They looked like aliens from some B movie, and they descended on the pool area early Friday morning. Instead of ray guns, they toted jackhammers, pneumatic drills, shovels, chisels, and all kinds of low-tech weaponry. Apparently, earth’s atmosphere was toxic to them, because they wore masks that covered their faces. For helmets they wore safari hats.
For most of the daylight hours on Friday, they chipped away at plaster, hauling chunks away in barrows and trailers. By sunset, there was little left but gunite and a few scraps and chips here and there. About a half dozen men worked on the pool with the intent to finish work on plaster removal Friday so they could do the new plastering on Saturday. Within a few hours of re-plastering, the process of refilling the pool can begin. It is expected to take 2-3 days to complete filling the pool, which must begin slowly. The pool service will come in after the pool is filled and start the process of cleaning and clarifying the water, getting the pumps up, etc. The intent is to have the pool ready for use by Memorial Day.
May 23: Plastering was completed Saturday afternoon (May 21), and filling water commenced at 6 p.m. Progress was slow, so Gary and Charlotte Blaiss ran a hose from their house to the pool. Based on Sunday evening water levels, Edwards Pool Service was told we’d be ready for their work to begin on Monday evening. Edwards will start the pumps, shock the pool, and start up filters with the intent that the pool will be ready for bathers by the end of the week.
I thought the intent was to have the pool up by this weekend. We were told they could get it done and we’d be able to have the pool running by the 22nd, otherwise it was better to wait until after this season, since it really would not hurt anything to wait. The result is that we have lost an entire month of the pool season, or near enough. We are supposed to open the pool at the beginning of May or as soon thereafter as weather allows. I know some fuddy-duds out there who probably only use the pool when their grandchildren come over may be perfectly fine with no pool until after school is out, but the rest of us, who do also pay dues here, enjoy having the pool open the entire season. We do not restrict our pool usage to only ‘after school’ hours. We expect the pool open the entire season, and to only experience interuptions or delays when absolutely necessary. What is truly bothersome with this project is how every time we turn around the story changes and the date gets further off and the price goes up. I am still very confused as to why this was barrelled through as a job that ‘must be done now’ when it did not have to be. We could have done it in October, spent more time getting responsible bids on the project, as in written open bids to resurface the pool which would have secured the price, the timeline and the warranty. Now, because somebody made this their little must-do project, the rest of us are subjected to waiting until after school is out, almost into JUNE, before the pool is open to residents. I’m sorry, but I am not giving anyone kuddos are pats on the back. We had the pump go out one year and had to have it replaced before we could open the pool (just one week late, the middle of May) and our phone almost never stopped ringing with complaints. I was supposed to schedule my son’s 1st grade swimming party, which is now the first grade disappointment, because of the anal indiiduals who just simply could to stand to wait,( I suspect because it did not really effect them). When the decision was made to go ahead, it was with the explicit instruction that the pool would be ready for use by the third weekend in May.
Now you can all think I am a wench or whatever. I don’t really care. At least I am honest enough to say thngs straight forward, unlike the individual who plastered an anonymous note onto our door stating that they “had never seen Haversham in worse condition,” last month.
Furthermore, on a seprate but somewhat related subject, I do not appreciate whoever took it upon themselves (Nancy) to decorate the party house however they wanted. If there are going to be asthetic changes made to our communal property, everyone has the right to offer imput. I suggest in the future that a committee be formed and everyone who wishes be given the opportunity to sit on that committee. In this way you do not exclude people who would like to offer their opinion, or pose a concern. I know for a fact that they were approved to go ahead and buy the products to stain the concrete a rust color that would match with the brickwork and the pavements around the pool. It was to our horror to walk in and find that they had changed the plan, of their own accord, and painted it a horrid institutional grey color that clashes amazingly with everything. NO pats on the back for that either. Some people NEED to realize that more people live here than just THEM. And honestly, it would not even matter if the grey looked awesome. It is the fact that they were approved to do one thing and decided on their own accord to do something else. It is nice that they are willing to put in some extra work, but that does not give them the license to do whatever they want. This has been an ongoing problem. Last year we approved money to replace some of the chairs outside around the pool. Then, when we go out there, the chairs, the tables and the umbrellas have been replaced. NO one else was given any opportunity to offer input on that, it was just done and everyone else has to deal with it. I for one do not like them because the umbrellas are small and provide little to no shade, whereas the others, while older, were better quality, heavier and much much larger. The tables were heavier, larger and not wicker. Some calcium remover could have polished them up nicely. But no, someone decided to have a redecoration holiday. In the future, I believe ANYTHING that is dealng with asthetic changes to the Haversham properties should be brought first before the officers, then a meeting set which invites all interested homeowners, and from that meeting (or if someone cannot attend due to a scheduling conflict, then by their written notice of interest) a committee formed. Once the committee comes up with a proposal, they can bring it back to the officers, and depending on the nature of the change and its signifiance, either be voted and passed to go ahead in smaller cases, and in larger, after receiving the approval of the officers, then set for a vote by the membership. WE need to put a stop to these few people who think they can walk in and make whatever changes they want, simply because they are willing to do it. Other people are willing to be involved if they are given the opportunity. It discourages other people from taking part when individuals are so overbering and are given free license to be so.
I am stating things exactly as I see them instead of playing games and dancing around pretending the truth is a scary thing that might hurt someone’s feelings. If your feelings are that tender, I suggest not stepping on other people to get your way. Whether you like or dislike how I choose to voice my concerns, or the tone in which I do so, is of little relevance. It does not change the fact that my complaints are both sound and founded and deserve, at the very least, a well rounded debate on how to resolve a lingering conflict: How do we strike a balance between the over-zealous homeowner who is kindly willing to volunteer their time and efforts (but tend to over-stretch their limited authority) against maintaining a social poperty that is equally inclusive to the input from all its membership.
Thank you.
Sincrely,
Marquel White
3111 40th
** any anonmynous hate mail received will be immediately disregarded as childish and petty, used to line the bird cage or the cat box, then duly thrown away once it has been sufficiently littered with the exact attention it deserves. Thanks again and have a Happy Day.
Marquel, Thank you for expressing your feelings. It causes me sorrow that in our community someone would post mean, unsigned messages on your door.
Here are some answers to your questions and some clarifications of fact. You are partially correct; the intent was to have the pool up and open just as soon as possible. Given the timing of the decision-making process, we are really fortunate to be as far along right now as we are.
DATE OF POOL OPENING: Historically, the pool has been open between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In fact, old by-laws (superseded when the new by-laws were approved May 1 of 2010) specifically gave those dates. The new by-laws give no dates for opening or closing. Because we have been generally a friendly community, we have sometimes been able to open earlier or (as with last year) stay open later. Usually, one of the top business items at the May annual meeting – until 2008 normally held the second Saturday in May – was to make assignments for opening the pool.
UNNECESSARY REPAIRS: As for the repairs that “would not hurt anything to wait,” I am not a structural engineer. But when I am told by one Haversham member that he injured his foot on some broken plaster, and when I see with my own eyes young people intentionally breaking off pieces of plaster and throwing them at each other, and when I have shown to me a “bubble” in the plaster northwest of the obviously deteriorating spot, I seek input from those with expertise.
MANAGEMENT: Much of your comment is critical of Haversham management. I too have often been frustrated with Haversham management. But I still love my neighbors, quiet, loud, diplomatic or not. Doing the work of managing Haversham Inc. is basically a volunteer activity. It’s like other volunteer organizations. As one of our former presidents often observes, when it comes down to getting the work done, “It’s always the same people.” Trust me, we’d be DELIGHTED to have others involved. There’s a LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes that many people don’t see. I personally was very pleased at last year’s meeting when several people spoke up and volunteered to serve on this committee or that. There was not always follow-up from the board to assure that these committees functioned nor was there always follow-up from the committee chairs to put all the volunteers to work. Such is the nature of volunteer work. It takes special talent to manage and direct the effort of volunteers. As a case in point, one of the matters you cite in your criticism, is the manner in which the floor of the party house was done. Minutes from the May 12, 2007 meeting – submitted four years ago by Bob Whipple, Jr. – indicate that the Campbells agreed to get bids for painting the floor, and Joe Elmore would tear up the carpet. So that decision was made four years ago, but there was no follow-up. This is only one episode, but yes, we like many other volunteer organizations are guilty of some sloppy management practices. Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I have hope we will get better. We will improve. We seem to have a number of willing hands not yet tapped.
PARTICIPATION: We have done many things over the last few years to encourage participation. At the annual meeting, we schedule time for agenda revisions and for nominations from the floor. Some have suggested we ought to gather more than once a year (we used to do that). We have an e-mail discussion list that goes to all members. Some people use that list to carry on discussion. We have a Web site that facilitates discussion. You have taken advantage of that. Thank you. Hope to hear more from you.
I’m excited that the pool is opening soon! Our family did have problems with getting major scrapes and cuts from the pool before, so I am thrilled to have that fixed. Can’t wait to go swimming and see everyone at the pool!
Pool is open!!!!! Party house looks great thanks Reddicks and Blaise households.I want to thank Jared Gary and Randy and Brook for helping me on getting the pool in its curent condition .Now we have to work as a community lets work together .LETS JUST ENJOY THE SUMMER!!! I want a cook out this weekend good old cook out i will cook i have the smoker you supply the meat somebody gets the rest (sides)lets get this neighborhood together I have been here a bunch of years the last few years have been very lax on getting to know each other If anybody wants in on this let me know
Sounds like a block party to me