MEMBERS' LETTERS
November 30th, 2009 - From Carole and Joe Dunn, Dolcetto Drive
I have a question about the grass and sprinkler system? The sprinklers were on during the day, 1:30 PM on Sat and Sun . The sprinklers along Sangiovese also don't appear to be working. Is somebody looking into this? Also, there was a committee to place a sign in the entryway last year. After seeing a large amount of garbage cans out during and advertisement flyers being handed out again I would like to revisit this issue.
Thanks for your help!
Master HOA Reply (December 2nd, 2009)
Thank you letting us know about the irrigation system coming on at odd times. We are aware that there is a problem with one or two of the irrigation stations but unfortunately as you are also probably aware the Master HOA is in a financial crisis and does not have any money to carry out repairs. Someone did look at the irrigation system a while back and I am awaiting a report. They also set the timings! I will get on to this to see what transpired.
November 12th, 2009 - From James Hynd, Corvina Drive
Why not put on the web site a section on income & expenditure and this will let the rest of the owners see what there dues are getting used for after all we all want what is best for our community this will also stop the stupid gossip.
Master HOA Reply
Thank you for your e-mail and excellent suggestion. The HOA are representatives of ALL homeowners so have nothing to hide. Perhaps too if more information was readily available more people would take an active interest in the community.
I think we can look to adopt this and use the web site to keep owners up-to-date on issues etc as they arise.
I will personally see that this idea becomes reality as soon as possible.
Regards.
Alan McConnell
October 31st, 2009 - From Laurence Helstrip, Moscato Drive
Further to the letter “September 23rd, 2009 - From Ian Johnson, Dolcetto Drive” would it not be possible to appoint a new board member (home owner) who normally resides in the UK to assist the board when it comes to communicating with UK based owners?
Information could then be disclosed to this member without any breach of the rules and they could take the action that Vic Winton suggested. Surely this makes sense? We all appreciate that this is a time of financial hardship for many and perhaps help can be given by allowing payments plans that spreads the costs and enable struggling owners to pay their assessments, but we must not allow these unpaid assessments to remain unchallenged.
I hope this is helpful.
Master HOA Reply
Thank you for your e-mail. I personally would concur with your view that it would be beneficial to have a UK resident on the Board or, if not, at least as an Officer. As a UK citizen myself and previously a vacation home owner, I feel I am 'qualified' to understand the needs of both non residents and vacation owners as well as look after their interests. However, as I am now resident in TR I cannot perform duties that could be usefully undertaken by a UK resident. For example, printing and postage of communications to our UK/European owners would be cheaper if our representative could post these within the UK. As indicated latterly, the UK representative need not be on the Board to assist, one could simply be appointed as an Officer.
CHOA is fortunate in that they have two UK residents to assist them - Vic Winton, who is a Board member, and Sian Harper who is an Officer. Vic has kindly offered to assist the MHOA Board by telephoning defaulting owners so we hope to be able to take him up on his kind offer.
As four of the five Board members (Clarine Leslie, Scott Bragg, Michele Joseph and myself) have all been 'appointed' (appointments are made by the Board when another Board member resigns) our seats on the Board (should we decide we wish to continue in the position) need to be ratified by members at the next annual members' meeting - thereby becoming elected officials to serve out the remaining term of the Board seat elected to.
The fifth and final Board member, Jan Yunker, who was elected to the Board will have served her term so her seat too comes up for election. As you can now surmise, all five Director seats for the Master Board will need to be filled at the annual members' meeting. We are proposing to delay this meeting from December 2009 to January 2010 so that annual accounts for 2009 can be available to members. (This makes more sense from a financial perspective.)
With five seats up for election at the next annual members' meeting, this provide a great opportunity for someone from the UK to be a part of the Board. The difficulty lies in getting people from the UK to volunteer. Any and all applicants would be welcome!
September 23rd, 2009 - From Ian Johnson, Dolcetto Drive
With regard to the “latest news” item, dated September 19th, stating that “…the MHOA has insufficient funds to enable it to continue to pay for landscaping and electric costs for the remainder of the year…”. What does this mean in real terms today? Are there no longer lights on TR Drive? Is the grass and landscaping no longer being managed/cut?
Master HOA Reply
Thank you for your e-mail. At the moment we still have lights and landscaping has been kept up, but the reality is current funds will probably be insufficient to cover these up to the year end. We may well be able to collect some of the outstanding overdue annual assessments between now and the end of the year. Vic Winton has offered to assist us with this by chasing up UK owners that have not paid. Whether or not we can take him up on this offer I am not sure. Legally we may not be allowed to divulge to him who these UK owners are. This would of course save costs and be more expeditious than having to write to all owners from here in the US. We will have to do this in any case if we are to proceed with the whole judicial process but Vic may be able to secure some payments a bit sooner!
We have spoken with the attorney and explained the current financial situation. Andy Reed (the attorney) is a great guy, and he has kindly agreed to defer his costs for any work he undertakes for us. This will hopefully allow us to get some money in without having to pay him his fees up-front. Obviously any other legal costs out with Andy's will have to be met.
The annual assessment should have not have remained at the same for last year. Two years ago when Jim Guest suggested Master fees be increased, it was calculated that it would take about 5 years of 10% increases (the maximum the Board can put it up each year without members' agreement) to cover costs and have a small sinking fund! We know the history of when the Board asked for the $48 increase two years ago and about the faction that vehemently opposed it back then! The truth is the only real viable and cast iron solution to the problem is to increase this year's fees from $154 to $200 ($46 increase). To do so we need members' agreement to this increase and ask for this supplemental payment.
I shall be recommending to the Board at the quarterly meeting that we call for a special members' meeting to ask for their approval for this $46 per annum increase. Clarine Leslie has mooted on the list serve in recent times that our fees were far too low. The non payment of fees by so many owners and the fact that we had a couple of unfortunate and expensive problems has shown just how vulnerable we are. This increase, I feel, is the only real prudent way forward. Longer term it will also provide a sinking fund for any future catastrophes.
Assuming the Board approve the motion for a special members' meeting to ask for the increase, you will receive a letter providing the rationale for the increase request and a ballot/proxy form. Your support and those of our fellow owners will be critical.
