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157 replies on “Comments”

Dear Harborside Neighbors and friends,

After almost 30 years, we are saying goodbye to our beautiful home at Harborside. Our condo is going up for sale on Tuesday, May 7th. The sale is being handled by our real estate agent Mary Stewart and we are directing all inquiries to her attention.

A home is more than just a place you live, it is also the community you live in. Thank you for being such a wonderful community, we will miss all of you.

With warm regards,

Bert and Liz

Cissie and I are moving out of Harborside tomorrow to go to Brooksby Village. It was not an easy decision to make but something we realized it was time to do. Our married life started off in Marblehead and both of our daughters were born here. Thus began a heartfelt connection to this town we have had since. We have lived in 6 different locations in town, amounting to 37 years of time. We feel that the time at Harborside, over the past 8 years, has been the perfect conclusion to our Marblehead experiences. We will miss it deeply but are grateful for the time we have spent here and the people we have met. As they say in French au revoir, until we see you again.
Cissie and Jay, A1

Dear Jay and Cissie,

You both have always been the brightest, warmest and most welcoming additions to our community. Ron and I treasure our friendship with you and the many memories we share. And on a more personal note, I am forever grateful for the time and effort you gave and the patience you exhibited while serving as a Harborside Board member & Chair over many years. Your contributions are incalculable.

We will miss you deeply, but this is not au revoir. Rather, it is À bientôt. You are not far away, and we’ll be seeing you.

Much love and Slainte,

Leslie and Ron

Dear Jay and Cissie,

Your warm smiles and energy always feel like a soothing balm to me. This, along with your happy and positive spirit, causes me to smile every time I see you or think about you. You are dear to me and will remain in my heart. I love you both and look forward to the joy of hugging you again some day soon.

Dottie and Bart

Dear Jay & Cissie,

Dottie and Leslie said it better than I can, and I agree with their every word. We will miss your warm smiles and friendly way at HS and I look forward to staying in touch.

I wish you much happiness in your new place at Brooksby Village. I’m glad to know the bar will be a short walk down the hall.

All the best,
Bart

Jay and Cissie,
Mary and I will forever be grateful for your friendship. You were the first to welcome us to Harborside Community which meant a great deal to us. I will miss our conversations. We most definitely need to keep in touch!

All the best, you will be missed!

Arrivederci,
Mary and Phil

Jay,
Joe and I wish you the very best in your move. You and Cissie will be missed at Harborside. It is a better place because of you. Your quiet stalwart demeanor and ability to work with many personalities was so helpful. We will miss the twinkle in your eye!
All the best,
Libby and Joe

We wish you the very best as you enter a new phase of life and a new address. thank you Jay and Cissie for your friendship, and Jay, for your leadership…..you will both be missed. happy trails, Roger and Sally

Hi Jay, hi Cissie,

We just wanted to reflect on how much Marianne and I enjoyed getting to know you (with that Iris twinkle in you eye) and Cissie with her lovely smile over the past years.

I also personally appreciated your leadership as Chair of the Trust. You were a tough act to follow!

As you are moving on to Brooksby Village, you and Cissie will be very much missed here in the Harborside community.

We wish you both all the very best in the future. Keep in touch.

Marianne and Dave Gold

Thoughts on Harborside’s Trustee Elections

Our Harborside documents call for Trustee elections to be determined by a 67% majority of owners based on their ownership percentage.

As we heard in the February 16, 2023 Trustee meeting, a proposal was made to change that.

Originally proposed in the meeting by an owner was to vote for a nominated Trustee by simple majority. Subsequently, in the meeting, the owner proposed a simple majority based on the percentage of ownership an owner has.

The key difference between a simple majority vote and a vote based on the percentage of ownership is how the weight of each owner’s vote is determined.

A simple majority vote gives every owner an equal say in the decision regardless of the percentage of ownership in Harborside. Adopting a simple majority vote concept contradicts how everything is decided at Harborside and ignores an individual owner’s ownership percentage value.

Introducing the percentage of ownership into the simple majority concept of voting is also not equitable. A vote based on the percentage of Harborside ownership gives more weight to owners with a larger stake in the outcome.
The seven largest percentage of ownership owners equals 49.58%. Adding one owner with more than a .43% percentage of ownership will top 50%.

A small group of the large percentage owners could support or block a Trustee candidate who may be supported by a larger group of the smaller percentage owners.

The result would be eight owners deciding which two owners will govern Harborside (Trustee decisions can be decided by only two of the three Trustees).
Fourteen owners would effectively have no say in Harborside decisions.

Ownership percentage is the concept governing everything at Harborside, i.e., payments of association dues and special assessments and voting on all matters regarding the Trust (including Trust documents and Trustee elections).

Though these numbers are theoretical, adopting a simple majority concept of voting either by using numbers of owners or by using a simple majority of a percentage of ownership in our Trustee election process is a prelude to the possible reality of unfair governance of our Harborside community.

I just read this in the statements about the price increases for our docks.
“The elimination of On-The-Dock space to provide residents with more recreational space.”
If it just means we can’t leave chairs, umbrellas and such on the dock – well no one does anyway (I don’t think). But if it means we can no longer swim off the docks? That would be so sad!!

Hi Liz… “The elimination of On-The-Dock space to provide residents with more recreational space.” means the HDC has eliminated the use of space on the dock by small vessels such as dinghies. The elimination doesn’t affect on-the-dock use by all residents to swim, sun, and enjoy both the South and North floats.

This will be the final comment from this “grumpy old man”. Very few of our owners avail themselves of this medium and that is a shame. I just spent about 30 minutes reviewing all of the comments/responses posted since early 2014. Sadly, I think at least half of them were mine. If you would review the past comments you will learn that I have been very outspoken about the good, the bad and the ugly at Harborside in recent years!

I am passing the baton–someone else has to become the “rabble rouser”. I have entered the ninth inning of my life and will not allow one more pitch, ball or strike, to distract me from the beauty and tranquility of living here. This realization occurred to me this afternoon as I was sitting on my deck watching the activity on the harbor. What a life!

We are with you all the way. The great joy always has been seeing the harbor every day, summers with all the activity and the tranquility of a winter day. And storms can be fun too. Life, even with new limits is indeed good.
Liz and Bert

There was a dear fellow named Roger
Who glowered from under his dodger
He sat on his deck
And said, “what the heck”
I guess I’m a grumpy old codger!

It is your favorite correspondent once again–now asking for a personal favor. Please go to comment I posted a year ago, August 23, 2019. Maybe also look at the earlier July comment.

I have now heard from at least six other owners that have expressed either agreement or interest in obtaining a bank loan to accomplish the much needed improvements at Harborside. The other two octogenarians agree it should be done in “our lifetime”.

Please help encourage our trustees to at least give this proposal serious consideration. Also note that our newly elected trustee hoped that the idea would have ben discussed the 2019 annual meeting. Help me get something going to expedite the long delayed and much needed improvements to our Harborside community. Thank you–Roger

Hello neighbors, it is me yet again with the first website comment since last December. I was going to post something after the annual meeting and then decided to bite my tongue. If you would review the history of the comments on this website you will note that I have been very vocal about Harborside matters for several years.

Sally and I have owned unit B3 for nearly 16 years. After spending much o our time In Sedona,AZ we are now full time, year round Harborside residents. This is our home and we really love it here being close to our kids and grandkids. I want Harborside to be the best it can be.

I think Bert Michaud, Chuck Zoubek and I are the only octogenarian men here. A couple of years ago when campaigning for capital improvements, I was told it was in the five or ten year plan . I responded that I would like have it done in my lifetime. I hope Bert and Chuck agree.

The recent and very unusual annual meeting left me befuddled. With everything that is going on and not going on how is it possible that the meeting would last only 30 minutes.? How about some discussion about the walkway? How about some serious talk about improvements to the dilapidated D building? The parking lot? Meetings are for communication and this was a failure. Then today, Friday, I was surprised to see “friendly” parking signs–was this matter mentioned at the meeting two days ago?

At last years meeting and in prior posts on this website I suggested that we consider obtaining a loan to accomplish some much-needed improvements. There seemed to be some support for this among our owners that it should be investigated. Has it been?

Sorry (not) for the long diatribe but I truly feel we are entitled to more frequent and better communication from our management company and our trustees.

Roger, I agree with you on the loan situation, Interest rates are historically low and it could be a great opportunity for the improvements to be done.
Joe

Joe, maybe the trustees could consider asking the owners for an opinion on this matter. Last year more than one person said it was worth consideration.

The biggest concern the BOT had as we implemented this necessary new technology, Zoom, for our meetings going forward was how to insure the owners would be able to interact with us and management during the meeting. That is why we asked for any questions owners might have to submit them to Lesley Management before the meeting. None were submitted. During the meeting we repeated several times if there were any questions during any of the presentations to use the “chat” function to indicate to the host that you had a question. No one chose to pose a question that way. And then at the conclusion of the meeting each owner was un-muted and several asked questions.
If there are any owners who would like to discuss how to use this technology going forward, which we will use until or when this pandemic dies down, please feel free to contact us.
And thank you all for joining in on the meeting

I provided via email a 58 page document directly to each Trustee and the management company before the annual meeting listing numerous and obvious problem areas. The document included pictures of the problems, taken in some cases, years apart.

Not one of them acknowledged or mentioned receiving the list.

If any owners would like to see what I sent please let me know.

Merry Christmas to all you lucky people in the B and D buildings. You are getting a brand new plywoood boardwalk just in time for Santas’ arrival. Please take good care of it because it will probably have to last a long time!

Hello Harborside neighbors. Our annual meeting is next week so I hope you have a chance to read this before the meeting. Yesterday, we received a lengthy explanation of the C2 reconstruction project. Last February I commented that the other 22 owners at Harborside should not be responsible for this but apparently we are. As of now we have blown through our annual budget, spent the money recovered from the lawsuit, tapped our reserve account and seem to be on the verge of insolvency.

The $375,000 spent on C2 would have been better utilized to completely refit the D building for the five owners of that dilapidated structure. Please look at the dangerous “board walk” that has existed between the B and D buildings for two plus years. Look at and feel the rotten and unsafe railings on this building. The condition of the decks and lattice is atrocious. The shingles are rotten. Frankly I do not understand why the owners in this building have not raised hell about this.

But all this is history. Unfortunately, it is what it is. I now ask you to think outside the box with me.

1. Harborside could be and should be the premier waterfront condominium property in Marblehead. I recently related a dream of how this could come true and will now add some flesh to the vision.

I suggest that we investigate/study the possibility of obtaining a $1 million loan to be repaid over a 10 year period. These funds would be used to complete the installations of the railing systems, decks and siding on all buildings. It would also provide for the resurfacing our our dilapidated parking lot.

Assuming an interest rate of 5% the annual cost of the loan would be $127,284. Early on, our condo fees would be higher but should decrease as there will no longer be a need for annual maintenance on the new systems

Here is the upside. This could perhaps be totally accomplished in a year.. Our community will SPARKLE. Our property values will INCREASE. Our condo units will be SALEABLE. And we can be PROUD of where we live.

2. I recommend the Board of Trustees consider the above. If nothing else I suggest the formation of a long range planning committee to help plan our future and a finance committee to help monitor the use of our limited funds.

3. One final suggestion. Our HOA in Arizona implemented a ownership transfer fee of 1% of the purchase price when a unit is sold. This amount goes into the reserve fund for future capital expenditures. It is a 34 unit complex and 2-4 units sell every year at $800,000+ so it adds up and negates the need for assessments or dues increases.

Please think about all this–see you at the meeting–Roger

Maybe a smaller loan to address many dire issues but not require another monthly fee increase. There have been two increases PLUS an assessment in the 4 years I have owned my condo. Our history of such is shocking to all who know it.

Interesting posting. We too are anxious to move forward on projects,especially the D building egress and decks and railings. It may be worth while for the trustees to look into the merits of taking out a loan although a million dollar one seems too high and we would not be in favor of increasing condo fees.
The 1% transfer fee may be worth some discussion at the annual meeting. Is this a common practice for condominium associations?

Hi All!
I am selling my Boston Whaler 1977 -13 ft. Yamaha 25 hp. Includes trailer. Purchased 2018 for $7,500 selling for $5,000. In good condition, just needs a little tender, love & care…. varnish etc. Motor runs strong..if anyone is interested or if you know anyone interested.. it would be greatly appreciated. I recently purchased a 2003 Boston Whaler which better suits me.
Ron will be posting a photo shortly.

Thank you for your time.
Best,
Robin (A3)

Last night I had a dream. Or maybe it was a vision. Our parking lot had been resurfaced and finished. The B, C and D buildings were all clad with the new siding product. They were also sporting the new decking and railing systems. Wow, did this place really look wonderful. The bonus was that the value of the individual units had appreciated by $50,000 to $100,000. Wow, how did this all happen so quickly?

I learned that our Trust had negotiated a long term, low interest loan from a local bank. Interest rates are low and perhaps going lower. A general contractor was retained and was able to complete the entire project in six months. The icing on this very pretty cake is that the monthly mortgage payment is about the same as our current condo fee! Could this be?

I must have started talking in my sleep because Sally nudged me back int real
ity!

Your dream is not off base. We could have taken a loan last year but, for some reason, that was not pursued. Having paid off the prior loan we had a window of opportunity. I’m not sure the bank would be so willing now given the foundation project in building C has eaten up most of our reserve………Our finances are a mess.

Based on the current Profit and Loss, I have asked management for a projected end of year balance on all accounts (including Dock)
This will give us a good idea of where we are to start 2020.

You are right that a loan is the way to go. Most associations at some point require bank loans to move forward and maintain property.

Here is how I see it. Without increasing HOA fees we should be able to afford a $600,000 5 yr loan at 4.5%.
This would allow Harborside to start on a few major projects. Knowing that it will take more that $600k to get the property up to standard, at the end of the term, we would take another loan and identify additional projects.

2020 Budget
Income
HOA Fee Income. $443
Expenses
Administration $162
Common $38
Dock $10
Utilities $24
Reserve contribution $40
Loan Repay $134 ($11,185 per month=$600k loan 5 yr 2 4.5%)
Maintenance $35

At the end of 5 years we will have a reserve contribution of $200,000.
And have invested $600,000 into major capital improvements in Harborside.
Then we review the next 5 years. This is a long term approach but it offers a financial path that accomplishes many objectives.
Janet

Why should this be only a dream

If we all worked together it could be achieved
Everyone would benefit

Can you imagine how proud we would be of our home

Seems to me we are a community of good intelligent people
The immediate resources are in house

Gillian

I don’t generally respond to postings because frankly it is bad form for a Trustee to engage in speculation related to Trust policies (fiscal or otherwise) without the input of the other Trustees. We operate by majority rule, simple as that. Nothing I write here should be interpreted as Trust policy or opinion.
Frustrations abound, I get that, we all get that. I would suggest that there is no one at Harborside that doesn’t share Roger’s “Dream”. The reality is every organization is limited by its available resources. Harborside is no different. I am neither for nor against loans, however, I will say that It is overly simplistic to suggest that taking out a loan or multiple loans for that matter is a panacea. It is certainly an option to be considered but let’s not get carried away with the benevolence of our financial institutions. I am not a financial expert, nor do I pretend to be but one aspect that was left out of the 5 year – 4.5% – $600,000 loan example was the associated interest charges, approximately $71,000 (assuming no closing related costs). Monies that could otherwise be spent on actual projects. There is no free lunch.
The backlog of maintenance and capital related projects is daunting, decades of less than stellar maintenance and construction practices as well as emergent situations beyond our control present us all with a significant challenge. One I’m confident we can meet but only by working together. There is no quick fix. I applaud any and all constructive discussion.
See you all at the Annual Meeting!

Phil, your reply is reasonable and valid. I submit that my utopian community will be blessed with maintenance-free siding, decks and railings. We spent hundred of thousands to maintain and replace these items in prior years. Over and over again!

I agree with Phil- there are a lot of moving parts that have to be considered, but hooray to Roger for
bringing the idea forward! Harborside has been an embarrassing sight for too long.

The current storm is proof positive that the size of some of the boats on our docks is too big. The North Dock is now under a tremendous amount of strain…….

I’m responding to you as an individual owner, not as the Chair of the HDC.
In the entire history of the Harborside Condominium floats we have never suffered the loss of, or damage to, the floats or any boat tied to them.
In fact, the condition of our floats and their chains has proven the quality and maintenance of both.
Additionally, the response of the renters of space at or on the docks is proof of their consideration of the rules requiring the removal of their boats when conditions that would endanger the floats or their boats are forecast.
The actions of John Garibotto during yesterday’s unforeseen microburst is proof we have people who, when needed, will actually do something positive for our community.
In the past, we’ve had boats tied to our floats that have weighed significantly more than any of the present boats tied. Again, never ever an issue.
I’m aware of what you’re trying to accomplish but your argument is unfounded and unfair.

Congrats to the Parking Lot Committee on the new lines. It makes parking much easier and although we will never have enough for all our cars, it sure helps. During busy times in the past, we have managed by sometimes blocking in a car for a short time but leaving a key if the car needs to be moved, much like the BYC who also is faced with not enough spaces.

Thanks to all the residents for moving their cars in ample time for the lining to be done on the two days. If it weren’t for that, who knows where we would be right now?

Hello Harborside friends and neighbors–It is me once again. I continue to be surprised and disappointed that so few of us take advantage of this communication vehicle. If you agree with what I am about to say (or even if you don’t) please mention it to another Harborside resident.

I listened to the recordings of our last two Trustee meetings this afternoon. It dawned on me that several other owners are not satisfied with the accounting and financial reporting of our management company. The C Building project has magnified the communication problem I am sure Kim means well but this is not her long suit.

I am wondering if any of you would like to join me in an informal meeting to discuss this matter. We could bat around some ideas to submit for consideration. Since we are not supposed to contact Trustees directly, we would have to submit our ideas to the board through Kim.

Please respond on our website, via email, telephone or personally.

Thanks–Roger

Roger I want to let you know that the Trustees are working on ideas to provide additional clarity to our financial reporting packages with the intent not only of producing an accounting trail but also the status of various projects underway and pending for the year. Once we have a prototype we will reveal and look for feedback. The sooner we can get it out the better. stay tuned

Jay, thanks for your response to my comment. Since we are now forming committees to address Harborside issues may I be so bold to suggest that a long-range planning committee may be considered?

I think we could consider that once we have our plans laid out for the remaining steps (timing, estimated costs) of the identified projects. Drainage, D-Building, parking lot repaving, egresses up to code etc. working on that process now.

Congratulations to Phil for doing what he was elected to do. I read his open letter to Harborside owners and agree in large part (as do many others) with what he said and suggested. The impact of the renovation of a C building unit on the many other requirements and necessary improvements of Harborside is what worries me and many others.

I suggest that all owners visit the Harborside website and go to the Rules and Regulations section (R&R). Then carefully read paragraph B18 (especially the first sentence) and paragraph B19 (especially the sentence beginning “however”).

Fair is fair. Did this really need to be done? Should the buyers’ inspection have discovered the problem? Does the owners’ personal homeowners insurance cover this? How about the Trust master policy? Was in-house engineering expertise consulted before retaining outside expertise?

Bottom line, I do not feel the other 21 owners should be obligated to provide a blank check for this!

Respectfully, Roger Plauche

Roger,
I agree with you! We need a better explanation of does R&R. I believe that these rules are subject to interpretation and could have a positive outcome on our bottom line. Where in the bylaws does it state that the foundation is a common area??
Also, without understanding the scope of the work needed and the max dollar amount we are responsible for , I continue to feel uninformed.

I understand that a pipe ruptured and is getting repaired today, my question is who pays for that repair. Who caused the problem? Please don’t tell me it’s old because I will tell you all of it is old.

That sewer pipe has had several back-up issues over time. And during part of the reno of C2 they discovered that the pipe at the end did not run downward, it turned up. So we knew it had to be redone and the crack was discovered today during the initial repair.. The repairs today should take care of the historical problems that have occurred and it is a trust expense.

Just a point of information,
the Master Deed outlines what is common area and does include foundations. This is also in compliance with Massachusetts law re what is Condominium common area.

Bert and I will be In Jordan and unable to attend or call in to the upcoming Trustee meeting. We hope that the various opinions being expressed will lead to healthy discussions and an understanding of the complex undertaking it is to maintain and update common areas.

Thank you for your comments Roger & Mary. This is extremely concerning to me as an owner. I have felt strongly about the unusually high association fees from the day I purchased my place. Unfortunately, for many reasons I am unable to take advantage of such a wonderful place and paying exorbitant fees (as a result of prior issues) has left me less than happy. I did not do my own do diligence and regret it. The high fees (that I thought maybe someday would go down and not up) has provided me with a serious challenge in selling my unit. There has been such great interest (over last summer) with many offers being halted at the condo fee. There is so much to explain to potential buyers who do their homework and ask the right questions. I am concerned about the above mentioned because it causes me to believe that fees could go up due to how much work is being done and needs to be done. I certainly do not want to be obligated to pay for any more issues that have nothing to do with me. It doesn’t seem right.

Erinn
My wife and I moved into Harborside July 2016. we were aware of the fees when we moved in but really like the place and location and felt that given the location and relative size of the property it was for us. Since we moved here the fees have not gone up, there have been no assessments to cover costs, we have no loans and have a healthy reserve. I know several realtors who have been around town a long time and they know the history and feel that we are in a better place than we were several years ago. Plus we have settled the law suit. I am sorry for the difficulty you have for selling your place but as we look to address the updating of the rest of the property, which we have discussed several times, for D Building and other projects, we are in good financial shape as of now

Hello everyone,as Roger would say I am responding to Now, to all of the concern and unhappiness swirling around our wonderful, all of ours,homes reminiscent of the causes which caused me to send in my comments
To all on October 20 2014 a1:32 headed up as
Shock,Sadness & Joy. While we were going through a
Tough and divisive time. Please. Read as it is still in the comments section. My feelings and thoughts are the same now as before. Please read Liz’ comment to research the law and condo regs.
Let’s get back to the good times, this home setting allows us.bert

You are probably aware that Martha Wheeler resigned from her position on our homeowner board. Several of your neighbors asked Phil DiDomenico to allow his name to be placed in nomination and he agreed. However, in order to comply with the governing documents of the Harborside Condominium Trust, Phil must be elected by a majority of Harborside Condominium homeowners representing 67% of the beneficial interest of the Condominium. Please return the your ballot to Lesley Management, Inc. by Friday, January 25, 2019.

Phil offers us an impressive engineering, management and consulting background. Importantly, he is committed to consider community input in the resolution of the many issues facing the owners at Harborside. I think it would be great if he would be elected with a 100% vote.

Thanks for your consideration!
Ginny

Hello friends and neighbors. it is moi once again and Sally and I hope you are having a great Christmas Holiday season. I also hope this post will be communicated to you.

On November 26, I sent the following email to Jay Carty.

“I believe you are the trustee member of the HDC. Based on this belief and in anticipation of the upcoming Trustee meeting, I submit the following for consideration. I have long felt that the fees charged for dock privileges favored the big boat owners over the little boat owners. Dock rental costs in the area runs about $100 a foot or more.

The rear faces of our 2 floats generate $3156 (4x$789) for the HDC whereas the other faces generate only $1335 each. I have heard that additional outhaul positions are being considered.

I suggest that a more equitable rate would be to charge every watercraft the flat rate of $50 per foot. Under this system, the owner of a 12 foot boat would pay $600, the owner of a 25 foot boatload pay $1250, the owner of a 40 foot boat would pay $2000, etc. Please share this suggestion with you fellow Trustees.”

Please give this your consideration when responding to other messages on this subject! Again–Merry Christmas–Roger

As you can see by the survey Roger that is the proposal being vetted by the survey Ron sent out yesterday afternoon. FYI the wording was edited and approved by Bart and I on behalf of the HDC.

Merry Christmas to you and Sally. See you next week. Bring the warm air with you

It must be a user problem, eh? No one other than you so far has had a problem. So you could no even see the proposal? I can print it off for you and email it to you then you could send the response to Ron

The felling of the last flagpole Saturday represented another step in the seawall reno. The good news is that the pole was in a lined hole that went 5 feet deep (3 feet below ground level) and that kind of bodes well to our future option for new flagpoles with yardarms and the strength of the seawall. Stay tuned!

I thank all my Harborside friends and neighbors for the beautiful bouquet of flowers and the donation to my favorite haunt away from Harborside, the Marblehead COA, located at the Community Center. Like Harborside, it is a place to participate in many activities, cards, pickle-ball, bocce (my favorite), golf, tap dance, etc.
My best wishes and support go to the Board of Trustees, Leslie, Jay and Martha. Thank you for your service to Harborside.

Today is Sunday, July 22. It has been an up and down weather kind of day–definitely an inside and maybe a melancholy kind of day. Yesterday, on the other hand, was a beautiful happy outside day. The combination is what has prompted this post from moi, the most frequent poster on the Harborside website.

Sally and I have been here for nearly 14 years, less than some of you but more than most. Suffice it to say, long enough to have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I am delighted to say that the bad and the ugly are behind us. Over the last three years or so wonderful new owners have replaced disgruntled naysayers and our community is a much happier place for all of us. I have really appreciated observing the activity on the floats as the friends, kids and grandkids of our owners come to enjoy the best of what Harborside offers.

I hope this goodwill is in full force at the upcoming picnic and annual meeting!

See you soon–Roger

is there a way to notify us if a comment is posted in the comments section of the website like we get a notification that the minutes of our meetings are posted?

Ron, I agree. After several days, there is no indication that anyone has seen the post. Really too bad that our neighbors are not aware of this communication method. Maybe the new owners have to be introduced to the Harborside web site!

Actually, I do introduce every new owner to our website. I send each a personal welcome eMail with instructions on how to submit their unique password and then how to access the website. I’m not sure what else can be done to encourage participation.

Yea, Roger.
Yes, it has been a busy summer on the docks, so great to see. Hope to see as many residents as possible at the summer picnic on Thursday, August 16.

Roger,
We are so grateful to you and Sally for introducing us to 24 Lee St. (almost 10 years ago!). We plan to spend more time here and will soon settle in for August. As our daughter Rollyn remarked, “You have so much fun at Camp Harborside!” There is a camaraderie here (this year especially, as new families join in), that would be hard to replicate.

Muffin and Chuck

Can anyone at Harborside recommend their house cleaners? I have someone from when we used to own our house but thought I would ask our community and get someone who is used to Harborside units. Thanks in advance!
Libby

Hi Libby,

A couple of us at Harborside hire a wonderful woman named Flavia Lima. She’s lovely and really good at what she does. Originally got her name from several friends who are very particular. Her contact information is (774) 275-9623.

Leslie

Good evening friends and neighbors. It’s me again. We just finished our 2017 Annual Meeting which left me feeling somewhat incomplete or unsatisfied. I was expecting that some recognition of , or remarks about, Don Nowland would have been offered. I was planning to provide the following remarks at the meeting but will offer them now. Sally and I discussed the following with Davita and think she was in general agreement with it.

As you are probably aware, it is proper flag etiquette for the American flag to be illuminated when on display during night time hours. We are suggesting that a heavy duty flood/spot light be professionally installed to project onto our flag .This installation will help us to remember Don’s service to Harborside and to his country.

We hope you agree with suggestion. I think Don would! Fenway has the Pesky Pole so why can’t we have our Nowland Pole. If there are not sufficient funds in our operating budget to do this, I would be happy to chair a committee to raise the necessary amount to get it done!

Comments?

What a great idea. What we have been thinking is professionally printing up his poem “Ghosts of Marblehead” with a picture of the old boat yard and framing it and hanging it in the foyer of D

Interesting idea. Another idea was framing Don’s poem,”Ghost of Marblehead” along with an appropriate picture and put it in the entrance of D building. I think most of us want to honor Don in some way but not sure of what would be best. Let’s keep dialogue going and get Davita’s input also.

What a thoughtful and unique idea Roger. I have spoken with Davita about that and another idea that the board has been considering. We’ll continue to work with her to find the best way to honor Don’s many years of service to Harborside. We hoped to announce our plans at the annual parking lot pot luck, which we still hope to do.

While the Dock Committee in partnership with the Board has, over the years, looked at a various ways to light the flag (as you note is proper flag etiquette), it is a costly and involved project. But it is certainly not unachievable, and this may be just the push to finally achieve a lighted flag pole, particularly if you are offering to contribute to the project.

It’s unfortunate you feel somewhat incomplete and unsatisfied about what you feel is the Board’s failure to recognize or remark about Don’s passing at the annual meeting. As you were part of the last Trustee Meeting, you are aware we paid a heartfelt tribute to Don both for his years of service and as an incredibly wonderful human being.

As for your idea, it would have been perfectly appropriate to mention it during the open discussion portion of the annual meeting, but we’re happy that you avail yourself of this open forum on the website.

For those who were not able to attend the last Trustee meeting, please go to the recording. It can be found on this website under the tab “Meetings, Recordings and Minutes; Trustees Meetings”. Our honoring of Don starts 4:25 in of the May 17, 2017 meeting and ends at the 9 minute mark. I would also encourage everyone to go to the “Community; Don Nowland” tab to learn more about this remarkable human being.

Roger,
As our master bedroom faces the flagpole, I would be concerned about a heavy duty flood light lit all night; while we have shades, it would take equally heavy draperies to make the room dark enough for sleeping. For this reason, we would vote for the framing of Don’s poem placed in D building as a memorial.

If this project proceeds, I’m sure we can find lighting that provide narrow beams (necessary because the flag flies at around 30 feet) and have shrouds to shield the bulb or LEDs (preferably LEDs) from light spill into any unit. Even though three instruments are needed to appropriately light the American flag this shouldn’t be difficult to find.

Thanks Chuck. The previous post confuses me but the point was taken and is understandable. By the way, this exchange demonstrates the value of this communication medium!

I just listed to the minutes from the November meeting and now want our insurance agent to look over the master policy. The condo docs section lists the master policy as 2014. Is that still current? If not, could the current copy be posted so I can email it to our agent?
Happy holidays to everyone!
Libby Parker

Sometime next week, before the nomination process is closed, you will receive a notification from Lesley Management that Chuck Zoubek and I have nominated Jay Carty for the Trustee position being vacated by Jim Walters. Following is the content of our nominating letter.

Dear Harborside Owners,

As you know, we have the opportunity and need to elect a new Trustee for a three year term. Nancy Segee has been nominated and certainly has many qualifications but lacks one that is very important to us as owners. We ask that you follow our rationale.

Don Nowland served us as a Trustee for many, many years. After the fire, Jon Curtis stepped up to the plate and devoted many hundreds of hours to lead us through the first year of our rebuilding process. And since then Leslie de Moraes has led us during this past year of continued reconstruction What is the common denominator? They have all been full-time residents! (or full-time local availability in the case of Leslie)

We, the undersigned, strongly feel that at least one of our Trustees should be a full-time resident of Harborside. Although there are not many such “animals” from which to select, we are fortunate to have one very well qualified person who is willing to serve! We are pleased to nominate Jay Carty for the Trustee position. Jay is a long time resident of Marblehead who has fallen hard for Harborside and his new home (A1). His analytical and problem solving abilities will be of great assistance in our ongoing operations. He is a firm believer in transparent and open communications. Most importantly, he is aware of the time demands of this thankless job and is willing to make the sacrifice–year round!

We sincerely hope that you will give Jay full consideration!

Yesterday we had a very informative and spirited Trustee meeting. I attended in person and listened to the replay today. I spoke up with questions directed to our Trustees and was very pleased with the forthright responses. Please listen to the
recording of the meeting.

While I may be legitimately charged with being judgmental or not appropriately PC, I care very much about Harborside , really like living here and mostly really like my neighbors. I have long been supportive of the actions/decisions of our Trustees, past and present, but have high expectations of their performance. It is a thankless job but it is also one that they volunteered for!

We are all aware that Jim Walters will be departing from the Board of Trustees this summer. As a former Board Member, I observed Jim’s wonderful ability to listen to various positions and find common ground among Owners and neighbors. When differences of opinion arose, Jim’s positions were always well formulated and argued effectively. Many thanks to Jim for all the years he dedicated to Harborside.

With Jim departure from the Board, I have nominated Nancy Segee for a Board position. I’ll ask that my Nomination Letter be placed on the website. Nancy has been an owner for 23 years, has served on the Board of a 53-unit condominium complex, is an independent thinker and an advocate of Harborside within the complex and the community.

Good morning neighbors. I have been waiting for someone else to address the subject of communication (or lack thereof) but no one has stepped up. So I will weigh in. The email we received from our management company this morning put me over the top.

You will hopefully recall the series of posts to this web site last December. If not, please review them for grasping the full content of this post. Pay particular attention to the December 10 post from Jim Walters. In the past, our trustees had open and recorded meetings every month! In the last year there have been only three–July 1, October 24 and December 16. During this period many/most of our malcontents have moved on but I sense a growing amount of discontent about the lack of information and communication about the status (financial and otherwise) of our association.

Rather than sending out a petty notice about an open door (I admit that I am the culprit), I would like to know the outlook for the completion of the B building reconstruction project. What about the B7-B8-D5 egress? Last summer the Trustees commissioned a triage study to prioritize the maintenance needs of our four buildings. This was a good idea but we have never heard the results and action plan of the study! In one of the rare monthly meetings, we were told the Trust had hired a professional project manager and also retained the services of a landscape designer. How much has this additional professional advice cost our trust? What about the ongoing effort to receive some insurance compensation from Travelers? How much cost did we incur in settling the lawsuit with the O”Sullivans–both in legal fees and additional construction cost?

We were blindsided last October with the announcement of a major cost over-run and a second major assessment. I sincerely hope that the lack of communication does not portend a similar announcement of either a significant dues increase or yet another assessment!

Please, please talk to/communicate with us!

Actually John, should a fire occur, an open interior fire rated door could kill us all. And, because insurance companies are in the business to collect but not pay, they would likely use that as their excuse to not pay a fire claim or at least a portion of it and then cancel our insurance. Just say’n…

Actually Ron an unattended fire in a self cleaning oven could kill us all! Sally and/or I are always here when our door is propped open. Just say’n…

The B Building pics are great. Thanks again, Ron. Also want to thank Sharon Glasser and Leslie for their hard work in beautifying the front of C building with “sweat equity” and Sara Olsen for her ideas. We are looking for an old dingy to use as a planter in the middle so if anyone knows of a throw away dingy we are interested!
It is great to see the spirit of Harborside in action.

I also want to thank the team. They worked so hard and it looks so much better. What a great effort and result. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hello again. On 12/5, I posted a comment in reaction to the Trustee memo of 12/1. The Trustees posted a response on 12/7. I posted a second comment on 12/8. At that time, I was unaware the Trustees had posted a financial memo on 12/6. Having just read this memo, I realize it directly addressed many of the questions originally asked in my first post! Therefore, mea culpa!

Roger,

Thank you. Please be assured that the Trustees are very much aware of the difficulties the current financial situation presents to all Harborside Owners. Your concerns are valid and broadly shared. We will provide a full explication of the history of the reconstruction following the fire which will explain the various circumstances and issues that brought us to where we are now. We appreciate your patience and understanding now and going forward. I know both Liz and Leslie are unavailable today, so I am taking the liberty of responding on behalf of the Trustees.

Jim

Hello Trustees and there neighbors. As I write this, i can understand that you may feel that I am being a total nag and discontent. I am not. I hope most of you recall and understand that I have been totally supportive of our Trustees (present and past) in their efforts to cope with the disastrous aftermath of the carelessly caused and unattended fire of October, 2013.

In April of this year, Ron deMoraes responded to Bert Michaud saying…I’m going to send your comment to everyone via eMail so they may be able to take your suggestion and use this Comments tab as a place to “talk”. Thus, I am attempting to talk to all owners but recognize I will be primarily reaching the Trustees. Looking over the history of this Comment section of our website, it seems almost to be a personal blog. Anyhow, here I go!

Obviously, I have become very concerned and upset about the sudden turn in our financial situation. The responses to recently posed questions have not allayed my concerns. I refer to the explanation of the 2015 budget question regarding the secondary egress. I also refer to the comment about the remedial costs of the prior fire–those costs were expensed in 2014 and not in 2015 as suggested. I am also referring to the totally unsatisfactory response from our management company to my personal question about now pre-paying the remainder of my original $42,200 assessment.

Bottom line, we seem to have no grip on our finances! Or on our accounting and accountability of same! I do not recall what our original settlement with Travelers was so I will assume $1.2 million for this discussion. After adding the $900,000 special assessment, I come up with $2,100,000. We are now confronted with an addition assessment of $450,000 which calculates to a 21% cost over-run.

I come from a corporate management background where a cost over-run of this magnitude had to be explained (and steps taken to preclude recurrences). A commonly used accounting analysis is referred to a “source and use of funds”. In the case of the B Building project, the source of funds would be the insurance settlement, the assessment and the owner paid change orders. Now, how were these funds used compared to how they were intended to be used?

Finally, and I hesitate to go there, I wonder if we have thoroughly explored opportunities for financial recourse from the various possible sources?

I sincerely believe our owners want, expect and deserve frank answers to the above matters .

Roger
I replied to the Trustees reply to your original comment (below) and not having the history I was asking some of the (better put) questions you raised in this comment. And, as much as anything, I would like to apply “lessons learned” to the identified projects/challenges going forward because we are all in this together.

Roger,
Deanne and I have the same questions and are anxious to have the answers before committing any more money. We believe the actual insurance settlement was $965,912. That makes the total funds available $1,865,912, so the $450,000 of additional expenses is a 24% overrun. The numbers for the total funds come from the Reconstruction Financial Report through 5/6/15 posted under Financial Memos on the website. This financial report suggests that at that time there were enough funds available to cover the expected costs to complete.

We are particularly concerned that nobody seemed to realize there was an overrun until October, 2015. That’s when we first heard of it, and the trustees reported that they had just then realized the magnitude of the overrun. These systemic problems should be addressed before any more funds are gathered.

Deanne & Bill Siddall

Seasons Greetings to my Harborside neighbors! My reason for writing this post is to express my dismay or surprise at the recent notification of the financial situation we are facing. I feel we are entitled to detailed explanation of the reasons for an increase in the cost of the egress system from $275,000 to $450,000. I was of the impression that the $275,000 was included in our original $900,000 assessment. If that is the case, why do we need another $450,000 rather than just the difference between the current and original cost estimates? I am also struck by the fact that the proposed assessment is exactly half of the first one but only a three-month, rather than five years, payment window.

I was also surprised to learn for the first time that the 2015 budget included $75,000 for the secondary egress for units B7,B8 and C6 and that this amount is expected to be spent by year-end. And another $100,000 is to be expensed next year. Would it then be safe to assume that the 2017 operating budget will be reduced by at least that amount and possibly more because of the $40,000 seawall maintenance line item in the 2016 budget?

How much of the original $900,000 is still available? How much of the 2015 over run is due to contending with the O’Sullivan lawsuit? Does the Trust have any available legal remedies?

I hope these questions will be addressed in the forthcoming teleconference with the Trustees.

Thank you, Roger, for your careful attention to the budget we sent out. In our desire to get the budget and explanatory letter out as quickly as possible, the “Capital Improvement” budget line from the 2015 budget was blended with the “B7/B8/D6 Egress Phase 1” budget line. It was our mistake and oversight, and we apologize for that.

The “capital improvement” budget of $75,000 in 2015 was used for some necessary repairs and upgrades needed on the property. Three of the largest expenditures were things such as the sprinkler line spurs for Buildings C and D, the remediation of the severely compromised beam between units B7, B8 and B3, and the replacement of rotted wooden rails with the new stainless steel rail system for B3.

Because we learned, only in the past month or so, that we are required by the ZBA ruling to build the secondary egress for B7/B8,D6, we couldn’t have planned for it in the 2015 budget. As explained in our 12/2/15 letter, we felt the best approach for financing the secondary egress was to do it through an increase in fees over the next two years (2016 and 2017). This explains the Egress Phase 1 budget line. Because of this new expense, the Trust will be unable to do any improvements for future needs, including upgrading any decks or rails next year to the stainless steel rail system, therefore there is not a capital improvement line in this year’s budget.

The seawall line item will be an ongoing line item for this and future budgets. As the Trustees explained earlier, the Trust is engaging a geotechnical engineering company that specializes in seawall construction. In the Spring, they will be doing a full survey and assessment of the seawall, and they will provide us a report outlining areas of immediate and future concern, and a plan for necessary repairs and an ongoing maintenance plan. Our seawall is not in great shape. The work being done now is maintenance only, and we’re hoping it prevents further deterioration of the wall. There are several areas of real concern that will need repair in the near future. Maintenance is no longer an option. Surveying the wall and doing routine maintenance must be done on an annual basis to identify any movement in the wall and prevent future issues. Therefore that budget line, while it may be increased or decreased with each budget, will remain in the budget going forward.

Thank you,

The Board of Trustees

My (our) first post so hello to all from one of the newbies (July 31st the day of the blue moon an auspicious start) Unfortunately my wife and I will not be able to participate in next week’s BoT call since we will be away for a few days. The only thing I would like to see on other than verbal format for my own edification is a spread-sheet type of recap of money raised, money allocated to which undertakings, money spent so far and money left to be raised. Then, add on top of that, the current known and potential potential expenditures and what the potential source of those funds might be. Not having been here while you all have had to face this, I can only imagine what you have been through and applaud what has been accomplished so far. Now thee time is right for planning forward and taking lessons learned into account.

My wife and I love it here and appreciate the commitment that has been made and will continue to be made. We want to be part of the future here.

Thanks

In a recent period of just a few days, maybe a week, I read e-mails from Jeanne, Jen, Dianne, Bobby, Bill, Alain and Charles. Collectively they were acrimonious, misleading, erroneous, critical and somewhat nasty! As everyone knows by now, I have been supportive of our trustees (past and present) in their handling of the aftermath of the B building fire. The cumulative effect of these messages really irritated me! So I conjured up my sarcasm and threw in with them to defeat the “evil empire” (trustees).

I apologize if I confused anyone and hope that I didn’t. Obviously, I still support our trustees. It has been very disappointing to learn that my neighbors are disseminating erroneous or privileged information to others in the greater Marblehead community (something that certainly does not enhance the ability to sell at an inflated asking price) and complicates the ongoing legal negotiations which makes it more costly for all of us!

Obviously, the battle lines are drawn and we cannot ignore the elephant in the room. I sincerely hope and expect the legal dispute will soon be settled. I also expect that our home values will continue to be protected. I think we will be able to make peace with most of our abutting neighbors. And I hope we will be able to make peace with our remaining Harborside neighbors.

Please listen to the recording of yesterday’s board meeting. Frank (our attorney in the land court case) provided an excellent and reassuring overview of our position. By the end of the meeting, I sensed that tensions had eased somewhat

Roger, Your support is very much appreciated, although I don’t believe your apology for creating confusion is necessary. I recall the comment about “evil empire” you are referring to and it was disingenuous, at best. Having been a Trustee for a long while, and caring very much for Harborside, the string of e-mails you mention was particularly offensive to me. The most troubling aspect of all of them was the repetition of the same old statements as to our options and motives that have been labeled as simply untrue or inaccurate or erroneous so many times over the period since the fire. When the string of e-mails appeared, responding in kind with the truth, once again, seemed futile and we, the Trustees, said to one another that we did not know where to start to respond once again. Repeated mis-truths don’t become truths. That is why I chose to “call out”, as it was termed, the authors of the e-mails who were present at the meeting. I wish they had all been present. At the risk of sounding like a verbal bully, I questioned certain statements directly. The answers given were pathetic and I echo your suggestion that they be listened to because the falsity comes through loud and clear. I truly hope we can dispel the “elephant in the room” and all become good neighbors and friends again within Harborside. Jim

Ron and Bert, I will take you up on your suggestion to use this medium as a way to “talk” to others in our community. I phoned in to the April trustee meeting. I later listened to the recording of the meeting and encourage everyone to do so. I was shocked, appalled and disgusted by the way several of my “neighbors” spoke to/treated the volunteer trustees (especially Jon Curtis) during the course of the meeting. One would think they were responsible for starting the fire in the B building rather than doing their best to help us recover from the incident and the subsequent litigation! I urge everyone to co-operate in the effort to put this behind us!

Owners Building C Storage Area Response

Shock ,Sadness,and joy. Many of us can relate to being aware for many years of these types of problems being put on the back burner because of a cash or unwillingness to face the harsh reality of inactivity over many years of addressing ongoing expensive problems. Trustees over the past many years, I was one of those over the many years, also Liz and many others,too many to name. Always came upon that HUGE WALL called cash flow.
The fire that none of us foresaw or wanted, has focused onto all of the neglected areas for more years to expand upon, the damage due to rot, mold,and time lost to upgrade Law & Order improvements.

Sadness, Every Dollar that we have to spend is regretfully sad at this time, because the amount has become Hugh enough to make the hair on all of our necks to stand Up. If not addressed, will only cause more outflow later.

Hope. I can only say to all of you that my support of the Trustees capabilities to address our problems , address the enormous needs that must be addressed, remember that from this day on we are all sharing on a Percentage of cost of which I truly wish we, Liz and I were not on the top rung.

Trustees: Lets all realize that these are non paid people who are giving up a large portion of their personal time, energy,and at times being accosted by us who do not agree with every step taken. Also to satisfy the questions cause,a cost equivalent from a Lawyer, Architect,Engineer, Contractor,and to many other specialist, not to mention TIME, which has caused us to be moved back in the approving Board’s pecking order.
I write this E-mail not in support or denial of the. C building problems, also I have not had any discussions with Management or Trustees , but an open E-mail to all owners.
To address an on going problem of passing the problem down the line. Must stop.
Lastly I would like to see an openness by all owners to use this form for all questions so we can discuss, and leave the Trustees to do their job, on this problem thrust upon them, and others.

Joy: This is for all of us owners, those of us of 20 years down to One year, who saw a value at the time of purchases to buy into Happiness and contentment ( not all may agree with me on the wording.

Hello everyone, I was going through our web site , with nice music from Pandora, truly this should be used as a source of enjoyment and information and a platform to express all thoughts, good and bad so we can clear misunderstandings.
Ron has created a great spot for us to praise and rant if needed, lets all use it more, If you think someone does not go on site, introduce it to them so we see more of owner comments. Bert

Thanks Bert… I’m going to send your comment to everyone via eMail so they may be able to take your suggestion and use the this Comments tab as a place to “talk”.

Ron and Bert, I will take you up on your suggestion to use this medium as a way to “talk” to others in our community. I phoned in to the April trustee meeting. I later listened to the recording of the meeting and encourage everyone to do so. I was shocked, appalled and disgusted by the way several of my “neighbors” spoke to/treated the volunteer trustees (especially Jon Curtis) during the course of the meeting. One would think they were responsible for starting the fire in the B building rather than doing their best to help us recover from the incident and the subsequent litigation! I urge everyone to co-operate in the effort to put this behind us!

Hello friends and neighbors at Harborside. It has now been more than 10 months since the “unfortunate” fire in the B Building and it may seem that not much has happened since then. While, actually a great deal has transpired. Among these happenings were the resignation of two of our three trustees and the election of their replacements. At one of the monthly Trustee meetings I expressed the point of view that we should not second guess the early actions of our Trustees on matters like the selection of an architect or general contractor—sound decisions made for sound reasons for the collective benefit of all owners. I will now engage in “Monday morning quarterbacking” which I distinguish from “second guessing”. In retrospect, we probably should have engaged the services of a project manager to see us through the B building project.

We are fortunate that the collective talents of our three trustees fit our needs. However, since our property management company is not generally proactive on general maintenance matters, it falls on our trustees to make daily decisions for our ongoing routine needs. Then we put the reconstruction project on top of that! Cutting to the chase, I am concerned for Jon Curtis!

Jon is working more than 40 or 50 hours a week for us. He is doing this willingly. He volunteered for the position and “campaigned” on his impressive credentials. I think the “job” has become more complex than anyone would have conceived, including him. I feel that all of us should be aware that he is not an employee of our trust, that every action or decision he takes is in our collective best interest and that we should all be more understanding of the pressure and stress that he has assumed.

Where would we be without him? It is too late to retain a project manager.

Jon, Leslie and Jim all deserve our thanks and Jon especially for taking on the thankless task of project manager. Little did we know the complications that would make the restoration process so difficult.
Let’s all try to be supportive of one another and work to move forward so this nightmare will be behind us.

I totally agree with you Roger. We should have a professional, licensed and insured project manager. Frankly, I am surprised the bank did not insist on it. The scope of this project is too much for a volunteer task.
The fact that Jon has a dog in this fight makes this job even more stressful for him and may cloud his objectivity. It is in his best interest from a time stand point as well as the liability exposure for him, as well as the trust, that we should have a professional project manger. In my experience on jobs of this size they really keep it moving along and file great reports on the progress. Usually the general contractor has someone on staff licensed to do it or the architect does. Generally the cost is about $ 250-300.wk. However, because they move things along so quickly it cuts down on the amount of weeks to completion.

Dianne, when I first read your reply I thought it was supportive of my feelings. When I re-read it, I sensed some innuendo that I feel needs to be addressed.

First, I suggested that my 20/20 rear view vision suggested that we (our Trust) should have retained the services of a project manager. That would have happened last November. That horse “is out of the barn” and it is now too late for that action to be effective. Moreover, I question your suggestion of the cost of such professional project management–that $ amount would get us four or five hours per week!

Secondly, I mentioned that I was concerned for Jon, not about Jon–and there is a major distinction. He is a professional civil engineer. As such, I certainly do not, or cannot, question his objectivity. While he has “a dog in the fight”, I assume he consults with his co-trustees and legal counsel when addressing issues pertaining to his own unit.

Thirdly, I repeat my former statement “where would we be without him”?

Aside from a very significant $42,000 special assessment, my major beef is that construction has not started nearly a month after the building permit was issued. I assume we will soon get an answer to this puzzle.

I, along with other owners, attended the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting last night. Jon Curtis, attorney Bob McCann and architect Peter Pitman did an excellent presentation of our case. The abutters concerns were addressed in a courteous and professional manner. A variance with stipulations was granted. Thank you Jon, Bob and Peter for your hard work.

On Tuesday evening several residents of our Harborside community attended the ZBA meeting to support the efforts to obtain the variance needed for the permit to build the required egress system for the B building. Architect Peter Pitman and attorney Bob McCann did a great job on our behalf and won unanimous approval from the five member board.

Hopefully, this will be the final hurdle to overcome before the rebuilding and healing process begins. My earnest wish is that any remaining issues can be quickly resolved so Paradise can get started on the project without further delay and that we do not allow outside interests to distract us. It has now been almost exactly 11 months since the fire. Let’s get going so we can put this behind us, mend relationships, rebuild the value of our homes and get four of our neighbors back into their homes.

As a PS, I understand that several owners have received positive responses from their individual insurance carriers. I am thinking positive!

Hello neighbors! Wish we could be with you tomorrow for the “social”! It looks like perfect weather. We return next Sunday the 16th.
Roger and Sally

Hello All,

Marblehead Historian, Bob Booth, who researched the history of Harborside has graciously agreed to come meet with us and talk to us about the very special history of our homes. We are planning a “Bring your own meal, chair, and libation” gathering in the parking lot at 6pm on Sunday, July 13. Hopefully, everyone will attend because Harborside has a very unique place in Marblehead’s history.

Thanks,

Leslie and Ron

From the BYC:

Marblehead Fireworks CANCELED

We have just been informed by our fireworks provider that due to unsafe sea conditions on Saturday morning the captain of the tug boat has decided that it will not be possible to move the fireworks barge to Marblehead harbor and load the fireworks safely. Unfortunately, this means that despite our best efforts and in stark contrast with the beautiful weather forecast for the rest of the day, the Marblehead Fireworks are CANCELED this year.

However, we will proceed with the traditional Marblehead Harbor Illumination at 8:45 PM on Saturday, July 5th, since all the flares have already been distributed and we invite you to enjoy a beautiful evening on your boat, at your yacht club, or in one of the many parks in Marblehead, as you watch the beautiful ring of fire around the harbor.

Thanks for the Harborside History, very informative. I guide at the Lee Mansion so extra nice to know this property once belong to Jeremiah Lee.

You’re welcome! We’re going to have a plaque made (like you see around town). Bob Booth (the author of the history report) will recommend the language.

This is a great site and predict it will keep us all informed.
Talked to Jon and Jim today, they are so encouraged by the progress and movement to beginning of construction Bert

Dear Fellow Harborsiders,

In April, many of us learned that Don Nowland, our long-time and valued Trustee, would not run for re-election. Don has been there for us through many difficult times and his leadership will be missed.

After suggestions from and conversations with several owners, I’ve decided to run for Trustee.

Before I ask you to vote for me, I’d like to share with you some of the concerns and challenges I believe we, as owners, are facing in the coming years.

First, and foremost, is making Harborside whole again in an efficient, fair and meaningful manner. Our current and former Trustees have worked hard to achieve this, as will I.

Second, is the issue of insurance. Both flood and property insurance present financial challenges for us. This is something we must deal with now. We should not delay in exploring other options for insurance coverage.

Additionally, there are two other areas, I believe, that require immediate attention: the By-Laws and Harborside’s Reserve Account.

The current By-Laws require Harborside to carry “all-inclusive” insurance. This means Harborside’s master policy covers property within each unit, except for personal property. There are some who prefer “all-inclusive” insurance, but I believe Owners should be free to insure their own property in the manner they feel most fully covers their investment. I favor changing the By-Laws for insurance.

Each year, we have seen our condo fees increase. Though recent increases have been driven by insurance rate adjustments, we have seen our association dues go up over the years because of deferred maintenance and inferior repair work. Now is the time to adequately fund the Reserve Account to ensure that Harborside is maintained in a manner that protects our property values. I favor conducting a Capital Improvement review to determine what needs to be fixed and the financial impact of future maintenance projects. I favor an approach that adequately funds the Reserve Account and stabilizes our association fees.

As for my background, I am an inactive member of the Bar in both California and Colorado. My undergraduate work was completed at UCLA, and I earned my law degree from the University of Southern California. My professional experience ranges from television production to serving as both VP and CFO of Leite Productions, Inc.

In 1997, Ron and I purchased Unit B6, and a few years later we purchased Unit C8. Since that time, I have served on various Harborside committees. Working with the Trustees, I helped rewrite Harborside’s Rules and Regulations. Currently, I am the Treasurer for the Dock Committee, which recently oversaw substantial improvements to our floats and gangways, and which is financially sound.

For these reasons, I am asking for your trust and your vote to be your next Trustee.

Thank you,

Leslie de Moraes

May 17, 2014

Dear Neighbors,

We are in favor of voting for the loan on every level. The alternative would be a nightmare. We are not ones to complain, but the result of the fire has been truly awful for us. The consequential financial loss, not including the coming special assessment, has been and will be staggering. It will be more than a year that we will have been displaced, that is, if the loan is approved. If the loan is not approved and the project is derailed, the loss of use and cost to us will continue to go up as it will for everyone.

Some have complained that our B6 unit benefits by an increased deck with the current egress design. While a few square feet are added, the cost to take that away for purely punitive reasons would cost even more and look awkward. The current egress plan is aesthetically much better (no more tenement house look) making the whole of Harborside more attractive and valuable.

To approve the loan, even for those who plan to pay upfront, is a compassionate gesture for those who cannot afford to pay upfront. They are the ones who will really suffer with a “no” vote. Remember, not voting is the same as a “no” vote.

We believe the board has done an excellent job at representing all of our interests. They have worked through this difficult time investing nearly all of their time for no compensation. Their negotiations with Travelers, Paradise, banks, etc. has been professional, and we trust they will continue to minimize the ultimate cost to all of us through whatever means is possible. We should all feel lucky to have them working on our behalf.

Please submit your ballot in favor of the loan.

Dottie and Bart
~~~_/) ~~~
Cell Phone: 617-901-4531

Hello neighbors, all of whom are more or less frustrated than Sally and I are about the unfortunate mess we have at Harborside. Unfortunately, we were not able to attend the meeting last Saturday. We returned this week to move our belongings back into unit B3 and have heard various snippets and rumors about the current situation. Please bear with me with what I am about to say.

I am certainly not happy about the possibility of a $42,000 assessment. I have been, and continue to be, royally pissed about the event that has necessitated this assessment and trust that this investigation, and possible resolution, is not over. In the meanwhile, I think we have to deal with the here and now. While we had to be out of our unit for “only” five months, four other owners will be displaced for probably the rest of the year. I believe the trustees have made sound decisions nearly every step of the way. During a telephone call in about two months ago, I stated that second-guessing was not constructive and that is even more so today.

We are too far into the project to start over. Final plans are in hand, the laborious permitting process is well underway, the required bank loan is available, etc. This is too much momentum to turn our backs on.

It seems there has been some misinformation, and perhaps some miscommunication. Presumably, everyone knows we were Already facing a special assessment for replacing the fire escape system and the roof on the B building. The fire has forced our hand on the fire escape (I was in the parking lot watching as the fireman fell through a step while climbing the ladder with a hose). It has to be brought up to current code. I believe I am correct in my understanding that our master policy will cover some of the roof replacement cost. The wooden railing in many places of our complex has rotted out and represents a safety issue. My two four year old grandchildren broke through our railing last July 4th, but fortunately would have landed on Helen’s roof outside the Nowland’s bedroom. I believe Dottie had a near miss also!

Finally, there seems to be some undercurrent about the selection of architectural and contracting services. I will go on record to say that Don, Jim, Jon and Joyce have made sound decisions on our behalf on this matter. They have put in countless hours fulfilling their custodial responsibilities of our association. Who among us are going to step up to the plate to finish the work that needs to be done?

I cast my vote in favor of approving the bank loan! I cannot see any up-side to saying no!

Regards to all–Roger Plauche

Great job. You are right it will take us awhile to navigate correctly but to have all info up to date is great. The photos are fun to see, we’ll have to add some this summer.

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