"Because I Don't Have To " Jo Mustaros Response To Unit Owners Question Why She Did Not Get Bids For Landscaping Contract
"Because I Don't Have To " Jo Mustaros Response To Unit Owners Question Why She Did Not Get Bids For Landscaping Contract
By resigning the day before the September 23 meeting rather than facing their neighbors, Jo Mustaro, Dennis DeMeglio and John Crowe have forced the Association to hire Attorney Kristie Leff to moderate the meeting at an additional cost to unit owners — yet another bill paid by you, the people they were supposed to serve. Running away from accountability is not leadership — it is a final act of contempt for this community, and it reveals exactly the kind of people who have been running Orchard Heights."
ON MAY 8 THE BRANFORD FIRE MARSHAL CONFIRMED THAT THE ORCHARD HEIGHTS PROPERTY MANAGER DENNIS DEMEGLIO HAS NOT SUBMITTED TEST REPORTS SINCE 2024 DESPITE A JUNE 1 2025 DEADLINE AND NONE YET FOR 2026
For the seventh time in ten years, Board President Jo Mustaro has reached into your pocket — this time for $39,052.36 — with no vote, no explanation, and no accountability. Seven special assessments in ten years is not bad luck or coincidence — it is the direct result of financial mismanagement, secret dealings, and a Board that has operated in the dark for far too long. Unit owners are now demanding a forensic audit, and it is long overdue
Landscaping
Landscaping .
Landscaping
Landscaping
Catherine Kovac Graham, Treasurer, Said "I Don't Know How Much Is In The Reserves."
Catherine Kovac Graham, Treasurer, Said "I Don't Know How Much Is In The Reserves."
Why Doesn't The Treasurer Know Account Balances?
BOARD PRESIDENT JO MUSTARO REFUSES COMPETITIVE BIDDING-
**Q:** Did you get bids for $90K contract?
**JO MUSTARO:** "No."
**Q:** Why not?
**JO:** "Because I don't have to."
- Your money. Jo's Rules. Jo's Revenge.
.Jo Skis Okemo, Your $90K Gets No Oversight
Instead of legal fees to fight oversight:
✓ Independent financial audit of vendor relationships ✓ Repairs to property (pavement, drainage, etc.) ✓ Reserve fund contribution ✓ Competitive bids for landscaping contract ✓ Professional property assessment ✓ Security camera system ✓ Tree trimming/removal ✓ Literally ANY actual property improvement
. Step 1: Rush $1.1M assessment (10 days notice) Step 2: Hide results for 17 days Step 3: Vote fails Step 4: Blame residents Step 5: Spend $2,000+ threatening oversight Step 6: Call transparency "false information" Step 7: Label questioners "deceitful" THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP. THIS APPEARS TO BE INTIMIDATION. Step 8: Avoid The Homeowners and go skiing
✓ Everything here = facts + questions ✓ Jo cites ZERO specific false statements ✓ She spent $2,000+ in legal fees fighting oversight
From Jo Mustaro's own letter to residents: "This type of activity is having an adverse effect in our community. It's costing all of us additional expenses in legal fees (in excess of $2000 so far)" READ THAT AGAIN: Jo Mustaro spent over $2,000 of YOUR money Not to answer questions Not to provide transparency Not to improve the property TO SILENCE RESIDENTS WHO ASK QUESTIONS.
$83,000 → Single vendor (landscaping/snow) $2,000+ → Legal fees fighting residents $500 → Brick-in-toilet advice brochure $0 → Pavement repairs $0 → Answering residents' questions
"Why does one vendor receive $83,000/year?" - "When was this contract last competitively bid?" - "Why is this $50,000/year above industry standard?" - "Where is the documentation of competitive bidding?" - "Does this represent the best value for residents?" - "Could better financial oversight have saved $1 million over 20 years?"
📊 2025 OPERATING BUDGET ANALYSIS The board provided residents with the 2025 operating budget. We're posting it here so all unit owners can review how $385,346 in assessments will be spent.
LANDSCAPING: $33,000 MISC. LANDSCAPING: $20,000 SNOW REMOVAL: $30,000 ─ TOTAL TO ONE VENDOR: $83,000
LARGEST EXPENSES: 🌱 Landscaping: $33,000 (8.6% of budget) → More than property management ($24,000) → More than water & fire service ($24,000) → More than electric ($20,000) → 33x more than snow removal ($1,000) → $379 per unit annually → When was this competitively bid?
🚨 WHERE IS THE CONTRACTOR? JUAN CALDERON - NEW ENGLAND ROOFING OWNER $1.1 MILLION PROJECT - NO SHOWS TO MEETINGS At our October 14 resident meeting, the representative from New England Roofing attended but was unable and unwilling to answer basic questions about the company's experience: She said the questions were "irrelevant".
DENNIS DEMEGLIO Unique Property Management - Owns management company - Selects contractors - Chose $1M option, dismissed $900K option - $100K wasted = $1,149 per unit
JO Mustaro Board President - Approved higher price - Ignored savings - Won't answer questions - Rushing 10-day vote on $1.1M QUESTIONS THEY WON'T ANSWER: ❓ What's Dennis's relationship with the contractor? ❓ Why did Jo approve paying $100K MORE? ❓ Where are conflict of interest disclosures? ❓ Who benefits from the higher price?
The property manager selecting contractors OWNS the management company. Zero accountability.
KP Lamarco's $900,000 quote saves $100,000 - Board's response: "Thank you" and nothing more
Why does Dennis Demeglio keep pushing this specific contractor while hiding information and ignoring alternatives?
1. Vote NO and complete your ballot
2. Photograph your completed ballot
3. Email photo to orchardheightsoversight@gmail.com
4. Mail your ballot with tracking and return receipt, or hand deliver and request a written receipt.
We're creating an independent count to verify honest ballot counting.
Your photo stays confidential - only totals are published.
Independent count of ballots reported by residents
We DO NOT publish unit numbers or names.
Only the anonymous total count is displayed.
Your ballot photo is kept confidential and used only to verify the board's count.
No one will know how you voted except you and our trusted oversight team.
STEP 1: Vote NOComplete your ballot and mark "NO" on the proposal
STEP 2: Take a PhotoPhotograph your completed ballot before mailing it
STEP 3: Email UsSend your ballot photo to: orchardheightsoversight@gmail.com
STEP 4: Mail Your BallotSend your ballot via U.S. Mail with tracking OR hand-deliver with signed receipt
We're creating an independent count to verify the board counts ballots honestly. If there's a discrepancy between our count and their count, we'll have evidence. Your privacy is protected while ensuring accountability.
From your concerned neighbors at Orchard Heights Oversight Fighting for transparency and responsible spending
