Presidents Message
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – July 2025
“Your Front Row Seat in the Board Room”
Hi Neighbors,
We had a well-attended patriotic “Memorial Day” ceremony at our flagpole area. I MC’d the event as fellow Board Members Debbie Kleinman, Lou Potestio, and Andy Hoose were in attendance. Two of our handymen Steve Reineke and Steve Laird were there to distribute chairs and water as well as lower our flag to half-mast. Meanwhile a bugler played “TAPS” in memory of all our American soldiers, the brave men and women who gave their lives in order to keep us safe. Kudos to resident Phil Orenstein for his help in procuring members of the American Legion Post#301 in Queens Village, who showed up in uniform to help memorialize our fallen soldiers.
Once again, we started our annual garage inspections. Why are we doing this? The answer is because negative and dangerous garage violations have been occurring by some shareholders….
For Example:
- Illegal storage of dangerous liquids such as gasoline, diesel fuel, propane tanks, lithium ion battery powered devices and other dangerous items.
- Residents who wrongfully use the electric outlets in their garages which are there solely for the use of electric garage door openers.
- We have found that some residents have been charging refrigerators, freezers, batteries, powered tools and many other items.We have had residents sitting on lounge chairs watching TV’s which are illegally plugged into our outlets.
It’s important that everyone is cognizant of who pays the electric bill. We all do, it goes onto the BPMT common area electric bill. Things like this can cause maintenance increases and/or assessments. It is wrong and unfair, and with 327 garages, it is anyone’s guess at how many are being used illegally. We have found many garages filled with so much “stuff” that for many years, they have never been able to fit a car in their garage.
Our garages are for cars ONLY, so if there is space you may put in limited storage. If you have a lot of items, we recommend finding a storage facility. Too much storage can be a fire hazard which the Fire Department has warned us about. We the Board of Directors are aware and do sympathize with all those shareholders who are patiently waiting for years on lists in order to have a chance at being issued a garage and/or spot.
We have been given no choice but to terminate parking spots and garage leases to the few shareholders who engage in dangerous and illegal conduct in our garages and those who are habitually in arrears. Shareholders who are in arrears are also subject to revocation of their outdoor parking spot.
We allow shareholders with (2) two cars to apply for (1) one outdoor parking spot and (1) one garage. That being said, numerous shareholders have been found to have (1) car and yet have a spot and garage. We the Board find this to be unfair and discourteous to all of our patient shareholders who have been waiting for years at a shot at getting a spot or garage. Since we have started our new windshield permit program, along with our annual inspections, we have been able to issue at least 50 new parking spots and/or garages. These shareholders have been on the parking and garage lists for years and are very grateful and happy residents, to have received a parking spot and/or garage.
Unfortunately, we have found residents who are renting their spots to other residents and even people who DO NOT LIVE IN BPMT!!! The same goes for our garages, wherein people are renting their garages to outsiders for profit. We are trying to combat these acts.
Our roofing project will be going on for at least 2 years. New roofing, gutters, leaders, siding, leaf guards and shutters. We are also installing high quality, heavy duty, new benches throughout BPMT. We do building-pointing as needed and our landscapers all help to make BPMT look beautiful.
As we do each year, the Board of Directors takes its annual hiatus every August. All meetings and the “President’s Message” will resume again in September.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Management Team, I would like to wish all shareholders and their respective families a happy, healthy, and fun filled summer season. Be well, be safe and take care of each other.
That’s it for now.
Speak with you soon.
Bobby Sher – Board President
Bell Park Manor – Terrace