[Bonny]

Originally Posted by NavyNJ

What is a Compliance Officer? Who employs and/or pays him? How many of them are there? What are their normal duties - in office taking complaints? Out on patrol? Do they wear uniforms? Do they patrol in their own vehicles, or golf carts, or those owned by the CDD they represent? Or do they represent all CDDs in TV?

Have seen many referrals to these guys in this thread, but have zero idea who they are.

Like neighborhood watch. Just making sure people are following the rules when there is a complaint made.

[biker1]

We have lived in a deed restricted community before The Villages. Compliance was a combination of anonymous complaints (something I never agreed with, you should put your name on the complaint) and a resident manager inspecting the community weekly. The HOA actually took someone to court over a violation, and won. There were some violations they never enforced because they felt too much time had gone by without enforcement and that was an implicit acceptance of the violation. The lesson learned was that timely enforcement is a good idea.

What is done in The Villages is the easy way out: let the residents report non-compliance. I have never agreed with that approach. I can understand that people are hesitant to report neighbors, those who enjoy reporting violations notwithstanding. Given that The Villages (actually the CDDs??) doesn't want to do the dirty work, we must realize that it is up to us to take the steps to maintain the look and feel that we want for our neighborhoods. I personally don't like seeing a yard full of tchotchkes. Fortunately, all of my neighbors apparently feel the same way.

Originally Posted by drcar

Biker 1, you are correct. The compliance officers will not act without a specific complaint. They do their duty, nicely and professionally. My point to which keeps getting twisted, do we really want a community to which people drive around and file hundreds of complaints because they can! Some posters have said "if you can't take the heat". Again my point is NOT to say that the lawn ornaments are legal or tasteful but to point out the way this is being handled. Myself and my neighbors could place statues of any kind on the front porches to prove a point and that would be ok. And to have posters state that no one should judge on what is tasteful, I agree, but the compliance officers are already doing that by using their judgment about what is and is not a lawn ornament. JUST SAYING!!

[NavyNJ]

Originally Posted by gap2415

There always seems to be a Mrs Kravitz looking to find fault! In our old area, it was a man who went out walking his dog at 5 pm with nothing better to do than see if he could find fault with someone who just may have made a minor slip in the area. He annoyed everyone and soon became the most hated person in the subdivision.

Big difference between the letter and the spirit of rules! Live and let live ... Unless it is totally outrageous in my opinion ..which may not be worth much to the Mrs Kravitz' s of the world.

Gap - Not sure that "Lenny" would be too appreciative of casting his mom in such a light!

[NavyNJ]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Like neighborhood watch. Just making sure people are following the rules when there is a complaint made.

Sorry, Bonny. Not being a jerk here, but I kind of knew that much of it. I was looking for specific answers from those who might know to the other questions. Cheers!

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by NavyNJ

Sorry, Bonny. Not being a jerk here, but I kind of knew that much of it. I was looking for specific answers from those who might know to the other questions. Cheers!

When I saw that you asked "what is a compliance officer ?" I assumed you didn't know. Answers to the rest of your questions, I couldn't tell you.

[NavyNJ]

Originally Posted by Bonny

When I saw that you asked "what is a compliance officer ?" I assumed you didn't know. Answers to the rest of your questions, I couldn't tell you.

Yeah, that was my fault the way I worded it. What I was getting at was, what's their Job Description? What are the requirements to be hired for that job? Do they get any training? Seems like it could be a power trip for the wrong person in that job.

[CFrance]

I don't think the compliance guys themselves are on power trips. Our neighbor (snowbird) received a complaint about weeds in the yard, and the compliance person was very apologetic and handled it very nicely.

It's the people who drive around looking for rule benders and then turn 97 of them in who seem to be on power trips. You would think common sense would say to the compliance department that if they get 97complaints from the same person, he's probably a nut case. But I guess they are duty bound to investigate.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

If someone's decorations bother you, call Deed Compliance.
If they don't bother you, don't call.
Don't let anyone convince you that reporting your neighbor is your duty!

Not to be contrary, but if you read the last section of the restrictions you signed for, it states that you DO have an obligation to report infractions, and pursue mitigation up to and including litigation.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Not to be contrary, but if you read the last section of the restrictions you signed for, it states that you DO have an obligation to report infractions, and pursue mitigation up to and including litigation.

Surely that doesn't mean that we have an obligation to take on the cost of suing someone over lack of compliance. What are they smoking?

[PennBF]

We all agreed to Deed Restrictions when we bought. They are simple and in most cases reasonable. In a lot of cases Residents break the rules but don't want to accept the consequences for doing so, (e.g. removing the alleged violation). Our community is great and we are proud when visitors come and agree and in some cases buy. Lets not screw it up with a lot of junk in the
yards, etc. One mans treasurer is another mans junk.

[Sanibel7]

If you want to know what Community Standards does and the procedures that are taken Please go to Village Community Development Districts, Hover your mouse over Departments on the blue bar, Click on Community Standards. This will bring you to they're home page. Scroll down and find your district. These will be on the main page with a red line. Click on it. There will be an overview with definitions and basic deed restriction guidelines. Not all Districts have the same restrictions, The individual district boards have the right to enforce or not enforce certain restrictions. They cannot change the restrictions though. When you bought your home you signed and agreed to abide by the deed restrictions set forth by the developer. That is a binding contract and the boards can not change that but they can choose to enforce or not enforce certain parts of the document. If you would like something changed bring it up to your board at an open meeting.

[Sanibel7]

Village Community Development Districts

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I don't think the compliance guys themselves are on power trips. Our neighbor (snowbird) received a complaint about weeds in the yard, and the compliance person was very apologetic and handled it very nicely.

It's the people who drive around looking for rule benders and then turn 97 of them in who seem to be on power trips. You would think common sense would say to the compliance department that if they get 97complaints from the same person, he's probably a nut case. But I guess they are duty bound to investigate.

What is the next step once a person gets a complaint? Are they given a certain amount of time to correct the situation? If so, does the compliance department come back for a second inspection and sign off on the complaint?

I wonder how many of these 97 residents want to plead not guilty and if there is such a remedy?

Maybe the complainer is having trouble selling their home and feels that the neighborhoods are looking a little junked up.

[skip0358]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

No, Skip, I do not agree.
That's the thing, we don't have to turn each other in!
In eight years I've never complained about anyone.
There is absolutely no way anyone has to complain about anyone else.
Most people take a "live and let live" attitude.
The process is there for people to address a property which they feel is garish and unacceptable.
However most of us will never use the complaint process, and that is the way it should be.

Guess I didn't word it right. These are District rules we shouldn't have to nor do I intend to turn someone in for breaking a district rule. Period unless it's a safety or health issue. The District should enforce their own rules without a tattletale enforcement.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by drcar

Biker 1, you are correct. The compliance officers will not act without a specific complaint. They do their duty, nicely and professionally. My point to which keeps getting twisted, do we really want a community to which people drive around and file hundreds of complaints because they can! Some posters have said "if you can't take the heat". Again my point is NOT to say that the lawn ornaments are legal or tasteful but to point out the way this is being handled. Myself and my neighbors could place statues of any kind on the front porches to prove a point and that would be ok. And to have posters state that no one should judge on what is tasteful, I agree, but the compliance officers are already doing that by using their judgment about what is and is not a lawn ornament. JUST SAYING!!

OP, not sure why you've taken this on as your problem. If some wha cko wants to file what is now "hundreds of complaints," despite your intentions, it is not your problem. The Villages compliance folks are the professionals in this arena and have probably dealt successfully with these issues before. Best not to stress over it.