FALLS RUN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
101 Bridgewater Circle, Fredericksburg, VA 22406
Minutes of Annual Meeting
Monday, December 3, 2007, 7PM
Gayle Middle School
Bill Nosal, president
Dan Owens, vice-president
Mal Malo, treasurer
Toni Brown, secretary
Jake Bernard, director
Art Gabler, director
Jim Stagner, director
Marv Wagner, parliamentarian
Ann Jones, Falls Run Community activities director
Silva Southwell, Armstrong Management Company, property manager
Susan Manch, Armstrong Management Company, regional area director
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Bill Nosal. A motion to suspend the reading of the minutes of the Dec. 7, 2006, annual meeting was made by Art and seconded by Mal.
Reports
Ann Jones:
· 1708 residents attended 21 Center events
· 652 residents went on 19 trips
· 185 residents have signed up for the holiday party
· sign-up is ongoing for the holiday open house and New Year’s Eve party
· thanked committees and invited additional residents to join
Toni Brown (liaison to Modifications Committee; Robbin Sentell, chair)
· praised improved and simplified modifications process
· Villas and single-family homes now have separate applications
· Robbin previews applications to ‘smooth out’ issues with homeowners that could delay approval process
· entire community inspected during October
· landscaping violation letters postponed until spring, due to drought situation
Jim Stagner (liaison to Property and Grounds Committee; Cindy Horan, chair)
· committee looks at roads, street lights, mailboxes, storm water management ponds in addition to common areas
· Pulte and Shenandoah did respective landscaping work despite drought
· last winter’s snow removal worked well
· Ken Burke is developing a proposal to present to the Board by which residents who want to improve common areas can go through Modifications Committee for approval
· funds for landscaping that were precluded by the drought were re-allocated to purchase and securely install quality benches (that will be compatible with master plan) for common areas
· opportunities to contribute toward purchase and dedication of additional benches will be available
· Board approved master planning process
Mal Malo (liaison to Finance Committee; Don Horan, chair)
· operational and reserve accounts are in excellent shape
· kept promise of no special assessments; also, no need in foreseeable future
· nearly $1 million in reserves expected by end of 2008
· a 2007 operating surplus allows mere $3 increase in FRCA monthly assessment, which is less than cost of living increase
· utilizing retained earnings enables operating at deficit budget
Don Horan
· $425,000 was invested in CDs with minimum 5% APY
· CDs distributed among different banks to keep below FDIC maximum
· Mason and Mason report, unlike that of 2004, looked at whole community, which drove up what we need in reserves
· Board approved recommendation to move funds from operations account, which can approach $200,000 at any one time, to interest-earning money market account
· reviewed monthly financial reports from Armstrong Management
· reviewed trash company proposals and made recommendations to Board
· Board approved, with minor modifications, committee-recommended budget
· activities director’s account moves to Armstrong accounting system on Jan.1
· Jean Strub will take over as chair of finance committee
Art Gabler (liaison to Center Committee; Jo Schmidt, chair)
· Bob Gilbert resigned as chair in Sept. and stayed on as a member to provide history and guidance
· biggest accomplishment was erecting property manager’s office that fit seamlessly into Center design
· overheating in AV and electrical control closet corrected to fire marshal’s satisfaction
· recommended the following actions, which have been completed:
-hire custodian/handyman (Lin Bailey began May 1 and is exceeding all expectations
-replace deteriorating tops on card tables
-install salt system for outdoor pool and ozone generator for spa
-replace bleachers with decorative plantings; saves $800 annually in insurance liability and will pay for itself in less than four years
-increase insurance liability from $2 million to $6 million
· authorized installation of automatic doors at Center
· recommended replacing TVs in fitness center
· recommended building a coat closet in the billiards room
· looking into establishing a business center within the Center
Jake Bernard (liaison to Covenants Committee, Marv Wagner, chair)
· reviewed all covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) inherited from the builder
· concluded that legally permissible changes didn’t justify required effort
· acts as hearing body for Board when residents disagree with Modification Committee decisions
Bill thanked Jake for his ongoing efforts in maintaining the gates and the waterfall.
Dan Owens (liaison to Communications Committee; Jack Mounts, chair, and Election Committee; Margie Kramer, chair)
· praised Margie for work on election and willingness to continue as chair
· Communications Committee will need a new chair with election of Jack to the Board
· praised Bill Arnst and committee for 2007 community directory
· efforts to coordinate Falls Run Information System (FRIS) with Armstrong Connect are ongoing; delay resulted from change in management companies
· Armstrong Alert, a feature of Armstrong Connect, will function similarly to sheriff’s department reverse 911 and alert residents to emergency situations.
· FRIS will help collect census data on an ongoing basis
Sylva Southwell
· Falls Run is fortunate to have such devoted Board members and residents
· presented plaques in appreciation of service to retiring current and past Board members—Nancy Arnn, Chuck Heath and Jackie Richards
Susan Manch
· will assume some of Jim Armstrong’s duties from past year
· praised residents for involvement
Bill Nosal
· proud and honored to have served with such a dedicated Board
· thanked those ending their terms as well as members of first Board
· praised Election Committee for having the process ‘down pat’
· thanked (unsuccessful candidate) Don Webb for making the election possible (by being the sixth candidate for five positions) and the close race
· introduced new directors for 2-year terms: Jake Bernard, Don Horan, Jack Mounts and Harriet Schrader; for 1-year term, Chuck Strub
[Jim Stagner made a motion to accept and make official the election results; Dan Owens seconded it]
· outgoing and new Boards will meet with property manager in executive session on Dec.10 to effect a better working relationship between the FRCA and the Villa boards
· new Board takes effect at conclusion of this annual meeting
Questions from Residents
Q. Who presides over the Dec. 10 meeting?
A. (Bill) The new Board, which will need to get together beforehand and select officers.
Q. You mentioned you talked with our attorney. Are you at liberty to disclose what was discussed?
A. (Bill) Paperwork regarding our bankruptcy claim against Koger Management was filed today. We are seeking $98,000 in unauthorized withdrawals and no more than $350,000 in punitive damages. We initiated a claim against our insurer on Nov. 16. Our attorney plans to submit the necessary paperwork within 10-14 days.
Q. What does the contact with Cox include? How will Verizon affect us?
A. (Mal) Cox provides basic cable and Channel 20. A marketing contract gives us a return ($12,000 this year) on additional services (Internet, expanded cable, telephone) that homeowners purchase from Cox. Verizon is laying cable based on their easement. People who switch to Verizon will lose access to Channel 20. We have another year on our contract with Cox.
Q. Is Verizon aware of Channel 20 and are they trying to work something out. Can (a representative from) Verizon address the community?
A. (Bill) They were at the last Board meeting and are working on the marketing issue. Cox will address residents on Jan. 12. Mal fought hard to get the marketing contract.
Q. I called Verizon and learned there is no system in place for them to lay cable throughout the whole community.
A. (Bill) Sylva will confirm that with Verizon.
Q. In the future, might we be forced to take Verizon’s services?
A. (Bill) No.
Nancy Arnn asked the residents to stand and applaud the Board.
At 8:05 PM, a motion to adjourn was made by Mal and seconded by Art.
Respectfully submitted by Susanne Lazanov, Recording Secretary, 12/05/07