[mikers31]

We moved to The Villages early June and are wondering the difference between the Villages Homeowners Assoc. and the Property Owners Assoc. We went to an orientation meeting of the VHA and asked the question and was told it would be explained in the presentation but it was not.
By the way, we love it here and thanks for the information this sight provides. Read it daily. (almost)

[JimJoe]

Who controls them.

[graciegirl]

The VHA is very much entwined with the Developer, sanctioned, probably run by them.(I don't know that for sure, but Village07 will tell us.) The POA is an independent group that functions as a watchdog organization.

When we first bought in TV a couple of years ago, I was really turned off by the POA newsletter, it was so negative and so over the top in it's criticisms, in my opinion.

The newletter of the POA has changed to be less scathing and more careful in the language of descriptions of perceived problems.

It is good to have both I think and I am much happier with the POA stance of late.

[swrinfla]

I agree with GG that the POA's stance has changed remarkably for the positive! I always read their Bulletin (delivered to my driveway for free), with great disgust! Never had I encountered such blatant negativism! Now, they have calmed down and have been much more positive!

They do still tend to beat a subject to death, but much less negatively!

The VHA is certainly "connected" with The Developer, but is still admirably independent, for the most part, politically!

I joined VHA at my first Newcomer's Orientation and have never regretted it.

SWR

[EdV]

Don’t overlook the fact that it was several directors of the POA that started a class action suit against the developer for a breach of various agreements to provide appropriate levels of amenity services and facilities to homeowners in TV north of 466.

In March, 2008, a settlement was reached whereby the developer agreed to pump $40 million back into the reserve and replacement funds of the VCCDD which controls the amenities north of 466. Also, the Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) was established to oversee these funds as well as future purchases of amenity facilities.

It is money from this fund that will be paying for the widening of the multi-modal paths north of 466 that is currently underway.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

When we first bought in TV a couple of years ago, I was really turned off by the POA newsletter, it was so negative and so over the top in it's criticisms, in my opinion.

The newletter of the POA has changed to be less scathing and more careful in the language of descriptions of perceived problems.

It is good to have both I think and I am much happier with the POA stance of late.

I have always read the POA newsletter -even when I had to travel to Sweet's ACE hardware in the Grande plaza to pick it up. I thought it told the other side of things.

I always felt that the POA negativism, as it is said, was based more on the one-sided stance that the then VHA president took. No matter what the POA tried to bring to light it was always shot down with no explanation.

Now it seems that the new president is taking more of a work together attitude with the POA. Although there are still occasional barbs against the AAC and the POA.

Just my opinion.

[Ohiogirl]

Here's a link to the POA website, can read current and past monthly newsletters

http://www.poa4us.org/

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

Don’t overlook the fact that it was several directors of the POA that started a class action suit against the developer for a breach of various agreements to provide appropriate levels of amenity services and facilities to homeowners in TV north of 466.

In March, 2008, a settlement was reached whereby the developer agreed to pump $40 million back into the reserve and replacement funds of the VCCDD which controls the amenities north of 466. Also, the Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) was established to oversee these funds as well as future purchases of amenity facilities.

It is money from this fund that will be paying for the widening of the multi-modal paths north of 466 that is currently underway.

Dear Edvin.

You are very well informed about The Villages and I always read your posts with interest. I always wonder why you live "across the street" from TV in Stonecrest. I think you said once that you felt the security gate was better in Stonecrest.

On this lawsuit issue that you referred to, I have heard a LOT of talk about it. Some say that one of the sub contractors had nailed on siding incorrectly and many, many homes had to be resided. Yet in the post you just made you said it was about the amentity monies. Could you tell us more about that?

I dismissed anything I read in the POA newsletter for a long time because of the tone of the language and the almost "hatred" of the Developers that I sensed in some of the writings. (This is where Sweetie rolls his eyes at me) I am not explaining myself well, but someone will clarify what I am saying.

Back to the issue. Edvin, please explain further, and please move over here to Paradise. Your posts are so interesting!

Kindest regards,
Gracie.

[English Ivy]

Miss Gracie, the "lawsuit" has nothing to do with the vinyl siding issue. It has to do with a $39.8 million dollar settlement agreed to be the Developer for a Class Action Suit brought against him and the VCCDD by several members of the POA (including Joe Gorman). Here is a link to the settlement:

http://www.thevillagesfl.us/classactionsettlement.htm

Yes, the plaintiffs and their lawyers did benefit monetarily from this suit, but all of us in The Villages benefited much more from what that money is doing for upkeep north of 466.

And yes, the defendants did negotiate and settle without this going to trial, but I really don't believe they would have done so if they were 100% innocent with no "creative" accounting having been done. JMHO.

[army one]

My take on the 2 organizations is they try to accomplish things in different ways. Sort of like a good-cop bad-cop situation. The methods used differ but both organizations have the best interest of the home owner in mind. Sometimes it takes sugar and sometimes it takes salt to accomplish what needs to be addressed. This of course is just my opinion and I belong to both organizations because of the differences.

[ncr2482]

Please note that because of the POA lawsuit the Paradise Center was rebuilt. The POA is an independent body, as compared to the VHA which had the developer's blessing. (Remember their newsletter is distributed in the Daily Sun). The POA also took the developer to task over the sinkhole issue on the Lopez golf course. Although the sinkhole was on the course, the developer felt it was the homeowner responsiblity to repair it.That was resolved as well. Yes the POA can appear to be antagonistic, but I am glad they are around to keep things on the up on up.

[EdV]

Gracie, thanks for the kind words as I’ve always tried to be helpful whenever I felt I had something to contribute to a discussion.

Although the POA beat the drum loudly over shoddy vinyl siding installations, this particular issue was settled under warranty coverage if I’m not mistaken.

As for my decision to live on “the other side of the tracks”, a major factor was that I can no longer play golf more than a couple of times a month. And what really attracted me to the area was the plethora of restaurants, shopping, and medical facilities along the 441 corridor, all of which is available to me in my LSV cart.

I really like hanging out in TOTV because many issues are discussed that could actually affect me at some point.

EdV

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by ncr2482

Please note that because of the POA lawsuit the Paradise Center was rebuilt. The POA is an independent body, as compared to the VHA which had the developer's blessing. (Remember their newsletter is distributed in the Daily Sun). The POA also took the developer to task over the sinkhole issue on the Lopez golf course. Although the sinkhole was on the course, the developer felt it was the homeowner responsiblity to repair it.That was resolved as well. Yes the POA can appear to be antagonistic, but I am glad they are around to keep things on the up on up.

Excellent points. I too, feel fortunate that we have the POA to go to bat for us. The VHA is just a little too cozy with the Developer, in my opinion, to be completely effective in pushing for the property owners.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by English Ivy

Miss Gracie, the "lawsuit" has nothing to do with the vinyl siding issue. It has to do with a $39.8 million dollar settlement agreed to be the Developer for a Class Action Suit brought against him and the VCCDD by several members of the POA (including Joe Gorman). Here is a link to the settlement:

http://www.thevillagesfl.us/classactionsettlement.htm

Yes, the plaintiffs and their lawyers did benefit monetarily from this suit, but all of us in The Villages benefited much more from what that money is doing for upkeep north of 466.

And yes, the defendants did negotiate and settle without this going to trial, but I really don't believe they would have done so if they were 100% innocent with no "creative" accounting having been done. JMHO.

Ivy.

All this happened before we happened onto this place but we heard rumors about a lawsuit that was settled against the developer. I thank you for the link. It is now more understandable. Do the people who brought suit still live here? I know Joe Gorman does. I heard that the settlement handed them a lot of money personally, but you hear lots of things and don't know what is correct and what isn't.

As I said before, I picked up the POA newsletter for several months and thought it was very, VERY negative and angry. I am so glad that their editorial tone is more moderate and their language more considered. It really just used to sound like a rant, to me anyway.

Anyway, we live and learn. I don't know if the developers are greedy and mean or sweet and thoughtful of us. I do know they are smart.

Just glad we have a house in TV.

GG