Tiara Towers

Week of Nov. 9 - 15

Sponsored by The North Beach Association

Our fall beach cleanup is scheduled next month, and we need volunteers to support us in this important project.   In order to practice social distancing and keep everyone as safe as possible, we will not gather in a large group this year.   We will try to keep you close to your home site, but we will also need volunteers to clean up at different locations of North Beach.  You’ll work at your own pace, on the day you select.

Anyone can volunteer!  Members of the North Beach Association and non-members - All are welcome.

In addition to volunteers for the cleanup, we need volunteers to coordinate the following:  Cleanup kits; Thank you bags; Trash Collection; Drivers and Riders; Area assignment logistics.

To volunteer please contact Jackie Coleman at stormercoleman@outlook.com or text 760-415-1514.

Procedures we’ll follow for the NBA Beach Cleanup:

• Pick up and return your cleaning kit using a contactless process near the tennis courts in Pepper Park at any of the scheduled times:
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning from 8 to 9 AM.
  • Monday through Sunday afternoon from 4 to 5 PM.
• Individual arrangements can be made If you cannot pick up or return your cleaning kits during the scheduled times at Pepper Park.
• Confirm your clean-up location when you receive your kit.
• Transportation will be arranged to and from your cleaning location if required.
• Arrangements for trash pickup will be made as required.
• Additional instructions and information will be provided to all volunteers.
• The cleaning kits will include some thank you surprises!

Board President Bill Dicker submitted this report to the owners at Tiara Towers.

Tiara Towers Condominium Association

November 2, 2020

President’s Report

 Fellow Owners/Neighbors,

This morning Elliott Merrill sent a packet to all owners which includes various documents and forms for the annual meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 10:00AM in the north tower club room. It is very important that you review these materials and closely follow the instructions for the various forms.  Every year it happens that someone has not completed a form correctly and their ballot or proxy is set aside.

Also included in this packet is a non-binding survey relating to the cutting of our oceanside sea grapes.  For thirty years minus one, the Board has authorized one cut per year usually carried out in late summer or in late September.  Elliott Merrill informs us that less than 25% of their properties cut oceanside sea grapes more than once a year. For the past two years, 20-25 owners have expressed a desire to have two cuttings for a variety of reasons: appearance, late season height, view, etc.

Given the cost of the cut and the fact that within weeks of a cut in April or May, the sea grapes go into their most active growth season, so that by September the sea grapes appear as if they were not cut since the previous September, the Board has always opted for one cut.

The Board has secured two estimates for cuts in 2021 with a third on the way.  Estimate 1 - $15,000 for one cut and $25,000 for two cuts. Estimate 2 - $8,000 for one cut and $15,000 for two. For one cut in 2020, the Association paid $8,500 and once the cut was done the company reported that they underestimated and would have to charge us between $12,000 and $15,000 for one cut in 2021.

Please complete the non-binding survey and forward it in accordance with the instructions.

The Board meeting scheduled for Nov. 11, 2020 will not address the financing of the elevator modernization project.  That subject will be addressed at a special Board meeting to be scheduled on November 19, or 20.  The November 11 meeting will be devoted to the approval of the operating budget for 2021 and the hiring of a new landscaper.

Respectfully submitted by,

Bill Dicker

Yes, that's an overturned boat in the water, just 100 ft offshore.      Late Thursday (10/1/2020) evening activity was observed in front of Tiara South.   There was a police or fire boat on site with searchlights panning across the waters, and several officials on the beach in front of Atrium II.   Officials were finally seen to help a man from the beach to the parking lot at Atrium II and a short time later the ambulance, parked in front of Atrium II, left and headed south on A1A.   All of this occurred around 10:30 pm.   The overturned boat was still in the water on the morning of Friday October 2nd.

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Mostly due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic the coming season will see fewer social events for Tiara residents and visitors.  Even though the incidence of positive cases of COVID-19 on North Hutchinson Island remain low, please remember that masks and social distancing are still required.

The Tiara Social Committee has cancelled all sponsored events at Tiara until at least January due to health concerns.

Tiara residents will continue to gather in small groups pool-side and on the beach.

Next Board meeting, a Budget Workshop, is scheduled for October 5th, with a follow-up Budget meeting scheduled for October 16th.

Tiara residents are invited to participate in the two North Beach Association events scheduled this Fall.

• The Adopt-a-Highway event is scheduled for Saturday October 10th at 9 am.  Information is on the bulletin boards in each building.  Volunteers will spend about 1 - 2 hours walking along a section of A1A and picking up trash.    To sign -up call Jeri Bullock (510--914-0257)  or send her an email (jerib99@gmail.com).
• Beach Cleanup Week will be the week of November 9 -15.  Volunteers will be assigned a section of the beach and asked to walk it, picking up trash along the way, sometime during that week.

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Tiara's Board met in the South Building Club Room on Tuesday 9/29 at 10 a.m.   Fifteen persons attended the meeting in-person and another 10 or so attended via the Zoom meeting.

This was the first time the Board used Zoom for a meeting and in my opinion it was a great option.     Using Zoom an owner or Board member can join the meeting from anywhere using their computer or phone.  If the Board uses Zoom for future meetings you will no longer have to be physically at Tiara in order to attend!     As this was the first time Zoom was used there were some technical issues but with experience these will be worked out.

Board President Bill Dicker issued a President's Report by email after the meeting.

Good Day all,

 The Board met yesterday morning.  There were about 15 owners in attendance and 9 or 10 by Zoom.  Three Board members attended by Zoom.  There were some technical problems and if you tried to attend by Zoom and could not we will make a better effort next time.

 The meeting centered on three major subjects.  The first involves the re-painting of everything black (now gray) by the painter beginning in November.  This involves all railings, pool fences, lantern light fixtures, window and slider door/window frames.

 The second subject concerned the signing of the elevator modernization contract with the Schindler elevator company.  Work will start in April of 2021 and will continue in both buildings at the same time until completed in Oct/Nov. 2021. One shaft at a time in each building will be modernized with the work taking 12-15 weeks.  With completion of those elevators, work will start on the remaining elevator in each building.  One shaft in each building will be operating every day during the course of the project.  The contract was signed today.

 The third subject involved a discussion of the four methods the board has considered for funding the cost of the project = approximately $1,500,000.  All four involve the use of the elevator reserves that we have accumulated over 30 years = approx. $750,000.  Option 1 is reserves and two assessments.  Option 2 is reserves and a 10yr loan. Option 3 is reserves and a 5 yr. loan and an assessment. Option 4 is reserves, a loan, and 5-10 annual assessments over a 5 to 10 year time period. The Board will make this decision sometime in the next month or so.

 Option #1 is the leading contender with the Board at the present time.  If this option is adopted, the first assessment would occur in May/June of 2021 (approx.. $2500) and a second assessment in Sept. of 2021 ( very approx. $2500).  The total cost of the project includes a contingency of $130,000 that we may not need to spend and therefore that money would not be required until the second assessment was due.

 This project will also involve the upgrade of our elevator cabs: the buttons and phone, a tv/computer screen, and a new interior (yet to be determined).

 Two budget workshop meetings will be held on October 5 and October 16.

 Respectfully submitted by,

Bill Dicker

In addition the recent balcony inspection was briefly discussed.  The balconies are in decent shape.   Anyone watching the extensive repair work going on at the Sands on the Ocean building to the south of us can understand why this is good news!    The report is available for anyone to review.   You can contact Elliott Merrill to arrange to review it.   The Board also mentioned that the balcony floors can only be painted or covered with a stamped concrete finish - carpeting and tile are not allowed.

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The sea grapes to the east of the Tiara buildings are scheduled to be trimmed beginning today, Saturday Sept 19, 2020.    Work will continue daily, except for Sundays, until completed.

Many Tiara owners use Internet and/or phone services from Comcast.    Others use Florida Broadband, the wifi provider who acquired Tiara Towers as a client site from Level4 Telecom.      Florida Broadband began providing services to Tiara in mid-August.    I noticed recently that I hadn't received an invoice for my Internet services since the acquisition and reached out to Florida Broadband for billing and payment information.

If you used to be a Level 4 Telecom customer and haven't yet received information from Florida Broadband, here's what you can do.

Florida Broadband Website and User Portal

Their website and user portal is www.floridabroadband.com.   You'll need a Username and a Password in order to log on to the site.

There are several options to get your Username.

• You can call Customer Service at 772-448-7700 and ask for assistance.

• You can send an email to support@floridabroadband.com and request a call back for logon assistance.

• Or, quite possibly, you can use the following method to get your logon credentials.

  • At the Login page on their User Portal, enter your username.   It is most likely the primary contact's name (for example JSmith) followed by your unit number (JSmith1505 as an example).     The primary contact for Florida Broadband is the same as was registered with Level4 Telecom.

  • After you enter that username you can click the forgot password link.  You'll be requested to enter your email address and then you should receive an email with credentials to logon.     As with the primary contact's name, you'll need to use the email address for that primary contact in order for the site to retrieve your username.    If this doesn't work, you'll need to call them.

Once you have your logon credentials you can log on.  The first time you'll need to read all of their Terms and Conditions and scroll down to the bottom and click ACCEPT.

After clicking ACCEPT you'll see a menu with Home and Account options.    Click on Account to see your Personal Information and your Invoices.

Florida Broadband (FB) is a green company.    This means they only accept electronic payments.  You can pay by credit or debit card, or by E-check.

Select Personal Information to set up your payment option, and optionally Autopay.    Paying by E-check allows Florida Broadband to "pull" the payment from the bank account that you set up for payments.    FB will send out an invoice mid-month so that you know what your next payment should be.

I reached out via the email option support@floridabroadband.com for information and received a call back within 2 hours, not bad on a Friday afternoon.    The representative was friendly and courteous and walked me through the logon process and setting up my payment option.

Customer Service Telephone Number:  772-448-7700

Sands on the Ocean

Our neighbor to the south, Sands on the Ocean, has been repairing their balconies.  Work started on the balconies on the south side of their building earlier this summer, but now has moved to the balconies on the north side of their building.  Those balconies overlook the pool at Tiara South.    The work started there a week ago and includes removing much of the concrete on their balconies so that damaged rebar can be re-coated or replaced.  The noise of jack-hammering starts at 8 am and work continues until 3:30 pm.    If you are in the South Tiara building you have most likely heard the noise.

All the windows and sliders on their balconies have been covered with plywood.    No access to those balconies from the Sands' units and I believe some residents have temporarily relocated for the duration of the repair.    On one of the balconies in the picture you can see that the railings have been removed and most of the concrete balcony has been jack-hammered out, letting the concrete fall to the balcony below and then it's hauled off in buckets to the ground.     The workers are taking some precautions to keep the concrete dust controlled but I'm sure it's in the air and probably in our pool, though I have not personally checked.

I expect this work to continue for several months.    If you're planning on returning to Tiara South, or even visiting, just be aware that there could be more-than-usual noise and dust due to the construction next door.     Then again, we're in an 05 unit, directly facing those balconies, so we do hear the noise at 8 am and can watch the work.   Those in the other units might not notice the construction as much.

This is not a complaint.  Sands' workers are doing the best they can.  This is just an interesting update and a caution if you are not here, value your quiet, and might be planning on visiting Tiara South in the near future.

Level 4 - No More

If you're an owner who opted for Level 4 Internet and Phone service several years ago you are probably aware by now that they have sold their service here at Tiara.    They sold their service and customer base to Florida Broadband, a local wireless provider.    The changeover occurred a few weeks ago and was a bit rocky, with some intermittent outages, but seems to have settled down.

Internet service is available, and phone outages have mostly been corrected.    The internet is now working in both club rooms.

Best of all the phone number that we used to reach Level4 Customer Service ( 772-448-7700 ) is the same number you'll use to reach Florida Broadband.   And, at least for the time being, Florida Broadband is keeping the monthly fees the same.     We are expecting some literature to come by mail from Florida Broadband but haven't seen it so far.

Labor Day Weekend

We're going into the Labor Day weekend and will quite probably have additional guests on the property.     Just a reminder to keep us all safe please remember to social distance and when you cannot stay 6 feet away please wear a mark.    St. Lucie County has enacted a face mask ordinance requiring the use of face masks when social distancing is not possible.

Note - According to the Florida Covid-19 Dashboard there have been a total of 42 confirmed cases in zip code 34949.   The zip 34949 includes all of North and South Hutchinson Island that fall within the boundaries of St Lucie County.

Barbara A. Romano

1932 - 2020

Barbara A. (Simcock) Romano passed away August 1, 2020 at the age of 88 after a period of declining health.

She was the only child of Helen Simcock and Alfred Simcock and was raised in Brighton MA.

Barbara retired from Raytheon Corp after a thirty-year career.

She was the devoted wife to the late Renard Romano for 52 years, prior to his death in 2002.  Barbara and Renard retired to Hutchinson Island, FL in 1992, where Barbara continued to make her home until last year when she moved to New Hampshire to be closer to her family.

She is survived by her three children, Steven Romano and his wife, Mary of Bedford, NH; Lynda Prizio and her husband, Joseph of Woburn, MA; and Paul Romano of Derry, NH. She also leaves seven grandchildren, Kimberly Romano Bedard, and her husband, Kevin, John Romano, Gina Curreri, Stephen Curreri, Sam Romano, Reanna Romano and Kyley Romano.

SERVICES: A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2020, 10:30 AM at Calvary Cemetery, in Waltham, MA.

Those in attendance are respectfully requested to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in memory of Mrs. Romano.

Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium assisted the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please go to www.phaneuf.net

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