LINDEN RIDGE HOMOWNERS ASSOCIATION
BOARD MEETING 13th JANUARY 2009
MINUTES
In attendance:
Jim & Barbara Sieme
John & Dawn McDonald
Mike Peacock
Rocco D’Aprile
Wyndi Hills
President's Report
Work on the swales has been completed.
The irrigation work has been done. Keys to the control box are held by Jim. It was decided
by the board that we should take advantage of a maintenance contract for $170/year.
Jim met with Trey from Prune N Groom to discuss the mowing of the common area due to the
discovery that the Association own less of the corner lot than thought.
Property tax exemption has been applied for by parcel number and we are awaiting a
response.
Our attorney will be filing a lien on one homeowner.
Treasurer's Report
Bank balance as of 12/31/2008 $6604.19. See attachment.
P & L with letter from the treasurer will be distributed with the next newsletter.
There are still 17 households that have outstanding dues. Of the total amount owed to
Association roughly ½ of the money is owed by 2 households.
Welcome Committee Report
No activity since the last meeting.
Noted that there are new renters that have moved in on Alder Ridge that need to be
welcomed to the neighborhood.
Architectural Committee Report
Applications are expected soon from residents that are having sun rooms added.
Checklists will be completed in mid-March.
Noted that the committee needs to make sure that residents know that all out buildings should
conform in style and color to the home.
Community Watch Report
Signs have been put up on Linden Ridge Road near the entrance and on Hedingham Lane
near Pleasantdale Drive.
Stickers are now available from John McDonald.
Other Business
A Communal Area Committee has been formed consisting of Jim Sieme, Mike Peacock and
Rocco D'Aprile.
The Block Party will be voted on at the next members meeting.
MEMBERS MEETING MINUTES 13th DECEMBER 2008
In attendance:
President: Jim Sieme
Vice-President: John McDonald
Treasurer: Dawn McDonald
Secretary: Wyndi Hills
Board Member: Mike Peacock
Board Member: Rocco D’Aprile
Board Member: Neil Bradshaw
Board Member: Dean Webb
In attendance were representatives of 13 Linden Ridge households total
The meeting commenced at 10:10AM
Motion to Suspend Quorum
As a quorum was not present a motion was raised by Tom Perry, and Seconded by Han Hills, to suspend quorum. The motion was passed unanimously.
A Word of Thanks
President Jim Sieme expressed his thanks to all those taking time to attend and encouraged all homeowners to attend whenever time allowed.
A Note on Resignations and Appointments
After the last members elections there were two resignations from the board, Christy Foster and Han Hills, both for personal reasons.
The board appointed a replacement member at large, Rocco D’Aprile who we formally welcome to the team.
The new board took a moment to introduce themselves to those present.
Secretary’s Report
The Secretary read the minutes of the last Members Meeting on September 20th (available for view on lindenridge.org). A motion to approve the minutes was raised and passed unanimously).
Treasurer’s Report
First a note of thanks was giving by Jim Sieme for the many days of hard work put in by the finance committee to completely overhaul the accounts. It was noted that no evidence of wrongdoing was found on the part of the previous treasurer and for that reason an expensive external audit was not deemed necessary. However, Lauren Stoltz of the Finance Committee will be conducting an internal audit every six months as she has extensive accounting experience.
The total income was recorded as: $17994.64 (+$250.84 interest income)
The total expenses were recorded as: $20093.08
For the period from 01/01/2008 to 12/10/2008
It was noted that $2723 in outstanding dues has been collected since the last homeowners meeting.
Cash available as of December 10th was reported as $6698.08.
A motion was unanimously carried to accept the treasurer’s report.
Finance Committee Report (see appendix one)
Rocco noted the improved process for dues collection that will be going into effect in 2009.
Jim read the formal collections policy into the record. This states…
April 1st – Issuing of invoices for that financial year, payable 60 (sixty) days.
June 1st – For those NOT paying within the 60 day period an overdue reminder should be sent by mail.
At this point the Treasurer will also attempt telephone contact but cannot or should not overreach to attempt collection. The HOA board is not a collections agency.
From this point ALL overdue amounts will have the application of 12% interest plus a $5 late fee immediately applied to the total amount owed without refute.
July 1st – Final notice of overdue payment.
July 15th – Notice of intent to seek lien and legal costs incurred thereby.
August 1st – Application made to New Hanover Clerk of Courts for a lien to be placed with costs on the offending property.
The board will no longer be charging 18% interest on overdue debt to the Association, but rather 12% with a $5 late fee, bringing us in line with the strict letter of the bylaws.
Payment arrangements may be made with the treasurer by any homeowner but if these are defaulted upon at any time interest will then be charged from the beginning of the billing period.
The Finance Committee Report was unanimously approved.
Budget 2009
The proposed budget for 2009 was presented (now available online) and questions pertaining to any line items were addressed:
On the question of why the Advertising budget is lower in 2009 Jim responded that this represents a change in sign practices that will save the Association money in putting these signs out (they are now prepared by Jim rather than a sign maker).
The question was asked as to why the Insurance budget was lower than the actual spend in 2008. It was explained that this is because last year the treasurer failed to pay our insurance bill for six months and the Association thus incurred late fees. This will not be the case in 2009.
The question was asked as to what “Donations” referred to in the budget. It was explained that venues such as the Moose Lodge do not take payment for the use of their premises but that these are rather classed as donations and are thus listed as such in the budget.
Professional Fees for 2009 refers to legal advice on the matter of taking out liens against defaulting homeowners and other possible small legal enquiries needed by the Association during that time.
A Note On Liens
For those homeowners in serious default and not responding to our final notice a lawyer will then be contracted to address the issue. They will issue a ten-day legal demand letter and then place the lien on behalf of the Association with the Clerk of Courts. This will incur an additional cost to the defaulting homeowner of $250 above the amount owed and Interest accrued. Again the need is strongly impressed upon homeowners to pay their dues on time and thanks offered for the vast majority of homeowners that do so each year.
On the matter of Landscaping, we have for years used a company called Prune and Groom. On assuming office the new board obtained multiple estimates from competing services to see that we were getting the best value for money in our landscape maintenance. Prune and Groom were shown to be markedly less expensive than any other quote and therefore the new board will be maintaining this company going forward to maintain communal areas.
Licenses and Permits are expected to remain the same in 2008 as 2009.
On the matter of the proposed Community Picnic the Board feels that there are many ways to make significant savings on this in 2009 and the budget figure reflects this. The Community Picnic will be put to member vote at the next Members Meeting in March 2009.
On the matter of Office Supplies, the number of stamps and paper used has increased since the new board began overhauling the accounts and assiduously collecting outstanding dues.
As of 2009 a new invoice form will be used for dues billing that combines invoice and return envelope. The 2009 Office Supplies figure represents obtaining a 12 year supply of these invoice types (the minimum number for purchase) and so this budget figure will be reduced in coming years.
The new board believes this new invoice format will significantly improve the ease and speed with which homeowners pay their dues each spring.
On the matter of Postage, the new board will be sending out slightly more mailings than previous and the figure for 2009 reflects this. The board will, wherever possible, combine mailings to homeowners to keep costs as low as possible.
On the matter of Pond Maintenance the budget to previous spend difference reflects the fact that the board was only responsible for Pond Maintenance for 10 months in 2008.
On the matter of Pond Repairs there are still several items that need attention in 2009, mostly as a result of the years of neglect when these were under the care of the developer.
Major ditch work is needed in Hedingham Court. Additionally the original 2008 seeding by the main ditch was killed off by the draught and must be reworked.
Once the 2009 works are complete the drainage areas should be easy to maintain in coming years and this figure will be significantly reduced going forward.
On the matter of Taxes the Association now has it’s 501 ( c ) status and certification. The board will also be filing for further exemption in 2009.
On the matter of Utilities the spend in 2008 only reflected the cost of meter maintenance. The lights and sprinkler at the entrance were non-operational throughout 2008. Repairs to both these systems are shortly forthcoming so the budget for utilities reflects this expected operational capacity in early 2009 and onwards.
For the Welcoming Committee a budget of $50 was allocated to gift a small outdoor plant to each new homeowner joining the community in 2009.
The budget was unanimously approved by all present.
Welcome and Social Committee Report
Evonne Sidbury, a long time resident of Linden Ridge, has agreed to join the Welcome Committee. In November the Committee gave out two Hosta plants to two new residents, which were well received.
The members of the Welcome Committee are working with the Board to secure block captains.
Block Captains and Community Watch
John McDonald explained the role of Block Captains as providing a fast communication network in the community as needed (for example in the case of Amber Alerts or other emergencies) as well as a means for homeowners to easily convey any concerns or issues they have back to the Board. All board members have agreed to also be block captains for the first year but there are still a couple of places where a captain is needed (each captain covers a small group of homes) and any interested homeowners are strongly encouraged to contact the board.
Two large Community Watch signs are to be placed at the two entrances to the community as a deterrent to the criminal element. Stickers will also be available to households in the community.
The idea of this program is to have neighbors watching out for each other and giving each homeowner a “person to call” on any issue needed.
Architectural and Compliance Committee (see appendix two)
Wyndi presented the report to the Members.
Christy Foster made the good point that after the 6 monthly reviews homeowners should quickly be contacted regarding any potential issues.
Additionally, any legal issues arising from homeowners aiding others in upkeep are being investigated at this time.
The Common Area
A survey has been undertaken to determine the extent and limits of the common area. The dimensions of the common area have been found to be much smaller than previously assumed.
It was noted by Teresa VanDamme that despite this the community has been maintaining the whole area for the last 7 years. Jim affirmed that the community will only be maintaining the survey affirmed area from January onwards.
At this time no discussion has been had with the homeowner of the adjacent lot, though the board will be informing him very shortly of the surveyors findings.
Importantly at this time the board has no plans to take any action on this matter. Further information will be obtained and every homeowner in Linden Ridge will be informed at that point.
Most importantly, there are no plans at present to purchase any land. If this becomes part of the Board’s recommendation to the members at any future time a full vote of all homeowners will be undertaken to ensure that everyone’s wishes are adhered to in any matter regarding a course of action.
We hope to put out more information on this matter in the January newsletter.
Next Members Meeting
The next members meeting is scheduled for March 14th and John McDonald will be checking this date to ensure we will have a comfortable environment to meet in.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:14AM
Minutes prepared by Wyndi Hills, HOA Secretary.
Appendix One
Finance Committee Report
Linden Ridge Quarterly Meeting
December 13, 2008
Overview
After the finances were turned over at the end of September, the Finance Committee spent countless hours auditing the QuickBooks file and trying to make corrections within the existing data. As you can imagine, 6 years of data was a tremendous amount with which to work and it was ultimately decided that the best course of action was to rebuild the QuickBooks file using the documentary evidence we had (deposit slips, copies of checks, copies of invoices and bank statements).
It should be specifically noted that the Committee found no evidence of any wrongdoing. There were simply errors made in the past and within an accounting program such as QuickBooks, little errors left uncorrected can snowball into a much larger problem.
Collections / Unpaid Dues
Efforts to collect outstanding dues have been going well. At the time of the September meeting, there were approximately 51 households that owed dues. At the date of this meeting, that number is down to 24 households. Of the 24, several have made payment arrangements with the Treasurer to clear their debt.
Liens
There are 2 homes that remain seriously past due, with no contact or payment arrangements made on their part, and an attorney has been retained to secure liens against their properties.
Statements / Invoicing
Homeowners with outstanding dues will receive a statement reflecting their balance. The Finance Committee requests that all balances be cleared before the next billing cycle. Invoices for 2009 dues will be sent out in March and are due on April 1, 2009. If not paid by June 1, 2009, finance charges will be levied and a reminder letter will be sent. On July 1, 2009 any property in arrears will be turned over to the Association attorney, who will start the lien process.
Appendix Two
Architectural & Compliance Committee Report
Linden Ridge Quarterly Meeting
December 13, 2008
The Architectural & Compliance Committee met November 11, 2008 to devise a checklist with which all properties will be evaluated and the process / timeline that will be followed for evaluation and enforcement of the Covenants and / or Bylaws. Please consult the Linden Ridge Covenants, Articles 6-10 for specifics about the standards of the neighborhood and the purview of the committee.
Checklist
The A & C Committee is in the process of finalizing a checklist based solely on standards set forth in the Covenants. Though not a complete representation of the list, we know that the checklist will consist of the following items:
- Siding free of unsightly dirt & mildew
- Visible trash can (other than on trash day)
- Shutters / Screens in good repair
- Lawns / Landscaping neat & tidy (mowed, raked, garden beds weeded, etc.)
- Mailboxes clean & in good repair (including a painted post & in compliance with the standard appearance of the neighborhood = plain white box)
- Any unapproved or unsightly structures (sheds, decks, etc.)
- Any unauthorized vehicles (boats, commercial vehicles, abandoned vehicles, etc.)
The Committee members will be surveying the neighborhood in March and September, using the checklist to evaluate each property, and their observations will be delivered to each house.
Process / Timeline
If there are any instances of nonobservance noted, homeowners will have 30 days to correct the infringement. If corrections are not made within 30 days an assessment of $30 will be levied each month (30 days) not to exceed 60 days. (The assessments will be billed on the next invoice for annual dues so that the Association will be saved an extra expense for postage.)
If, after 60 days, a property is still in noncompliance, the Committee will issue a letter stating their intent to have the work undertaken by a third party at the homeowners expense.
The collection process for unpaid assessments will be the same as for unpaid dues.
Money Saving Suggestions
If you and your neighbors are the DIY types, consider sharing the expense of renting a pressure washing machine for a weekend.
Some neighbors have expressed a willingness to volunteer their time and / or equipment to help out other neighbors in need. If you have a physical ailment or a financial hardship, please contact a Board member so that they can try and put you in contact with a neighbor willing to help. You can also use the message boards on the Linden Ridge website (www.lindenridge.org) to volunteer or ask for help.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES 9th DECEMBER 2008
In attendance:
Jim Sieme
John & Dawn McDonald
Neil Bradshaw
Mike Peacock
Rocco D’Aprile
Wyndi & Han Hills
Non-Profit Status Update
Following on from the application made by the previous board the Association has now been granted I-501 ( c ) non-profit, tax-exempt status and has received the certification documentation. The Association is still required to file form 990-N by the 15th of May each year and the Treasurer has agreed to ensure this is submitted.
Outstanding Homeowners Dues
Of the five homes issued notice of intention to legal action, three have begun repayment with the treasurer. The remaining two are therefore due to have liens placed on their property to recover the funds. Further details of this will be made available at the members meeting on Saturday 13th December.
There are now 24 homes with outstanding dues, a very significant reduction from the 51 listed at the last Members meeting on September 20th. The board remains committed to collecting all outstanding payments if possible by the next billing period, which commences on April 1st of 2009.
With regards to homes that change hands in any fiscal year it has been agreed that the lawyers acting for both parties in the sale will pro-rata the dues payable for that year and inform the Treasurer of their agreement.
The total of dues currently outstanding is $4800.
The Common Area
A survey has been undertaken on the common area at the corner of Linden Ridge Rd and Hedingham Rd and the actual size of the lot has been found to be considerably less that previously assumed by the residents. Options for the possible expansion and further development of the common area are being prepared and more information will be presented at the next Member’s Meeting and into the New Year. It was unanimously agreed that any action and further outlay on the common area, particularly with regards to any purchase for expansion must be placed before all homeowners for consideration and voting at the appropriate time.
Location of Members’ Meetings
A letter has been received by the Board protesting the use of the Moose Lodge as a venue for homeowner’s meetings, on the grounds that this is not a smoke-free environment.
It was noted that venues of the appropriate size and in convenient locations have been difficult to procure but every effort was made to obtain the best time, location and price for the majority of homeowners.
It was also noted that perceived unacceptability of a Members’ Meeting location does not negate the obligation of any homeowner to pay their dues in full and on time.
Unofficial Yard Sale Signs on Linden Ridge Areas
A number of complaints have been received by the Board about non-residents of Linden Ridge placing Yard Sale signs on communal property, both at the entrance and on the corner of the common area. It was unanimously agreed that all non-sanctioned Yard Sale signs placed on any Linden Ridge communal areas could be removed by any resident of the Association.
Budget 2009
The treasurer had prepared a draft budget which was reviewed by item and approved by the Board. This will be presented to the Homeowners at the Members Meeting on December 13th, 2008.
The meeting closed just before 10PM.
Minutes prepared by Wyndi Hills, Secretary, Linden Ridge HOA
BOARD MEETING MINUTES 18th NOVEMBER 2008
Attendance: Jim, Dawn, John, Mike, and Rocco -
& Ann D’Aprile as hostess/observer.
GENERAL NOTES:
- Dawn will now provide the Treasurer’s report based on a month to month timeframe instead of Board meeting to Board meeting. Dawn noted a $200 one-time adjustment was made to account for checks received but never deposited. Major expenditure since our last meeting was for insurance, $1045. There were questions regarding the insurance policy, what is covered and that the cost seems high. Dawn will contact the company and review the policy and let the board know what our options are.
- Bonding of the Treasurer is required according to the by-laws and Dawn will follow-up to determine what is required and with the intention for her to become bonded. Dawn will be reimbursed by the Association for any costs incurred.
- The Board agreed to use Jim’s letter as authored to notify delinquent homeowners regarding payments, lien, etc. These will be sent to homeowners who have not worked with Dawn to resolve their payment.
- There was a discussion regarding the process of placing a lien on a property. Jim will consult with an attorney on how to proceed. Part of the discussion will also be the cost if the attorney is required to place the lien, hourly billing vs. retainer, etc. Of course any legal costs to collect the delinquency will be borne by the homeowner.
- We skipped over the Architectural Committee report since no committee members were present.
- Jim reviewed additional estimates for pond maintenance and it was agreed the current vendor, Coastal Carolina will be retained since they had the lowest estimate while satisfying the requirements.
- Sign at the entrance – electric and sprinkler items – was skipped since Dean was not present.
- Skipped over the welcoming committee report as no one was present from that committee.
- Block Watch Committee – good progress has been made assigning Block Captains and areas of responsibility. The “Community Block Watch Signs” have not been posted as yet, waiting for Neal to get back to us in regards to the metal posts that are needed to install the signs.
- Common Area – after some discussion it was agreed that a survey is required to once and for all establish the boundaries between the common area and the adjacent homeowners property. Based on that survey the homeowners can then decide what, if anything, they would like to see done with the common area.. The landscaper would also be notified about the boundary for cutting the grass in the common area.
- We reviewed the preliminary budget report showing 2008 expenditures and took our first cut at the 2009-projected budget. Dawn will try to annotate which budget items are discretionary vs. non-discretionary.
- HOA meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 12/13. John will check with the Moose Lodge to see if we can rent space there for the meeting.
- Next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 12/9, 7:30pm at John & Dawn’s house to review the agenda and finalize the budget that will be presented at the HOA meeting of 12/13.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES 21st OCTOBER 2008
In attendance:
Jim Sieme – President
John McDonald – Vice President
Dawn McDonald – Treasurer
Wyndi Hills – Secretary
Neal Bradshaw – Director
Rocco D’Aprile – Board Member
Han Hills – Homeowner
Apologies:
Dean Webb
Mike Peacock
Treasurers’ Report
The Treasurer, Secretary and President explained the vast amount of work they have undertaken on the accounts since these were handed over in late September. Every available element of the received records has been examined and the accounts data is currently being rebuilt in Quickbooks to fully and correctly reflect every transaction in the Association history.
Dawn McDonald presented a selection of reports for the Directors to review, including a summary income and expenditure report, a deposit detail report from September 1st to date and a check detail report from the date of receipt of accounts from the previous treasurer (09/26) to date. These reports were gratefully received by the board and unanimously approved. The current balance of the Association is recorded as $7,182.17.
Dawn has worked extensively to contact all homeowners with outstanding dues in an attempt to collect these, and met with a good deal of success in this area.
However, there are several cases where more serious action may need be required to ensure that the dues responsibility of particular households are fulfilled.
In the case of bankruptcy on behalf of one homeowner Dawn agreed to obtain advice and documentation on how we deal with this type of situation going forward and in this case specifically.
As there are still a number of delinquent homeowners much discussion was had of policy to be implemented going forward.
Those still outstanding, and with whom Dawn has not been able to reach a payment agreement, should immediately be issued a letter warning of the HOA intention to seek legal recourse in the form of a lien after a 15 (fifteen) day mandatory grace period has been enacted.
The policy for dues in 2009 was discussed at great length and agreed to be published and enacted as follows:
April 1st – Issuing of invoices for that financial year, payable 60 (sixty) days.
June 1st – For those NOT paying within the 60 day period an overdue reminder should be sent by mail.
At this point the Treasurer will also attempt telephone contact but cannot or should not overreach to attempt collection. The HOA board is not a collections agency.
From this point ALL overdue amounts will have the application of 18% interest immediately applied to the total amount owed without refute.
July 1st – Final notice of overdue payment.
July 15th – Notice of intent to seek lien and legal costs incurred thereby.
August 1st – Application made to New Hanover Clerk of Courts for a lien to be placed with costs on the offending property.
It was agreed that payment plans could be negotiated if requested in special circumstances but also that, should these be defaulted, full interest and legal action in the form of a lien with costs (subject to 15 (fifteen) day notification) would be taken against that household.
Board member Rocco D’Aprile insisted, and it was unanimously agreed by the board, that all actions taken should be consistent without exception for each household.
It was agreed that these intentions be made public and published in newsletters and online in order that all households have the fullest understanding of their responsibilities.
The new Treasurer was thanked unanimously, along with Wyndi Hills and Jim Sieme, for the many days of work they have put in, and continue to put in, to correct the accounts records of the association, which had previously been questionably maintained.
Resignation
It was with much regret that the board accepted the resignation of Christy Foster for personal reasons. The board would like to formally acknowledge Christy’s contribution to the Association during difficult times and send her our best thoughts and wishes.
Architectural Committee
The Architectural Committee was tasked with producing a draft policy of action with regards to infringement of the Association bylaws.
Additionally, the Arch / Comp Committee has been asked to produce a “checklist“ of attributes whereby ALL houses in the association may be judged and also a full list of perceived current infringements so that the Board of Directors may asses the scope of issues arising and advise the committee on how they should begin addressing these.
Specifically the matter of “parking on lawns” was raised, as this had been a question asked of the president. The bylaws have no guidance in this, and so the matter was moved for future discussion, perhaps to be taken before the members for possible bylaws amendment.
Community Maintenance
The retention pond and community swales need extensive maintenance work for their upkeep. The president had obtained a quote from our current maintenance company to cover this work that was $3,429. Although this work, to many areas of the community, is both needed and required it was agreed that additional quotes should be obtained in order to ensure the Association was getting best value per dollar on the work.
For electrical work on the entrance area we await Dean Webb’s report back to the Directors on this.
For Irrigation to the entrance area, the President had obtained five quotes. After reviewing these, the board strongly favored the quote ($619.13) from J B Land Sprinklers to correct the problems in this area.
It was felt that no action should be taken on this, however, until electrical work had been examined and until winter had passed.
In line with previous meeting policy many quotes were obtained to assess whether our current lawn and plant maintenance was of competitive value.
All other quotes, apart from the current contractor, were significantly more expensive. It was felt that the current contractor should be maintained pending the provision of the correct paperwork.
Social (Welcome) Committee
The Social Committee has already begun greeting new homeowners and it was agreed a budget of $50 should be granted to allow them to give new homeowners a small exterior plant gift (of around $5 value) in 2009.
Community Watch
The board reviewed the meeting recently held with regards to Community Watch (minutes available online).
Signs are now provided and John and Neal are working to have these up within the next month at each end of the community.
Block Captains are being appointed so alerts (such as Amber Alerts) and other issues can be efficiently communicated quickly across the subdivision.
The Common Area
It was agreed that further investigation was needed to fully ascertain the extent of community ownership of the common area at the corner of Hedingham and Linden Ridge and that a survey should be undertaken if required.
Future Homeowners Meetings and Other Dates
Although Halyburton Park was a great venue we need a Winter venue for members meetings. Jim Sieme has contacted several local churches in this respect and received favorable responses. Our new location will be communicated as soon as it is confirmed.
Future Dates!
Board Meeting – Nov. 18th 7:30PM – Rocco’s Place
Members Meeting – Dec 13th 10AM – Venue TBA
Board Meeting – Jan 13th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – Jan 31st
Board Meeting – Feb 10th – Venue TBA
Board Meeting – March 10th – Venue TBA
Members Meeting – March 14th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – March 20th
Board Meeting – April 14th – Venue TBA
Community Yard Sale – April 18th
Board Meeting – May 12th – Venue TBA
Board Meeting – June 9th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – June 6th
Members Meeting / Block Party – June 20th – Common Area (rain date 27th)
Board Meeting – July 14th – Venue TBA
Board Meeting – August 11th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – August 29th
Board Meeting – September 8th – Venue TBA
Members Meeting (Annual Meeting & Elections) – September 19th – Halyburton Park
Community Yard Sale – September 26th
Board Meeting – October 13th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – October 31st
Board Meeting – Nov 10th – Venue TBA
Board Meeting – Dec 8th – Venue TBA
Members Meeting – Dec 12th – Venue TBA
Newsletter Published – Dec 19th
Minutes prepared by Wyndi Hills, Secretary, Linden Ridge HOA
COMMUNITY WATCH MEETING 9th OCTOBER 2008
MINUTES
In attendance:
Lieutenant W.A. Hoehlein of the Sheriff’s Patrol Division
Also
Jim & Barbara Sieme
John & Dawn McDonald
Eric & Karen Sadler
Rocco D’Aprile
Mike Peacock
Wyndi & Han Hills
Introduction
The purpose of the meeting, arranged by the HOA VP, John McDonald, was to meet with a representative and find out more about setting up a Community Watch Program in Linden Ridge.
The format began with a verbal presentation by Lieutenant Hoehlein (hereafter Lt) and ended with general discussion points.
The following are the initial salient points of the meeting:
It was agreed by all LR homeowners present that we felt we lived in a good neighborhood. Lt pointed out that good neighborhoods were exactly the type targeted by bad people and that the goal was to make our community “unattractive to the bad guys”.
Lt gave us certain basic advice principles to consider in the neighborhood and for individual homes:
Minimize the shadows for criminals to hide in by providing good lighting around the community.
Motion detectors add significantly to the safety of homes at night.
Timers for lighting when away on vacation are a good safety measure.
Curtains and blinds reduce the ability of a criminal to scope out a property.
Lock garages, as these are popular targets.
Keep doors to a home locked when not in use (even if home) to avoid intruders.
If an intruder enters your home get out as fast as possible and contact 911. Keep cell phones accessible at night in case of any emergency.
Alarms are a great safety advantage in a property. Consider factors such as response times when shopping around and consider perhaps a panic button in the bedroom as a measure against night intruders.
Keep the siren of alarm units inaccessible (for example in the eaves of a house) so they cannot easily be disabled.
Fire alarm units are also a good idea, especially in consort with security and, in fact, most security systems offer heat detectors as add ons, and these should give loud warning inside and outside the home.
For cars:
Do not leave anything visible as a temptation for a smash and grab.
Keep cars locked when not in use, even outside the home.
In case of any incident or spotting and suspect or criminal activity:
Be a good witness. Think about giving the Police general details (don’t get bogged down in specifics) and remember that different lighting conditions can distort colors. Better to say simply light or dark than make a mistake on a specific color.
Do not accost suspicious people in the neighborhood. Call 911.
Trust your instincts. If something seems out of place from the regular activity in your neighborhood it may be suspicious.
If in doubt, call 911. The smallest thing could be important.
If an incident occurs in the neighborhood don’t leave the house unless absolutely necessary.
What about gun ownership?
Owning a gun is only advisable if you are familiar and experienced with it’s use. Otherwise it can only increase danger.
Local courses are available and advised for those wishing to maintain a gun for safety.
Setting up a Linden Ridge Community Watch Plan
The important thing for an effective community watch in the neighborhood is to maintain good lines of communication and have a good exchange of information.
Regular meetings (as needed) to inform the community of up to date information and exchange information and issues of concern should be held.
We should create a neighborhood network of communication, such as through the block captain program, so information (particularly in the case of an incident) can be disseminated quickly and efficiently.
Vigilance is key.
We should inform all neighbors that the scheme is in place.
Lt stated that he could provide signs for the two entrances to the community as an excellent deterrent, as well as small notice stickers for homes.
He also gave our VP an information pack to help us begin our program.
The HOA would like to thank Lt Hoehlein for his time and valuable help in helping us begin this scheme, which can only add to the quality and safety of our community and all the homes and residents in it.
BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 24th 2008
In attendance:
Jim Sieme -- President
John McDonald – Vice President
Dawn McDonald – Treasurer
Wyndi Hills – Secretary
Dean Webb – Member at Large
Neal Bradshaw – Member at Large
Christy Foster – Member at Large
Rocco D’Aprile – Member at Large
Mike Peacock – Member at Large
Eric Sadler – Architectural Committee Member
Karen Sadler – Architectural Committee Member
Barbara Sieme – Hostess With The Mostess
Resignation and Appointment
At this meeting the current board accepted the resignation of Han Hills as a member of the Board. Han needed a break from the duties as a Board member and his efforts on the part of the Association are greatly appreciated. Rocco D’Aprile was appointed to fulfill the rest of Han’s term on the Board.
Review of the Bylaws
Since the Board is now comprised of many first time members, President Jim Sieme reviewed the Bylaws that expressly relate to the Board members, with specific attention paid to those that cover the duties of the Executive members.
Appointment of Executive Members
After covering the Bylaws, Executive members were appointed as follows:
President – Jim Sieme
Vice President – John McDonald
Secretary – Wyndi Hills
Treasurer – Dawn McDonald
Contact information for all Board members can be found on www.lindenridge.org.
Treasury Report
On Monday September 22nd, Dean Webb, Jim Sieme and Wyndi Hills went to Wachovia at Monkey Junction to change over authorized signatories on the HOA account. At this time, the HOA was signed up for online banking allowing for much more real time maintenance of our account, as well as reducing any chance for data entry errors into QuickBooks. Also at this time, there was a discussion with the banker about opening a reserve account that has the potential to earn some money, however small an amount. The account balance as of Monday September 22nd was $6625.31.
Finance Review Committee
Dawn McDonald – Chair
Wyndi Hills
Lauren Stoltz
Jim Sieme
The Finance Review Committee was tasked with certifying outstanding dues and completing an extensive audit. After the internal audit is undertaken, it will be determined if an independent external audit is required at this time. The Board is absolutely committed to addressing all the concerns homeowners have had, and in an open and honest fashion, but it was felt that at this time perhaps money could be saved for an audit prior to the Annual Meeting in September 2009. If you have any thoughts or feelings on this please feel free to contact one of the Board members.
Review Of Minutes
A reading of previous minutes was undertaken to bring new Board members up to speed on topics of concern to the HOA.
New Business
Architectural Committee
It was agreed that there would be a comprehensive statement put out to all homeowners in the next newsletter about the expectations for community standards and home maintenance. It was also established that there would be a policy for notices and violations going forward. The specific subject of unregistered and/or derelict cars was addressed.
Retention Pond
There will be a need to combat tree growth in/near the retention pond in the spring months. If any homeowner would like to donate their time to cut those back and then haul off the debris, that would be greatly appreciated. The issue of a sign for caution about the alligator met an obstruction in the way that the Board was informed that there may have been neighbors that “took care of” Tripod, the neighborhood alligator. As the head of North Carolina Animal Control advised us if you get rid of one alligator another one will appear within a few weeks. Let’s all hope that a bigger alligator does not replace Tripod.
Sign
Resident Greg Lawrence has offered to do the electrical work needed to light the entrance sign. It has been suggested that low voltage lighting be used to save energy. We all need to be green, doncha know.
Trash
The trashcan at the entrance needs to be emptied regularly. Rocco has offered to empty this, but we have been tasked to get more volunteers for this service.
Social Committee
This committee was tasked with overseeing all social aspects of the neighborhood from welcoming new neighbors to organizing any and all social events for the community.
Block Captains were proposed as an efficient way to communicate neighborhood wide. In the case of any emergency, Block Captains would allow for the most efficient spreading of knowledge.
Neighborhood Watch
John McDonald is contacting the Sheriff’s Department about a Community Watch Program.
Mail
All future correspondence and remittance is to be sent to the Secretary at 104 Hedingham Court, Wilmington, NC 28412. All other contact information for Board members can be found at www.lindenridge.org.
Future Meetings
Board Meeting – October 21st at 7:30 pm at 104 Hedingham Court
Member’s Meeting -- November 15th at 10 am venue TBD
Meeting was adjourned after approximately two hours and 10 minutes.
Minutes prepared by Wyndi Hills, Secretary, Linden Ridge HOA
MEMBERS MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 20th 2008
In attendance:
Peggy O’Leary
Christy Foster
Zeke Englert
John McDonald
In attendance were representatives of 19 Linden Ridge households and an additional 34 by proxy.
Peggy called the meeting to order and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
As 50% of the homeowners were not in attendance a motion was made to suspend the 50% requirement rule. This was challenged as the bylaws printed from the Linden Ridge website do not include this information. Article 3 section 8 of the bylaws was read off of a copy of bylaws; however, the bylaws which are posted online only go to Section 6. The meeting was then officially started.
An announcement was made that the meeting is recorded for accuracy of minutes.
It was asked that everyone be respectful to each other and only one person speak at a time.
Article 4 section 1 was read by a homeowner and it was summarized that the board must be at least 3 and no more than 10 at all times. Since the board dropped down to 2 members, it was interpreted by the homeowners that the board no longer existed. Therefore the new board members appointed by the 2 member board were not validly appointed.
Barbara made a motion was made that the current board is non-existent because when the board was under 3 members, it was not a viable board. Eric Sadler seconded the motion.
Homeowners not eligible to vote being published on the website was noted to be inaccurate and done without the approval of the board. It was noted that the bylaws state homeowners not eligible to vote would be made available no later than 10 days prior to a meeting. It was stressed that the bylaws state they would be made available, not published and that it was a violation of confidentiality to the homeowners to have it published.
Questions were posed as to how this situation got to this point and why the board members resigned instead of sticking with the board and coming to a resolution within the board.
Each formal board member who had resigned gave a statement as to why they resigned.
It was agreed by all that it could have been handled differently; however this is how it was and it needed to be resolved today.
Question was asked why a check was deposited into an account other than the Linden Ridge account. Peggy made note that she was not aware of this and if she had been made aware, it would have been investigated and if an error had been made would have been corrected.
Comment was made that if the treasurer position was overwhelming then it was time to step down and let someone else take over.
Comment was made that all issues come down to workload and no one had been accused of being a crook.
Question was posed why everyone did not receive notice in a timely manner prior to this meeting. How many homes were addressed before this meeting? How many houses were not notified of this action in a timely manner prior to this meeting? Answers were given that everyone who was home at the time was notified or messages were left. It was asked why letters were not sent to each home to ensure everyone was fully informed in a timely manner prior to this meeting.
Barbara made a statement that the meeting was taken over and the motion on the table needs to be voted on. A vote was taken and all but 2 voted for the current board to be overturned.
Peggy agreed to turn over a flash drive of all the electronic records and all of the financial papers within 48 hours.
This portion of the minutes was written by Christy Foster.
Nominations and elections were held immediately to put a new Board in place. Nominations for committees were also taken at this time. The Board agreed to meet as soon as possible to start the work of moving the Association forward.
A motion was made and passed to adjourn the meeting.
LINDEN RIDGE HOMOWNERS ASSOCIATION
BOARD MEETING 9th JUNE 2008
MINUTES
In attendance:
Dean Webb – President
Peggy O’Leary – Treasurer
Christy Foster – Member At Large
Han Hills – Secretary
Also attending:
Tom Perry
Barbara Sieme
The meeting was convened at 7:11PM.
Copies of Jim Sieme’s letter to the board were passed to all attending as well as Peggy’s specific Treasury response and treasury summary reports: P & L November 2007 – June 2008, Summary of funds 2003 – 2008, Homeowner Dues Report at 06/08/08
Official Check Deposit Policy
There was discussion of the fact that, over the past few years, an undue amount of time had been taken between receipt of dues checks and deposit of same.
It was unanimously agreed that all checks received by the Association must be deposited with 14 days of receipt.
Official Invoice Payment Policy
Discussion was made on the fact that recently issues had arisen regarding the late payment of invoices from contractors hired by the association, and the possibilities this raised of potential late payment fees.
It was unanimously agreed that official Association policy was that all bills without exception must be paid before the due date and that, also without exception, all bills must go from the contractor directly to the treasurer for payment.
Official Billing Errors Policy
There was discussion of the fact that in previous periods invoices for dues had incorrectly reflected payments for each household. The Treasurer reported that, along with the Secretary and Wyndi Hills of 104 Hedingham Ct, she had conducted a full raw data audit of all invoices and payments going back to the inception of the Association. This audit, in conjunction with the appointment of an accountant in July to administer dues invoicing and collection would ensure that, in coming years, invoices would be correct.
Statement of Dues Owing and Official Collection Policy
A full statement of dues paid and outstanding, including write-offs for non-payers who left the community prior to the current improvements in collection enforcement, was presented to all present.
Official Collection Policy was unanimously confirmed as the following:
All those owing $220 or more (two years) will get a final phone call before Friday 13th June as a last goodwill attempt to collect or arrange for full payment of arrears.
If, on Saturday 14th June, contact has not been possible or satisfactory resolution been reached in each case, the board will immediately begin proceedings to place a lien on the offending properties.
A list of those households with qualifying outstanding balances was compiled upon which to be acted.
Treasury Reports To Be Produced Annually
The treasurer noted that the new accountant, who will be meeting with the board at their next meeting for official approval and instatement, has agreed to produce any reports requested by the board at any time throughout the year.
Although the exact reports to be requested will not be finalized until after the next board meeting it was strongly felt that full statements should be made available at the quarterly meetings of Association Members.
It was noted that we have a fiduciary responsibility to all members to have the highest standards of openness regarding the financial transaction of the Association.
Accounts Auditing and External Accountant Appointment
The Treasurer reported that the original CPA undertaking an audit of the Association finances failed to complete this and has been dismissed without payment. A new accountant has been found and will meet with the board for approval at the next meeting. This individual will ensure that problems with the QuickBooks classification of monies are fully and completely resolved and it was felt that this, In concert with the internal audit undertaken already and the adoption of full regular reporting policies to the members, would negate the need for a full CPA audit.
The accountant has already affirmed that the Association is not liable for tax and is preparing the forms to ensure this is officially recognized by the appropriate bodies.
Income Discrepancy Issues Raised in Jim Sieme’s Letter
The letter from Jim Sieme specifically asked about the discrepancies in recent reporting from the treasury and the common sense discrepancies between reported income figures and anticipated income from homeowners based on amount, time and number of lots.
The Treasurer, along with the Secretary, was able to show that, following the extensive internal audit undertaken over the previous three days, the amount invoiced by the association very closely matched the anticipated common sense amount expected, with discrepancies being only where interest had been applied in specific cases in previous years.
The Board was also shown that, allowing for write-offs due to failure of collection in previous years, and dues that remain to be collected, the funds collected by the Association do match the amount expected.
It was noted that currently within Quick Books Reporting there are discrepancies relating to classification that cause reporting from that application to misread the data held and that these are to be corrected by the appointed accountant.
Response To Jim Sieme’s Letter
It was agreed, based on the discussion during the meeting that a letter be drafted by the Secretary replying to Jim’s recent letter for the board to immediately review and send along with requested and supporting documentation.
Conflict and Communication between Board Members
The Member At Large noted that, going forward, all communication between board members must completely avoid all personal conflict and be addressed by all in a civil and professional manner. It was noted that it was highly unfortunate that recent personal conflicts between the Treasurer and the Vice President had let to the resignation of the latter, but that this has served a catalyst to clarify a great many of the issues raised and addressed at this meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:14PM.
Minutes prepared by Han Hills, Secretary, Linden Ridge HOA
STOP SIGN REMOVAL ON LINDEN RIDGE AND HEDINGHAM
The HOA had recently contacted the DOT with regards to homeowner concerns about speeding traffic through the sub-division.
On June 2nd The DOT removed two of the stop signs on the junction of
Linden Ride and Hedingham.
They sent us the following statement regarding this decision:
After investigation of the subject roadways it was found that warrants for 4-way stops and a speed limit reduction to 25 mph are not possible.
Many people believe that installing STOP signs on all approaches to an intersection will result in fewer accidents. This is not always the case. Although the accident severity may be lessened, such installations cause additional driver delay for those on the main street and higher vehicle operating costs caused by stopping additional vehicles. There is no real evidence to indicate that STOP signs decrease the overall speed of traffic. Impatient drivers view the additional delay caused by unwarranted STOP signs breed disrespect by motorists who tend to ignore them or slow down without stopping. This can sometimes lead to tragic consequences.
Federal and State regulations require the installation of all traffic control devices, including STOP signs, to follow the guidelines in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation and is the national standard for Traffic Control Devices.
A multi-way stop condition may be installed if it meets at least one of the warrants as defined in the MUTCD. Below are brief descriptions of these multi-way STOP warrants:
:: Where traffic signals are warranted and urgently needed, the multi-way STOP is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the signal installation.
:: An accident problem, as indicated by five or more reported accidents of a type susceptible to correction by a multi-way STOP installation in a 12-month period. Such accidents include right and left-turn collisions as well as right-angle collisions.
:: Minimum Traffic volumes: (a) The total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches must average at least 500 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of an average day, and (b) The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street of highway must average at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour, but (c) When the 85-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70 percent of the above requirements. STOP signs should not be viewed as a cure-all for solving all safety problems; but, when properly located, can be a useful traffic control device to enhance safety for all roadway users.
I thank you for your concern for concern with the traveling public in the Linden Ridge area.
Mandatory Water Restrictions Are Now Lifted!
Gov. Mike Easley has called on communities across the state to conserve dwindling water supplies. Although Wilmington currently has now lifted the mandatory water restrictions, residents are strongly encouraged to conserve water and limit water use where possible.
For more information log on to www.wilmingtonnc.gov or call 341-0114.
Peggy informed the board that we now had $5683 in the Association account and a further $1000 about to be deposited.
She noted that those homeowners noted to be significantly in arrears had begun to bring their payments up to date but that there were still five households that had never made payment.
It was confirmed that the invoices for the year 2008 would go out at the start of April, along with a budget for the coming year, and this would then give all households until June 1st to bring their accounts up to date.
It was confirmed once again that those outstanding after this point would face legal action in the form of a lien to obtain all overdue monies and that all legal costs would be added to the funds outstanding.
It was noted that a charge of 18% would be applied to each payment for each year outstanding, in accordance with the articles of the Association.
It was agreed that a written specification of the duties of the landscapers needed to be produced and agreed with the contractor, and that Peggy would handle this on behalf of the association at some point before the next board meeting.
As Dean had taken the lead on the repair of the sign at the entrance to the community it was resolved that we would ask him for an update on this when he had this available.
As we were still waiting to hear from the auditor on certain issues such as taxes, Peggy said she would follow this up with the auditing accountant and report back to the board by e-mail. (Peggy has since done this and assured that the audit is in hand and that we are in compliance with all relevant tax requirements at this time).
Although the majority felt that we could not formally address dead or dangerous trees situated on the property of individual homeowners, it was agreed that we should put a notice in the newsletter warning of these dangers and making a general request of all homeowners that they address this problem if needed before the start of the hurricane season.
A yard sale is due to be held in the community on April 25th and Jim agreed to have signs in place no later than two weeks before the event or sooner if possible.
It was agreed that we should confirm the current restrictions on power-washing and water use in general and place a notice in the next newsletter informing homeowners of the current situation regarding usage.
It was noted that the Arch & Com Sub-committee should issue a letter to the unregistered vehicle on Alder Ridge Rd.
A suggestion was made, passed on from the previous meeting of the Arch & Com Sub-Comm. that we set up possible rewards for best or most improved garden in the community as a way of encouraging the highest standards in landscape maintenance.
This was rejected by a majority vote as many felt it would foster jealousies and friction between homeowners, especially those who felt passed by for recognition under such a rewards system.
It was agreed that the A & C Sub Comm. should chase outstanding violations and that a notice requesting that homeowners take special care of laws and containment of their dogs.
Jim mentioned that there was a possibility of obtaining a “bouncy castle” for the event and that he would look into this and report back at the next board meeting.
Jim volunteered to put together a wish list / work list for this day and that we should make a request in the newsletter for trucks / trailers and chainsaws and tools in the newsletter and elsewhere.
It was noted that we should ask Dean to confirm the exact property line placement at the edges of the sub-division so we can be fully certain as to where our obligations for maintenance lie specifically.
The meeting was adjourned and it was noted that the next meeting was due to take place on April 15th at 7PM.
In attendance were representatives of 8 Linden Ridge households.
As 50% of the homeowners were not in attendance a motion was made to temporarily suspend the 50% requirement rule and passed unanimously.
Peggy gave a treasurer’s report detailing that the Association current had about $6700 in available funds and that statements, invoices and budgets for 2008 were in the final stages of preparation to be sent out at the beginning of March.
Han gave out copies of the minutes for the previous meeting for review by all present and discussed recent changes and additions to the web site as well as the previously distributed newsletter, both available to be viewed on the web site.
We again asked for input for both web site and forthcoming newsletters and Han noted that Peggy O’Leary had already submitted some excellent information for inclusion.
Wyndi Hills distributed a written report on the activities of the Architectural and Compliance sub-committee since the last full homeowner’s meeting. A full version of this report can be viewed on the website, but it was noted that reaction to improved enforcement of the by-laws was being positively received by the majority of Linden Ridge homeowners.
It was again explained to homeowners present that power-washing of siding was legal and acceptable to the county by homeowners at the weekend or by a professional contractor at any time, even during the current water restrictions.
Homeowners were encouraged to be pro-active in aiding the A & C Sub-Comm both in reporting issues they felt needed attention, and maintaining the agreed standards of the by-laws.
This report also includes valuable information obtained by the sub-committee, which they felt homeowners would find useful and interesting.
The retention pond is now fully owned by the Association and this has bought with it the added responsibility and cost of maintenance. It was noted that Jim Sieme was in the final stages of reviewing quotes from a number of service providers to bring the retention pond up to the standards provided and mandated by the county and also for periodical maintenance activity once the initial work was completed.
Although the quotes already received for the work ranged from $2000 to $8000, the board assured those present that the accepted quote would ensure both that all required standards were met and that we received the best value for every dollar invested. It was noted that, as with previous maintenance given to the sub-division, we would ensure that all contractors were fully licensed and insured.
The final costs of this will be included in the budgets going out to homeowners in March.
Again it was pointed out that the sign is increasingly in dire need of repair.
Dean showed quote and work specification that he had received from the original suppliers of the sign and it was widely agreed that this was a very reasonable quote to repair the sign panels and supply a renewed structure on which these would be placed. The board will almost certainly be authorizing this work in the very near future, though we will need to ensure we also have acceptable quotes and plans in place at the same time to fix the lighting system and sprinkler system for the sign area.
Much discussion was had about holding a sub-division block party. The general feeling expressed was that this provided an unparalleled opportunity to build community spirit as well as providing an occasion when a much greater majority of residents can meet, gain information about the community and have a very enjoyable time! The budget for this event is predicted to be around $500-$750. Peggy explained that, with a substantial population of elderly and small children a tent was required for protection from the elements.
A vote was taken to go ahead with the block party in 2008 and this was passed by a 7 to 1 majority. The block party is therefore now scheduled to take place on Saturday 14th June at 5PM on the common area.
A committee is being convened by Wyndi Hills and Peggy O’Leary to co-ordinate the organization of the event, but volunteers are asked for to help with all aspects of this day if possible. More information, and a request for assistance, will be made in the forthcoming newsletter, and any help residents can offer will make for a better event and reduce costs.
A point was made that the ground should be expected just prior to the event to ensure the area was safe for children and free of animal waste. The block party sub-committee will ensure that this takes place just prior to the event.
It has been suggested in the past that we might place benches on the corner for children awaiting school transportation. Mr. Neu of Linden Ridge Rd, who has strong knowledge of the school bus routes, noted that the stop has now been moved permanently up to the Ilex junction, so it was the overwhelming opinion of those present that such benches would no longer be needed.
For a very long time the trash can on the corner by the entrance has been emptied by a small group of volunteers in the community. We need to find a better solution, and this is something the board will be examining, to either find a group of volunteers assigned a specific short period of responsibility or another adequate solution.
The dues payable by each household in the Linden Ridge sub-division for 2008 will be $120.
It was explained by the board that this decision was taken reluctantly, but in response to the increased costs and responsibilities faced by the Association in the year to come.
The point was made that, in the past, a reason given for a possible rise in dues was the lack of funds available to the HOA due to widespread non-payment in recent years and the resultant shortfall in funds and possible impending legal action to retrieve such monies due.
It was made clear that, although homeowners in general have now become much more responsible about paying the dues they agreed to upon entering the community, and that such issues are less of a problem, increased responsibilities with regards to items such as the pond and sign, and an increase in prices for the services contractors provide, due to factors such as higher gas prices, had ultimately forced the board to reluctantly approve this raise in dues.
Note: On the day of this meeting the price of oil per barrel closed at over $100 dollars for the first time in history!
As our president Dean Webb noted so clearly, each of the board are homeowners themselves and we work hard not to put up dues as this represents an increased cost for each of us as well. To increase dues unnecessarily would be to shoot ourselves in the foot. The board has the right to increase dues by 20% each year but we work STRONGLY to prevent this unless made absolutely necessary by circumstance, as is the case in 2008.
Much information about dog ownership had already been given by the Architectural and Compliance Sub-committee, and their full report is available from our web site lindenridge.org.
It was noted for the record however that dog owners in the subdivision do have a responsibility to control their animals with respect to other properties and visitors to the community.
Although the current control laws do not effectively address the use of electronic borders it was noted that owners using such technology much ensure it provides an effective control on their pets and, if possible, place discrete signage informing others that such is in place on their property.
Dog owners should read and pay careful attention to the notes in the Architectural Committee report and associated links on the county web site.
In past months many homeowners have made complaints regarding careless and obstructive parking in the sub-division.
Particular point was made that residents should not under any circumstances park on another property’s lawn area without prior permission as this has led to landscape damage. Many homeowner’s take great pride and expense in their lawn area and it is unacceptable for others or their guest’s vehicles to damage these areas in any way.
Homeowners are reminded that they are responsible for the actions of their guests in the sub-division. All we ask is that everyone remains considerate.
The Association asks that all residents please pay careful attention to the way they park, especially if hosting special events, and many numbers of guests arriving by car.
The communal area is available for parking overflow for any homeowner or resident at any time they have need for such events or eventualities.
The rules of quorum were re-instated and the meeting was adjourned at around 8:10PM.
