First, the news everyone wants: The 2013 budget passed last night and monthly fees will stay at $213 per month. The fees have stayed flat since the turnover to the owner-controlled board of directors, and the that level will allow us to continue to run the association and make some needed investments in the community.
Thanks to people returning their proxy forms, we met the quorum for our annual meeting and elected the new board. Treasurer Dustin Kerr and At-Large member Lori Meneely decided not to run again, and the board welcomes back two of its original owners. Here are the St. Charles Place HOA Board of Directors:
David Hey, President
Jason Mirabella, Vice President
Melissa Cosby, Treasurer
Lauren Brusa, Secretary
John McQuiston, Director At-Large
The board@stcharlesplace.us email distribution list should be updated soon so that emails to that address, as always, reach all of the board members.
The next "big" thing on the horizon is the Hillsborough County Commissioners hearing at which developers of the plot of land between US-301 and Dartmouth Hill Road ask for a waiver from the county planning rules. The board plans to urge the commissioners to deny the application. The hearing has been pushed back and will now happen January 15th at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the County Administration building in Tampa.
We intend to organize a group of people to appear in person, which will have the greatest impact on influencing commissioners, we're told. We will also continue the letter and email writing campaign. Details to come.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Annual Meeting Update
Our annual HOA meeting is next Monday, November 26. I know this sounds like the proverbial broken record, which is about the only kinds of records that exist any more, but this is the one time a year that an HOA meeting needs your attention. It's where we elect the board of directors for the next year, and we need 30% of the unit owners either to attend the meeting in person or to return a proxy form for the meeting to count.
With 268 units, we'd need about 90 to make the meeting official. The actual number is less because owners more than 90 days overdue on their HOA fees are ineligible, but you get he idea. So far, between those mailed in and collected at the mailboxes, we have 45.
As mentioned, if we don't reach a quorum of members and we can't elect a board, the HOA could go into receivership and we'd have to pay lawyers to do what our fellow homeowners currently do for free. As you may know, lawyers don't work cheap.
In addition, all five positions are up for election this year, and one board who is moving soon says she intends not to run again. So even if you're happy with the current regime, we need one more person to run for the board.
At this point, if you have not mailed your proxy form back, it might not make it in time for the meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday. But you can scan it and email the PDF to board@stcharlesplace.us and we'll make sure it gets to the meeting. If you don't have a scanner, email the board and one of us can come pick up the form from you.
Even if you plan to attend the meeting, it's good to get the form in, just as a safety back-up, and you do not forfeit your right to vote at the meeting by returing a proxy form.
With 268 units, we'd need about 90 to make the meeting official. The actual number is less because owners more than 90 days overdue on their HOA fees are ineligible, but you get he idea. So far, between those mailed in and collected at the mailboxes, we have 45.
As mentioned, if we don't reach a quorum of members and we can't elect a board, the HOA could go into receivership and we'd have to pay lawyers to do what our fellow homeowners currently do for free. As you may know, lawyers don't work cheap.
In addition, all five positions are up for election this year, and one board who is moving soon says she intends not to run again. So even if you're happy with the current regime, we need one more person to run for the board.
At this point, if you have not mailed your proxy form back, it might not make it in time for the meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday. But you can scan it and email the PDF to board@stcharlesplace.us and we'll make sure it gets to the meeting. If you don't have a scanner, email the board and one of us can come pick up the form from you.
Even if you plan to attend the meeting, it's good to get the form in, just as a safety back-up, and you do not forfeit your right to vote at the meeting by returing a proxy form.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Collecting Proxy Forms
Notice of the HOA annual meeting arrived in your mailbox yesterday. Please take a moment to fill out and return the enclosed proxy form -- even if you plan to attend the meeting.
This is important because we need 30% of the 268 unit owners either to attend the meeting or to return a proxy form for the meeting to be official. This must happen because we need that quorum to elect the HOA board members. If we don't reach a quorum, the board could go into receivership and we'd have to pay lawyers big money to do what our fellow owners currently do for free.
If it's more convenient, you can even scan your signed form and e-mail it in PDF format to board@stcharlesplace.us and it will count. And, as mentioned, returning the proxy does NOT forfeit your right to attend the meeting and vote in person. It's merely a back-up in case you can't make it.
You might see some board members sitting out at the mailboxes in late afternoons collecting signed proxy forms. I collected 10 forms last night and plan to sit out there again next Monday and Tuesday. Board member Lori Meneely says she will be there tomorrow (Nov. 15).
This is important because we need 30% of the 268 unit owners either to attend the meeting or to return a proxy form for the meeting to be official. This must happen because we need that quorum to elect the HOA board members. If we don't reach a quorum, the board could go into receivership and we'd have to pay lawyers big money to do what our fellow owners currently do for free.
If it's more convenient, you can even scan your signed form and e-mail it in PDF format to board@stcharlesplace.us and it will count. And, as mentioned, returning the proxy does NOT forfeit your right to attend the meeting and vote in person. It's merely a back-up in case you can't make it.
You might see some board members sitting out at the mailboxes in late afternoons collecting signed proxy forms. I collected 10 forms last night and plan to sit out there again next Monday and Tuesday. Board member Lori Meneely says she will be there tomorrow (Nov. 15).
Friday, November 2, 2012
Annual Meeting November 26
It took longer than hoped to secure the meeting room for our annual meeting, but it will happen at the usual meeting location November 26 at 7 p.m. The address and a map are below, if you're new to us.
This is the one meeting a year that needs your attention. so check your mailbox for the notice, which includes a proxy form. Thirty percent of the eligible owners must either attend in person or return a proxy form for us to reach a quorum for the meeting to become official.
This is important because if we don't reach quorum, and can't elect a new HOA board, it could go into receivership and we would pay lawyers boatloads of money to do what our fellow owners currently do for free.
That's why you might see your humble blog author sitting at the mailbox one evening asking you to sign a proxy form to ensure that we have a quorum. Note that if you return a proxy form, you DO NOT forfeit your rights to attend the meeting in person. If you show up, your proxy gets tossed, and you participate in the meeting.
Terms expire for all five board members. If you have ideas on how better to run this community, this is your chance to put them into action. Most of our budget goes into fixed costs which the HOA does not control, such as insurance on the buildings, the water bill, mowing and maintaining our landscaping, and electricity for the street lights. But there are funds that the board controls that it uses to try to better the community.
Of course, you do not have to serve on the board to have a voice. All you need to do is show up. The board listens.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
This is the one meeting a year that needs your attention. so check your mailbox for the notice, which includes a proxy form. Thirty percent of the eligible owners must either attend in person or return a proxy form for us to reach a quorum for the meeting to become official.
This is important because if we don't reach quorum, and can't elect a new HOA board, it could go into receivership and we would pay lawyers boatloads of money to do what our fellow owners currently do for free.
That's why you might see your humble blog author sitting at the mailbox one evening asking you to sign a proxy form to ensure that we have a quorum. Note that if you return a proxy form, you DO NOT forfeit your rights to attend the meeting in person. If you show up, your proxy gets tossed, and you participate in the meeting.
Terms expire for all five board members. If you have ideas on how better to run this community, this is your chance to put them into action. Most of our budget goes into fixed costs which the HOA does not control, such as insurance on the buildings, the water bill, mowing and maintaining our landscaping, and electricity for the street lights. But there are funds that the board controls that it uses to try to better the community.
Of course, you do not have to serve on the board to have a voice. All you need to do is show up. The board listens.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
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