, ten years, fifteen years, twenty years and twenty five years pins have been established. All these pins are exclusive to Gables Estates by way of Gables Estates Colors.
3. The Chair read the following letters of appreciation for Wackenhut Custom Protection Officers; Castillo, Hammett, Rosser and Linares and presented said letters to Mr. Esquivel. Lt. Castillo was recommended by the Board to Wackenhut Management to receive the appreciation award.
4. Mr. Nicolas Juncadella has volunteered to work with the Security Committee and the Wackenhut Site Supervisor to review all Club and Wackenhut policies, procedures and post orders and make recommendations for improvements being mindful to stay within the existing budget.
Mr. Esquivel expressed appreciated for the letters for his Officers and for the Gables Estates Security Committee and President working so diligently to continuously enhance the Club’s overall security program. Mr. Esquivel explained the Security Bulletin procedures, Burglary Prevention tips, possible alarm monitoring for the community being provided by G4s Technology as well as other items of security interest. Discussion took place. Mr. Esquivel was thanked for his time and departed the meeting.
VARIANCE - PROPOSED DOCK, MOORING PILES AND WATERCRAFT LIFT FOR 8545 OLD CUTLER ROAD - MR. & MRS. NICOLAS FINAZZOMr. Box, the Chair of the Architectural Review Committee, stated his Committee had met at the above mentioned property and reviewed the applicant’s request for an L shaped dock. His Committee took into consideration concerns and objections from some of the surrounding neighbors. The Committee did not Recommend the variances requested as presented. However, a request for a T shaped dock was submitted approximately two weeks earlier which after careful consideration, weighing the neighbors’ objections and approvals, the Committee felt they could recommend. Mr. Box stated this recommendation was based on the hardship and approval established by DERM, Florida Department & Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corp of Engineers. (Due to the water depth and mangroves at this location). ( See Attached Plan and City description of said variance requests). Mrs. Bean was present and expressed her disapproval for both variance requests (L Shaped & T Shaped). Mr. Finazzo expressed his desire for the L shaped dock due to easier excess to and from the boat, however, he was willing to accept the Committee’s recommendation. Mr. Box requested from Mr. Finazzo that any deviations from his Committee’s recommendation first must come back to his Committee with full notification of any and all changes. Mr. Finazzo agreed. Lengthy Discussion Took Place. Mrs. Ruffe Moved to accept the Architectural Review Committee’s recommendation to not oppose the T Shaped dock. Mr. Bared Second the Motion and All Were in Favor accept Mrs. Bastain, who voted against the variances requested.
Kathleen Will make sure the plans are approved by Ramon Pacheco’s Architectural Review Committee, all conditions are met with DERM’s approval and once this is accomplished, Send a non objection Letter to the Building & Zoning at the City of Coral Gables.
ADJOURNMENT:A motion was made and seconded for the adjournment of the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
