The classes, conducted by Battalion Chief Daniel Oatmeyer, with assistance from Ocean Rescue Chief Alexandre Bagwell and her staff, conducted the classes in various association buildings. The attendees were taught how the administer CPR in case of cardiac arrest, and to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) until the fire fighters arrive.  Every building is required to have an AED in a public area accessible to everyone. 

This training can and will save lives.  For every one minute the heart is stopped, the chances of survival decrease by 10 percent.  From the time of dispatch, the fire fighters arrive in 6 minutes or less. 

We thank Chief Oatmeyer for conducting this training.  We thank Cornelia Cave (Southpoint) for being the Galt Mile Coordinator of this program.  We thank our Fire Chief, Chief Stephen Gollan, for his support.  Lastly, we thank all the residents who participated in the training programs. We will resume with training classes in October.  If you are interested, watch our website  galtmile.com or our Facebook page (facebook.com/galtmilecommunity) for additional information.  Class size is limited and your must pre-register for the class.

• To apply for an inspection, an association must receive approval from a majority vote of the board of administration or a majority vote of the total voting interests of the association.
• To apply for a grant, an association must receive a unanimous vote of all unit owners within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant.
• The votes required by this section of the bill may take place at the annual budget meeting of the association or at a unit owner meeting called for the purpose of taking such vote. However, before a vote of the unit owners can be taken, the association must provide to the unit owners a clear disclosure of the MSFCP Program on a form created by DFS.
• The president and the treasurer of the board of administration must sign the disclosure form indicating that a copy of the form was provided to each unit owner of the association.
• The signed disclosure form and the minutes from the meeting at which the unit owners voted to participate in the MSFCP Program must be maintained as part of the association’s official records.
• Within 14 days after an affirmative vote to participate in the MSFCP Program, the association must provide written notice in the same manner as required under s. 718.112(2)(d), F.S.,47 to all unit owners of the decision to participate in the MSFCP Program.
• The grant is limited to $175,000 per association.
• Grants for eligible associations may be used for the following improvements:
  • Opening protection including exterior doors, garage doors, skylights and windows.
  • Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections.
  • Improving the strength of roof-deck attachments.
  • Secondary water resistance for the roof.

The bill provides that a mitigation grant must be awarded to the association, and unit owners may not participate individually in the MSFCP Program.

Source:  Siegfried Rivera Law Firm

#1 – Court Invalidates Amendment Reducing Vote Requirement

#2 – Court Holds that Code Enforcement Liens Do Not Bind Condominium Units or Common Elements

#3 – Federal Corporate Transparency Act RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL — This is a new federal law that would require all associations to register with the federal government.

If you have any questions on these legal matters, please consult with your legal counsel.

Click here to read the legal opinions.

Becker’s state lobbying report states that 1,957 Bills and Proposed Committee Bills (PCBs)filed; 2,196 Amendments filed, 3,051 Votes taken, and 324 Bills passed both chambers. 

Click here for the final state legislative chart showing the final status of all bills.

The monthly activity calendar for the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center is always posted on our Facebook page:  facebook.com/galtmilecommunity.

In a recent appellate court decision from the Florida Third District Court of Appeals, the court explicitly held that an association attorney owes no duty to unit owners.

Click here to read the full article from Poliakoff Backer.

Eric served on the Galt Mile Community Association Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Board.  He was the driving force behind the Galt Security Patrol, whereby associations joined to hire off-duty Fort Lauderdale police officers to patrol the beach and streets.

Having lived in both Ocean Manor and Southpoint before serving on the Regency Tower Board of Directors, Eric Peter Berkowitz developed a unique perspective of the Galt Mile. Eric created and served as webmaster of the Galt Mile Community Association web site, one of largest and most comprehensive in South Florida. As editor of the “Galt Mile News”, the Association’s newsletter, he kept community residents and neighborhood merchants informed about issues critical to their rights, homes and lifestyles.

A prolific writer, Eric relates Association policy as formulated by the Board, the Advisory Board and concerned residents. Always active, Eric’s organizational skills were critical to Fort Lauderdale’s inclusion in the beach renourishment project, the installation of Automated External Defibrillators throughout the neighborhood, the successful promotion of practical fire safety regulations and myriad other challenges.

Eric also served as the community’s eyes and ears, alerting the neighborhood to positive and negative political impacts emanating from Fort Lauderdale’s City Hall, Broward County, Tallahassee and Washington DC.

Eric was my “eyes and ears on the Galt,” stated Galt Mile President Fred Nesbitt. “He always told me, ‘I have your back” and my job is to keep you out of trouble.”  He did that with perfection.  “The Galt has lost an advocate and a person with unlimited knowledge about our past – never forgetting a single detail or name.”  That history has been lost with Eric’s passing.  We will miss you my friend.

Several bills are currently working their way through the legislative process, being heard in committees and voted on by committees.  See the latest chart for the status of these bills.

Click here for the latest state legislative chart showing all bills being considered.

We also welcomed our new Chief of Police, Bill Schultz, and Fire Chief Stephen Gollan.  They were joined by several police officers and the firefighter. We also want to thank the tremendous efforts of the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Rec Department – who staged the entire event and we welcome the new Director, Carl Williams.  Oh by the way, Santa Claus was there too.