This Is our Village

Saturday, January 26, 2013

AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE

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Statement of Affirmative Defenses
By: David B. Israel
President, United Civic Organization
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Following are the statement of charges, my responses are in blue.
1)    WHEREAS: Pursuant to UCO By-Laws, As Amended (March 2, 2012), Article XI (E): David Israel, the current UCO President ("President") has acted recklessly in contravention of Fla. Stat.§§ 617.0834 and 718.111(d), and has committed acts or omissions in bad faith as President;
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The Petition first cites Section 617.0834 FS which deals with officer’s immunity from civil law suits unless the Officer committed criminal acts, the Officer obtained improper personal benefit like money under the table, or the Officer engaged in knowingly bad faith reckless actions. The Petition gives no specifics on this statutory alleged violation. If the Complainants have evidence of criminal acts, improper personal gain or reckless actions; they should bring such evidence to PBSO or the State Attorney. Lacking such official adjudication, this spurious accusation is without weight or substance.
The reference to FS 718.111(d) is not applicable to UCO, because we are not a Condominium Association. It is therefore irrelevant to this case.
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2)   WHEREAS: The President has presented to UCO's members ("Members") intentionally inflated and unsubstantiated financial statements regarding its financial condition;
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At no time have I presented any sort of “inflated and unsubstantiated” financial statements to anyone. Accurate financial data is presented by the Treasurer of UCO, and of course our accountants and auditors, Goldman, Juda, Eskew. The data over a period of three years of my Presidency has been consistent and accurate, this fact being attested to by yearly financial audits. Financial audits are available to Members upon request.
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3)   WHEREAS: The President has delivered to the Members false statements, both verbally and in writing, so as to deceive or give the wrong impression regarding issues of concern to the Members;
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This accusation generally makes broad allegations about “false statements” or “deception” but no specifics. The same goes for alleged violations of Article VII A (Presidents duties) and Article XI (Sunshine), no specifics.
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4)  WHEREAS: The President has intentionally failed to follow UCO's By-laws, and in particular, Art. VIII(C), Article IX, with respect to the execution and performance of contracts for goods and services in excess of $1,000 without approval by the Finance Committee or Delegate Assembly, and overruled a Bid Committee's recommendation with respect to a contract between UCO and M & M Paving, Inc., and of contract rules.
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This accusation alleges I expended over $1000 without approval under Article VIII(c) of the Bylaws, but that Article only applies to $1000 expenditures that were “not previously budgeted”. Furthermore, any non-budgeted expenditures in excess of the statutory cap, were made in accord with established process of approval of the Officers, Executive Board and Delegate Assembly. Our Attorney has rendered an opinion, that monies reserved for a specific purpose, may be expended for that purpose without further approval of the Delegate Assembly.
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5)   WHEREAS: The President is not performing effectively, in that he has: (i) failed to act in the best interests of UCO's members and in violation of UCO Bylaws Article VII (A); (ii) has defamed both past and present UCO officers, executive board members, and delegates; and, (iii) has failed to abide by the letter and spirit of UCO By-laws Article XI (Sunshine Laws); and
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This accusation seems to speak to effective performance, let’s look at the record;
(A) I have removed the UCO Reporter from under the control of the prior President and his wife, who caused the paper to be read prior to publication in UCO, thus removing any hint of a free and independent periodical and reducing it to a fluff and pap house organ. Currently the paper is a free and independent press, under the control of it's Editorial Board, with no undue influence by UCO.
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(B) By insisting on following our Bilateral Agreement with the Associations, I broke a 10 year monopolistic hold by the former Insurance Committee, and caused the Insurance package to be competitively bid; thus saving the unit owners some two million dollars yearly.
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(C) I have caused UCO to adopt a broad range of Computer upgrades which include; Creation of Interactive Online forms allowing applications for Investigations to be filled in from anywhere on Earth; I have Digitized virtually all paper in UCO Offices, including the UCO Reporter, so that virtually any data may now be located in seconds; Created a robust Email network for all users in UCO; these describe but a small number of computer applications which are ongoing.
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 Additionally this accusation speaks to “defamation”; of who, please may I have some specificity; the only consistent case of defamation of which I am aware, is ongoing at one of the complainants regular meetings of his “Presidents Umbrella Club”, which by all accounts is virtually a continuous UCO bashing session. No wonder they do not allow recordings.
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 The accusation states that I have failed to abide by the Sunshine Laws. Anyone who has been receiving my regular Email under my Information Forward Initiative (IFI) knows full well, that no prior Administration of UCO has been more forthcoming with information than I have. Since the inception of IFI on January 3, 2012, a total of 293 Emails have been disseminated and seen by thousands of unit owners directly, both online, and collaterally via Association posting on their bulletin boards.
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 6)   WHEREAS: The President has failed to seek professional legal advice, as would a reasonable and prudent officer, with respect to issues of major importance to the Members requiring interpretation and definition of written agreements, and instead has imposed his unilateral decision(s) regarding same by fiat.
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 This accusation is beyond ludicrous, since taking the Presidential oath some 3 years ago; I have requested over 100  legal opinions from our Attorney Rod Tennyson. Additionally, within one month of my installation, I obtained from Rod, computer discs containing all of his previously rendered legal opinions, both in the Investigations department, and all other requests for legal opinion, back to President Arthur Bernhard. These many thousands of legal opinions are resident on the UCO Digital Data Base where they may be searched by keyword or phrase in seconds.
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 7) WHEREAS: The President owns and controls the "CENTURY VILLAGE® in WEST PALM BEACH" blog which he presents as the official blog of C.V. of WPB, to abuse the Members by disseminating vicious attacks on individuals and groups who oppose his personal ideas as well as his false assumptions and facts. This blog was never authorized by the officers, executive committee and the delegates. This blog is not sanctioned by UCO's bylaws as is the UCO Reporter.
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This accusation is yet another exercise in absurdity; do you remember the UCO controlled CV Forum? This was a teletype grade site on which no substantive discourse was permitted, The guidelines for its use were childish; questions such as: where can I find a good plumber, or where is a good place to hold a High School reunion were encouraged by the prior Administration. Any criticism of that Administration would get you “banned for Life”! so, indeed I created a proper Web site, or BLOG, where anyone could ask ANY question, and have it answered. Here is my first Post on that BLOG:
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You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~John 8:32
Hi All,
With the latest CV Forum guidelines, I believe that the Forum has been reduced to a Bulletin Board for Fluff and Papp rather than substantive inquiry. It should be allowed to experience the ignominious demise it deserves. Researched data is regularly referred to as "opinion" by the Forum Managers. 
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No criticism of the current Administration is tolerated even if it might be well deserved. Worse yet, UCO is presented as the only valid source of the "Full Facts" and the "Real Truth"! Simply ludicrous. No controversial issues are entertained. Any non-compliant post is summarily deleted and declared "inappropriate".
We are endlessly reminded that our "inappropriate" posts are read all over the world and worse yet are affecting Real-Estate values in the Village! Of course, the reckless multi-million dollar legal fiasco that we have been plunged into by the Officers of UCO is not given the credit it so richly deserves for depressing said values! So, while light fare and banter are welcome here, it is hoped that this BLOG will also deal in harder questions regarding how to run your Associations, questions about Condominium law, Technical matters related to Condominium living and various complex research questions related to Florida Statutes that impact our lives in CV. In short, informed controversy is welcome. We are not lawyers, and no legal advice will be dispensed on this BLOG, but real questions are welcome and hard research is encouraged. There is more to life than; "Where can I find a good tile person"
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No one is banned, chat is encouraged, as chat is a normal function of Human communications. Criticism of UCO, WPRF or any other "Authority" is fine if it has some basis in fact. We are not children to be kept in the dark and fed propagandized trivial pap. Please be civil, and respect your fellow neighbors, that is all I ask!
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Dave Israel
Greenbrier C
BLOG ADMIN.
And for the sin of opening up an unrestricted communications channel for our Residents, I am to be removed from office…Give me a break!!!!!
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8)   WHEREAS: The President permits a certain non-elected person free access to the inner offices of UCO as well as attendance at important private meetings while not having the appropriate officers present.
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 On any given day UCO is populated with upwards of 20 volunteers, who save our Residents millions of dollars yearly. Most of them are non-elected; some attend private meetings with no Officers present. So, what is this really about, competent, productive people who can accomplish important tasks, Is this grounds for removal from Office???
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 9) WHEREAS: The President permitted a member of the officer's committee on behalf UCO to contact a local government official to unduly influence the Building Departments decisions as to the Drainage and Paving project.
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Where does this stuff come from? Absolutely no Officer of UCO, or any other UCO related person “unduly influenced the Building Department” about anything. However, once all permits relating to the Drainage and Paving project were closed officially by a Building Department inspector, at least two of the complainants did indeed unduly influence the Building department to re-open these permits. You may thank these two complainants for the alternating black and yellow lines in your parking areas.
Now, I ask you all to place in the Comment stream of this Post, just what is the substance of these accusations that lead to me deserving to be removed from the Office of the Presidency of UCO???
Dave Israel
President
United Civic Organization


18 comments:

  1. Dave , please continue the great work you are doing and THANK YOU for that!

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  2. After reading your responses, I can't imagine anyone in the Village desirous of recalling you from presidential office. I am in favor of your re-election to another term -- even a permanent one, if the vote goes that way and if you want it. Your dedicated service to CV is A-One!

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  3. What a load of garbage. David Israel was duly elected for a second term because it was felt that he is the better person to run our village. These people who want to recall one of our best presidents are a group of malcontents who have nothing to offer the village but grumble about everything. David Israel started the blog as a way to send out information and it is a great blog. If you don't like it don't read it. Dave's presidential terms have given us an open UCO with all the information that any resident could hope to have and read. Walk into UCO. Notice the change where everyone is courteous and is helpful. That was David's doing. I remember going to UCO for help and being surprised at how rude the person was who spoke to me. No more. David changed all that. I would certainly vote for him again given the opportunity.

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  4. Excellent answers to absolutely foolish and unsubstantiated accusations. I cannot believe the content of the accusations. David has done things for UCO that officers will be thanking him for many years to come. The ability to research the documents from when UCO was fist established alone will save the resident thousaands in legal fees. He has taken abuse at every meeting, trying to allow everyone a voice. Many of us are sitting in our seats wondering if these people will ever run out of negative things to say. Wondering if by some chance, they might some day come in with a positive proposal. They are like the bad children who misbehave just for the attention. I shudder to think what CV would be like if or when these negative people get to take control. "All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing" Come on good delegates, come to the meetings and stand up for Dave.

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  5. I'm sorry you had to respond to these groundless claims. The people who are trying to drive you out of office were incapable of defeating you legitimately, by earning the votes of delegates in an election. Resorting to reprehensible back-door tactics is cheap, small and ultimately futile. Dark days in the Village when supeficial charges like these can get this far. They will be voted down.

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  6. Hi Dave. Time is on your (and our) side, and not on the side of the crazies that have tried to make life miserable here since you took office.

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  7. Apparently David, you invested alot of time in responding to these charges. It's unfortunate, that in addition to the many hours you have committed to the betterment of our village, that you have to have to sit at the keyboard researching your defense. I wish for you just some time to take a swim, play some shuffleboard, relax and read a book, or do whatever it is that you like to do in your retirement, instead of having to endure this angst. Undeserved angst... Hang in there... good will prevail. The two words "thank you" for all you do seems so inadequate.

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  8. It will be a sad day for me when
    Davud's term ends. We will have
    a hard time to elect someone who
    will be able to do all that David
    has done for CV.

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  9. I would be glad to help mail Dave's responses to all who signed the petition, and remind them to talk with their Association before any voting takes place. How many had really researched the baseless claims and looked beyond gossip?

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  10. After I wrote the above comment
    asking who could do the great job
    in replacing David as our President
    I realized that I do know who can
    continue doing a great job and
    that is George Loewenstein and he
    has proven himself in his past
    performances.

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  11. Hi Nut,
    January 24, 2013 at 5:47 PM,

    Yes indeed, the father of near 7 million dollar Insurance premiums!

    Stood by and did nothing about the 1st. Priority events!

    Appointed his wife as Editor of the UCO Reporter and had the Galley proofs read in UCO, prior to publication!

    I could go on and on, but clearly this is the man for UCO.....!!!

    Dave Israel

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  12. It is hard for me to believe it has come down to an actual petition signed by some 35 delegates to put David Israel out of office. Many of us feel he has done such a GREAT job as UCO president it would be nice if he could have a third term. That needs to be weighed against the wisdom, with the future in mind, in keeping term limits.

    But how can there be such disparity among us so that some want Dave put out of office and some want him able to serve a third term? How can we view him and his performance so differently?

    I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I will suggest that there are different kinds of people among Dave's critics. First, there are some who, no matter who is in what office, simply love to criticize. They have no proper appreciation for “the man in the arena,” who must make the hard decisions. They major on the minor, not major on the major, and they get some kind of “payback” in finding others who agree with them. They don’t check into the accusations thoroughly. Rather than say “I don’t know” about some things, they claim to have valid opinions about everything.

    Some may have genuine grievances. My question to them would be: Do your grievances really rise to the level of ousting Dave?

    A few, I fear, are critical of Dave out of envy.

    Unfortunately, this is a time in our country when criticism runs rampant. It is everywhere. It is in our politics. I wish it were not so. Would that we were quicker to hear and slower to speak. Would that we put a very high value on compatibility and compromise.

    I am grieved that it should come down to a petition to remove Dave from office and hope this movement does not succeed.

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  13. David B. Israel, you must have patience of a saint to put up with all the things that these people are saying and trying to do. You must also have armor platting over very tuff skin. I think these people that are the same crew for years that will only agree to disagree, with what is for the over all good for the village. I would like to thank you for all your hard work that you and the people at U.C.O. I hope if you can serve another term if that comes about,and you want to, more power to you. I know all the the different issues in the village can not be agreed by all, but most should be worked out in a logical manner. To have the old grew of U.C.O. be in power would be terrible in my thoughts. I really don't know how you do what you do but thank you again. Marc V

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  14. You malcontents are giving the village a bad name .
    What is the matter with you for not letting us all know who you are.
    What are you ashamed of . You certainly have the free speech right are we free to see the whites of you eyes.

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  15. Hi Chairman of the Board,
    January 25, 2013 at 12:26 PM,

    In the Petition cover letter, which is published on this BLOG, the Complainants identify themselves by signature as; Myron Solomon, Ed Grossman, and Jerry Karpf.

    Dave Israel

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  16. Hey Chairman of the Board,

    "What is the matter with you for not letting us all know who you are"

    This is your own quote.

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  17. seems the unsubstantiated accusatory nitpicker attack those who do the work and have been doing an exemplary job syndrom is pervasive -bottom rung of the village governing bodies to the top - no hard working do gooder is left unscathed ---do they really think by attacking they can drive those of us who care and do into the crying pit? Oh you malevolent and misguided souls, you need to step into the light - I am so tired of hearing - it's not personal - that's a laugh- it is all personal and that is what is so pathetic -- at least be honest - Viva Dave. Viva CV --keep us moving forward --

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  18. A message from your sister village in Boca Raton:

    You guys never had it so good with President Dave Israel.

    Here in CVW we are in the stone ages when it comes to progressive leadership. Consider:

    CVW has no website or blog. CVWPB HAS BOTH!

    CVW does not videotape delegates' assesmbly meetings. CVWPB runs the meetings on CH 63 AND posts them online for 24/7 VIEWING ON DEMAND. Thank Dave Israel for this communication amenity.

    CVW just signed a six-year cable bulk deal in the culmination of a process that did not consider a single COMPETITIVE BID OR hold a single unit owner accessible cable committee meeting. Under Dave Israel CVWPB received several competitive cable bids. All but a few committee meetings, during which proprietary information was discussed, were open to the unit owners.

    Is it any surprise that by selecting single-bidder Comcast over a ready, willing and able AT&T that CVW unit owners got screwed by over a million dollars?

    CVW Management and Operations Committee refuses to order that the buses stop idling at the Clubhouse. Within 30 days of being elected president, Dave Israel instituted a "green" NO-IDLE POLICY at the CVWPB Clubhouse so that folks are not exposed to noise and air pollution. (The World Health Organization declared diesel exhaust a known carcinogen last June).

    CVW is using a phony FDOH Air Quality Report that did not involve instruments or sample collection - just the nose of its inspector despite the fact that toxic gases such as Carbon Monoxide (CO) are odorless. CVWPB Clubgoers have had their health protected for years thanks to Dave Israel who refused to swallow bus officials' BS about starter motors or timing chains.

    CITIZENS OF CVWPB: After you chew up and spit out this thoughful, intelligent and workaholic technowhiz, please send him down to Century Village Boca Raton where he will be lionized for all that he has done to promote health, education, transparency and true democracy and accountability in CVWPB!

    You never had it so good, West Palmers!

    Fred Hadley, Publisher: THE VILLAGE SENTRY, an independent E-Newsletter for the under-informed and under-consulted unit owmers of Century Village West, Boca Raton.

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