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Neighborhood report

Veteran, newcomers win board elections

All three say they will work for stronger enforcement of community deed restrictions.

By STEPHANIE HAYES
Published September 16, 2005

WESTCHASE - Two new faces have joined the Westchase Community Association, while a familiar one has made a comeback.

Mary Griffin and Stephanie Georgiades were newly elected and Brian Ross was re-elected to the board responsible for the community's deed restriction enforcement and swim and tennis facilities.

Griffin, who lives in West Park Village, phoned into Tuesday's election meeting at the Swim and Tennis Center to answer a litany of questions posed by Westchase neighborhood representatives. Griffin was visiting family in Detroit.

Griffin, a real estate agent who serves on several other Westchase committees, said she wants to see improvements to the swimming facilities. She cited the May death of 8-year-old Kiana Appleby, who was found in the deep end of the pool after a storm struck.

"It was a tragedy, particularly for the family, and I don't know what impact it's going to have on the board," she said. Procedures at the pool remain unchanged awaiting autopsy results.

Griffin also wants to see a keener eye on deed restriction enforcement.

"I think we have premier status as a neighborhood in the county," she said. "I think that we have to have fair but strict enforcement."

Georgiades, who lives in the Greens, echoed Griffin's concerns.

"We have rules for specific reasons," she said. "We need to help our residents follow rules. I'm a black and white person, and I do believe in following rules."

Georgiades has an extensive volunteer resume with Westchase Elementary School, the Upper Tampa Bay Library, the World of Westchase magazine and several social groups. She said she plans to work for improvements to the swim and tennis centers.

Ross, the association's most recent vice president, said he hopes to start fresh alongside Westchase's new property manager, Nicole Michael.

"I say "congratulations' to Nicole, but you've got a job ahead of you," he said. "I think where I can help is to see how we can do things in the future with Nicole's personality."

Ross, a real estate and business lawyer, said his line of work meshes with the duties of the board.

"I'm often hired to mediate homeowner disputes," he said.

Griffin and Georgiades will replace Don Costello, who ran for re-election at the meeting, and Billy Kimberlin, who said he may move out of Westchase. Woodbay resident Gene McArthur and former board member Nathan Lafer also ran.

Board members serve for two years and are elected by Westchase's voting members, representatives selected from each neighborhood. Voting members vote based on input from the people in their neighborhoods.

At Thursday's association meeting, the board will select a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the next year.

- Stephanie Hayes can be reached at 813 269-5303 or shayes@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 15, 2005, 11:02:11]