- “Coosaw Futures started out negatively, and I don’t want anything to do with it.”
Ans: After some conversation, I asked them to keep an open mind and to attend the open house. They agreed, saying they respected my opinion. - People are skeptical of Futures as there is little information on the FB page to indicate the true purpose. Are they trying to take over?
Ans: Coosaw Futures is not a shadow POA Board but rather a group of concerned residents with questions about our future. - There is nothing we can do because the declarant has all the control.
Ans: While the CCRs grant a lot of authority to the declarant, there are things association members can do, such as formally request answers, document CCR compliance irregularities, and seek legal advice … - John Smith’s comment at the end of the quarterly meeting that he can’t wait to get out of here speaks volumes.
Ans: We want the declarant to succeed and help improve the community. We are not responsible for development delays or community friction, and we would like to see more transparency and open communication. - Who is paying for the replacement of the Pondkeepers, architect and landscape architect for the ARB and other community volunteers? Forino or the POA?
Ans: We expect the POA will pay for maintaining its ponds, and the declarant will pay for its ARB, but we don’t know for sure and intend to find out. - We need to protect our investment.
Ans: Yes, we all do, and we can have a say in doing that. - Who elected Coosaw Futures to be the king (or in charge)?
Ans: No kings; just residents with questions about Coosaw Point’s future. - It’s dangerous to create an alternate POA or Group.
Ans: There is only one POA; organizing concerned members to better dialogue with the Declarant is a positive step. We are a nonprofit advocacy group, have a management team, and elections that will certainly look like an alternate board, but we are not a replacement for the POA Board, although Coosaw Futures may be able to do things our POA Board can’t or won’t do to answer our questions. - Coosaw Futures is disrespecting the Board and those who serve on the Board.
Ans: We support our member-elect representatives and those who volunteer to serve in the community; that does not mean we cannot ask questions about Coosaw Point’s Future. - Coosaw Futures is creating a negative community environment through social media posts and emails, and its efforts could devalue the community.
Ans: Candid conversations can be difficult, and social media is a poor medium for discussing complex topics. Gaslighting, stifling or characterizing those asking questions as creating a negative or hostile environment is bullying and unacceptable behavior. - What do you really think you’ll accomplish?
Ans: We are hoping to inform the community about many areas, such as the history of Coosaw Point, listening to the community about their concerns, providing answers when possible, respectful dialogue with the declarant. A path forward to the turnover when the declarant leaves. - Why do work that the POA is already doing?
Ans: The POA is not always doing what is in the best interest of the homeowners. We are here to protect our interests and investments in a non-confrontational way. We are asking for transparency. The structures of our CCRs and the declarants’ interpretation of the rules limit what our member-elected directors can do. Perhaps we can lead by example. It will be a positive step if our POA Board becomes more responsive and transparent following our example. - Why are you worried about this now?
Ans: The completion of Phase 6 for houses to be built marked a significant milestone in the community’s history. This new section of homes will usher in the largest increase of new homeowners in several years and prompts questions about marketability and infrastructure usage, along with the contribution to our reserve fund. We think this is a wise time to begin a conversation on what the community will look like in the next 3-5 years and how we are prepared for these changes. - Why are you the right people to pursue this?
Ans: We are your neighbors and are a cross section of long time owners and newcomers, all with varied backgrounds. We have all had a variety of experiences and observations since we moved here, and we share a common desire to understand how the community was formed and what role we can play in preparing ourselves for the future. - What do you really think you’ll accomplish?
Ans: We are looking to all of you to help us shape expectations and questions. We want to collect your concerns and observations and develop some key prioritized directions that will help inform the entire community in ways and on subjects that may not have been fully looked into in the past. - Why should residents pay for this group on top of POA dues?
Ans: Doing the intensive work of developing awareness and finding the best sources of knowledge and information about the community will take time and resources. There will be a cost to obtain some of this, like any research project. We may need to find some professional service providers to assist. Having financially committed members will help us demonstrate our seriousness and focus our energies prudently. - You say you’re not anti-board or anti-Forino — but those are exactly the entities you’re questioning.
Ans: Questioning the Declarant and the Board is our obligation as homeowners and investors. Without asking good questions, none of us can be well informed. There is a strong desire to be open about real concerns in the community and not view questioning as personal or combative. Lively and civil debate can be healthy. - Need a clear, credible answer on what “not anti anything” actually means.
Ans: We are not proposing to confront anyone or any entity aggressively. It is an obligation we can choose to exercise to inquire about how our funds are being spent and managed, and what the Declarant is doing to support our community’s long term identity and vision. - Haven’t we already fixed the reserve funding problem?
Ans: The Reserve Fund, based on last year’s Treasurer’s presentation, has grown significantly, yet it continues to lag well behind the cost projections for road repair and stormwater system maintenance in the coming years. If current revenue projections are not realized or expected costs are understated, a special assessment will be necessary, or the work won’t be done on schedule. We think it’s wise to start conversations now about what the reserve may look like then. - Gene’s figures show a path to $1M — how much is actually needed?
Ans: The cost to cover roads and stormwater management could likely exceed 1M. Wear-and-tear factors and time-and-cost assumptions should be included in an updated reserve study to better inform us. Projections should go beyond 2028. - Why do the work the POA should already be doing?
Ans: The POA consists of only 2 resident voting members out of 5 directors, with one adviser. The Declarant or Sentry doesn’t have the capacity to do this sort of extensive work. This homegrown effort can hopefully augment the board and help inform all of us in a positive way. - Facebook posts in the New Coosaw Point group are considered too negative.
Ans: Futures has a separate FB page with a singular focus on the issues we have outlined. We aren’t looking to be another New Coosaw Point Facebook group with the sorts of posts that group has. - Is this just Mark and Larry being frustrated — same names, again?
Ans: Mark and Larry are frustrated; you should be too. We ask questions and don’t get clear answers. The Declarant and Board have information we need to plan for our future.
Our neighbors. Informed. Working together.