The results of a survey sent out to management, maintenance and security, requesting progress over the summer, are detailed below.

Painting has been a big project here, with the painting of all the walls around the building, the promenade wall and the sea walls. Also, both the north and south gyms have been painted as well as the lower garage walls, doors leading into the garages and the areas in elevator landings (which have all been tiled). Stairway walls and doors have been scheduled.

SPS is still working on the railings and recently completed the promenade railings and beach access railings. Management did a walk through with SPS to look at rails, flooring issues and unresolved building cracks.

Inhouse Pipe Repair

Repaired Pipes

Although still working on pipes, several pipes have been replaced in the upper and lower garages. Each of the cooling towers have been flushed and cleaned and all A/C closet doors have been adjusted. New A/C units for the hallways have been installed on floors 12, 24 and 26 west. This is ongoing as needed.

Also - In the “New” Department

A new drinking fountain has been installed by the pool, new electric fuse boxes on the roof, some new state of the art video security cameras, (smile!) newly built storage units in the lower garage, (for rent $25 a month $200 per year) sprinkler heads repaired, timers replaced, new plants out front, palm trees trimmed, lights in the front repaired and new sensors installed.

Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center

On Sept 22, 2009 fifty plus residents attended the Broward County Commission’s final budget meeting. Residents wore red and white SAVE OUR LIBRARY t-shirts or pins. During the summer residents gathered thou-sands of petitions, resolutions and letters to Broward County Commissioners.

Library Supporters Pack Budget Meet

City Commissioner Bruce Roberts arranged for a bus for residents to attend the meeting. Vice Mayor and the Galt Mile area Commissioner Ken Keechl met with Save our Library supporters, and served as a voice on the Commission to keep the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Room open. Galt Mile Community Association President, Pio Ieraci addressed the Broward County Commission on behalf of the Galt Mile Residents. The Hearing Room was packed with residents all speaking to their issues hoping to be included in the budget. Commissioner Ken Keechl finally spoke to the Galt Mile Residents. He announced that the Commissioners would not be closing any of the seven libraries that were on the chopping block.

Save Library T-Shirt

Funding for the GALT MILE READING ROOM was in the budget. Cheers rang out from the attendees!

If you are new to PDM please visit the Galt Mile Reading Room. It is a wonderful mini library and very convenient for all who live on the Galt Mile.

Galt Recycle Bin

Beginning October 1, 2009 the City of Fort Lauderdale has become a one stream recycle system. What does that mean for PDM? It means you no longer have to separate paper from plastic, metal, or glass. All recyclable items can be placed in the new containers in the lower garage upon their arrival. (We have NOT received the new bins in our lower garage for the new “single stream system” that allows “MIX and MATCH” recycling.) Please continue to do your part. Don’t throw any recyclable items down the garbage shoot. If you have a neighbor that is unable to take their items to the lower garage offer to take the recyclables for them.

Beach Recycle Bin

The City of Fort Lauderdale has also placed blue recyclable cans along the public beach and along the Galt Ocean Mile. When you are going for your morning walk you can use the new Blue recycle cans instead of bringing your recyclables back to PDM for proper disposal. PDM will be installing more recycle bins in the future throughout the building and at the beach to make it even easier for you to:

by PDM Newsletter Staff

November 2009   

PDM Board President Bob Boffa

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our residents and staff who worked so hard this past year to make the PDM the building it is. It is now up to us to all help keep it that way.

In January, we will have a Board of Directors meeting where we will vote on staggered terms for board members. This will mean that 3 members run one year for a two year position and 4 members run the next year for a two year position on the board. This is the most efficient and productive way to have board elections.

We have always had staggered terms since the building was built and our “condo docs” state that this is how it should be. The State of Florida feels it is necessary for condos to “reconfirm” this position. Your board urges you to vote YES on this issue. If you have any questions concerning this, please call the office.

We have no increase in our maintenance fees again this year and this trend can continue in these hard financial times if we curb unnecessary spending and deal with vendors properly.

I would like to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to seeing you all.

Sincerely yours,

HVAC Maintenance Staffer Roberto Flores

Married for 20 years, the Flores family moved to Florida from Virginia. Roberto has been in the employ of Playa del Mar for the past two years and brings us his expertise in (HVAC) air conditioning maintenance. You can see him almost anywhere on the premises, on a ladder with his head above the ceiling tiles or cramped in an A/C closet servicing our equipment. Roberto says “thank you” to all the residents for making him feel that his work here is meaningful and that he is a part of the PDM family. A team player, he is well respected by his fellow workers and can be depended on to “take up the slack” when called upon.

Gustav Joseph

Gustav has been with us for FOUR years and he is the kind of employee that works in the background and is rarely seen. He is self motivated and doesn’t need supervision for he always finds something to do. Married for four years and father of three children, Gustav maintains our property inside and out and possesses a great work ethic.

As promised by Security Chief, José Dorta, that although it’s an ongoing process to improve our security staff, José has made some positive changes since our last Newsletter. Now onboard are the following new members of our Security Staff.

Carlos Rodriquez	Front Desk	José Dorta
Molard Desrosiers	Front Desk
Marie Francois	Lower Garage
Merylene Charles	Lower Garage
Kenny Joseph	Rover
Arthur Veldman	Night Rover

Welcome to PDM!

by PDM Newsletter Staff

Your Newsletter Staff

We have eliminated postal versions of the Newsletter in an effort to cut the high cost of postage, paper, labor and printing. You can view the Newsletter in the mailroom AND on our website at:

For those without an email or those that have not submitted their email to the office, you can view it on the library computer by clicking on the PDM Newsletter icon. Any exceptions to those unable to view the Newsletter, please contact the front office. Thank you for your cooperation.