I just completed reading the most current newsletter highlighting this past FPHOA board meeting and received my Special Assessment Fee bill in the mail. As a responsible dues paying resident since 1998, I'm very concerned with the lack of foresight and ability to enforce our existing convenants by our HOA. I've seen a marked steady decrease in the quality of life here in the last few years. It can be directly attributed to the increase of irresponsible, disrepectful, and totally non-compliant type of LOSERS who have been moving in and around our neighborhood. Constant trash in the streets, park, pond, sidewalks, etc. makes FP look bad. (Someone sure does love McDonald's..because I'm constantly picking up this trash) It's summer again and I'm just waiting for the crime spree to pick up again as it has the past couple years. For those who don't know, we had a rash of home breakins (4 by my house alone)last summertime. Is anyone else out there concerned that our HOA will not enforce payment of dues? What makes them think that the rest of us are willing to pick up the slack for those IDIOTS who will not pay? Why not LIST THE NAMES and ADDRESSES of those homeowner who refuse to pay their dues? Maybe some good 'ole fashion humiliation and community involvment will convince these ill-reputes to PAY UP!!!

Also, I'm not willing to participate in fundraising events to raise money for FPHOA unless they will first enforce our existing covenants. Four years ago we discussed purchasing the street lights and turning them over to the city. Shouldn't this already have been completed? Again, lack of fiscal responsibility is a poor excuse.

Finally, there needs to be a system via mail or email to cast a ''Proxy'' vote on any decisions that directly and financially affect residents of Forest Pond. With busy schedules and growing families, not all of us can make these board meetings; but we should all have a say in the process.

I do appreciate the opportunity to express my views and think this website is a ''Good thing'' allowing for better communication, collaboration, and overall community awareness.

Thank You.

RE: Increase Dues: Decrease Qual

I am going to address your discussion points but not in the order in which you raised them. Although, I may have to do so in multiple parts due to the 600 word limit of this discussion board.

You ask: why not list the names and addresses of the non-paying homeowners? That is a violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection laws and we could be sued for doing so. (We as a society did away with Debtors Prisons in the last century.)

You mentioned the street lights - 4 years ago we did not control the last three streets that were still owned by the builder. Therefore, we could only take out a loan to buy 85% of the street lights. We now need to have the funds available to borrow again to purchase the last 15%. We need a positive cash balance greater than our operating capital in order to obtain another loan. Sorry, but this is not a case of poor fiscal responsibility - just poor timing.

You mentioned a Proxy - a Proxy was mailed out with the Annual Meeting Notice, we had homeowners (2) who used those Proxies to send to the Annual Meeting (one for and one against).

You mentioned the trash in the streets - I have to say I not only notice it but I also do something about it. Everytime I take a walk, it is with a trash bag in my hand. I normally return home with a bag that weighs between 3 to 18 pounds! I hate tooting my own horn but when someone complains and does not offer a viable solution - that makes me angry. I know of a couple of others that do this as well and they are doing rather than just complaining.

As for the ''increase in irresponsible, disrespectful and non-compliant LOSERS'' that is a function of us, as a society, not training our children the way we should, both ethically and morally! As parents we failed to teach our children and they in turn have failed to raise theirs based on our weaknesses. It all starts in the home and it spreads through the neighborhood via the church, the schools and our social gatherings.

I am not going to cast blame on anyone for our present financial situation other than to say - the current HOA Board is shouldering the brunt of the tasks of striving to sustain and improve our quality of life within our narrow segment of Charlotte. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when we have quite a few homeowners who did not possess the necessary financial knowledge at the time they bought their homes and the impact that was going to have their lives. They also did not understand what living in an HOA controlled community is and the impact that has on their billfolds.

As for the fundraisers mentioned in the newsletter - that is one way to help raise funds to reduce the financial impact on the responsible homeowners, those funds would be used to help win Matching Grants from the City of Charlotte so that we may improve our neighborhood and thusly, our quality of life!

New Resident

I am not very pleased with your posting sir. I am new to the neighborhood. I am not a loser but must look at current residents that don't mow their yard and cover their windows with Newspaper, park their cars in my side yard overnight and don't pick up after their dogs.

I am taking care of my house and yard and happy to do so. I am picking up trash of current residents as well and have concerns. Maybe you should consider chosing your words more carefully.

RE: Increase Dues: Decrease Qual

Ray, I appreciate your response and, from the tone, I can tell I hit some nerves with you. By the way, I have every DAMN right to complain about the environment my family lives in!! How dare you assume a self-rightous position and assume nobody else is doing anything about our community.
About the trash thing, I also carry a plastic bag with me and pick up food bags, paper cups, Colt 45 beer bottles, plastic bottles, beer cans, clothing, cigarrette packs, among other nasty things, etc. It's nice to know someone else in the neighborhood acutally gives a darn, but I will continue to ''complain'' and address any issues that affect our quality of life here in Forest Pond. If it gets you ''angry'' I really don't care.

Hmmm...it's interesting how the authorities can post the names and pictures of those who do not pay child support on the television as well as list debtor information in the local newspaper.

I agree it all starts in providing a loving, nurturing environment where we teach our children right from wrong. Personally, my children are on the right path.

Being ignorant to the facts is no excuse..if people can't afford to live in a community with an HOA, then they need to move out. Not paying dues is irresponsbile. Increasing dues to cover the costs for non-compliance in attempts to balance the budget is just as irresponsible. HOA needs to enforce our convenants. Do you think we would have a positive cash flow if everyone had been paying their dues each year? What good is an HOA when it becomes just a bureaocracy?

By the way, how long is the street light that was taken down to realign our front entrace going to lie on the ground? What about landscaping? Is this being addressed? Looks pretty bad right now. Takes forever for anything to get accomplished around here.

The quality of one's life is directly correlated to the choices they make.

Again, I appreciate the opportunity to express my views and will continue to do so without malice. Let's not make it personal and create an atmosphere where it's difficult to provide solutions. I understand the HOA is in a precarious and difficult position right now.