The following summary is presented by Diane Tomasik, resident and Webmaster.

This special members meeting was called so that residents could vote on a one-year special assessment. The special assessment would be in the amount of $141.71 to be paid in four quarterly installments of $36.92. These funds would help build the reserve fund for maintenance and improvement projects throughout the community.

The proposal fell three votes short of passing, with 45 households voting "yes." Seventy-two households cast ballots, so a total of 48 "yes" votes were required for passage.

A resident made a motion to recess the meeting until a later date to take another vote. The motion was seconded by another resident, and the motion carried by an overwhelming margin.

On Aug. 9, residents again will have the opportunity to vote in person or by proxy. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Palm City Presbyterian Church, 2700 Martin Highway (across the street from Islesworth and Hidden Oaks Middle School).

Following are some of the comments and sentiments expressed at the meeting.

Board Comments

Board President Dennis Rohan stated that the purpose of building the reserve accounts was to avoid large assessments in the future.

The board said the current fees are artificially low; they were set low by the developer as a sales tool. The governing documents of the Homeowners Association have limited the amount that the Board can raise the fees each year. A 5 percent increase is the maximum allowable each year, without a special vote by residents. 

Of the current fees ($235.70 quarterly), 40 percent pays for bulk cable and for Martin Downs Property Owners Association (MDPOA) dues that cover items such as drainage and security. Only $142.91 of the current quarterly fee goes to operating expenses and to be set aside for reserves.

The Board pointed out it makes a substantial effort to cut costs. For example, estimates placed the cost of mulch for the common grounds at $4,000. However, through special arrangements with the county, Islesworth was able to purchase and place the mulch for about half that cost.

Property managers' comments

Property manager Jerry Zalben noted that the 5 percent restriction on raising fees annually is an artificial cap. Because of it, Islesworth cannot properly budget for replacement costs while also trying to cover operating costs. Inflation will put the HOA into a corner.

Residents' comments

Here is sampling of residents' comments:

• Property values are up and the price of maintenance and materials is going up. I'd rather spend more now and have enough in reserve.
• Comparisons with other communities are not useful. The only question should be, "How much do we need to operate."
• We need to protect the investment in our homes.
• Put in the covenants to restrict the use of the reserve funds.
• The board should make the usage of the special assessment more clear.
• All of our financial resources should be in a general fund, not in untouchable reserve funds.

Residents, please elaborate and/or add comments in the Message Center.