[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

And whether the alleged veteran was 80 or 90 had he not broken the rules "many years ago" (when he was 60, 70 or 80) he wouldn't have had any problems now. He should be thanked for his service but still have to follow all the rules we do. There is such a large number of vets here would that mean they should all be excluded from any violations?

The idea of people traveling our area looking for violations so they can turn in their neighbors makes my skin crawl.

[retiredguy123]

I would suggest that everyone print out a copy of their deed restrictions and read them.

Then, walk around the house and remove any items that violate the restrictions.

[Skunky1]

A sign of your faith can go in the backyard I don’t need to see it. But then on the other hand if you really want to trash up the place let’s all put on our favorite little trinkets and treasures and statues in the front yard for all to see. How about Snow White and the seven dwarfs, goofy now there’s a good one how about a 6 foot statue of goofy. How about we all put statues and shrines to our faith in our front yard. We have Buddhism, Shintoism, atheism, and on and on and on. How about a swastika? That is a symbol of some peoples faith in this world! Your symbol is no more important than their symbol. Be careful what you wish for. The United States is a melting pot of all religions and Faith‘s .

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

The idea of people traveling our area looking for violations so they can turn in their neighbors makes my skin crawl.

I hope that all people realize that keeping our property to Community Standards makes The Villages nicely kept and beautiful. And reporting someone anonymously is a somewhat easier thing to do than telling them to their face, unless you have been raised to be outspoken.

If everyone were allowed to embellish and add and be creative and have their "individuality" shine, this place could be a mess in no time.

We came back to our new home in Hadley when we first lived here part time to find literally dozens of little "gookies and gee gaws and ceramic thingys " in the yard of a very near neighbor. I quickly phoned community standards and told them.

One of the reasons many of us chose the Villages is because of deed restrictions. I find that the anonymous reporting may be chicken to some but far easier for others. I don't see anything WRONG about someone seeing something in another neighborhood obviously not allowed and reporting it. That doesn't make my skin crawl at all.

Grace from Ohio.

[arbajeda]

The problem isn't with the complaints, it's with enforcement. As you may have noticed recently with all the riots going on, minor infractions aren't being prosecuted while major legal infractions are. Currently there is no means to evaluate the complaint to determine its effect on the neighborhood as a whole. Each district could establish a board of five or seven members (an odd number is important to avoid voting ties) to investigate the infraction. Those determined to be minor would be given a pass while more egregious infractions enforced. The name of the complainant would not have to be divulged.

Now if the complainant decided to press the issue beyond the district board to the ARC, their name would still be attached to the complaint and would become public knowledge.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I would suggest that everyone print out a copy of their deed restrictions and read them.

Then, walk around the house and remove any items that violate the restrictions.

Well said.

[Mohawksin]

The troll is the reporter. The accuser is the Standards Committee.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by arbajeda

The problem isn't with the complaints, it's with enforcement. As you may have noticed recently with all the riots going on, minor infractions aren't being prosecuted while major legal infractions are. Currently there is no means to evaluate the complaint to determine its effect on the neighborhood as a whole. Each district could establish a board of five or seven members (an odd number is important to avoid voting ties) to investigate the infraction. Those determined to be minor would be given a pass while more egregious infractions enforced. The name of the complainant would not have to be divulged.

Now if the complainant decided to press the issue beyond the district board to the ARC, their name would still be attached to the complaint and would become public knowledge.

We already have a workable and fair way of enforcing. Plus some things are allowed with ARC approval. You need to ask. The Villages do not consider every complaint an infringement. Only those that are not approved by ARC.

If Deed Compliance determine that the complaint is valid, and all complaints are not valid, then there will be a notice given the homeowner and time for them to comply and then if that is ignored than a fine is given until the non compliance changes. If the fine is ignored there will be a lien placed on the property.

It works just fine that way.

[ldovermiller]

Here is a novel idea. We pay the Community Standards people to make sure the rules are enforced, why aren't they doing their
job to make sure the rules are followed. They drive around in their $50k white, 4x4 tucks all day ....what am I missing. DO YOUR JOB
or just get a person to answer the phone, run out and look for the violation. The complaint should only come from local residence!

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Yes, yes. It's always someone HEARD about two women. There are about 10,000 people out there wanting to take a picture of them, but it has never happened. Can't take a picture of a myth.

I thing it may have been Bigfoot and the sister.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I hope that all people realize that keeping our property to Community Standards makes The Villages nicely kept and beautiful. And reporting someone anonymously is a somewhat easier thing to do than telling them to their face, unless you have been raised to be outspoken.

If everyone were allowed to embellish and add and be creative and have their "individuality" shine, this place could be a mess in no time.

We came back to our new home in Hadley when we first lived here part time to find all literally dozens of little "gookies and gee gaws and ceramic thingys " in the yard of a very near neighbor. I quickly phoned community standards and told them.

One of the reasons many of us chose the Villages is because of deed restrictions. I find that the anonymous reporting may be chicken to some but far easier for others. I don't see anything about someone seeing something in another neighborhood obviously not allowed and reporting it. That doesn't make my skin crawl at all.

Grace from Ohio.

Their neighbor couldn't have been all that dear, if you weren't able to resolve it between yourself and them and had to resort to outside help.

I smell a fable. Or a not-so-dear neighbor. Maybe one of those "bless your heart" kinds of neighbors.

[Joe C.]

Mr. Ferlisi says that we all have a right to face our accuser. This is true. It's in the Constitution of the U.S. . However, legally, this is true ONLY in criminal cases...not civil cases.

That said, it is true that a deed violation is A DEED VIOLATION. If you want to talk about "entitlement", then you will be surprised at how many homeowners are entitled to decorate their lawns and "enhance" their property as they see fit.

So all I have to say is:

There goes the neighborhood.......

[ctmurray]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Seems like a needed change.

Friends from an older part of TV said they have heard of two women who ride around the better part of the day looking for houses they can report.

Yet no one has photo evidence. Might be a rumor?

[ctmurray]

Originally Posted by ldovermiller

Here is a novel idea. We pay the Community Standards people to make sure the rules are enforced, why aren't they doing their
job to make sure the rules are followed. They drive around in their $50k white, 4x4 tucks all day ....what am I missing. DO YOUR JOB
or just get a person to answer the phone, run out and look for the violation. The complaint should only come from local residence!

Actually, this is not their job. We would have to pay for much more as they would have to stop at many houses, write down the details, possibly put a note on their doors, submit the paperwork back at the office. The current method works, the complaints are legitimate.

[ctmurray]

Originally Posted by arbajeda

The problem isn't with the complaints, it's with enforcement. As you may have noticed recently with all the riots going on, minor infractions aren't being prosecuted while major legal infractions are. Currently there is no means to evaluate the complaint to determine its effect on the neighborhood as a whole. Each district could establish a board of five or seven members (an odd number is important to avoid voting ties) to investigate the infraction. Those determined to be minor would be given a pass while more egregious infractions enforced. The name of the complainant would not have to be divulged.

Now if the complainant decided to press the issue beyond the district board to the ARC, their name would still be attached to the complaint and would become public knowledge.

Florida Law makes every communication public. So no keeping a name secret for the first round of review you mentioned. This is why the anonymous system need to be around. Otherwise, forever, you could be targeted for rightly pointing out a violation.