Highline Gardens

HOA Monthly Meeting - Sep 2005 Agenda, Aug, July and June notes

Sep 29, 2005

...............Webmaster's September Notes........
The management company failed to post an agenda in advance of the meeting this month. Communication is the key to participation, but this board and its representatives seem unable to consistently produce an advance agenda for its members. Your editor did not attend the meeting...what's the use? Apparently, unless you agree only with their approach to things, you are "working against the board rather than with it." Perhaps they feel that the fewer people that show up, the less they have to contend with and the smoother things will seem. Please make an effort to visit the board's website too. See for yourself how the communication flows.

.............Webmaster's August Notes............

The number of members in attendance tonight grew slightly from last month's meeting. Although the board asked that the members hold their portion of the agenda to 5 minutes, the discussion went well beyond that time. Of the several concerns discussed, the recurring and primary issue continues to be communications between the board and members. The discussion was often contentious, particularly when it involved the members' continuing concerns about the minutes of the board and about the performance of Management Specialists.

The discussion about communication also involved the fact that this independent web site exists at the same time that the dependent web site of the board exists. Although there are many valid reasons to continue an independent web site, the Management Specialist representative expressed a particularly strong opposition to it. Some others present felt it represented a valid expression of freedom of speech. Overlooked in the discussion was the fact that the board and its hirelings have a very strong means of diluting the relevance of this site: performance. Until then, this site will continue as a means of monitoring the activities of the board and of Management Specialists from a member's viewpoint.

Discussion about parking issues, watering, plant removal, "The Wall," and House Bill 100 were entertained.

A particularly interesting exchange with the Management Specialists representative involved her opinion over a concern by members, that recent actions by maintenance men in conflict with the boards expressed desires, could not be stopped because no maintenance man spoke English; the representative saw no issue here and ridiculed the thought that a maintenance crew would have English speaking representation. In fact, most of the companies with whom HG contracted before Management Specialists got involved were English speaking, and therefore directly responsive to members, a "communication" advantage.

I understand that emotions can get heated during board meetings, especially during feedback sessions. Hopefully the emotions will cool and we will each find a way to be united in our overall objectives. Many of us have spent years working directly on or with the board and we will continue to offer our input with the best of intentions.. - Ed.


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Agenda for August 2005.

Unfortunately, Management Specialists has failed again to post the agenda for tonight's meeting, August 16, 2005. Inasmuch as this is not the first such oversight by Management Specialists it calls into question whether any of the memebers of the HOA board actually refers to the website they have produced for communicating with the members and continue to pay monthly amounts for its maintenance. - Ed.

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///////////Webmaster's July Notes//////////////
Reference to Agenda (below):
[Note that these Notes are not meant to be the equivalent of meeting minutes, which are prepared by the Management Company.]
1. OPEN FORUM
...Larry Keesen from Keesen Water made a presentation re an alternative watering system, said to pay for itself from the water savings and from Denver's reward program for water savings. This involves a preliminary study costing $500. Such a system could require substantial cost. The Board will take this matter under advisement.
2. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
...The Management Company failed to prepare and present the minutes from the preceding month.
3. MANAGER’S REPORT: standard procedure
...Financials/Delinquency Report
...Grounds
...ACC/DRR
...System Reports
4. OLD BUSINESS
...4.1 Rules and Regulations Review: it was concluded that this project had not been announced to the membership for review as expected; accordingly it was suggested that the matter be handled only by the board.
...4.2 Retaining Wall: no significant change in status.
...4.3 Bridge Update: no significant change.
...4.4 Monument Update: involves restoration of entryway structure and scheduling of payment process.
5. NEW BUSINESS
...5.1 Shrub Removal/Replacement: there was sharp disagreement over the process followed, with several complaints about the failure of the Management Company to provide as promised a means for memebers to protect private plants and flowers from being pruned and to remove those plants that had been previously discussed but on which no action had been taken for years. The Board reacted positively to the request for improved communication about this and directed the Management Company representative, Tawny Kersh, to stop the current pruning process until a means of protecting against unwanted pruning of plants was in place. (Unfortunately, the pruning resumed again the following morning and continued until complaints were made again to Board members who apparently got the pruning stopped.)

A great deal of discussion took place about how such agreements and decisions should be referenced in the Board's minutes, perhaps displayed each month under "New Business" and "Old Business" categories to assure attention and follow up efforts.

In this webmaster's opinion, the Board, and the Management Company representative, reacted positively and professionally throughout in their attention and their stated resolve to improve communication and productivity for members.

6. Board Members Goals/Projects: the president, Chuck Perkins, asked each board member to prepare and submit a prioritized list of goals and projects for the Boards efforts.

7. NEXT MEETING DATE AND LOCATION- August 16, 2005. NOTE THIS CHANGE...MONTHLY MEETINGS WILL NOW BE HELD ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH UNLESS OTHERWISE RESCHEDULED.

**************July Agenda****************
SOUTHBRIDGE 7 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Monday, July 18, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial Covenant Church 401 W. Mineral Ave
AGENDA
( )Chuck Perkins ( )Tim Ortel ( )Pam Winker ( )Megs Stone ( )Rick Doyle
CALL TO ORDER _______PM
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
OPEN FORUM
Larry Keesen from Keesen Water
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
June 27, 2005
MANAGER’S REPORT
Financials/Delinquency Report
Grounds
ACC/DRR
System Reports
OLD BUSINESS
Rules and Regulations Review
Retaining Wall
Bridge Update
Monument Update
NEW BUSINESS
Shrub Removal/Replacement
Denver Water Usage Assessment
Proposal - Groundmasters
Board Members Goals/Projects
NEXT MEETING DATE AND LOCATION- August 16, 2005 at 7:00pm, Centennial Covenant Church 401 W. Mineral Ave
ADJOURNMENT _______PM


************Webmaster's June Notes****************

SOUTHBRIDGE 7 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Monday, June 27, 2005
7:00pm
Location: Centennial Covenant Church 401 W. Mineral Ave

Here are some of the results from the June meeting:

1. Tawny Kersh is our new community manager. If you need assistance, please contact her at tkersh@managementspecialists.com or 720-974-4254.

2. New board members include Megs Stone and Rick Doyle. Each member in turn volunteered for a position on the board which produced the following:

2.1 President: Chuck Perkins
2.2 Vice-President: Tim Ortel
2.3 Secretary: Pam Winker (not present at meeting and subject to change of title)
2.4 Treasurer: Megs Stone
2.5 At-Large: Rick Doyle

Each of the officers, other than Pam Winker, was interviewed and stated that he/she will be open to accepting telephone calls from community members who feel it necessary to contact a board member rather than the community manager (above) for a particular reason. For most questions and requests, Tawny Kersh should be contacted.

3. Reports were made about the progress and plans for completing work on the retaining wall.

4. Discussions ensued about watering, sprinkler systems, parking, paving, pruning, next year's garage sales format, finances, and training for HOA meeting management rules (e.g., Roberts Rules of Order).

5. An agreement was reached for a local contractor to repair and restore the entryway "monuments."

6. A member suggested that the board consider asking Denver Water's free help to analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of our watering system. The Board seemed to be receptive.

7. Future meeting dates were changed to accommodate a board member's schedule. The July meeting will occur on July 18; later months will occur on the third Tuesday of the month; reminder signs will be updated.

8. The editor noted that the Association appeared to have in excess of 10% of its member dues in delinquent status.

9. Pruning will commence at an as yet undetermined date, but will be announced in the next newsletter. Ribbons will be distributed to member homes to identify flora that is not to be pruned.

REMINDER: these are not official minutes of the meeting, simply casual recall.