Minutes of the HOA Board of Directors Meeting March 16, 2010
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Present: Carole Princer Levy, Barbara Moran, Paul Spindel, Herb Meyers. Also present: Tom Pallman of Stillman Management.
The meeting was held at the home of Board President Carole Princer Levy. Board President Levy called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. The following issues were discussed:
Minutes: The Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of February 8, 2010, were approved unanimously. The minutes of this meeting were mailed to Homeowners and are also available on the Brookridge HOA website (see above).
Budget: The budget of the Brookridge HOA continues to be slightly over-budget resulting from expenses for snow removal and storm repairs during the difficult weather conditions of the past few month. Budget shortages are also the result of legal costs in connection with two Homeowners whose maintenance payments are in arrears. A judgment regarding one member is currently under negotiation.
As of February 28, 2010, the Brookridge HOA bank balance was as follows:
Cash account: $ 24,777.68
Capital account: $ 178,160.99
Property maintenance: The following maintenance issues were reviewed:
· A number of downed trees, resulting from the recent storm, as well as previous conditions, have been removed. Additional tree maintenance will follow.
· The fence around the tennis court, damaged by a fallen tree, will be repaired.
· A metal piece near the property entrance was removed.
· The contract with JP McHale Arbor Care Program for the 2010 season has been renewed.
· The contract for outside and sprinkler system maintenance for the 2010 season by Ron Vitti has been renewed.
· Exploration regarding alternatives for improved entrance gate operation is continuing.
Driveway maintenance: The complaint by one Homeowner that his driveway was damaged during snow removal was discussed. The Board felt that maintenance of driveways, being of part of the Homeowners’ property, is the Homeowners’ responsibility. As to snow removal, Homeowners should understand that, while the snow removal operator takes utmost care, precise judgment of what is underneath several inches of snow is often difficult.
Homeowners should also be aware that the life span of asphalt driveways, affected by various weather conditions, is estimated to be about 8-10 years at which time Homeowners who have brittle driveway surfaces should consider replacing them to maintain appearance and property value. Bob Ableson of Stillman Management has offered to contact contractors for prices.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors: The Board would like to draw the attention of all Homeowners to the Amanda’s Law, recently passed by the New York State Legislature, that requires installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all residential housing units where any source of carbon monoxide is present. All Brookridge units have heating equipment that could potentially produce carbon monoxide, whether Homeowners are aware of this or not. While there is ongoing discussion about the details of the new law, the Board suggests that, for their own safety, all Homeowners should have a minimum of one carbon monoxide detector installed at an appropriate location within their unit. For more detailed information, check the Brookridge HOA website (see above).
Property Taxes: The City of New Rochelle permits Homeowners to grieve assessment of their property every two years. The Board has negotiated a reduced fee with “Pat Ciulla – Real Estate” for HOA members who wish to grieve their Property Assessment. The application must be filed before the end of June. If successful this process will result in a reduction of your real estate taxes. Pat has obtained reductions for a number of Brookridge Homeowners and has agreed to lower her fee for all members of the community. Pat will charge Brookridge Homeowners 45% of their first year savings. She can be reached at 914-774-2010.
Driving safety: Previous suggestions about driving courtesy within the Brookridge compound are still being ignored by some Homeowners and/or their guests. To avoid a potential accident, the Board requests again to slow down while entering and leaving the Brookridge HOA entrance area, especially not “cutting corners” around the bend.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM. The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday April 13, at the home of Herb Meyers, Unit #47.
Respectfully submitted by
Herb Meyers