Leaks and plumbing continue to be a major issue and huge expense in our building.

Garage Drain Pipe

Posted in the north garage is a chart that defines all of our pipes, using a piping color code system. This helps maintenance to quickly detect the source of the problem and to act accordingly. Clearly this leaking green pipe, (to the left) indicates a “Drain/Waste” pipe with a problem. All leaking pipes are being replaced on an as needed basis.

Rotted Garage Expansion Joint

Added to plumbing issues are the persistent leaks coming from our expansion joints. This includes those running in every direction, not just under the pool. The recent heavy rain has shown that we have a lot of work to do in this area. The work on the pool deck to seal up those expansion joints has been resumed by SPS. The pool deck expansion joints are under warranty.

Maintenance will be addressing the leaks in the garage and ask that you park outside if you know that there is a leak near your space during repairs. Check with the office to see if there are any available spaces inside.

MANY EYES MAKE FOR A BETTER PLAYA DEL MAR

From the Playa del Mar Winter 2010 Newsletter. To access the entire Winter edition, Click Here.

Residents are still separating their newspapers from their other recycle items. Broward County and Fort Lauderdale passed a one stream recycle program beginning October 1, 2009. Our waste removal service provider has recently changed the stickers on the tops of the recycle bins to reflect this change. Newspapers, white paper, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, clean cardboard boxes, and glass all now go into one container.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Broward County operates a drop off center for HHW. Household hazardous waste refers to everyday chemicals, and items we use around our homes such as pesticides, paints, solvents, used motor oil, pool chemicals, mercury thermometers, thermostats, flares, fluorescent tubes, propane tanks, and tires (4 per resident)

Electronics Recycling

Recycling of Used Electronics may also be deposited at the Broward County center. Used electronic products comprise the fastest growing toxic trash problem faced by solid waste managers. Lead, mercury, cadmium, and heavy metals are among the components found in electronics that need to be recycled or disposed of carefully.

BRING: computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, copiers, modems, TVs, cell phones, rechargeable batteries.

DO NOT BRING: microwaves, VCR or DVD players, stereo equipment or appliances.

The closest center to PDM for both Household Hazardous Waste Disposal and Recycling of Used Electronics:

• North Collection Center
• 2780 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach
• Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Call 954-765-4999 for more information or www.Broward.org/waste

Green your Beach Routine

Beach Recycle Bin

PDM residents enjoy a spectacular view of the ocean and beach every day.

We also share with the City of Fort Lauderdale a responsibility to preserve our “Urban Tropical Paradise” by keeping it healthy and clean. Here are some tips to help you Green Your Beach Routine.

1. Pack an Eco-Friendly Picnic

   • When you head to the beach, choose reusable bags, cups, silverware and containers, Avoid bringing glass items. Broken glass and bare feet don’t mix.

2. Remember to Recycle

   • Beach Recycle Bin

     Recyclables make up more than half of the disposable beach trash. Please take your plastic bottles, cans, drink boxes and newspapers back to your apartment or directly to the recycle bins in the lower garage. The Green Committee plans to place a recycle can at the beach soon.

3. Protect Marine Life

   • Every year hundreds of thousands of birds, sea turtles and marine wildlife are killed because they get entangled in plastics or mistake them for food. If you see litter on the water, on the beach, or along a shoreline and can safely remove it, please do so. At the end of the day you should only leave your footprints behind. Reminder to residents that sometimes your children or grandchildren scatter their beach toys, Please remember to gather them all up!

4. Don’t Bury the Cigarette Butts

   • If you are a smoker, take extra precautions to make sure the beach does not become your personal ashtray. Carry a small container to store cigarette butts in while at the beach, then discard cool butts in a litter can when leaving.

Finally, please remember to return your lounge chairs to the protection of the PDM sea wall and high tides. Here are two reasons why.

On the left is the tide coming up by the foot faucet and on the right, our ramp buried in sand. High tides can vary based on wind, the moon and other factors so if you pull or use a chaise lounge, please return it to the sea wall.

Tide Encroaching on Foot Faucet	Ramp Buried in Sand

Thank You!

Green YUR Routine

January 2010   

PDM Board President Bob Boffa

It has been a busy and productive winter. We are just about finished fixing all the leaks in the garages. SPS, the construction contractor, is doing work on both north and south decks which are under warranty.

The Annual meeting is fast approaching, scheduled for Tuesday February 23^rd. There will be no election held since the current board had no opposition this year. (I hope that means that we are doing a good job.)

PDM Treasurer Barry Snider

I met with our treasurer Barry Snider and our accountant and I am happy to say we are again in the “black”.

The staggered terms issue is still a subject to be voted on. It really is important for this to pass to ensure continuity.

I urge residents to get involved with the committees. All new committees will be formed after the annual meeting. A list of committees will be posted. I thank all the current committee members for their participation. I hope to see you all at the Valentines party on the 13^th.

Sincerely yours,

Housekeeping Chief Gabriela Colombo

Gabriela Colombo, who has been with us for six years, has recently been promoted to Supervisor of housekeeping. Gabriela is a soft spoken woman and is very familiar with the needs of the building. She schedules the everyday tasks and can be seen making a list of the out-standing issues and delegating them to her staff. Her most precious possessions are her two children, a son, thirteen and a daughter, ten.

Sharnice (Samantha) Hoy

Sharnice (Samantha) Hoy has recently been added to the housekeeping staff. Samantha loves her job and blends in nicely with the staff. A mother of two boys, ages three and five keep her busy at home. One of her favorite pastimes is dancing and having fun.

Jose Morejon and Carlos Ortega

Welcome to our two new maintenance technicians, Carlos Ortega (right) and José Morejon (left). They bring a lot of experience in all around maintenance and work well together. Carlos and Jose both have positive and upbeat attitudes and contribute a lot to our building.

Those selected to be Employee of the Month are those that show excellent work ethics, provide high standards in customer service, are professional in their responsibilities, team players, good appearance and can multitask. Positive input from the residents also contributes to this award.

Murat Saglem

Murat Saglem, maintenance technician, was our December Employee of the Month. Murat is a volunteer fireman for the community of Plantation for the past nine years and brings to Playa del Mar a commitment of professionalism and expert work. Always pleasant and with a smile on his face.

José Dorta

José Dorta, Chief of Security, was the recipient of the Employee of the Month for January. José runs a tight ship here and has high expectations of his staff. He is dedicated to the security here at PDM and shares those standards with his employees. José has an exceptional work ethic, is very professional in his job and stays focused on the issues at hand. (Note the new uniforms!)

Ashley Knapp

Ashley Knapp, secretary, initially came on board as a part timer but her skills (and our needs) quickly showed that having her full time was in the best interests of PDM. Her demeanor, personality, being a team player and all the standards set forth in receiving the award are a natural part of her makeup. Congratulations on being our February Employee of the month.

Congratulations on being our
Employees of the Month!

Rufina Neri

Recognition can come in other ways as well. Recently, employee Rufina Neri was cleaning the south gym and found a large sum of money alongside one of the treadmills. Rufina remembered who was using the equipment, located the owner and returned the money. She even turned down an offer of a reward, truly an honest and exceptional woman. The owner of the returned money commented on seeing her working in the gym and how thoroughly she was cleaning the equipment.

Chris Palms

We are very fortunate to have exceptionally talented maintenance technicians on our staff. They include plumbers, painters, electricians, HVAC technicians they are experienced in all around maintenance. They work for the building and they cannot do work in your unit on a repair that the building is not responsible for, whether it be a leaky faucet or even to change a light bulb. However, a plan has been put in place for owners that want to avail themselves of these talented technicians.

Contracting any work in your unit by any of the staff involves making an appointment with our chief engineer, Chris, who will come to your unit after hours and evaluate the work. A work release form must be signed by the unit owner. If you agree to having it done, Chris will create a work order and assign the job accordingly. The work will be scheduled for after hours on weekdays and Saturdays. You are encouraged to contract major renovation work to outside contractors.

Your Newsletter Staff

We have gone green and paperless. The Newsletter can be viewed on the library computer by clicking on the PDM Newsletter icon displayed on the screen, the posted version in the mail room and on the PDM website at:

We also print a handful for those that cannot avail themselves of the above. A copy can be obtained at the front office by signing out for one. If you do not get a copy by email, let the office know so they can put you on the distribution list.