Highlights from the June 15, 2022 Board Meeting:
EXPLOSIVE: LIES EXPOSED, A SMOKING GUN, AND VINDICATION
This will be just the report: no cartoons, no funnies, just the highlights.
A number of residents spoke at the residents’ input sessions and some Board members spoke. Most of those comments will not be reported because they are false statements and are actionable slander against Board members Sue Schmer, Arthur Andelson, and against me.
I will address some of the lies to set the record straight because the community deserves to know that there are Board members and Committee Chairpersons lying to them.
Let’s just say it was quite a pile on. We had elitists, narcissists, and their flying monkeys from various pods going berserk over the idea that someone other than them has a voice and isn’t the least bit intimidated into silence.
And remember, there were only about 30 people in the audience in the ballroom (I don’t know how many on Zoom, but I doubt it was crowded), and a number of them were just quietly listening.
There are about 1,288 residents. So this clacking and clucking mob constituted less than a measly 2% of the population, if that, which is hardly a representative class.
They’re just a loud and ugly power-hungry tiny minority who are mad because their lies and slander didn’t work and their egos and their desperate need for power are threatened.
They don’t get to control the narrative, of which their version is completely false, and they can’t handle it, so they lash out and slander anyone who veers from their script.
You saw that in full bloom at this board meeting, slandering me, director Arthur, and now director Sue, and also member/resident Carol Cohen for daring to tell the truth as detailed below.
The vicious comments were quite predictable, they came from the ruling class aka the elitists, and they were sprinkled with generous amounts of venom, invective, and the typical slander which apparently has risen to an art form with these people.
However, what will be reported here is the truth, including what I read aloud from a resident’s email, what I said, what resident Carol Cohen stated, and what Director Sue Schmer stated, because all of those words are truthful.
I spoke initially, and here is what I said:
“Vicki Roberts, Landon Circle. The rumors were not rumors, they were true. There are dozens of people that claimed them, and you can ask other Board members who were specifically told them.
Pat, what you stated was false. The legal fees were not caused by Arthur; they were instigated at all times by others who had an agenda against him.
Now, I received an email from a concerned resident on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Here is what the resident said, in pertinent part, and the resident’s identity is being protected so that the bullies won’t go after this individual.
The subject line states: “Slander on the part of” and it names one Board member, another Board member, and a Committee Chairperson.
Quote:
“True, the recall is dead, but the damage to Arthur's reputation has already been done. Short of a lawsuit against those known to have been personally involved in the slander, I truly believe that a statement by the board president at the next board meeting, or as an email to the entire community is absolutely mandatory to publicly clear Arthur of any wrongdoing whatsoever…
I can tell you without reservation, there are many, many residents who are truly pissed about being lied to and the explosive damage those lies would have caused.
No doubt this, along with other options have crossed your minds, but the bottom line is this injustice should not just disappear.”
Unquote.
In addition to what this resident wrote, it has become painfully obvious based on many, many reports from residents, that they were mercilessly harassed and bullied to sign the fraudulent petition.
At least one Board member and three Committee Chairpersons actively participated in this behavior on and in the common areas, and during official HOA sanctioned club meetings.
Upon information and belief, at least one Committee Chairperson is still actively peddling this fraudulent petition.
I say fraudulent because many, many signatures were obtained under false pretenses by being falsely told by these individuals under color of authority that the director in question committed two felonies, that he broke and entered into the property manager’s office and hacked her computer.
They were also falsely told that he cost the community money and that he called the HOA lawyer three times. All of that was and is false.
This Committee Chairperson is also harassing residents who revoked their signatures upon learning they were lied to. And somehow, she got their confidential names which were being temporarily stored in the property manager’s office.
In conclusion, and I say this to Pat, who made the comments just earlier this morning. No legal fees were incurred because of Arthur. They were incurred because others were trying to shut him and me down, which they had no legal right to do so.
Every single time it was instigated by others, either the former president of the HOA, or the current president of the HOA.
The “broke into the office” and “hacked the computer” felony accusations which were false were heard by dozens of residents and you can also --
Harvey: time. [time’s up; this only applies to me since Diane Green was allowed to speak multiple times for as long as she liked.]
Vicki: thank you very much. So, Board members, what say you?”
I received no answers, as expected.
Director Pat Nast couldn’t resist jumping on the slanderous bandwagon and had the unmitigated gall to suggest that I created the four false claims in my May 31, 2022 e-blast to get people to sign the revocations to the recall petition.
Her baseless comments are in fact total lies. More on that after resident Carol Cohen tells the mob the truth.
Resident/member Carol Cohen took the podium, and it was a game changer, because she substantiated the fact that she was lied to with those four specific items directly, face to face, by Entertainment Chairperson Diane Green.
It was explosive testimony, equivalent to a smoking gun. It completely murdered and eviscerated the false narratives being spewed by these petition-peddling liars.
Resident Carol Cohen stated that Entertainment Chairperson Diane F. Green lied to her face and told her point blank that Arthur broke into the property manager’s office and hacked her computer, both statements of which are blatant lies and slanderous, in that they falsely claim that he committed two serious felonies.
The property manager refuted those false claims, referring to them as “rumors,” although in fact they were not rumors; they were two of the four actual false claims made to get people to sign the recall petition under false pretenses.
Carol also stated that Diane also told her that Arthur cost the community a lot of money and that he called the lawyer three times. Those additional statements made to her were and are also false.
Those were, in fact, the four false claims I identified in my May 31, 2022 CL-Update as being the petition peddlers’ fraudulent statements concerning the recall petition.
I didn’t just pick them out of a hat; they were reported numerous times by numerous residents who experienced exactly what Carol Cohen stated at the podium.
For the record, Arthur never called the lawyer, ever, and any legal costs were borne because the former and current HOA presidents each initiated contact with the lawyer to try (unsuccessfully) to shut down free speech, which was actually an abuse of their powers to being with.
None of that was necessary; it was punitive and wasteful of HOA funds. None of it was initiated by Arthur or me; all of it was initiated wastefully by these presidents and to some extent, in conjunction with the vice-presidents of this HOA.
That is why Carol initially signed the petition, and when the property manager sent out a mass email stating that Arthur neither broke and entered her office nor hacked her computer, she revoked her signature on the recall ballot.
This was identical to many, many other residents who were told the exact same lies to fraudulently obtain their signatures and who then revoked their signatures as well.
Here is what Carol actually said and I want to thank Carol for having the courage to stand up and state the truth in the face of these bald-faced liars on the Board and elsewhere who claimed this never happened or that I made it up to get revocations:
Carol Cohen:
“Carol Cohen, Wycombe. I am not as eloquent as the other speakers; I did not plan on speaking. But I have certain things that I must say. I am truthful.
Diane, you are a very hard worker, and I appreciate it. But I seem to be the only one that will admit that you told me those four items, that Arthur, that he called the Board [sic – attorney] three times, it cost $6,000, that he broke in, and all the other listed items.
You told me face to face. That’s when I signed the petition. When I found out that was a lie, that was it; I rescinded my vote.
I just want to be on the books as stating that it was told to me, not hearsay. Face to face. And that’s all I want to say.”
And there you have it, folks. If that weren’t an indictment, I don’t know what is. This is very consistent with the reports of many, many residents that they were told the exact same thing by this exact same Chairperson, who was/is one of the main petition peddlers.
Director Pat Nast’s slanderous statement falsely suggesting that I made up the claims to create pushback to get people to revoke their signatures was outrageously inappropriate to say the least. It was a total lie. More of Pat’s lies will be called out below.
Pat’s false statement was totally refuted by Carol’s statement which mirrors the statements of many, many residents too intimidated to speak aloud for fear of bullying and ostracism.
Nice try, Pat, but your statement was totally false, baseless, and malicious. You just made it up; you totally fabricated a false statement against a member whom you represent and to whom you have a fiduciary duty. You should resign, along with your cohorts on the Board who also lied and peddled the fraudulent petition.
That wasn’t the extent of Director Pat Nast’s manipulation of the truth. She falsely suggested that Arthur inappropriately changed the agenda in the OneDrive to which each Board member has access, and which contains the agenda and supporting documentation for upcoming Board meetings.
Pat also falsely claimed that he inappropriately posted a second agenda for that meeting (May 18th). That’s three lies on the record just in this one meeting.
In fact, the OneDrive computer program was created by former Board member and HOA Secretary Alan Silver as a way for all Board members to edit their own motions actively and interactively, and with the specific intent of allowing each equal Board member to do so. Feel free to ask him directly to confirm this fact.
Pat just didn’t want anyone else to control the agenda and was livid that other equal Board members would dare to amend their own motions, as is their right and why Alan set it up that way to begin with and which the Board has used for the last year and a half and then some.
The Secretary does not control the agenda; she is merely to send notice of it to the community. She had no right to hijack it, which is what she did. There’s a lot more outrageous behavior she engaged in behind the scenes; I’ll save that for another day.
Here are more of the true facts: With regard to the agenda in question (for the May 18th Board meeting), Director Arthur amended Director Sue’s agenda item per Sue’s specific request because Sue was not able to do it as she is not computer-savvy.
Sue had every right to instruct Arthur to amend her motion for her. Pat had no right to object and certainly no right to manipulate the truth about it to the community.
Pat then inappropriately and without authority, and exceeding her authority, changed the wording of Sue’s agenda item, which she had no right to do. It was Pat who was derelict in her duties here, not Arthur, and not Sue.
Sue and Arthur changed it back. This cat and mouse game went on for a little while before the agenda was to be published.
Sue and Arthur also posted the correct agenda, with Sue’s wording as Sue wanted it, in the clubhouse as required by law. Pat and the property manager changed it back to Pat’s version of Sue’s motion, which was outrageously inappropriate.
Both Pat and the property manager claimed that they felt Sue’s wording was “not professional.”
They had no right to make that judgment call on another equal Board member’s motion, and frankly, the original wording was accurate, and no one asked them for their opinion on it. They certainly had no right to hijack it from Sue.
Pat’s statement at the June 15th Board meeting concerning this matter is a flat-out distortion of these facts.
Pat knows full well that no one broke into the internal hard drive and that every Board member had the equal right to amend his or her own agenda items; this was business as usual for over a year and a half and well before Arthur joined the Board.
So Pat’s an established liar now on three fronts:
(1) falsely claiming that I made up the false claims circulating about Arthur which Carol Cohen established on the record were not made up but actually occurred,
(2) falsely claiming that Arthur inappropriately changed the agenda, and
(3) falsely claiming that he had no right to post the actual agenda.
That’s three lies made publicly in the span of only one Board meeting.
After Carol Cohen’s speech, Chairperson Diane Green made yet another false statement, this time targeting Carol Cohen, stating that “it’s possible that Carol Cohen is working with Arthur and Sue Schmer,” to which Carol exclaimed loudly from the front row of the audience, “how dare you!” and then Carol took the podium again and exclaimed:
“I must retort. How dare you, Diane, suggest that I am in cahoots with anybody, when you lied to me, I told them that it was a lie. I have never spoken to Sue; I don’t even think I’ve said hello to her before this. That’s all I have to say. But it is a lie, I am not in cahoots with anybody.”
Carol is telling the truth. Diane is lying again. It’s clear lying is part of Diane’s playbook. If you dare to disagree with her or challenge her, you may become her next target.
And Sue Schmer never solicited any revocations; each and every single one of those residents independently contacted her, and it was wholly appropriate for her to collect them and act as the custodian of those records, because she is a director, i.e., an official representative of the Association. That’s how it’s done, people.
One resident complained that Sue should not have done that and that a resident should have collected the revocations and then handed them to Sue. This is nonsensical and not what the rules require.
Sue complied with the rules; if some people’s feelings were hurt because she followed the law, that’s just too bad. She’s not going to compromise her honesty and integrity for the sake of convenience, expediency, or sparing one’s feelings.
Remember, facts don’t care about your feelings. And this isn’t about “her” truth, or “your” truth or anyone’s truth. It’s about “the” truth.
Director Richard complains incessantly that I should not use the word “legal” because I am not a licensed Florida attorney, but repeatedly remains silent when other residents talk about hearsay and other legal concepts, and that was apparent in this Board meeting as well as other Board meetings.
Director Harvey cites to statutes frequently as another example.
The Recreation Committee Chair (married to the lying Diane Green) during this meeting appeared to believe he was an expert at hearsay; others were certain at this meeting that they were clear about the legal definition of harassment.
Still others invoked legal arguments without any foundational basis whatsoever.
All of that was apparently fine with this mob and Director Richard, who voiced no comments or concerns about this incessant legal analysis by others with no legal training. None of them has any legal background, but apparently according to this mob and Director Richard, they are qualified to opine on such legal matters.
I, on the other hand, with 40 years’ experience as a lawyer and litigator, mention the statute, and every one of these hypocrites goes ballistic and claims that I’m not qualified to read Legislative documents. The same uproar is directed at Director Arthur, a certified paralegal.
The only two individuals not allowed to comment on legal matters according to Director Richard and this group of mobsters are apparently Arthur and me. This selective criticism is also nonsense and a complete farce, and most rational people know it.
Sue also reported that many, many people contacted her reciting the same lies that were told to Carol Cohen by Diane F. Green. This is also consistent with the email I received from a resident as recited above.
These slanderers were not content just to slander Director Arthur and me and now Carol Cohen. They proceeded to slander Sue Schmer as well, falsely accusing her of things that were totally untrue.
Those slanderous comments will not be repeated herein, but they’re on the official tape of the Board meeting. Recreation Chairperson Jeff F. Green, who is also the husband of lying Entertainment Chairperson and chief slanderer, Diane F. Green, made them directly to Sue for all to hear.
You see, anyone who gets in their way has a target on his or her back. Sue already knew that; Carol Cohen just learned that the hard way.
Director Sue Schmer read from a prepared speech, which she graciously provided to me; here is what she said:
Sue: “HARASSMENT OF RESIDENTS ON COMMON AREAS
It is with profound sadness that I had to put this item on the agenda. However, I feel that it is one of our responsibilities as directors to show moral leadership, especially when it comes to and honesty and trustworthiness.
On Saturday, June 11, I received a phone call from a resident regarding being harassed at the pool by another resident as to why that person rescinded their signature on a ballot to recall a director. That signature was given in confidence to the property manager. Subsequently, I received other phone calls from residents regarding the same issue.
In fact, those residents who called me to rescind their recall ballot signatures said they trusted me to tell them the truth about the rumor circulating as to why a Board member was being recalled. I did not call them. Their trust was not misplaced.
What was told to me by those who called me was almost exactly the same: that Arthur broke into the property manager’s office and hacked her computer. Those rumors were completely false as stated by Deborah in an email blast.
The Saturday call was in reference to the rescinding of recall ballots for board member Arthur Andelson. Copies of the minimum number of rescissions required to void the recall ballots were held in strict confidence. I handed them directly to our property manager.
The voided petition was returned to the group who provided it to the property manager. I retrieved the copies I gave the next day.
With this background information being said, I would like to ask these questions:
1. How did anyone know who signed the ballots to rescind their recall votes when it was made perfectly clear that they would be held in strictest confidence. Who leaked the names on the revoked ballots?
2. Why would anyone intimate or suggest that I would release any names, thereby falsely impugning my own integrity? I am not the issue, as the issues are unfounded rumors and innuendos that are extremely detrimental to the wellbeing of all residents and owners.
3. Why would anyone deliberately harass another resident as to their independent actions or decisions? We cannot allow such behavior to become normalized.
4. Why does any harassment by anyone continue to be manifested on common property? Those who have been the objects of harassment, past or present, deserve an apology. Our community certainly deserves better.
These actions are divisive, abhorrent, and unworthy of anyone residing in Cascade Lakes. Residents and owners have the legal right to the peaceful enjoyment of the common areas.
5. How should those who continue to manifest such inappropriate behavior be dealt with?
The board has an obligation to answer these questions. It needs to admonish all those who engage in such despicable and disrespectful behavior that such actions will not be tolerated, and if continued, may lead to suspension of the use of the common areas.
Ladies and gentlemen, enough is enough!”
Unsurprisingly, none of Sue’s questions were even discussed, let alone answered. Instead, residents started attacking her verbally and impugning her stellar integrity. See what happens when you tell the truth around here? The mob goes for the jugular.
The majority of the members of this community in fact abhor and reject this behavior on the part of these loud aberrant voices. Loudly exclaiming falsities over and over again does not convert those falsities into truths regardless of the number of times they are repeated and/or the volume with which they are asserted.
Some residents falsely claimed that the petition peddlers weren’t harassing residents to sign the petition under false pretenses.
Again, this claim is simply not true as borne out by the number of revocations received and the identical reasons given for those revocations, including that they were mercilessly hounded four and five times and told lie after lie after lie after lie.
Furthermore, because this relentless pressure is coming from Board members and Committee Chairpersons, which are positions of power and influence, residents are intimidated and don’t want to be outcasts from Committees in which they enjoy volunteering.
This pressure and these strong-arm tactics are made under color of authority and when they are coupled with serious slander, as they were in this case, they make for a potent cocktail of fraud and abuse.
In fact, this type of solicitation during official HOA business and club functions should never happen, and yet during these business meetings and functions in and on common areas is where much of the solicitations and false statements were being made and circulated.
Remember: refuting the lies is essential to try and mitigate the damages caused thereby and it helps preserve the legal rights of the aggrieved; not doing so would both empower that gross engine to churn further and would suggest that there was value to what they were saying, which is most certainly not true.
Those slanderous comments must be nipped in the bud loudly and clearly.
President Jeff D. Green ended the meeting with a lie: he claimed that he sent an email to Arthur concerning the leak of the confidential revocations which were temporarily stored in the property manager’s office and that he received no response. This is demonstrably false; we have the email that was promptly sent back to him correcting his statement.
If the elitists really want to put this to bed, I suggest it starts at the top of the food chain here, and that means with the other Board members and some of the Committee Chairpersons.
Stop your filthy lies and then I won’t have to distribute a report refuting them. Keep it going, and I will respond, because slander must be addressed and denied, and the residents deserve the truth.
One final thought: a resident called with an interesting question. The resident was very upset with the pile on at this Board meeting and the continual bashing of Arthur and me by this mob. The resident asked if we were ok.
I told the resident we are fine, happy, and in good cheer! Being on the side of truth and justice produces a tranquil and content feeling. Doing right by and taking care of my ailing parents produces the same feeling. Giving them the gift of life every day produces the same feeling. Having them in our lives produces the same feeling.
Gratitude is the key to happiness.
I told the resident to keep smiling because life is great! I wish health and happiness to all.
Happy Anniversary (June 16th) to the love of my life, Arthur. My poem on page 56 of this month’s News & Views says it all.
Cheerio until next time!
Your faithful scribe,Vicki Roberts