2021 Annual HOA Meeting

October Update: Call for Nominations

Hello North Star homeowners!

We're thrilled to announce that our 2021 Annual HOA Meeting is just around the corner. We want to be as prepared as ever and we're looking to you for help. One of the topics we know is on the agenda this time around is the election of the Secretary and Treasurer positions. If you or someone you know would be a great fit, now is the time to put in their nominations. This would allow time for people to accept their nominations, as well as give us time to add their names to the ballot.

So far this year, there have been no proposals for changes to the CCR's or By-Laws. If you feel or know of something that should be changed, we suggest putting forth a proposal to be presented and voted on. As a reminder we've recently had an amendment pass that allows for a quorum to be achieved if not in the first meeting, then by some subsequent meeting. Please reference, Article IV Section IV.

Wait, why is the Secretary and Treasurer up for election this year?

Great question! As it states in the By-Laws under Article VI Section IV, all positions have a term length of four (4) years. To help prevent the possibilities of an entirely new board every four years, the first few years were staggered. The first president had a full four year term. The first Vice President had a term of three years. Finally, the first Secretary and Treasurer both had a term of only two years. Building from that initial pattern results in Secretary and Treasurer terms ending in 2020.

How should I nominate myself or someone?

Great question! The By-Laws state in Article VI Section II that “Nominations shall be made by the members from the floor during an annual meeting.” In addition to that, your Board of Directors would also invite you to submit nominations via this form. Doing so would allow the nominees’ names to be printed on the ballot. Floor nominations will need to be present and nominees must accept to be considered as a write-in option. All accepted floor nominee names will be listed for attending members to see.

How long are the terms of the office?

The term length is 4 years.

How do I vote if I know I can’t or don’t think I’ll make the meeting?

You can always submit a proxy voter as outlined in your By-Laws under Article IV Section V. This can be in the form of a letter or an email.

What are the duties of the offices up for election?

Secretary > The secretary shall record the votes and keep the minutes of all meetings and proceeds of the Board and the members; keep the corporate seal of the HOA and affix it on all papers requiring said seal; serve notice of meaning of the Board and of the members; keep appropriate current records showing the members of HOA together with their addresses and shall perform other such other duties as required by the By-Laws or by the Board.

Treasurer > The treasurer shall receive and deposit in appropriate bank accounts all monies of the Association and shall disburse such funds as directed by the resolution of the Board; shall sign all checks and promissory notes of the HOA; keep proper books of account; cause an audit to be made by a public accountant at the discretion of the Board; and shall prepare statement of income and expenditures to be represented to the membership at its regular annual meeting and have available at the annual meeting a copy of said report(s).

How do I suggest/present a change?

Great question! Send an email to theboard@northstarhoa.net with the requested change. It should also include the current text and follow this process that the board will define shortly.

Post PSC Hearing Update

Hello neighbors! Last week, the evidentiary portion of the North Star Water & Sewer Rate Case came to a conclusion at the last minutes of the second day. Dare I say it, a few of us were thinking that it was going to continue on for a third. During the hearing we heard from three different witnesses for North Star and one witness for the MCC.

The HOA Board wants to take this moment to thank all of those that attended the hearing and those that also gave public comment as well as to the many that had tuned in via the live streaming. Your support is greatly appreciated by all as evident with the mentioning of one of the commissioners at receiving "tons" of emails and letters.

However, this rate case is not yet over. At this time the PSC is sifting over the mounds of evidence, expert testimonies, case studies, consulting numerous laws, and other various factoring components to come to some decision that will no doubt be setting a precedence for future rate cases. A date for the announcement of the decision has not been posted but has been mentioned to be in the timeframe of late March or early April.

With that in mind, we would encourage everyone to continue to voice your opinion to the PSC.

Agenda Announcement

• 1. Board Introductions

  2. Ballot Walk-Through, Q&A, and Poll Opening

  3. Annual Reports

  4. Audit Report

  5. Close of Polling and Start of Tallying

  6. Public Service Announcement, General Q&A

  7. Announce Result of Elections

  8. Call to Vote for Bus Shelter Construction

  9. Adjourn

What does this mean for me?

There are a lot of important items to cover in this agenda. We will be electing a president. We will be asking for nominations for a vice president. We will be voting on an amendment of the By-Laws of which a quorum of only the majority of the eligible voters present, in person or by proxy, is needed. We will be going over the annual reports. We will be summarizing the result of the audit findings. There are a few very important announcements and reminders to be made. Most importantly, your involvement will help the Board steer North Star PUD into the new year.

BL-2020.001 - Current By-Laws state under Article IV Section IV that "The presence at the meeting of members entitled to cast, or of proxies entitled to cast, one-tenth of the votes of each class of membership shall constitute a quorum for any action..." This definition makes it near impossible to, as we so often hear, "get anything done." We want to change that. We want to get things done. We hereby propose the following amendment to Article IV Section IV which will fully read as follows:

Section IV: Quorum. The presence at the meeting of members entitled to cast, or of proxies entitled to cast, one-tenth of the votes of each class of membership shall constitute a quorum for any action except as otherwise provided for in the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting, the members entitled to vote there shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting. Furthermore, if such a quorum shall not be present or represented, another meeting may be called, subject to the same notice. The required quorum at any such subsequent meeting shall be one half of the required quorum at the preceding meeting. No subsequent meeting shall be held more than sixty days following the preceding meeting.

Why are we voting to change this?

As it stands, it is difficult to obtain a quorum to vote on an action. This definition of a quorum was defined in 2003 and carried through in amendments in 2008 and in 2009. The original definition still stands for the initial meeting for a vote on an action. What this amendment does is makes it easier to obtain a quorum in later meetings to get a definitive vote, either for or against, on the action put forth. This wording is brought over from another definition within the By-Laws itself under Article XI. Section IV.

How can I vote by proxy?

Certainly! We encourage you to do so if you know that you will not be able to make the meeting. All that is required to vote by proxy is to send correspondence by mail or email to the Secretary no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting with whom your proxy will be.

I have a different question that needs addressing before the meeting.

We'll be happy to answer any questions you have. There are a few different ways of getting in contact with us. All of which are posted here.

Financial Audit Complete

Wait, what?! Where is this coming from?

During the October public meeting, a concerned home owner requested that an audit of the HOA financial records be done as he had reasons to believe that there were non HOA withdrawals and deposits being made. Following the October public meeting, your HOA Board promptly employed an auditing company and provided them with any and all information that they required to fulfill the request.

Great! What does this mean for me?

We employed Wipfli LLP to perform an audit with the intent to identify all deposits and disbursements that did not contain detailed deposit slips or expense receipts for the period of January 2015 thru May 2019 at the cost of $3,000.00.

We have also been updating the Lewis & Clark Sheriff's Department during the process and results. Within the report they found $11,228.87 of non HOA withdrawals, and $9,198.64 of non HOA deposits. Actions have already been taken and we are pleased to report that the ledger is now balanced and the HOA has been fully reimbursed for all non-HOA withdrawals.

North Star Homeowner's Association

Public Meeting

10th October 2019 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Big Sky Fellowship Church

North Star Water and Sewer Rate Case Update

Public Service Commission Meeting - Agenda for 08/06/19 at 1:00pm

Upcoming Meeting Details

Now is the time to have your voice heard!!

The next Public Service Commission meeting in Tuesday August 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm.-1701 Prospect Ave Helena, MT 59620.

The Agenda for the meeting is linked to the box above.

Join the North Star Water and Sewer District on Monday August 5, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 7610 Roughsawn Dr Helena, MT 59602 to hear about the District's recent progress and news in addition to asking any questions you might have before the meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Public Comment Information

The Montana Consumer Council (MCC) is also monitoring the rate case and knows of past complaints by homeowners. The PSC and MCC will accept comments from any homeowner within the subdivision who has a complaint or concern about NSWSLLC, the service they provide and/or the rate proposals. You can either email the PSC, write a letter or call their office. Here is the contract information for the PSC and MCC:

Website http://www.psc.mt.gov

Address:

Montana Public Service Commission

1701 Prospect Ave., Vista Square Building

PO Box 202601

Helena, MT 59620-2601

Phone: 444-6199

The Montana Consumer Council is part of the legislative branch and is overseen by the Legislative Consumer Committee.Contact information for Montana Consumer Council is:

Website: https://leg.mt.gov/occ/

Address:

Montana Consumer Council

111 North Last Change Gulch, Suite 1B

PO Box 201703

Helena, MT 59620-1703

Phone: 444-2771