Statements against Pocono Mountain Lake Forest are false and outrageous

To the Editor:
This is the truth to the defamatory statements made by David DeVilliers regarding his May 2, 2016, Letter to the Editor. First let it be known that all of the Board of Directors at the Pocono Mountain Lake Forest Property Owners Association are unpaid members who have graciously devoted their time to help better the Association. This is quite often a grueling task and often riddled with unfounded criticism by a select few members. Although the duties undertaken by the Board of Directors is rarely praised, the task is nonetheless necessary for the betterment of all members. For that reason alone, each Board of Director has sacrificed countless hours and family time in order to do the best job they can.
Although it is disheartening to see letters such as the letter sent by Mr. DeVilliers, unfortunately you cannot please everyone all the time. In this instance, Mr. DeVilliers has made countless unfounded allegations and many defamatory comments against the Board of Directors. These members are voted in by all of the members in good standing. Considering we are the current Board of Directors, the members who voted for us have faith in us that we are doing the best job we can for all of them. If you do not pay your dues, you are not a member in good standing. If you are not a member in good standing, you are unable to vote as well as use the amenities available to members in good standing at the Association. Despite Mr. DeVilliers' wrongful accusations, it is inherently obvious that he left out "the facts."
He makes note of certain accounts and expenses paid out by the Association. What Mr. DeVilliers does not state is the truth. The monetary figures he stated are pulled from thin air. Additionally, there is no miscellaneous account as stated by Mr. DeVilliers. The Board of Directors strictly adhere to the governing documents and this is reflected in their everyday duties. Mr. DeVilliers failed to point out that the monthly expenses are posted in the Clubhouse for all members to review. He also fails to note that the Association hires accountants and the current accountants have been hired by the Association since 2009. He also fails to point out that the Association goes above and beyond what many Associations do and hired an Auditor since 2008 to do yearly audits.
Mr. DcVilliers also failed to point out that each year the audit came back, every single penny was accounted for. It seems the real issue Mr. DeVilliers has with the Association is paying the dues. These dues are supposed to be paid by every single member of the community. I hope he does not feel that certain members are able to not pay these dues and still enjoy all the amenities as the members who actually pay. It is actually quite disheartening that Mr. DeVilliers, a member not in good standing, sent that letter to the editor with defamatory comments when he is one of those members who has unpaid dues. He made no mention of the fact that expenses for road maintenance are in the proposed budget. He made no mention that these expenses, if he bothered to look, are posted inside the Clubhouse. If he did so, he would see exactly where the money was going. In fact, as late as last week, potholes were being filled at the Association and those expenses will be reflected in the monthly expenses posted inside the Clubhouse.
Mr. DeVilliers then inaccurately states that Pennsylvania State Constables were hired for the safety of the Board of Directors. What he fails to state is that these Constables are for the safety of the members.
It is interesting that Mr. DeVilliers indicates that the Board of Directors sends publications to the members of the Association "to advocate the physical harm," yet Mr. De Villiers is the one who sent a letter to the editor to be published outside of the Association riddled with defamatory comments and wrongful assertions. He is the one taking liberties with his "free speech."
It is even more ironic that Mr. DeVilliers states that the Board of Directors are wasting the community money, when he is the one sending this type of letter and forcing the Board of Directors to rebut his absurd allegations, which costs the Association time and money.
This individual also made several statements with regard to the compactor at the Association and "mis-billed dues payments." It is interesting that he failed to mention that he went before a Judge and a Decision was rendered by that Judge on these very issues finding against Mr. DeVilliers.
Most of the comments made by Mr. DeVilliers are so absurd and so outrageous that we do not even know where to begin to respond. We didn't even want to respond at all except that we felt it was necessary to do so in light of the fact that Mr. DeVilliers is trying to publicly shame the entire Association with his absurd statements, as well as his defamatory statements. The real issue here is whether or not members of the Association should pay their dues. The answer is a resounding YES. If you want to live inside a Homeowners Association, and you want to use the amenities, you have a responsibility to pay these dues just like every other member. It is unfortunate that Mr. DeVilliers, instead of paying his dues, decided to make these ridiculous comments in a publication. It is even more confusing to us that Mr. De Villiers would send such a letter not even one (1) week after a Judge's Decision finding against him on the same issues.
We thank you for publishing our rebuttal, and more importantly, we thank you for publishing the truth in response to Mr. DeVilliers' nasty letter to the editor. The truth always prevails and people will be able to read the truth and make their own determinations as to why Mr. DeVilliers really sent that letter to the editor.
James Falcone, President
Pocono Mountain Lake Forest Property Owners Association
Dingmans Ferry