DRUM POINT VILLAGE WEST HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING

January 8, 2003

 

 

Board Members Present:  Ed Kocher, Dolores Tappert, Paula Groppe, Gene-Ann Pesano, Bob Martin

 

Covenant Committee Members Present:  Harriet Martin, Gladys Pfeiffer

 

Homeowner's Present: Lynn Monteiro, Rick Gaynor, Tammi Horowitz, Cheryl Smielewski, Helen Bertch

 

President Bob Martin called the meeting to order on January 8, 2003 at 8:15 p.m. All Board Members and Covenant Committee members were present. Bob Martin instructed all the homeowners to sign the sign-in sheet and mentioned the 5-minute rule

 

Bob Martin made a motion to approve the November 13, 2002 minutes. Paula Groppe seconded the motion. All were in favor. Unanimously approved.

 

Bob Martin stated that Ed Kocher has some information that he would like to share with everyone:

Ed Kocher stated that he had a report that the Board received from the Township of Brick at our request. It is the report from Birdsall Engineering titled Final Report Indoor Air Quality Assessment Private Condominium Residence - 56 White Swan Way, prepared for the Township of Brick by Kevin Schuerman, H.O., C.I.H. and Timothy Kinsella, Vice President. Ed Kocher also stated that he had copies to give to the Board Members along with 2 letters on top of those which are not for public record that are from the Township of Brick and the reason they are not public record is because they are letters written to a homeowner privately by the Township. If any of the homeowners want a copy of the report, please do so in writing and the cost will be about $2.00 for the color copies. The bottom line of the report is that the Birdsall Engineering did a complete inspection of Mrs. Bertch's crawl space as well as an inspection of the first floor of the living space. A lot of what is contained in the report is about the methods that they used. They did a visual inspection - they found that there was visible mold in the crawlspace. Then they did an analysis with a machine that took air samples and air samples were taken from four locations. There was an outdoor air sample. These numbers are just a reference but they should give you some idea: There was an outdoor air sample with a total mold count of 4689. The interior of the crawl space, there were 2 different samples taken in there. One count is 12,599, and another one is 54,205. Ed Kocher also made a note that Stachybotrys is the mold that has most people concerned when talking about mold issues, and it was found in the crawl space. None was found outside and then there was a fourth sample taken inside the residence on the first floor which shows a count of 2872. This count actually shows that the interior of the living space has less of a mold spore count than the fungal count that was found outside. The bad news is that there was mold in the crawl space and Stachybotrys was present, but Stachybotrys was not found in the living space. Ed Kocher also stated that he just wrote a letter prior to receiving this report as per the wishes of the homeowners who attended the 12/11/02 special meeting. The letter was read into the minutes without objection:

 

 

January 2, 2003

 

 

 

Jim Priola

Brick Township Engineering Department

401 Chambers Bridge Road

Brick, NJ  08723

 

Re: Proposed Solution for Drainage Plan at the front of the Miller unit

 

Jim Priola:

 

As you are already aware, Drum Point Village West had a meeting of our homeowners on December 11, 2002. During that meeting we presented the homeowners with your proposal for the fronts of the Miller units. Unfortunately, none of the homeowners was in favor of the solution and only 2 homeowners were in favor of the originally proposed solution involving the shallow pipes installed below the lawns.

 

The mandate given to the Board of Trustees by the homeowners of the December 11, 2002 meeting is to notify the Township to develop additional alternative solutions for review and approval by the homeowners. You have tentatively communicated one such solution to me and I believe that Mr. Ken Bertch sent you a letter outlining yet another possible solution. Still another homeowner evidently has another solution that he wishes to discuss with the Board and possibly submit to you for your consideration.

 

At the December 11, 2002 meeting the homeowners also insisted that the Township place a higher priority on the crawl space inspections. Given the length of the drainage project, we feel that we can no longer wait for the completion of the exterior repairs before the inspections are performed. The homeowners believe that a brief inspection can give the Township a fairly clear picture of the condition of the individual crawl spaces and will allow the Township to further prioritize those crawl spaces that need immediate and more thorough inspections and remediation. Based on current conditions, we feel that we can no longer wait until the completion of the Drainage Project for these inspections to be started. Several homeowners also noted the fact that while recent letters from the Township acknowledge the crawl space inspections will take place, and that action plans will be developed based upon those inspections, it appears that the Township has not yet committed itself in writing to act on those plans and remediate the crawl spaces to return them to there proper condition at the expense of the Township. Please note that our auditor is also suggesting he would like to see the same such commitment in writing.

 

It was also noted by Mr. Weintraub that the current vent area supports or retaining wells do not have the radius required by boca code. Mr. Weintraub provided us with a large format drawing that supports his position. That drawing will be forwarded to you under separate cover. On a slightly different note, it has come to my attention that Mr. Kevin Schuerman has completed a multiple page report based on the inspection of the crawl space and living space of 56 White Swan Way. I have received a letter from Mr. Scott Mac Fadden that provides some insight as to the contents to that report.

 

Please consider this letter a formal request for a copy of Mr. Schuerman's complete report to be forwarded to Drum Point Village West at the above address or fax number. I look forward to hearing from you in the next few weeks regarding this issue.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Ed Kocher

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Ed Kocher said Scott Mac Fadden advised him that there should be an additional report coming very soon.

Helen Bertch asked what was the date of that report.

Ed Kocher replied that the date of the report was October 18,2002. He also reported that  he was advised  that there was a second inspection being done, and that another report would be forthcoming. The second inspection was done evidently as a result of an unqualified contractor who removed insulation (that may have been contaminated with stachybotrys or other molds) from the crawl space through the hatch. The insulation was taken out through the living space and the township wants to re-inspect the living space to make sure that no cross-contamination has occurred. Ed Kocher has given Scott Mac Fadden a verbal notice and he is going to follow-up in writing for an official request for that report when it is published.

 

Ed Kocher stated that the bottom line is that two things have happened. Mike Sicola, who has been our attorney for the past year and a half was initially hired because of his knowledge of construction law and because he specialized in construction law. Mike had little or no prior knowledge of this happening but he has had to make a significant lifestyle change and he has basically moved himself to the state of New Hampshire. His wife was made an offer that she couldn’t refuse to take a job in the state of New Hampshire and he felt that she had sacrificed a great deal during his career over the last 25 years or so, so it was his turn to return the favor. So he is becoming “of council” to a firm. He will handle simple matters for us if we so choose to have him do so, but he cannot handle anything that is likely to end up in litigation. And, the pool is very likely to end up in litigation. As a result, he gave Ed Kocher the names of 2 attorneys (one for the pool and one for collections) both of which Ed contacted. Regarding the pool attorney, based on a little bit of research and talking to other attorneys that Ed knows, the pool attorney’s name, Dennis Drasco, really stuck out:

1)      He is a specialist in construction law

2)      He is a specialist in dealing with condominium building deficiencies

3)      He is a very  well respected attorney throughout the state

4)      He has appeared before the Supreme Court

 

At the end of the December 11, 2002 Special Meeting, a motion was raised and carried to retain Dennis Drasco to pick up where Mike Sicola had left off and Ed Kocher had just, the other day, received a retainer. He is a little more expensive than Mike Sicola; he is going to provide services to us at no more than $275/hour (his standard rate is $400/hour). Mike Sicola’s rate was $225/hour – just for reference. However, he will be using associates for the leg work and the research on this and they bill out at around $125/hour. So, in balance, we may get this for less per total lawyer hour than what we were spending with Mike, and we will have the resources of a large firm of 40 or so lawyers instead of one guy doing it all himself. Ed Kocher feels that this works out really good for all of us. Ed Kocher stated that when this gets going we will have greater resources.

 

Bob Martin thanked Ed for the report.

 

A homeowner asked where do we stand at this time on the pool issue.

 

Ed Kocher replied that there has been no update on this since the last meeting.  Mike came upon a concern that he felt that he needed to review Don Steele's complete file.  Mike requested the file from Steele who hemmed and hawed but never turned over the file to Mike. Paula got on Steele's case and he did provide her with the file and it was meaningless because we already had everything that was in Steele's file. According to Mike Sicola, Steele claims that he has no working papers, notes, etc. Ed thinks that Dennis Drasco is going to be on Steele’s case for that stuff. But it is very possible that either the work papers do not exist or no longer exist. If that is the case, there isn’t a whole lot we can do about that. That is where we are currently and Ed Kocher further stated that he is going to sign the retainer based on the resolution of the Board at the last meeting.

 

Bob Martin stated that we want to update the members regarding the work that the members of the Board have  been doing.  It encompasses a good deal of work over the past two months and is 4 pages long so we will waive reading it into the minutes but we will make it a part of the minutes and will pass copies out to the attending General Membership.  You will see that we have not just been sitting around doing nothing. We are quite busy and tend to do a lot of work but mostly it is behind the scenes and people don't realize it and, as we want the membership to know what's going on, we decided to incorporate this into our meeting. Bob Martin made a motion that the list of the Actions of the Board be incorporated into the minutes.

Dolores Tappert seconded the motion. All were in favor. Unanimously approved.

 

 

Actions of the Board

 

November 13, 2002 to January 8, 2003

 

v     Landscaping

Ø   Advised sprinkler company to installed new control units to repair damage caused by lightning strike

Ø   Advised sprinkler company to make repairs to pipes and/or wires damaged by the township during the drainage project behind building 6 – this expense has been forwarded to the township for reimbursement

Ø   Advised sprinkler company to blow out sprinkler system for the winter

Ø   Landscaper asked to re-seed behind a unit that had covered the lawn area with a carpet

Ø   Extra leaf cleanup arranged with landscaper to have fronts of the units cleared of leaves for the Thanksgiving weekend

Ø   Began writing RFP for soliciting bids for the 2003-2005 landscaping contract

Ø   Advised landscaper to spread salt on light snow days.

 

v     Siding

Ø   Meeting with Certainteed and All County Aluminum arranged for 12/11/02 – subsequently cancelled by Certainteed. Certainteed will reschedule meeting after the holidays.

 

v     Drainage Project

Ø   Township advises they have completed the rear of buildings 2, 4 and 6

Ø   Multiple phone calls to/from Jim Priolo (twp engineer) regarding drainage plans for the fronts of the building

Ø   Scheduled meeting with the homeowners on 12/11/02 to discuss the township’s proposal for the fronts of the building

Ø   Meeting date and place arranged for 12/11/02 meeting with the township’s recreation department

Ø   Picked up permit for the meeting from the recreation department

Ø   Forwarded written (homeowner supplied) crawl space inspection reports to Jim Priolo

Ø   Requested copy of complete environmental report prepared for the township as a result of a professional inspection of the crawlspace and living space of a unit that has mold and/or mildew in the crawlspace

Ø   Meeting with Homeowners on 12/11/02

Ø   Wrote letter to Jim Priolo with results of 12/11/02 meeting. Letter mentioned the fact the an alternate drainage proposal was submitted by Ken Bertch for the fronts of the buildings, and advised that additional such proposals may be forthcoming from another unit owner

 

v     Chimney Caps

Ø      Called and requested bids from 5 contractors in attempt to get 3 bids.

Ø      Received 2 bids for replacement of Miller unit chimney caps.

Ø      Bid awarded to All County Aluminum – to start job in late January

 

v     Covenants Committee

Ø      $15.00 one-time fines levied on 5 units for failure to comply with Restrictions per 9/30/02 letters.

Ø      Re-inspected 5 units for further compliance

Ø      Additional daily fines being levied on 2 of the 5 units for non-compliance. The other 3 units are now in compliance.

Ø      Advised new homeowner re dog walking/dog staking rules

Ø      Advised homeowner to remove a set of chairs that were stored behind the unit (not of the patio). The homeowner agreed to comply

 

v     Pool Removal

Ø      Held initial consultation with an attorney who was subsequently retained as special council for the pool removal.

 

v     Miscellaneous

Ø      Fence repaired behind bldg 10.  A day or two later, it was vandalized again.  Looking at options to prevent vandalizing of the fence in the future.

Ø      December newsletter published and distributed

Ø      Requested JCP&L to replace 2 street light bulbs

Ø      Owner of several rental units was updated as to the status of the drainage/crawlspace project being done by the Township. The owner had gotten bids from private companies to remediate crawlspaces

Ø      Responded to 16 questions/complaints/suggestions from a homeowner

Ø      Pest control called to treat 4 units for live field mice within the walls of the units

Ø      Responded to 12 phone calls from various attorneys, bankers and closing agents regarding the financing or refinancing of units

Ø      Responded to 11 miscellaneous phone calls from homeowners

Ø      Responded to more than 35 miscellaneous e-mails and or faxes from homeowners

Ø      Notified ADR mediator that a homeowner has requested ADR relative to that homeowner’s desire to have a fence (natural or otherwise) constructed on the Common Elements adjacent to the homeowner’s unit

Ø      Coordinated with ADR mediator in final attempt to gain compliance with ADR procedures from a homeowner requesting ADR. If homeowner does not comply with ADR mediator’s request within 10 days, the ADR mediator will be asked to close the case file and collection activities will begin on that homeowner’s account to collect any accrued fines.

Ø      Facilitated removal of car parked on street on White Swan Way for several months.

Ø      Received and reviewed additional 80 pages of faxes received from a homeowner.

Ø      Advised All County Aluminum to begin making changes to the Mignatti gutters. Project expected to be completed by the end of January.

 

v     Web Site

Ø      Implemented new e-mail system provided free of charge by our Web Presence Provider

Ø      Cancelled all future Hotmail (e-mail) subscriptions

Ø      Three more homeowners added to the e-mail delivery system

Ø      Advised all e-mail participants of the fact that the Hotmail account is being cancelled

Ø      Added December newsletter to website

Ø      Added unapproved minutes of the 12/11/02 special homeowners meeting to the website

Ø      Completed survey of web site users. Results to be included in the February newsletter.

 

v     Financial

Ø      Successfully collected more than $1200 from one past due homeowner account

Ø      Prepared the initial budget analysis for FY2004. The analysis shows that the monthly fee may be able to be kept at $125 per month if the expected surplus does not decrease prior to the end of the FY2003 (i.e., if it doesn’t snow more than a typical year, and we have no surprise expenses)

Ø      Held initial consultation with an attorney who was subsequently retained as special council for account collection matters.

Ø      Prepared and e-mailed/mailed annual statements to all homeowners

Ø      Photocopied and mailed more than 800 pages of GAAP documents to a homeowner who requested same. Advised State DCA to close corresponding file.

Ø      Prepared initial draft of footnotes for FY2002 Audit and forwarded to auditor for review and additions

Ø      Requested copies of 12 checks from bank for FY2002 Audit

Ø      Advised insurance company of two faxes of a litigiously threatening nature received by the Association from a unit owner. The insurance company is investigating.

Ø      Preparations made to open two new bank accounts as per auditors advice

Ø      Successfully settled billing dispute with insurance carrier

 

v     Annual Meeting

Ø      Tentatively scheduled annual meeting date, time and location

Ø      Prepared initial announcement for annual meeting to be mailed in mid-January

 

Bob Martin stated that Gene Ann Pesano is going to discuss some new rules and regulations. Gene Ann Pesano stated that one of the duties of the Board is to create rules and regulations to cover items that are not specified or clarified in the restrictions. These are rules and regulations for the best of the community’s quality of life, visual harmony, etc., etc. Gene Ann suggested that even though we have never done it before, we should exercise that right, where appropriate. Gene Ann stated that the procedure that we should follow is that the Board will propose rules and regulations in a meeting and publish those proposals in a newsletter for all homeowners to have an opportunity to give us feedback, amendments to it, suggestions and so forth. Once we have published it and given everyone an opportunity to give us feedback then, at the following meeting, we would either present the proposed rule again, or present it in the amended fashion, and then vote on it. That is the way Gene Ann is proposing that we handle this matter because it is something that we have never done before and she feels that it is very important as we institute rules and regulations  and to have the confidence that these rules are acceptable to the homeowners. Ed Kocher wanted to point out the things that Gene Ann is going to talk about tonight are really unwritten rules and they are understood by most homeowners and are generally accepted by all. Gene Ann stated that they are actually common courtesy.  Ed Kocher stated that we just want to formalize them so if there is conflict later on, it should not become a he said, she said, they said, or no that doesn't apply, and he also wanted to point out that the right to create rules is given solely to the Board of Trustees by the authorization of the Master Deed. These rules will be read into the minutes of this meeting as proposals and be published. Then we will vote on them at the next meeting after the homeowners have had an opportunity to see them. Gene Ann stated that a good idea would be to take the proposed rules and regulations and put them in an insert in the newsletter so that there can be a form that the homeowners can fax or mail back to us. Gene Ann also stated that she feels it would be a good idea to publish the rules and regulations that were adopted in the newsletter and on the website. Once a year Gene Ann stated that she thinks we should publish the full list of the rules and regulations on the web site.

 

Gene Ann stated that there is another project that we are working on which is to provide a welcome packet to all new homeowners. She feels that it would also be a good idea to include the rules & regulations along with the restrictions in this packet.

 

Gene Ann made a proposal to read into the minutes the Proposed Rules & Regulations. There was no objection. The following text is after initial amendment:

 

Proposed Rules & Regulations

 

From time to time the Board of Trustees may find it necessary to adopt new Rules & Regulations for the maintenance of visual harmony, property values and quality of life of its residents.  These usually cover items not specified in the Restrictions of the Master Deed or they may serve to further specify or clarify the Restrictions that do exist.

At the January Board meeting two such Rules were proposed.  While these do not require the vote of the owners, it is the Board’s desire to determine whether or not the new rules are acceptable to the homeowners before voting to adopt them.

We are asking each of you to read the proposed rules and send us your feedback.  You are welcome to suggest changes and/or additions to these rules.  All of your feedback will be read into the minutes of the next meeting (along with the names of the people making the suggestions) and carefully considered by the Board before voting on adoption of these rules.

For your convenience, you may enter your comments on this sheet and fax it to the Board at 703-783-1273 or you may email your comments and suggestions to admin@dpvw.com.  We need your comments on or before February 21, 2003.

 

 

Proper pet procedure

Domestic pets are allowed to be kept by unit owners. Other than dogs, all pets are to be kept indoors.

For the maintenance of visual harmony and quality of life of all residents, the following rules apply to all dogs:

·                    Dogs may not be left outside unattended.  If outside of the unit, the dog must be accompanied by the owner or the owner’s designee at all times.

·                    Dogs are not to be permitted to bark excessively.

·                    If outside of the unit, dogs are to be leashed or tethered at all times.

·                    Dogs are not to be permitted to urinate or defecate on the Limited Common Elements or Common Elements – this includes patios, walkways, streets, driveways, lawns, etc. There are two designated areas provided for walking dogs:

1)      The undeveloped strip of land directly east of the Association’s property. This is to the far right of the entrance sign and shall be accessed from Drum Point Road.

2)      The undeveloped area behind the mailboxes on Black Fox Trail beyond the landscaped area.

·                    Owners must pick up after their dogs immediately.

 

Failure to comply with the above rules shall result in a fine to the unit owner involved. For each instance of failure to comply, the owner and, where applicable, the tenant, will be assessed an immediate fine of $15. No notice of non-compliance shall be required to be given.

 

Garbage Cans and Recycle Bins

Garbage cans and recycle bins are to be stored in the garage of the unit except on the night before and day of collection.  Failure to comply with this rule will result in the following:

·   On the first instance of failure to comply the owner and, where applicable, the tenant, will receive a reminder letter informing them of their non-compliance and be given 10 days in which to comply.

·   On the second instance of failure to comply, the owner will be assessed an immediate fine of $5. No additional notice of non-compliance shall be required to be given

·   On the third instance of failure to comply, the owner will be assessed an immediate fine of $10. No additional notice of non-compliance shall be required to be given

·   On the fourth and all subsequent instances of failure to comply, the owner will be assessed an immediate fine of $15. No additional notice of non-compliance shall be required to be given. Each additional day in which the violation persists shall be considered a separate violation for which the owner will be assessed a fine of $15

 

 

 


Pet Rule:

 

□  I agree                                   □  I disagree

 

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

Garbage Can/Recycle Bin Rule:

□  I agree                                   □  I disagree

 

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: ___________________________________ (Please note, your name will be used only to determine that homeowners respond only one time)

 

 

 

 

Ed Kocher stated if we are including recycle bins and garbage cans they should be in BOLD in two places. Another thing I would like to state here is that in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th bullets that in “no notice of non-compliance” we should insert the words “no additional notice of non-compliance.” It is assumed that the notice was given at the first instance so that would go in 3 sentences without objection. There was no objection.

Gene Ann stated that we will publish them with these changes and stated, again I think we need them as a newsletter insert so that the members will have a fax back form. Ed Kocher said yes to an insert so that it is clear that it is something different and not to be confused with the general information articles of the newsletter.

 

Helen Bertch said: May I ask one question: Is it not true that these rules and regulations have to be voted on?

Ed Kocher said: voted on by whom? Helen Bertch answered: The members.

Gene Ann stated: No just the Board. It is in the Bylaws that the Board has the right and privilege to institute rules and regulations.

Helen Bertch stated I'm sure you have the right. I'm not saying you don't have the right but I will read the By-Laws just to be sure.

 

 

·        Seventh Order of Business - Treasurer's Report

Ed Kocher stated for the record the board copies contain accounts receivable and unearned revenues statements that are not given out as public information, as a matter of homeowner privacy. The only major changes from November is the fact that we got our first 3 insurance bills for the year. Those total close to $7,000.00 for the first three installments. Last year $7000 would have covered 5 installments. The only other thing that has occurred is that we previously had a somewhat generalized discussion about the fact that there were 2 unit owners (who were unnamed) that remain significantly past due and one of those unit owners went from approximately $1,600 past due, down to the $250 range and that includes this month’s maintenance. At the end of the 12/11/02 Special Meeting a motion was made and passed to retain a Mr. Arthur Raymond to specifically do collections work and that is what he specializes in. Ed Kocher stated that getting the judgment is easy. Getting the assets from the person that owes you the money after you have the judgment is what we are really paying for. Other than that there are really no significant changes to speak of. We did have one more new closing. 1 White Swan Way did turn over so we do have a new unit owner in there. Bob Martin stated, "Let it be known that our attorney that is going to be doing collections for us is not going to cost us a lot of money. Ed Kocher stated that when you have a judgment the way the lawyers tack on the fee is basically a maximum cost to us which would be 11% of the original amount due from the homeowner prior to the legal fees being added. So, if someone owes us $1,000.00, we would get $888.00, and we would have to write off $112.00. Bob Martin stated that it is significantly better that writing off $1,000.00. Ed stated that the attorney charges 1/3 of the amount he collects, but that 1/3 includes the 1/3 legal fee that is tacked on to the amount due. We have checked and have found that this is standard practice. As a result, 11% of anything we turn over to  him immediately becomes bad debt but we would rather lose 11% than 100%.  The one case that we are going to turn over to him now has been ongoing for a year.  The unit owners refuses to even respond or talk to us and/or to explain that they have a problem or just what is going on.  It's just gone too far.  Harriett Martin stated: everybody else is paying their maintenance fee. Ed Kocher said:  One more note for the record: The check detail includes both the months of November & December since we did not have a formal Board Meeting in the month of December. There is no gap in the check detail sequence if homeowners have requested copies of the reports they have all the check details for the entire period. Ed stated that no financial report was given at the Special 12/11/02 meeting.

 

Ed Kocher quickly reviewed those items that were voted on by the Trustees at the end of the 12/11/02 meeting. Ed stated that while people were invited to stay, all homeowners left the 12/11/02 meeting prior to votes being taken. The following motions were made and carried:

  1. To hire Mr. Arthur Raymond for purposes of collections.
  2. To hire Mr. Dennis Drasco as special council to the Association for the pool.
  3. To appropriate up to $12,000.00 from the roofing reserve account for the purpose of replacing the chimney caps and to contract All County Aluminum to do that work. Just as a note, they expect that to happen by the end of January. Once they start, it should only be 2-3 days tops. We did receive two bids. The two bids were within $3.00 per unit of each other and for that reason we did go with the bid that was $3.00 more expensive. Please note that there is no requirement by law to go with the lowest bidder. We went with them because they are a contractor that we dealt with on a regular basis.
  4. To appropriate up to $195.00 for the purpose of joining the Community Associates Institute, which we then did join. Bob Martin stated that it is very helpful to join them. They both push information at you in the forms of newsletters in the forms of governs and updates, case law updates, as well as they have a significant amount of information available to us on the web, if we want to go digging for it. Bob Martin stated that they also have a bookstore.
  5. To open two bank accounts at Ocean First Bank, one being a small business checking account and another being a business money marketing account. The reason for that is our auditor advised us that under his peer review, this has come up big time in the last year now, the fact that the $100,000.00 FDIC insurance we have all our eggs in one bank. God forbid Sovereign Bank went belly up we could be exposed for $45,000.00-50,000.00 that would not be insured. So basically we are splitting our business between two banks. In the future, Ed stated that he would keep recommending as reserves build and we get over the $200,000.00 mark that we go to a third bank, etc. 

 

Those were the five things that we did at the Special Meeting that were motions that were made and carried. Helen Bertch stated that she wanted an unapproved copy of the Special Meeting Minutes. Ed Kocher answered that we didn't make photocopies of minutes of that meeting as it was a homeowner's meeting and he is not sure if the homeowners need to vote to approve those or if just the board would vote to approve those because it was a special meeting of the homeowners. Ed stated that if anyone would like, he could send them an unapproved copy of those minutes. Ed asked if anyone else would like a copy of those minutes?  No one else indicated that they wanted a copy. Ed stated that an unapproved copy of the 12/11/02 minutes would be mailed to Mrs. Bertch.

 

 

 

Bob Martin asked if there was any other new business.

 

o       Tammi Horowitz wanted to make a suggestion of putting down Snow Melt rather that Rock Salt. It is a powder and it doesn’t track all over the house. It is not as course. Bob Martin said that we will mention it to George. It also may be a cost factor. Ed Kocher said we have already upped the cost from sodium chloride that destroys concrete and destroys asphalt and other things to magnesium chloride which is much milder on plants and concrete and stuff so we pay a good deal of money for that.  Ed Kocher stated that he would talk to George. Tammi Horowitz said it is called Ice Melt. Ed Kocher explained that we used sand because that provided good traction. But, we had complaints from lots of homeowners about tracking sand in their homes. Ed stated to please understand that we have a liability issue here. We have to put something down to keep people from falling down, breaking their hips and suing the Association for liability. Bob Martin said that we would discuss it because Ice Melt may not provide traction.

 

Bob Martin asked for any other new business.  There was none

 

Bob Martin asked for any old business: 

 

o       Tammi Horowitz stated the suggestion was made to use signs on the dog walk area. Ed Kocher said that it was tabled, but we are talking a relatively small amount of money. The other problem was that we didn’t get apples to apples, we got apples to oranges to pears to potatoes to tomatoes. Bob Martin said that each person came up with a little different of a proposal and the prices varied; aluminum signs, steel signs, mack finish or reflected finish, and I tried explaining exactly what I wanted. Ed Kocher wanted to make a motion that because it is a relatively small amount of money, less than $300.00, to accomplish this. They don’t install them so we would have to hire somebody else. Ed Kocher is going to talk to the Township. We'll table this to the next meeting unless there is an objection, but we will definitely do it and if he gets the Townships cooperation to possible install them, then we will just do it and forget about five different bids and all this stuff. She lives here and is obviously giving us a fair price. She has a vested interest to make sure that it is done right since it is going to be done in her Community.

o       Gladys Pfeiffer made a suggestion for Ed Kocher to speak to Leoniak again because she heard that the land deal is 98% closed and we won't be allowed to walk the dogs on the east side of the property after it belongs to Leoniak even though he had assured us that we could continue to do so.  Bob Martin said that theoretically they are supposed to pick up after their dogs. Ed Kocher said that he thinks that is why Leoniak is seemingly unhappy as our people aren’t picking up after their dogs back there. A homeowner asked: What is anyone supposed to do when they see someone not picking up after their dog? Ed Kocher said to give them the evil eye with a little peer pressure and say ‘what do you think you are you doing?’ Gladys Pfeiffer stated they pick it up and put it in bags but then they leave the bags there.  Others commented that they leave the bags but go back and collect them on garbage day. Ed Kocher said the problem is that you cannot legislate or regulate morality and common sense and courtesy.

 

Bob Martin made a motion if there is no more new or old business he calls this meeting closed. Paula Groppe seconded the motion. All were in favor. Unanimously approved.

 

The open portion of the meeting was duly adjourned by Bob Martin at 9:11 p.m.