Why bother to help neighbours save money!

I mentioned previously that I am currently the treasurer of our community of property owners having completed six years as chairman, or presidente as they say here in Spain.

Each property owner has to pay an annual community charge as a contribution towards the running costs of the communal areas within our group of houses. All fees should be paid in full by the 31^st December. Any fees unpaid after that date will be immediately increased by the addition of a ten percent surcharge on the amount outstanding. In addition any debtor owners cannot vote at community meetings as long as the debt remains unpaid.

Continuing my practice, over the last six years, of jogging the memories of the forgetful owners I have sent out reminder letters, or emails, as the case may suit, to them as an aide-mémoire.

Having received 'shirty' replies from some of them, suggesting it is me who is at fault that they haven't paid, this will be the last time I try to help neighbours save money.

'Presidente' to Treasurer.

Following on from my article 'I think 6 years as 'El 'Presidente'' is enough' we held our Community AGM on the 3^rd July. When it came to the agenda item of the election of officers of the community I confirmed, that having been the voluntary incumbent of the position of 'Presidente' (Chairman) for the last 6 years, that now is the time for someone else to assume the responsibility and it was not my intention to allow my name to be put forward for consideration of a further term.

There being no immediate nominations put forward a discussion of the two alternative methods of selection under paragraph 13.2 of the 'Law of Horizontal Property' took place. “The Law of Horizontal Property states that a Community of Owners has to have a President. Should there fail to be any nominations for the election, then in accordance with paragraph 13.2 of the said law, the selection of the President shall be appointed from among the owners by rotation of property numbers or random draw”.

Those present did not wish to adopt either of those options for several reasons with two being more important; the first being that the 'Presidente' should be resident in Spain, although not a legal requirement; the second being that a random selection could result in an owner being selected that could not cope with the responsibilities; that could affect the community detrimentally.

During the discussion I felt that, although the owners appreciated my point of view that 6 years, the last without the support of a 'Vicepresidente', in the position was enough, there was pressure for me to retract my decision and continue in the role of chairman. I was not prepared to do this.

In order to reach an amicable solution I agreed not to cut my ties completely from the management team. The result being that two owners volunteered to allowed their names to go forward as 'Presidente' and 'Vicepresidente' providing I would accept nomination as a new position of 'Tesorero'. With some reluctance I agreed.

Our community now has a committee of three including myself, quite an increase from when it was just me on my own. Not the complete result I wanted but I take it as a complement to my past performance. My next task is to train a treasurer to take over from me for future years.

I think 6 years as 'El Presidente' is enough.

About two years ago, well in fact on the 2nd July 2010, I wrote an article entitled 'I wonder if 4 years as 'El Presidente' is enough!', which I concluded with the statement “However someone is going to have take over at sometime”.

July 2010 was not the time as I reported in NoParole for 'El Presidente'

Another year passed and the community AGM in July 2011 was the beginning of year 6. When it came to the election of the Vice President there was no one. The minutes of the meeting read “There being no volunteers for nomination for this position, from those present at the meeting, there was a unanimous vote in favour of leaving the position vacant at this time, with a review at a later date if a property owner was prepared to come forward for the vacancy.” needless to say no one came forward.  Apathy!

Well, I have called this year's Community Annual General Meeting for the 3rd July and at that time my sixth year as 'El President' comes to an end. That 'sometime' that I mentioned in 2010 has arrived.

Having sent out the notice of the calling of the AGM at the beginning of June, I have today written to all the owners of properties in the community as follows:

“Please find the attached copies of the proposed Accounts and Balance Sheet as at the 30th June 2012 to be presented at the Annual General Meeting on the 3rd July 2012 for approval. You have already been sent notification of the meeting, including the agenda.

May I remind you that one of the items on the agenda is the election of the Community President. My current annual term of office in this position is coming to an end. Having been the voluntary incumbent for the past 6 years I think now is the time for someone else to assume the responsibility. It is not my intention to allow my name to be put forward for consideration for a further term. I would suggest therefore that you give some thought as to who you wish to nominate for inclusion in the list of candidates.

If you would please forward the nominee's name to me, having of course obtained their agreement, I will include them in the list and circulate this prior to the meeting.

The Law of Horizontal Property states that a Community of Owners has to have a President. Should there fail to be any nominations for the election, then in accordance with paragraph 13.2 of the said law, the selection of the President shall be appointed from among the owners by rotation of property numbers or random draw.”

advising them that I think 6 years as 'El Presidente' is enough.

Unwelcome night-time swimming pool visitors.

I awoke with a start this morning and looked at the clock; it was 04:05 hrs. Natalie had been awoken as well and we could hear several loud voices very close to our house. At that time in the middle of the night we were of course very suspicious about people being about at that time. Because of the shutters on the windows of our Spanish house it is very difficult to discreetly see where the noise and the people are situated. If one raises the shutters the rattle of them immediately alerts those responsible for the noises that they have been noticed.

Amongst my concerns were that attempts were being made to break into our, or close neighbour's, house, or steal or damage a vehicle.

The easiest way for me to see what is happening around our house is to go up to the enclosed solarium on our top floor as there aren't any shutters fitted there.

Our Community has a communal swimming pool which happens to be next to our house. This (swimming pool) is surrounded by a 2 metre high wall on three sides and our boundary balustrade wall on the remaining side, with the only entrance gate being locked at all times.

I was totally taken aback to see that there were three teenagers sitting in the communal pool area chatting away as if they had not a care in the world. One of them was sitting on the edge of the pool paddling his feet in the water, the other two lounging on the poolside metal chairs. They would have used these as stepping stones when they climbed over the wall. None of them were family members of residents of the Community, not that this mattered as the area is out of bounds after 21:00 hrs.

I had no intention of approaching them to tell them to get out of the pool area, which is private property. I immediately telephoned the Policia Local to request their presence and assistance in removing the unwanted visitors. It was a coincidence that as I was making my telephone call that a police vehicle passed close by as presumably part of a routine patrol. The teenagers spotted it and calmly ducked down a little to make sure they couldn't been seen. The height of the surrounding walls made their action unnecessary.

Despite of my minimal Spanish language ability, my message was understood and within a very short period of time, it seemed ages but was actually less than 10 minutes, a police patrol car arrived. The culprits in the pool area, realising that their presence had been noted made no attempt to scarper over the walls to leave the area but waited for the police to open the locked gate with the key I had given them. The three amigos calmly exited as instructed. They did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They gave some feeble excuses to the two police officers, I assume as I couldn't fully understand their rapid Spanish, as to why they were in trespassing in the pool area. I gathered that they said that they lived in the neighbouring Community. They were told to move on and headed for it, disappearing as if going home. The police had no interest in recording any personal details of the youths. This seemed strange. Why were they in a private pool area at that time of night? Would this have been the case if the three had not been Spaniards? Or were they already known to the officers?

I doubted their story as I did not recognise them as living close by, having lived in our house for the past six years.

The police offices quickly left, without any attempted explanation to myself, to presumably continue their patrol that I had interrupted.

I knew something wasn't right and decided to remain on watch in our solarium for a short time.

Having waited a few minutes to give the police time to be away from the vicinity the three youths emerged from the Community, they went into, with one of them pushing a bicycle that he didn't have before. He walked a little way along the road away from our house. The other two turned and walked back towards our house and the pool area. I thought we were in for some more hassle. However they passed by, crossed the road towards the rough ground opposite the front of our property and collected three bicycles that they had hidden in the long grass. They then turned and headed off towards their mate. That meant they now had four bikes between the three of them! They carried on towards the far distance and disappeared into the rest of the night.

It was 04:45hrs when we settled back in bed and turned out the light. It took some time before I slept as I remember seeing 05:10 hrs. on the digital clock.

There is a dead wasp in the swimming pool; - what should I do?

I was sitting at home one  afternoon recently with some friends who had called round for a chat and a cup of tea. There was an unexpected knock on the front door. I broke off from the interesting conversation we were having to see who was at the front door in the middle of the very hot afternoon.

“There is a dead wasp in the pool” said the young lady standing on the door step in her swim suit! She was on holiday, with her equally young beau, staying with a relative who has a property in the community.

I ought to clarify at this point that not only do I live next to the communal swimming pool but I am also the Chairman of the Community in which the pool is situated.

Her statement threw me for moment and before I could think of the appropriate response she enquired as to what she should do to remove the offending insect from the water.

Refraining from the urge to make a satirical, or verging on sarcastic, comment I suggest that perhaps the solution was to scoop the invader out of the water with the aid of a handful of water as a propellant. If that failed she might try the alternative of using her swimming goggles as a scoop. I suggested that her 'Sir Galahad', who remained in the pool, possibly as a rearguard defence and lookout, might assist her in the quest to remove the Hymenoptera.

It is good to be able to assist the youth of today with their education!

Having made my constructive suggestions, I refrained from leaving my guests and undertaking an act of chivalry by despatching the 'beastie', thereby enabling her 'Knight in Armour' to save the señorita from the Spanish invader. With what I perceived as a look of disappointment, that I was not to accompany her, she returned to the swimming pool. Whether or not she, or her 'Superman' hero, or neither of them extracted the wasp from water I'll never know, and to be honest, even though they felt it necessary to disturb my afternoon, I don't need to know.

On returning to my guests I found them chuckling amongst themselves about the episode they had just overheard. Wondering if it was real life or a trailer for a comedy sketch. I put their minds at rest.

It is another one of the joys, or is that peculiarities, of being Chairman of a Community!

Moronic Mother puts swimming pool users health at risk.

I supposed it shouldn't surprise me, having been the Chairman of our Community for five years, but it still does, how stupid and inconsiderate some of the owners, and their visitors in some cases, of the properties within the community can be in relation to communal areas! In this case, and probably in the majority of cases, for the majority of Community Chairman it relates to the use of the communal swimming pool.

In order to maintain the quality of the water within the swimming pool, and therefore directly the health of users of the pool, our Community has an agreed, and issued to all households, set of rules governing the correct use of the facility. Included is the rule that; 'No child using and/or wearing nappies, or not considered as satisfactorily toilet trained, is to be allowed in the water at any time, unless wearing a specially designed, leak proof, swimming nappy'; not an unreasonable rule to try to reduce or eliminate health risks.

Recently I had to speak to an owner, of some long standing, of a property within the community who was using the swimming pool with her very young child. The lady in question brought her child into the swimming pool area, where upon she removed the nappy the child was wearing, leaving the used, soiled, nappy on the perimeter concrete edge of the pool, close to the water, and where other swimmers sit before entering the water; then took the naked child with her under the shower, as required before entering the water, making a little effort to wash herself and the baby, paying little attention to it's now nappy free bottom area; then took the child into the water without any sanitation protection, as required, on the child!

Not only did she leave a soiled nappy on the edge of the pool; she had the child in the water without protection, for other users of the pool, after her visit, from the possible urination or defecation by the very young child in the water.

In the latter case I wonder what she would have done if an incident had occurred resulting in faeces in the water? Would she have informed someone, or myself as Chairman, so remedial water treatment could have been initiated to protect other pool users, or would she have said nothing, done nothing to rectify a problem, and just left the pool area?

On observing her actions I of course immediately spoke to the lady; pointing out that they were unacceptable; that the child be removed from the water immediately; that the soiled nappy be removed from the pool edge and disposed of correctly. Taking into consideration that I am aware that she has had medical training, including rules of hygiene I assume, I was surprised, or was I, by the look she gave me of what I take to be indignation that I should say anything to her about her action! Why can't she do what she wants irrespective of the potential effect it may have on others. Who was I to reprimand her. Who was I to point out to her the unacceptability of her unhygienic actions.

Oh well; another one of those experiences of human nature that comes with the role of being Chairman of a Community.

La Pinada Fiesta 2010 - Very Enjoyable

Each year the La Pinada community of property owners holds its own mini fiesta. Its held not for any other reason, non-religious, non-political, than for the residents of the community to get together for an enjoyable time.

This year for the first time the La Pinada social committee decided to invite residents of our community, Residencial Mexico, as we are next door neighbours so to speak, and only a small community, to join in their festivities. A True community spirit.

As Chairman of our little community I forwarded the invite to all members of Res. Mexico who are resident in Spain. Unfortunately only 4 wanted to take up the invite.

The Fiesta was held yesterday (11th September) from 5.30pm until 11.00pm, and the four of us that attended from Mexico had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The event was well organised and the social committee should be proud of their efforts.

It was a good street party. Plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. People enjoying themselves.

Here is a little video from our evening.

No Parole for 'El Presidente'

We had our 'Community of Owners' annual general meeting on Monday (12th July) as planned, starting it at 10:30 hrs and, after the shortest meeting yet, it closed at 10.55 hrs.

When it came to the matter of the election of the two officials of the community I didn't get my 'Parole', another year at least as 'El Presidente'. My Vice-president of three years was given her parole because she doesn't live in the community on a regular basis any more. That could be my way out for next year! I'll have to move.

I've written the minutes of the meeting (English & Spanish versions required) and have dispatched them to all the owners. I'm now wondering how long before the first query is raised and by whom. I have my suspicion who it will be.

I've cleaned up after other Owners in the past - Not Anymore!

Warning this is a justifiable rant.

Like many communities and urbanisations in Spain ours has a communal post box area. Once again today, like many times before, when I went to check if I had any mail, I found the cupboard full of rubbish. Leaflets, mainly, that had been removed from the individual mail boxes

Why do several of the owners of property within our community, when collecting their mail, when they find unwanted leaflets of various sorts in their private boxes dump them in the post box area, assuming someone else will clear them away?

The obvious answers are  because those owners are too inconsiderate towards others, and too lazy.

They are too lazy to walk 10 yards across the road to the rubbish bin.

Who do they think is going to keep the post box area clean, the post box fairy, or me as the incumbent Community Chairman (El Presidente), who happens to live closest to the mail area? The answer is they don't think as they don't give a dam!

Well I'm not the community cleaner. I've cleaned up after those owners in the past - Not Any more!

Perhaps four years is enough.

I wonder how long it will be before someone complains to me that the post box cupboard is not being kept clean. I know what my response will be.

That's it - calm is restored.

I wonder if 4 years as 'El Presidente' is enough!

On the 4th July 2006, during the Annual General Meeting of the Comunidad de Propietarios, for our property here in Orihuela Costa, I was elected as 'El Presidente' . If it was in the United Kingdom the nearest equivalent would be Chairman of the Residents Association.

The title sounds grand, but although any owner of a property within a community has the right to be considered for the position, there is not normally a stampede for nomination for the post. This is because it can be a time consuming and unappreciated, thankless, unpaid voluntary job. The person elected as 'El President' is also, at the end of the day, the legal representative of the community of property owners and accountable under Spanish law. It is a position that is normally held for one year with a new incumbent being elected at the Annual General Meeting.

All the previous incumbents having resigned and not prepared to be re-elected, I was asked, "at the petition of the owners" according to the minutes of the meeting, to take on the role. as no one else wanted to. I always remember the maxim ' never volunteer' but under Spanish law a community cannot be without a 'Presidente'.

My fourth year in the position is drawing to a close and I'm wondering if that many years is enough.

Its not been a too difficult job, and I believe that I've done my best for the community, although there have been times, yes, when it has been a thankless job.

This is especially true when insults and accusations have been made against me, during the years, by some owners and their visitors, when they couldn't do what they wanted, usually related to the use of the community swimming pool, irrespective of the democratically agreed set of  community rules. In the reality of the situation, this is the bane in the life of the majority of 'Los Presidentes', and a major factor in the reluctance of owners to volunteer for their turn in the role.

Our AGM is usually held in early July, and  this year I decided it is to be the 12th July, and as part of my responsibility I have to send out the notification of the date of the meeting. The financial details, which include the income and expenditure account for the past year, the balance sheet as at the year end (30th June), and the proposed budget for the forthcoming year, also have to be prepared and sent to all the owners in time for the meeting. That's all done.

Since my appointment I have helped the community achieve most of it's goals. A formalisation of the rules of the community. The improvements of the safety of the swimming pool area. The satisfactory quality of maintenance of the swimming pool. The elimination of the need and the cost of an outside Administrator. The reduction of the annual community charge, by cost savings, from 250€ in 2006 to a proposal for 2010 of 185€ . That's all done.

Perhaps the time is right, if another owner is prepared to take hold of them, to hand over the reins.

However the choice may not be mine.

Perhaps the other owners may think 'better the devil you know' and no one volunteers.

However someone is going to have take over at sometime.