New group caters to concerns of HOAs
By Stefanie Frith
The Desert Sun, June 3, 2007
Homeowners associations in Palm Springs will have an organization with which to share ideas and resources starting this week.
Mark Davis and Vic Gainer - both presidents of their homeowners associations - are forming the Palm Springs Council of Homeowner Association Presidents, which meets Tuesday.
The idea to create such a group came about after a homeowners association property manager was recently convicted of embezzling more than $361,000 from 11 homeowners associations she managed.
Investigators said Cathedral City resident Mary Clark had a scam that included writing checks to herself by using other people's signatures, including Gainer's.
"I said, 'Hey, that's not my signature,'" he said, adding that at least $8,500 was taken from his homeowners association.
Gainer said he and Davis looked into the issue and helped the police with information that led to Clark's arrest and subsequent guilty plea. If an homeowners association representing all of Palm Springs had existed at the time, Clark may have been caught earlier, said Gainer, a Palm Springs City Council candidate.
He said there are 60 to 70 homeowners associations in the city, possibly more.
"We hope to not just uncover wrongdoing but help share resources and information," said Gainer, whose Los Pueblos association represents more than 80 condos.
Lorin French, a former member of the homeowners association board at The Fairways, a group of more than 160 condos, said having an organization representing each association in the city will help bring issues to city officials' attention.
"One of the most important things is the increase in airport noise," said French, adding he would like to see fewer flights late at night.
Gainer said he hopes the new organization can help neighborhoods with homeowners associations get their dues lowered, while still building reserves and keeping up the maintenance.
"The response (to the organization) has been great," he said.
©2007 The Desert Sun