OWNERS, NEIGHBORS & RESIDENTS
OF SEMINOLE PALMS
UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY – PLEASE READ!!
April 6, 2015
Dear Residents and Homeowners at Seminole Palms:
The current, duly elected Board of Directors of the Association, Ted Matz, Sterling Jean, and Allen Borza, would like to update
you regarding certain events that have transpired in the last few days with respect to our efforts to remove Lisa Hargrove from
her self-appointed position as the sole member of the Board of Directors. Unfortunately, Lisa has gone to great lengths
(including filing fraudulent documents with the Florida Department of State) to thwart our efforts to ensure that the Association
is run for the benefit of the homeowners, as opposed to for her own personal benefit. She has, among other things, interfered
with our efforts to safeguard Association funds, and had an unauthorized, unapproved management company barricade itself in
our clubhouse. Despite the fact that she is no longer a Board member, Lisa obstinately holds herself out as acting on half of the
Association. Lisa’s vehement opposition to the will of the overwhelming majority of the homeowners leads one to wonder
what exactly she is trying to hide. However, rest assured, as we are taking appropriate legal measures to stop Lisa from
continuing her nefarious conduct, and from interfering with Association business. We are in the process of safeguarding the
Association funds, and will review all of the Association’s books and records to ensure Lisa did not line her pockets with our
money. If it is revealed that Lisa unlawfully misappropriated Association funds, and/or engaged in conduct that breached her
fiduciary duty, we will take appropriate action. For your information, the following is an update of recent events:
Tuesday, March 24
The community held our duly noticed Annual Meeting at the Clubhouse at 7:00 pm. A quorum of homeowners was present,
either physically, or by proxy. Nominations for the election of the Board of Directors were taken from the floor. Sterling Jean
and Ted Matz were unanimously re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors. Allen Borza, who formerly served on the Board
of Directors, was unanimously elected to serve on the Board. Phoenix Property Management, our current property manager,
and an experienced HOA attorney from Greenstein & Associates, the Association’s legal counsel, assisted us in connection with
the Annual Meeting, to ensure that we complied with relevant Florida HOA laws and our bylaws. As you may know, Phoenix,
which has been in business for in excess of 20 years, was duly selected as our property management company by a 3-1 vote at
our January, 2015, meeting. Phoenix’s selection was based on its proposal and presentation to the Board, which outlined its
experience, professionalism, and cost-effective property management. After the Annual Meeting, the new Board held a Board
of Directors’ meeting, at which one of the first items addressed was to change the locks to take back our Clubhouse, which was
commandeered by Hargrove when she, without Board authority, entered the Clubhouse, removed all of our files and
equipment, and changed the locks.
Significantly, the Annual Meeting was interrupted by a deliberate 6:00pm pressure cleaning of the pool area, orchestrated by
Lisa Hargrove/Regal CAM to disrupt the meeting. Soon after, the Greenacres police were called by an anonymous individual
telling them there was a "mob" at the clubhouse. This was immediately dispelled by the police upon their arrival to the very
peaceful meeting. Within minutes, two employees of Regal CAM showed up (after hours, mind you). The police report with this
detail is public record (and available from your Building Representative). This report details how the newly elected president,
Allen Borza, allowed the Regal CAM employees to collect their belongings from the Clubhouse before the locks were rightfully
changed.
Apparently, Lisa, acting unilaterally, as the self-appointed dictator of the Association, illegally retained Regal CAM as the
purported property manager. Lisa did this without authority, and despite the fact that Phoenix has agreed to charge the
Association $995.00 a month for the property management portion of the contract. Seacreast was charging the Board
$3,900.00/month for the same service, and, several months ago, Regal CAM advised the Board it would charge $3,300.00 for
the same service.
Interestingly, Regal Cam has no experience as a property management company. According to Regal CAM’s FL corporate filing,
it was formed THIS FEBRUARY (2/26/2015). Furthermore, according to the FL Department of Business & Professional
Regulations, only one employee of Regal CAM is a licensed Community Association Manager (CAM), with the designation
Seminole Palms - Greenacres, Florida
OWNERS, NEIGHBORS & RESIDENTS
OF SEMINOLE PALMS
becoming official on March 2, 2015. Therefore, Regal CAM misrepresented itself to the Board at its prior Board presentation,
when it falsely stated that it was a duly organized company, and a licensed CAM.
We believe that Regal CAM was created to be Lisa’s puppet. Regal CAM is illegally trespassing in the Clubhouse, and has
refused to vacate, despite our demands that it do so. It has brought in furniture, and installed new cameras and alarms
in/around the Clubhouse so it can spy on us 24/7. Regal CAM, at Lisa’s direction, has spent our funds, without Board approval.
Among other things, Regal CAM wastefully installed a new wood floor in the Clubhouse, despite the fact that the wood floor is
near a wet area, rendering its installation dangerous. Regal CAM also announced it is planning a party for next month.
Meanwhile, our grass and trees continue to die, and our property values will be impacted, as Lisa/Regal CAM redecorate their
offices, and create a fortress at the Clubhouse.
Furthermore, while Lisa has unlawfully deprived the homeowners of access to the Association’s bank records, we have
discovered that a check in the amount of $16,300.00 was withdrawn from the Association’s account. This check was signed
solely by Lisa (without an additional signor, which is against the internal policies of the HOA), and was not an approved
expenditure.
Wednesday, March 25
Given Lisa is no longer a member of the Board of Directors, the new Board began the process of having the Association’s filings
updated with the Florida Department of State. The new Board, in compliance with a resolution passed at the Annual Meeting,
also began the process of removing Lisa as an authorized signor on the Association’s bank account.
Thursday, March 26
In the morning, after Sunbiz was updated to correctly reflect the new Board’s election, the Board went to the Association bank,
Valley National, to update the signors on the account to reflect the newly elected Board. Allen Borza was added as an
authorized signor on the account, and Lisa Hargrove and Chevaun Karl were removed. This was done to ensure that ONLY the
duly elected Board had access to the Association’s funds.
After leaving the bank, the Board went to the Seacrest Management Office to drop off the of the Annual Meeting, and to notify
Seacrest that Lisa no longer has the authority to act on behalf of the Association.
That afternoon, Regal CAM employees returned to the Clubhouse with a locksmith, illegally changed the Clubhouse locks, and
barricaded themselves in the clubhouse. Upon being made aware of this, Allen Borza called the Greenacres police. The police
arrived, and discussed the matter with Allen. The police advised Allen that this was a civil matter that needed to be resolved by
a civil judge, and that absent an order from such judge, the police would not take any action. Remarkably, and appallingly, Lisa
and Regal CAM have locked out the duly elected Board. The Board is working with the HOA’s legal counsel to take measures to
ensure that Regal CAM is removed from the Clubhouse, and that it is returned to the community, for the benefit of all.
Friday, March 27
Board representatives had a 1pm teleconference with the HOA’s counsel, Richard Lubliner of Greenstein & Associates (not to
be confused with Todd Surber, the Association’s former attorney who is also friends with Lisa Hargrove, and who will not
respond to anyone but her). On this call, it was determined that the best course of action was to change the bank at which the
Association’s funds were held, to safeguard them from Lisa. This was because, among other things, the bank advised the Board
that it does not validate signatures on checks presented to the Bank, against the signatures on file, unless the check presented
is in excess of $2,500.00. Therefore, Lisa could continue to write checks from the Association account, despite the fact she is
not a Board member, nor an authorized signor on the account. Additionally, a new bank account was required, because
Seacrest was the only one with checks for the account, and Seacrest was not responding to the Board’s requests at that time.
Monday & Tuesday (March 30 & 31)
The Board coordinated with Phoenix management to setup new Association operating and reserve accounts at Center State
Bank (a bank that Phoenix Management recommended, as it has no additional fees).
Seminole Palms - Greenacres, Florida
OWNERS, NEIGHBORS & RESIDENTS
OF SEMINOLE PALMS
Wednesday, April 1
Ted and Sterling went to Valley National to get cashier’s checks (made out to Seminole Palms HOA) in order to move the
Association’s funds to Center State Bank. However, upon receiving the request for the checks, the bank manager called
Seacrest Management, who told her that “the board was under dispute.” Despite the fact that Ted and Sterling were
authorized signors on the bank account, and members of both the current, and prior Board, the bank decided to freeze
our HOA accounts until they consulted with their internal legal department. The bank manager said that neither the new
Board, nor Lisa, would have access to the bank’s funds.
Thursday, April 2
In the morning, the bank manager of Valley National called Sterling and told him that they decided not to freeze the
accounts and that they would fulfill the request for the cashier’s checks. Allen and Sterling then took the checks to Center
State Bank to finalize the HOA account creation and deposit the checks in the new HOA accounts. However, during the
final stages of the account creation, Center State Bank notified Phoenix Management that the FL State filing on Sunbiz had
suddenly been changed to reflect ANOTHER board of directors, consisting of Lisa Hargrove and Svetlana Buccellato (who
resides in Georgia, and was apparently appointed by Lisa, in violation of the bylaws.) Thus, Lisa unlawfully filed a
fraudulent document with the Florida Department of State, falsely identifying her, and Svetlana Buccellato, as Board
Members. Significantly, neither Lisa nor Svetlana even live in our community. Unfortunately, because of this, Center
State Bank has decided to NOT allow for the HOA bank accounts to be created.
The new Board is working with the HOA’s attorneys to address this, and the other situations created by Lisa’s abhorrent
conduct. The new Board is evaluating all options, including taking legal action against Lisa for what she has done to the
community.
Friday, April 3
In the afternoon, Peter Mollengarden (the Board’s former attorney) received a call from a Valley National Bank attorney.
The Valley National attorney advised that the funds were going to be frozen, because of the Board dispute. At the Board’s
direction, and after consulting with the HOA’s current counsel, Peter welcomed the bank’s suggestion of litigating the
issue of which Board was duly appointed. The Board’s current counsel plans on discussing this matter with Valley
National Bank’s attorney. The new Board welcomes the opportunity to have “its day in Court,” and show a judge that it is
the duly elected Board, and that Lisa has unlawfully usurped the power of the Board, and put her financial interests ahead
of her obligation to represent the Association as a fiduciary.
GOING FORWARD, UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON:
WWW.SEMINOLEPALMS.COM
FOR QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR BUILDING REPRESENTATIVES AT:
[email protected]
Please know that all of this takes time, and the support of the community is critical. Whether you live here or reside elsewhere,
you need to be and stay involved. We are doing our best to assist you with these update letters and email access to your
building representatives. Our property values are at risk. Please show your support by attending the meetings called by your
Board, or sending your proxy in when needed. These are very concerning times. Thank you for your continued support.
The Board of Directors of Seminole Palms
Allen Borza
Sterling Jean
Ted Matz
Seminole Palms - Greenacres, Florida