By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
Two recent reports highlight ugly HOA wars, power plays resulting in threats, discrimination, aggression, and downright hostility.
Mayor makes angry threats in HOA dispute (FL)
In states such as Florida, where the majority of housing is HOA-governed, it’s not uncommon to live in the same neighborhood as local or state politicians.
Understandably, it can get a bit awkward when the Mayor of your city lives down the street, especially when his wife is President of the HOA board.
Imagine, for a moment, that you’re a homeowner in the cross-hairs of your HOA over a covenant violation. Will the Mayor’s political power influence the HOA’s enforcement actions?
How would you expect the Mayor of your city to handle disputes in the HOA?
Probably not like Oviedo Mayor Dominic Persampiere.
Caught on camera
WFTV-9 obtained a shocking cell phone video taken by Christopher and Jennifer Bain. Caught on camera, Mayor Persampiere is heard yelling obscenities and threatening to kill his neighbors.
The incident happened Monday evening, shortly after the Mayor’s 26-year-old daughter, Krysta, was searching for her lost cat in the neighborhood.
The Bains reportedly thought that Krysta was taking photos of their house, for the purposes of reporting a covenant violation to the HOA.
Assuming Krysta was intruding on their property, Bains threatened to call the police, according to an Oviedo Police report. When Krysta told her father about the Bains’ reaction, the Mayor lost his temper, and began shouting at his neighbor.
Here are the Mayor’s threats, which can be heard on cell phone video obtained by police:
“You ever talk to my kid like that again, and I’ll get my gun and go over there, and I’ll (expletive) kill you,” he said. “Take my picture. Here I am. Record this. She lost her damn cat. Go ahead. Put it on Facebook. You’re both (expletive) (expletive).”
Following these Monday evening threats, Jennifer Bain filed a protection order against the Mayor. According to the Orlando Sentinel, a hearing is scheduled for June 5.
Jennifer Bain also accuses Persampiere of “stealing” Facebook photos of their dog, and falsely describing the German Shepard as an aggressive animal.
It’s worth noting that Oviedo Police did not file any charges against Dominic Persampiere.
The Mayor insists the Bains have political motives against him, because he’s running or reelection.
News Sources:
Police: Oviedo mayor threatens to kill neighbors who threatened to call police on his daughter (FL)
By: Jason Kelly , Jeff Levkulich
Updated: May 16, 2019 – 11:51 AM
Neighbor demands protection order against Oviedo Mayor Dominic Persampiere, accuses him of stealing Facebook photos
By JERRY FALLSTROM | ORLANDO SENTINEL |MAY 17, 2019 | 1:57 PM
Judge kicks condo developer off the board for three years (CO)
The Aspen Daily News reports that Judge Anne Norrdin (9th Judicial District) booted the developer and long-time board member off of the board at North of Nell condominiums last month.
The condo board had asked for the removal of Thomas Daly, who they say creates a hostile environment at North of Nell. Their 34-page complaint cites many examples of anti-Semitic and sexist slurs directed at staff and fellow board members.
Although Daly denies the charges, Judge Norrdin found the HOA’s case convincing and compelling.
North of Nell is a resort condominium hotel located next to Aspen’s world-renowned ski slopes. In the hospitality business, the condo association cannot afford to have its unit and business owners, guests, or staff members feel alienated or unwelcome.
But one has to wonder why it took twenty years for the condo board to act on so many complaints. Is it because Daly held onto excessive control of the board as its developer?
Were board members and staff that fearful of Daly?
Or, as Daly claims, are current condo board members simply making up complaints so they can seize control of the Association?
News Source:
Judge removes man from condo board after lawsuit, citing threats and racism
Chad Abraham, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
May 11, 2019
More examples of power plays in HOAs
Kansas HOA special assessment conflict turns ugly (IAC, March 1, 2019)
HOAs from the Dark Side (IAC, September 29, 2018)