Walden Pond Homeowners Association Board Meeting

July 29, 2006

Present:

            Board Directors:   Laura Atkinson, Don Barry, Edison McIntyre

            Board Officer:   Sarah Wright

            Property Agent:   Frankie Johnson of Morgan Properties

            Community Members:   P.C., J.C., N.L.

Call to Order at 5:05 p.m.

Minutes from June meeting were read and approved with three minor changes.

Cash Balance:   $__

              $__

Introductions and Presentation:

• Frankie Johnson was introduced as the new property manager.   She let people know that anyone in the office can handle calls from Walden Pond owners and residents.   Office hours at Monday through Thursday from 10 to 6 and Friday from 10 to 5 p.m.  
• Frankie plans to meet with Phyllis Cone soon to ask for all files relating to Walden Pond.
• Frankie reminded the Board that all checks should go to WPHOA HOA and not Morgan Management.   Endorsing checks is becoming a problem.
• Laura wants to know how many of the 206 owners have signed up for bank draft.
• Frankie requested copies of the budget from past years.
• Edison would like Frankie to establish a budget for 2007.
• Questions arose about the website address and the difference between the website and the Yahoo! list serve.
• _____ inquired about reimbursement for her water bill (water used in power washing).   She also noted that a pane is broken in a Quintin lamppost.   Frankie noted that walks and drive throughs occur during daytime hours and so she asks that residents call her if lights are out or broken.
• _____ asked about water reimbursement.
• _____ would like to see gutter cleaning every year and power washing provided every other year.  
• Laura stated that the point of a homeowners association is (1) safety of residents and (2) protection of property values.   Frankie agrees with this statement.   The management company is the face of the Board and the operations ˇ§supervisor.ˇ¨
• Board Directors and officers will walk through the property with Frankie on August 8 th .
• Frankie talked with the landscaper, Craig, and will arrange a walk-through together. In their conversation, Craig noted that several units have nests of yellow jackets and Frankie will notify homeowners involved.
• _____ contract was discussed.   Frankie noted that the State of NC requires a termination clause be included in contracts.   Frankie thinks one-year contracts are more appropriate and that expectations for duties and quality are set in the contract.   Frankie noted that she talked with _____ three times yesterday and that she found _____ to be very responsive.
• Aesthetics Policies:
•   The Board noted that residents may hang US flags, NC flags and seasonal flags that are 4 ft by 6 ft or smaller and are mounted on the front of the unit.  
• Frankie suggested that the HOA cannot prohibit satellite dishes but that we can restrict their placement ˇV small pole to deck ˇV not attached to the roof.
• Awnings need prior approval by the HOA Board.
• Privacy fences.   The current policy states that fences must be wooden, six feet high, and approved by the Board.  
• Trash cans and recycling bins need to be numbered.

• _____ is coming to look at the pond.
• The old bench close to the pond will be removed.
• _____ owner asked for clarification about completion of the water problem recently experienced.   The Board approved putting in a new line from the unit to the meter (60 feet) at a cost of $2,400.   _____ asked the Board to also contact the City to repair damage to Finley Street during recent construction.
• Neighborhood Watch:   The Board would like two people to chair a Neighborhood Watch committee to get block captains to organize this program.  
• Letters will be mailed to owners and residents to drum up support for the Neighborhood Watch program and to let everyone know that the Board will begin aggressively pursuing compliance with Aesthetics policies and exterior maintenance requests (including taking out and returning trash cans to rear of units).   Laura expressed concern that residents over 65 be given special consideration (because they may be on a fixed income and be unable to haul trash and bins to and from curbs).   A letter about this will go out soon.
• Nominating Committee:   Discussion and action tabled until August meeting.

Executive Session:

The Board went into Executive Session to discuss delinquent accounts and other matters.   Community members were excused.

Next meeting is August 19 th at 10 a.m. (Saturday)

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Respectfully submitted by Sarah Wright, Secretary

Adjournment:   9:00 p.m.   Next Board meeting is June 20 th at 7 p.m.   (3 rd Tuesdays of the month)

Respectfully submitted by Sarah Wright, Board Officer and Secretary