A SHELL GAME: Renovate the Center

 It has been stated that on page 15 of the Capital Improvement Plan (under Capital Improvement Committee) there is an explanation of why we would spend $1.7 million to repair renovate the Center. Here are some key excerpts from that page:

·      Project Cost:

o   Design Permitting $150,000

o   Construction $1,500,000

·      Project Title: Renovate/Enhance the Center

·      Project Description: this is a "work in progress". As a FIRST step in the project we need to complete major repairs renovations REMODELING and SYSTEM UPGRADES to the existing footprint.........”

“An ongoing needs assessment is in-progress which will help the community determine the needs/desires and support of the community beyond the needed repairs that were identified in the facility condition assessment.”

COMMENTS: Where is the facility condition assessment and why is that document not defined in a format such as the detailed list outlined below for Eastman members who pay the bill?

CETF and CRC members have stated in some totally controlled charades and forums that this was talked about. These are controlled governance meetings. Where is the summary executive document containing the following information?

A detailed Center Renovation Cost List in priority order of required renovations categorized as follows:

a.    Must do: 0-12 months / Dollars per major item  

b.    Need to do: 0-12 months/ Dollars per major item

c.    Want to do: 0-12 months/ Dollars per major item 

d.    A similar list created for 12 to 60 months  

It is standard Eastman budgeting procedure that this information would be contained in the Annual Capital Budget Requirements. In the Annual Budget there is a Capital Projects List in priority order with a line drawn after a given proposed “capital-spending amount”. (FY2015 Budget p. 107-108--http://tinyurl.com/qaukzw2 under Finance & Budget Committee).  

However, we are unable to find any Center Projects listed for the Center in the FY2015 Budget, which indicates that, the F&B Committee and the Board may have collaborated and decided unilaterally that they will replace the Center.  Clearly the FY2015 approved Budget is disconnected from the Center Renovation Project. Why?

Why have Eastman officials become so lax in defining specific requirements and cost of those requirements as it does in the Annual Capital Plan? Is it because there is no quantifiable substantiation of the $1,700,000 they want to spend in a never ending project?  Or is it because in fact less than $500,000 would be more than adequate to do what needs to be done to repair the building?

Project Need/Justification: Several systems and structures are continuing to deteriorate at the Center. Maintaining each has become increasingly costly over the past few years........

COMMENTS: Once again:

·      No specific data

·      No specific cost analysis

·      No specific repair analysis

·      No timeline

Further on, in the section entitled Project Background/History one finds another vague statement:

·      Some of the original construction materials, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, did not meet exacting standards and as a result are now functioning at less than ideal effectiveness.

COMMENTS: This kind of vague statement could be made about every building in the community, every home, and every condo. However these kind of sweeping indictments of all work done prior to the existing regime and all predecessor governance decisions have become the modus operandi of Mr. Goldman and his followers. It has been stated about the Sewer Company, it has been stated about the Golf Course, it has been stated about the Water Company and indeed it featured as a teaser line for the disaster that we are now told the Center building is. Centered on page 7 in bold of the glossy mailed Center package are the following two statements:

1)   We are at a decision point similar to 1995. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past.

2)   Let's invest in a quality project and do it right.

This indictment of all previous Eastman volunteers and Eastman employees is without merit. It is inappropriate and demonstrates that Eastman governance today lacks respect for Eastman members of the past as well as those present who disagree with the greed and dictatorial policies of current Eastman governance. 

Submitted by Robert Logan