Sunday, August 3, 2008

Stay Alert

We have open meetings (thank goodness) and 10,000 residents to watch over CV. We can never relax no matter what style of government we have. Only $1 per unit is a tempting $7,854.00.

A cautionary tale:
Davie residents: “Imprison condo chief who stole $759,654”
BY JOE KOLLIN South Florida Sun-Sentinel July 11, 2008 Owners in a Davie condo community will urge a judge to "throw away the key" Aug. 1 when he sentences their former president for stealing $759,654 from their treasury. Davie police arrested Winkelholz on Oct. 29 on charges of forgery and theft from the 264-unit Whitehall at Pine Island Ridge condo association, where he was president, and the 7,000-member Pine Island Ridge Country Club, where he was vice president.Trampani, 74, vice president of the Whitehall condo association, said he and dozens of his neighbors plan to ask to speak at the sentencing hearing. They want to persuade the judge to sentence Winkelholz to the maximum by describing the effects his crimes are having, especially on retirees living on fixed incomes.He said the stolen money amounts to about $3,000 for each unit in the condo association."People here worked all their lives and now, with the economy, don't know if they can pay for food and prescriptions," Trampani said. "They are coming in crying because they can't pay their maintenance. Don't you think they could use that $3,000?


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YOUR BLOGMEISTER COMMENTS:

Once again I say; WHERE IS OUR "ARMS LENGTH" FORENSIC AUDIT?????

The money in UCO accounts IS OUR MONEY and should be handled by a Professional Accounting firm. We cannot assume that everything is Ok!, UCO is in violation of State Law and UCO Bylaw and must be brought to task. AUDIT NOW, and not by the Butner firm.

Dave Israel

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please explain what exactly in on pages 10-11 of the UCO REPORTER? Thank you

Anonymous said...

The audit report was finally published, sans reserve and appropriated fund balances.

617 requires the report to be made available to Boards of Directors within 60 days of year-end.

UCO’s year-end was 12-31-07, what was the delay, you should ask! One very good question, indeed.
Shouldn’t any extension have been presented before the Delegate Assembly, for the required approval?

Anonymous said...

The monies that UCO needs to account for via an audit are monies that are in every associations' budget. Each association is required by State Law to account yearly and report to each unit owner on these monies. So it seems that all association board members are in violation of FS 718 and therefore, must insist that UCO give an account forthwith so that each association can fulfill their obligation to the individual unit owner.
SO LOEWENSTEIN AND TETRO, GET A MOVE ON.

Anonymous said...

How can we trust an audit that is 41/2 months late??? Don't forget, Georgie Boy ran to Israel and Tetro went missing from UCO. An outside audit is imperative, in light of these issues.

Anonymous said...

Hi A Nony Mouse
Aug 3, 2008 9:44:00 AM,

Please keep in mind that the UCO Reporter is a UCO House organ.

The numbers they publish do not in any way constitute an independant audit.

Would you ask the fox to give you an accounting of the chickens in the hen house.

We need a forensic audit by a reputable Accounting firm, other than the Butner firm which is to cozy with King George.

Dave Israel

Anonymous said...

How much could you expect from George in four hours Friday? One of his big problems is the ability to meet together with the other officers. Due to the flawed resolution he cannot meet with them as a group UNTIL the meeting is properly noticed. This resolution was pushed through and now we have to live with it until it is modified. The officers need to get together and plan for the future. It may take some time. On another subject I am not sure if Dorothy Tetro has any accounting type experience necessary to be a Treasurer. But on the other hand there is NOTHING in the UCO bylaws that addresses the qualifications for treasurer of any other UCO officer.

UCO President said...

Hi A Nony Mouse
Aug 3, 2008 11:14:00 AM.

The Open meeting and noticing requirement is no burden to a President who is dedicated to Government in the sunshine.

Incidental conversation in the daily running of the Office will be removed from the need to notice; BUT the discussions on "planning for the future" as you stated it; need to take place in the open forum, believe it or not we have some very bright folks in CV who might have some good ideas to contribute.

Dave Israel

Anonymous said...

Yes we do have some very bright people in the village that could be of great assistance to UCO.The problem in the past has always been the "political divide" between who is in power and how is out of power. I believe that in some places "elders" are revered for their past experience and are consulted on current matters.

Anonymous said...

Some of those so-called elders are now and have always been the enemy within. That is why UCO needs to be TOTALLY re-organized, or better yet, abandon UCO altogether and get professional management.

Anonymous said...

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SOME THAT TETRO WANTS TO FIRE BUTNER BECAUSE TETRO DOES NOT LIKE THE WAY BUTNER TALKS TO HER. MAYBE TETRO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ACCOUNTING SPEAK?

Anonymous said...

Tetro and blank worry and flap around about innuendos where none exist. That way they avoid plain business requests for conformity to bylaws.

elaineb said...

Who is on the Finance Cmte?
how often have they met?
when will they meet?
does anyone on the cmte question the deficiencies per the above thread?

Mike said...

Is there another delegate meeting in Aug? Maybe a delegate can make a motion that an Audit of UCO finances by an outside accounting firm , other than Butner, be authorized. Randall can answer this I'm sure .

Anonymous said...

My take regarding pages 10-11 of the August issue of the Reporter: It is UCO's financial statement for the years ending 06-07.

Apparently some people think UCO might not be detailing it properly. That is why the request for a different company to do the audit.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,
Don't know what the delay is regarding the audit. A clear explanation by the President/"House Accountant" is certainly in order. The Delegates can approve or disapprove just about anything they wish, as long as they realize that they have this power. When decisions are made from the top and become bound by contract,the choices of the DA become severely limited. The only way to "take back the reins" is by getting involved in the process by attending as many meetings as possible, to become as knowlegeable and informed as quickly as possible. The present level of enthusiasm for transparency must remains strong, and our leaders held responsible for any actions taken in excess of their authority. We the people must be the "oversight committee" that ensures that Florida Corporate Law and the UCO Bylaws and policies are carried into effect. Apathy and indifference have fallen by the wayside. Our eyes are open wide.

Mike said...

Thanks ,Randall.... Then it's up to the delegates to make a motion designating an accounting firm to do a forensic audit , second it and have the DA vote on it. The Board would then have to carry out the wishes of the DA. Am I right in this asumption?

Mike said...

I better check my spelling .

Anonymous said...

What is the cost of a forensic audit and must that expenditure be approved by the delegates? I have been told such audits can cost 10-12,000 dollars or more.

UCO President said...

Hi A Nony Mouse
Aug 4, 2008 9:16:00 AM

A forensic or investigative audit is the highest standard of Accountancy in anticipation of litigation or testimony in a Courtroom.

Ever optimistic as I am, that no real criminal activity will be revealed,
I believe that a full in depth audit by a reputable licensed firm other than the Butner firm would be sufficient and of course less costly.

We have become to cozy with the Butner firm and my personal belief is that they have let us slide on a number of discrepencies, although lack of any real access to the books makes it difficult for an amateur such as myself to confirm this belief.

I believe that this in depth audit is a critical first step, with a full Forensic audit to be required only if something is revealed in the initial in depth audit.

Folks, it is 5 million dollars of your money and mine we are talking about,
This is a required step for our financial security.

Dave Israel

Anonymous said...

Mike,
"The Board would then have to carry out the wishes of the DA".
The Delegates (or Delegate Assembly) ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. You are on the right path Mike.

Mike said...

Thanks Randall, All we need now is for the DA to do it. Mike