Tonight's St. Charles Place HOA meeting had a quorum of members attend so that its annual budget and board election meetings could take place.
After taking questions from members about it, the board passed the 2011 budget. HOA fees will remain $213 per month.
After the budget meeting adjourned — it's actually a meeting unto itself — we elected our new board. David Hey and Beth Burns had won two year terms in last year's meeting, leaving three seats open.
Incumbent board members Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson decided not to run. Current Vice President John McQuiston stood for re-election. Members nominated Jason Mirabella and Dustin Kerr.
With only three candidates for three seats, we did not vote. McQuiston retains his seat with Mirabella and Kerr joining Hey and Burns on the board.
McQuiston nominated Hey for president. McQuiston will serve as vice president again. Mirabella is the new secretary, replacing Palmer, and Kerr takes over as treasurer. Votes were by acclaim.
In another development, enough members volunteered to form a fining committee. This gives the HOA the power to levy fines against people who violate community rules. Until now, the board was essentially toothless when it came to enforcing rules.
Now after sending violation letters, the board can send a notice that if the violation isn't fixed 14 days, the homeowner will face fines. The fining committee will come up with a schedule of set fines so that homeowners will know what the fines for infractions are.
New board member Jason Mirabella complained of noise from US-301 affecting units along Dartmouth Hill that back up to 301. The board discussed the possibility of having a row of trees planted between the pond and the highway that would create a sound and visual barrier from light and noise from 301.
McQuiston wanted to pursue the possibility of having a similar "tree wall" planted along the east side of Dartmouth Hill between Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Johanna Ave.
Someday the patch of forest and the green field bordered by US-301, Lake St. Charles, Johanna and Dartmouth Hill will be developed. A line of trees will help protect the community from light and sound from the coming development.
We don't know when the property is scheduled to be developed. The advantage of acting now would be that we could plant young, small and cheaper trees and let them fill the space as they develop.
Another owner protested the board's refusal to approve her request to add an aluminum enclosure for her rear patio. The board's unanimous opinion is that such a structure would not match the character and style of the community and that it would harm our property values.
The unit owner claims the board doesn't have the legal authority to make such a ruling and claims to have a legal opinion backing her stand. The board voted to seek a legal opinion of its own.
That's the summary.
The board will not meet in December. It plans to resume monthly meetings beginning with its January 18, 2011 meeting.
As always, if you have questions, you can e-mail the board at board -at- stcharlesplace -dot- us. The board asked its property manager to seek a legal opinion
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
St. Charles Place HOA Meeting Thursday
I realize you know that already if you check this site with any regularity. I wanted to add that while this is an important meeting, it does not mean it has to be a long one.
You're not being asked to make a night of it.
The budget must simply be approved, it doesn't actually have to be put together at this meeting. That has already happened, barring feedback from owners that leads the board to think the budget needs adjustment. Last year, approving the budget took about 15 minutes.
Electing new board members will take a little longer but it should not be a drawn out affair.
Most of the time spent at HOA meetings comes in discussions about issues that come up during the agenda and then with the open owner forum. The agenda for this meeting is not long so it should go by pretty quickly.
I'm sure after the elections, the open forum will probably generate some discussion but you don't have to stay for that. Please try to make it, even if it's for only long enough for the meeting to establish its quorum.
You're not being asked to make a night of it.
The budget must simply be approved, it doesn't actually have to be put together at this meeting. That has already happened, barring feedback from owners that leads the board to think the budget needs adjustment. Last year, approving the budget took about 15 minutes.
Electing new board members will take a little longer but it should not be a drawn out affair.
Most of the time spent at HOA meetings comes in discussions about issues that come up during the agenda and then with the open owner forum. The agenda for this meeting is not long so it should go by pretty quickly.
I'm sure after the elections, the open forum will probably generate some discussion but you don't have to stay for that. Please try to make it, even if it's for only long enough for the meeting to establish its quorum.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Our Monthly Fees Will Be WHAT?!?!
The St. Charles Place HOA Board has its annual budget meeting Thursday, November 11. This is the meeting when it sets the monthly HOA dues, which are currently $213 per month.
Want to make sure they don't go up? Attend the meeting.
The meeting also doubles as the election of board members. David Hey and Beth Burns, who received the most votes in our turnover election, have two-year terms. The other three seats are up for re-election. However, only John McQuiston has announced an intention to run again.
Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson have chosen not to stand for re-election and Beth Burns plans to resign from the board by the end of the year.
If you want a voice in running your community, now is the time to act. All you have to do is (A) own a home in St. Charles Place and (B) show up to the meeting. If you want to provide some information about yourself before the meeting, you can e-mail Brian Wade at Leland Management.
HOA meetings usually draw about a dozen owners. The board takes that as a sign that people don't have major complaints about how their community is run. Because this is the budget meeting, it requires that 10% of all unit owners attend or it doesn't count. With 268 units in St. Charles Place, that means we need 27 owners to attend.
You want to be there. It starts at 7, though McQuiston has business in Sarasota that night and will probably be a few minutes late.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Want to make sure they don't go up? Attend the meeting.
The meeting also doubles as the election of board members. David Hey and Beth Burns, who received the most votes in our turnover election, have two-year terms. The other three seats are up for re-election. However, only John McQuiston has announced an intention to run again.
Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson have chosen not to stand for re-election and Beth Burns plans to resign from the board by the end of the year.
If you want a voice in running your community, now is the time to act. All you have to do is (A) own a home in St. Charles Place and (B) show up to the meeting. If you want to provide some information about yourself before the meeting, you can e-mail Brian Wade at Leland Management.
HOA meetings usually draw about a dozen owners. The board takes that as a sign that people don't have major complaints about how their community is run. Because this is the budget meeting, it requires that 10% of all unit owners attend or it doesn't count. With 268 units in St. Charles Place, that means we need 27 owners to attend.
You want to be there. It starts at 7, though McQuiston has business in Sarasota that night and will probably be a few minutes late.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
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