David Fisher, who has served as the liaison between the Lakeside Garden Grove Community and Optimum Property Management, left the firm on Oct. 18, 2013.  Mr. Fisher, who served as the community association manager since June 2012, accepted a similar position with a smaller property management firm, Optimum said.
Fisher will be replaced on a temporary basis by Shannon Thornhill, currently Optimum’s Director of Association Management.  Ms. Thornhill said she will be the community’s point person until a permanent replacement can be hired.  She has been with Optimum since 2002.  She can be reached at (714) 508-9070 x228 or at sthornhill@optimumpm.com.

The 2013 election for the Lakeside-Garden Grove HOA Board of Directors will kick off this month with six candidates seeking the five open seats.

Secret ballots will be mailed to homeowners no later than 30 days before the Oct. 21 election meeting. If completed and mailed, the ballots must be received at Optimum Property Management offices at 17731 Irvine Blvd., Ste 212, Tustin, CA 92780, by 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2013. The sealed secret ballots also can be hand delivered the night of the meeting.

The general HOA meeting and election session will be held in Room 21 at the United Methodist Church at 12741 Main Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840. The HOA Board executive session will start at 6 p.m. followed by the general session at 7 p.m. and the election session at 8 p.m.

The six candidates for the five Board seats are Patrick Turner (incumbent), Jeannie Alliss (incumbent), Martin Evans (incumbent), Richard Covert (incumbent), past Board member Darcee Golden and newcomer Jill Hamblin.

Homeowners are each entitled to five votes per unit. Cumulative voting is permitted whereby each member may cast all five (5) votes for one candidate or votes may be split among the candidates as long as the total number of votes cast is not greater than five (5) per unit, otherwise the secret ballot may be deemed invalid and may be used for quorum purposes only.

Nominations for candidates can be made from the floor and will be accepted the night of the meeting. Secret ballots will be available at the meeting with space for those candidates nominated from the floor, however once you mail in the enclosed irrevocable secret ballot, you may not replace it at the annual meeting.

Although as a homeowner it is not required that you vote, it still is recommended that you exercise this right. Representation of 50 percent (50%) of the voting power, which is equal to 143 votes, is required to conduct the election. If 50% of the recorded homeowners (which constitutes a quorum) is not represented, the election session of the Oct. 21 meeting will not be held and will be adjourned to a later date. This will cause the association to incur additional expenses. If the meeting must be adjourned because of lack of quorum, all secret ballots cast by mail will carry over until quorum is attained, however the requirement is reduced to 25 percent or 72 ballots in order to attain the quorum goal.

You will be voting to elect five members of the Board of Directors. The Board comprises homeowners elected by the members (homeowners) of the association. The Board acts as a governing body to operate the business of the association, which is a corporation. The Board has a fiduciary duty to protect, maintain, and enhance the value of the property/common area; and, to act in the best interest of the corporation. The Board has authority over the maintenance, administration, and financial condition of the corporation.

Homeowners who have not received a ballot by the first week of October should call David Fisher at Optimum Property Management at 714 508-9070 x308 or email dfisher@optimumpm.com and request a ballot.

So what’s the big deal about dumpster diving? Shouldn’t Lakeside residents be allowed to collect recyclables from our dumpster? What’s the harm?

It might seem reasonable to allow residents to collect cans and bottles for recycling because it helps provide additional income in these cash-strapped times, plus it helps the environment.

However, there are several drawbacks to such activity. The two biggest are that dumpster diving brings in a criminal element and can cause messes around the dumpsters. In the past, drug addicts have rifled through our trash bins in search of recyclables to help pay for their habits, and homeless people search the bins for food and clothing. Drug addicts and homeless people could care less about keeping our trash enclosures clean. They dig to suit their purposes, and if trash is tossed outside of the bins while they are searching, so be it.

OK, you say, just limit the dumpster diving to residents only. But how will you know who is or isn’t a resident? Some non-residents caught dumpster diving in the past have simply said they live here, when they don’t. There is no good way to determine who is or isn’t a resident. Besides, there have been residents who have been known to dumpster dive who are just as messy as the interlopers.

The best policy is to curtail dumpster diving altogether. That is what the Board has chosen. The Rules and Regulations are in the process of being revised, and when they are adopted, they will help prevent dumpster diving. If you see dumpster divers, please advise them that it is not permissible and if they choose not to stop their activity, please call:

Garden Grove police at 714-741-5704 or
Casitas Security at 714-512-4140

to report them. But be cautious and polite when approaching dumpster divers and avoid confrontations. Let the police and Casitas deal with them.

Guest parking is for guests ONLY.

Homeowners, per association rules, are not allowed to park in guest parking for any reason, that includes unloading groceries, dropping off or picking up someone or any other reason. Homeowners who park in guest parking are subject to have their cars towed without notice and subject to fines.

Guests may park in guest parking from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. without safe listing their vehicles. Guest cars must be safe listed with Casitas Security at 714-741-5704 if said cars will remain in guest parking past 10 p.m. or will be parked in guest parking before 6 a.m.

Guest parking is limited to 48 hours at any one time. Long-term guest parking must be cleared with Optimum at 714-508-9070 extension 308 and with Casitas Security.

There’s nothing more irritating than sitting down to watch your favorite television program and not being able to hear it because of blaring music outside your door. No one wants to spoil someone’s good time, but there’s a limit to revelry.

If you are having guests over and you are entertaining them on your balcony or patio, please be aware that your neighbors are hearing the music and conversations, too, and they might not want to.

A general rule of thumb is to end parties on balconies or patios at or before 10 p.m. If you want to keep the party going, take it inside and close your doors.

As a resident, you can call Garden Grove police at 714-741-5704 or Casitas Security at 714-512-4140 to report loud noises or music.