Getting To Know Dan Forlenza

Getting To Know Our Candidate - Election Edition 2025
Coles Crossing HOA

Week 1

1. What will you do to ensure that Coles Crossing will attract young families to move here when other newer neighborhoods have more amenities and also have good schools?

We need to invest such that Coles has first class amenities for all age groups but especially the young families as our neighborhood is likely to attract the younger families due to Sampson being in the middle of the neighborhood. I personally came to Coles 20 years ago because of Sampson. I would invest in those amenities by first looking at our current budget and freeing up the waste. I do believe it is not an option to be status quo when we are competing with other newer neighborhoods. We need to make our community first class!

2. What do you believe is the most important function of the HOA, and how do you intend to fulfill that function effectively?

The most important function of the HOA is to represent the community. The HOA needs to meet all your needs and spend every penny of your money wisely. The HOA needs to solicit experts from the community to sit on the committee’s and empower those committees to do their jobs, which is to make Coles the best community in the area. Everything the HOA does should be transparent. Nothing should be done in secret.

3. What are your plans to improve current amenities and future new ones to keep our community updated for young families and our senior population?

We need to keep Coles ahead of surrounding neighborhoods in terms of amenities. This means improving what we have and investing for the future. We need to support all people young and old who live in our community. We should expect a variety of ages and there is no reason we can’t support everyone with first class facilities.

Week 2

4. What are the top five issues facing the neighborhood that you would address?

I am aware of the decision to be made with the Coles land across from Jarvis as well as the ongoing pickleball issues with noise and location. It would not be prudent for me to weigh in on these issues until I have all the facts. I was not even aware that we had finalized the decision to begin building pickleball courts until this week and I do not know the details of how they will be implemented. If elected, I would serve the community so I would first want to know my neighbors’ concerns. I would focus my attention on making sure the board makes sound decisions that reflect what my neighbors want and that we are transparent as to what decisions are made and how we got there. As I stated in my “meet the candidates” pitch, I believe I have the experience that can help the board improve decision making.

5. In your opinion, what are three overarching goals of the HOA that should guide annual objective and day-to-day decision making?

First, we should make sure we are listening and providing the forums to solicit community input. It is important that we never forget we serve the community. Second, we should be transparent in all decision making. Third, we need to be diligent with the budget and make sure not a penny is wasted.

6. Have you read the by-laws in full? Do you have experience with reading and interpreting legal documents for real property?

Yes, I have read the by-laws in full. I am very experienced in contracts and contract negotiation. I have been the final signature on hundreds of contracts. I typically let the lawyers do their thing and I review the high impact clauses like length of the contract, back out clauses, rights to sue, indemnification, warranty and so on.

Week 3

7. Our tennis courts (2-5 courts) are frequently reserved for leagues or tennis lessons during peak hours, primarily in the afternoons and evenings. Additionally, one of the courts has been converted into pickleball courts. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for residents to find an available court during these peak times. Are you aware of this issue, and what suggestions do you have for addressing it?

I am fully supportive of pickleball and implementing first class pickleball facilities for our neighborhood. I would have liked to have been involved in the discussion around the options for pickleball. This was a missed opportunity for the neighborhood as I am sure many of us could have added to the solution. There has been no transparency around what the current plans under construction are. I will reserve judgement regarding the implementation of the pickleball facilities until the construction is completed.

I am a supporter of the leagues and the tennis lessons. The league schedules are posted on the Coles Crossing Community page. I have personally had this issue and found that looking at the website and either avoiding league times or trying to get out early to secure one of the free courts is the best option. The leagues are a great way to get our Coles players outside for some healthy competition and it also exposes our neighbors to our wonderful facilities. I know for a fact this has helped sell a few houses. The evening leagues start at 7:00 pm and they happen twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall for a 10 week period on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. The first option for tennis players trying to avoid league time is to play Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Even though 4 courts are reserved starting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s during league season, 2 courts free up around 8:30 pm. I am sensitive to the issue but there are options and I hope I helped by providing alternatives.

8. What’s your plan for community sustainability (budget and cost wise) and keeping HOA dues low since there's increased in tax and insurance?

I believe we should fully support all that is available to us in terms of sustainability. I fully support the recycling arrangement in our neighborhood. As far as HOA dues are concerned, I would like to keep where it is for now. I would hope that we can extract some money by being more efficient with our spending.

9. What are your key specific objectives for the HOA - do YOU want to achieve during your term as a board of director?

If elected, I would like to implement a process that helps the HOA make the best decisions it can. We clearly need to improve in representing the interests of the community and providing transparency. I would like to see more community forums to address the more difficult topics like the Coles Crossing land across from Jarvis.

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