INFORMATION ONLY

NOT TO BE CONSIDERED MINUTES

NOT A TRANSCRIPT

Summary of FRCA Open Forum

July 11, 2007

The Falls Run Community Association, Inc. met at the Center at 7:00 PM on July 11, 2007 for an Open Forum.

The forum was called to order at 7:00 PM by Vice-President, Dan Owens.  Board members attending were: Mal Malo, Toni Brown, Art Gabler, Dan Owens, Jim Stagner, and Jake Bernard. Bill Nosal was away.

Also present: Sylva Southwell, Property Manager of Armstrong Management.

Dan Owens, acting president in the absence of Bill Nosal, announced the Board’s appointment of Jake Bernard to fill the vacancy created by Chuck Heath.   Jake was selected by the Board based on the fact that he received the next highest number of votes in the preceding election.  Using the By-Laws and the Articles of Incorporation as the authority, it was determined Jake’s term will expire at the end of the year.  Five seats will then be vacant, four with a term of two years and one with a term of one year.  Candidates will serve based on the number of votes received, the four with the highest votes will serve for two years, the fifth highest will serve one year, or, in other words, the remainder of the 2007 term, thus ensuring staggered terms.

Dan began the gathering by stating that speed bumps, from the Board’s point of view, are a last ditch effort and one they are not ready to resort to at this time. Speeding in the community is a safety factor, one that requires a solution before it is too late.  The Board is seeking input from residents for other alternative solutions.  With that the meeting was open to residents for their input and comments and a lively discussion ensued.

Suggestions and comments:

1.     Make a note of speeder’s license number and make of car and after determining owner send a letter to the offender.

2.     Use radar guns

3.     Change limit to 25mph

4.     A survey was taken of 91 homes in the Goose Creek neighborhood watch zone.

a.      84 not in favor of speed bumps

b.       2 in favor

c.       1 abstained

d.       4 unreachable

5.     Enforcement of speed limit is a problem.  The sheriff would patrol if we took down the gates.

6.     There is a cost of changing signs if limit is changed

7.     There are those that disregard speed limits and stop signs.  Name them and apply pressure

8.     Penalize offenders not whole community

9.     More signs might help.

10. Install sign at main gate stating  15 mph limit is strictly enforced

11. Information campaign necessary to change life long habits.

12. How many jurisdictions have 15mph speed limits?  It is foolish; we have sidewalks on both sides of the street

13. Need to clamp down on vendors.  Residents not the only speeders, visitors and family members also use these streets.

Summary:  Board will revisit the 15 mph speed limit and determine if it should be raised to 25 mph. The Board asked for input from residents and it was provided.

Most comments/questions came from the floor.  Three questions were put to the Board in writing:

1.     Any effort to fix the ‘closed caption’ problem on the TV’s in the exercise room?

a.      Cox has been contacted and will investigate.  Apparently the problem exists throughout the area and Cox is working on it.

2.     Noticed many bags of chlorine on the outdoor pool deck.  Thought we had a salt system in outdoor pool.

a.      Yes there is a salt system installed but a part broke and was not immediately available for repair.  Chlorine has been used during the interim in order to keep the pool open.

3.     Property and ground master plan:  Was that put out for bid? What does the plan entail? Will there be estimates provided with plan?

a.      No, there were no other bids because of our contract with Shenandoah.  Armstrong Management is reviewing the provisions of the Master Plan Creation contract before signing.

b.     The plan will establish a vision for long-term improvements to the common grounds. Shenandoah will develop the plan with input from the community.

c.     The improvements to the common grounds will be done over time, probably two to three years.  The funds to achieve the goals of the Master Plan will be budgeted year by year. One of the goals for the common grounds is to replace some of the grassy areas with native plants and shrubs that will be less costly to maintain than large grassy areas.

d.     There has been no consideration to bring other contractors in to bid on any improvements.  The Committee, as well as the Board, views that approach as being counter productive in the long run.

Watering trees and shrubs during the drought caused one resident to state that he did not want his association fee being used for an expense that should be Pulte’s.  It was pointed out that trees and shrubs were dying due to a lack of water and that watering is cheaper in the long run than replacing dead trees.

It was also noted with concern that the walking path asphalt is being damaged by Shenandoah’s watering trucks and that old paint marks left by Pulte are still there.  The project designated by the paint marks is still on the Pulte’s to do list.

The question was raised whether or not scooters and golf carts should be allowed on the walking paths.  No resolution.

Another topic that generated lengthy discussion was the placement of mail boxes.  So many residents are unhappy with the cluster arrangement and really want their mail box in front of their house. There is a long history of trying to get the post office to agree to move the boxes.  The effort began with the Transition Committee and continued later with a second committee.  The post office remained steadfast in its denial to accommodate this request.

Summary:  The Board will revisit the issue with the post office and will ask our congresswoman to get involved with our request.  It was also suggested that the community send e-mails to the congresswoman to get her attention and make her aware of how strongly the community feels about this issue.

Special Note:  It was stated at the meeting that if a person is handicapped, they can arrange for their mail to be delivered directly to their house.

A new resident of the community asked how decisions are arrived at, for example, placing of stop signs, painting the waterfall blue, and placing a fountain in the pond of the waterfall.

1.  A Traffic Committee was established that made recommendations to the Board.  The decision to place a stop sign at Harborton and Smithfield was made by the Board.

          2.  Painting the falls was done by Jake with the approval of Board members.

          3.  Jake added the fountain to the waterfall pool.

There was a round of applause to thank Jake for all the work he does for the community, especially on the gates and the waterfall.

A resident presented the Board with a cost estimate of replacing the existing main gate with an ornamental swing gate using the existing telephone entry system and all access controls.  The cost of one gate (on one side only) is approximately $31,266.  The cost estimate in this case does not include furnishing and installing new stone columns to match the existing columns as well as all asphalt patching and curb replacement. 

It should be understood that the Board is not proposing the installation of a new gate system at this time.   The submittal was independently provided for informational purposes only.

The resident also pointed out it is not unusual for a gated community to leave the gates open during the day and close them at night. (Sound familiar?) 

While on the subject of the gates, it was asked if the flower pots were going to remain at the main gate.  How much did the pots cost?

1.     The pots will remain as they are.  The only expense was for the trees planted in the pots at a cost of approximately $300. We already had the pots.

A resident realtor, Pat McCord, made the assembly aware of the fact that Armstrong Management has raised the cost of the HOA package from $100 to $275.  The package is required when selling a home. Armstrong is asking that payment for the package be made at the time of the request rather than being reimbursed at settlement.

A new law went into effect July 1, which allows the management company

1.  To raise the cost of the package without exceeding the actual cost of producing and providing the package, to a maximum of $325.

          2.  The cost established must be in the agreement between Armstrong Management and the HOA.

          3.  The cost must be advertised on the HOA website, or the management’s web site.

An individual selling a condo will also be required to pay for a Condo Association package currently being charged at the old rate of $100 in addition to the HOA package raising the total cost to the seller to $375.

The requirement for the HOA and Condo packages is mandated by law.

Summary:  Sylva, Property Manager for Armstrong Management, will gather more information and report back to the Board.

Nancy Arnn, former board member of the FRCA, made a plea for members of the community to support the community by running for the Board. She stated it is more difficult to run and serve than it is to complain. We need the talent that we know is here in this wonderful community to come forward. The election process will begin with a meeting of the Election Committee on July 12, 2007.

The next meeting of the FRCA Board will be a Working Session on July 25, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Center.