Board President Mr. Goldman Misrepresents the Facts--Again

At the April Council Meeting 2014, ECA Board President Mr. Goldman stated that “comparisons of condominium and association fees in the area show Eastman in a very positive light.” One example he used was:

Hilltop in New London which has a monthly assessment fee of between $650 and $800, depending on the size of the unit.

Unfortunately, the Board President is in the habit of comparing totally dissimilar things and using summary financial costs out of context as is the case here.

Specifically, if you look at what the monthly payments provide to Hilltop Condominium owners (it is a Condominium Association whereas Eastman is not) you will find the following are included in their $650-800 monthly fee:

·      Cable TV ( expanded version). 

·      Weekly collection of trash, recyclable materials and stump-dump specified refuse

·      Snow removal- main roads, drives, walkways including sand and salt

·      Annual exterior window washing

·      Maintenance of grounds: ALL (including condo unit grounds) mowing, pruning, fall and spring cleanup, replacement of dead trees and shrubs

·      Repair exterior doors and windows, garage doors, and exterior electric fixtures

·      Insurance of all buildings, including condo units themselves, including all built in items ($1000 deductible)

·      HPCA Garden Plots-plowing, harrowing, and water supply

·      Reserves for capital maintenance:

o   Provides for replacement of siding, roofs, balconies and decks, chimneys, doors and windows, paint, roads, pavement, drainage systems, retaining walls, HPCA equipment and vehicles.

None of the highlighted services/expenses are included in the Annual Assessment Fee that Eastman Members pay. For Eastman Condo owners there are separate Condo Associations with separate fee structures and separate membership covenants as well as voting rights. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Goldman continually confuses the members of this community by mixing apples with oranges.

If a Homeowner here at Eastman pushed the numbers on the cost of the following services:

•   Cable TV expanded version 

•   Weekly collection of trash, recyclables etc.

•   Snow removal including sand and salt

•   Exterior window washing

•   Maintaining the home's grounds: mowing pruning cleanup etc. replacement of shrubs etc

•   All exterior repair and replacement of the home

•   All home insurance for the thousand dollar deductible

•   Garden

He/She would no doubt find that the cost of these services is worth $400-$700 alone per month. In addition to this cost, one can pro-rate the Eastman Annual Assessment  of $3189 over 12 months, which is $266 per month (ignoring interest costs) to determine an Eastman equivalent fee with Hilltop of $666-966. It appears from this analysis that Hilltop controls its costs better.

The idea of comparing Eastman Assessment fees to two or three other SIMILAR entities in the state of New Hampshire HAS MERIT. The comparison communities need to be homes in some like owner Association. Comparing Eastman to Hilltop is misleading and demonstrates why the ECA Board and Officials need to be held accountable by NON GOVERNANCE MEMBERS.

Submitted by Robert Logan--40 year resident of Eastman