2019AugustMinutes

BFCA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

6:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Jack McLean Community Center Meeting Room

Call to Order: 6 p.m.

Attendance:

Board Members: Llona Geiger, Mike McCrea

Officers: Treasurer: Ben Clark Secretary: Margaret Stephens

Members:

Zachary Naitove, Hannah Naitove, Fred Willes, Karen Willes, Mario Lopez, Tracie Priest,

Maritza Mattos, Sylvia Ramos, Charlotte Hicks, Marilyn Cain, Doris Johnson, Caroline Klancke

Introductions:

The members introduced themselves around the room.

Old Business:

The minutes of the June 4, 2019, meeting was unanimously approved via email on June 8, 2019.

New Business:

President’s Report – Llona Geiger

Board member, Virginia Sasser, is sick and cannot attend this meeting.

There is a change in the law regarding tree cutting but our attorney (Patrick) says it doesn’t apply to HOA’s.

Liens still apply to homeowners owing $1000 or more in dues.

On the first phase of fines regarding garbage cans, letters were sent to about 12 and currently down to 6 non-compliant and fines are being assessed now. Our attorney says we can enforce fines even through rent.

We are getting an authorization letter for police to issue trespass warnings. Tracie asked who is a “trespasser”? Llona responded that anyone who doesn’t live here.

Virginia and Mary Marotta are trying to resurrect the neighborhood crime watch.

Sue Dinges ordered mosquito fish for the pond that will help with mosquitoes.

The Board renewed the P. O. Box 5622

The initiative to get a grant to help remove invasive plants is a dead end because the grant is specifically for long leaf pines. BFCA has none of these types of trees within 20 miles.

Repairs:

Fence repairs are coming along slowly.
Trimming of vines at entrance is ordered to allow clearance for the big trucks.
Dead trees removed near entrance and 2 other locations.
Hannah and Zachary Naitove requested that specifics on garbage can violations be available on the web site or sent with the violation e-mail. They mentioned a definition of a “barrier” and how many feet back from the house. Answer: Barrier varies widely: could be a shrub, a fence, lattice work etc.

Treasurer’s Report – Ben Clark

Click here for the full financial report and proposed 2020 budget.

There hasn’t been too much activity in June/July. A tree fell over Brookside near the entrance – $300. There were fence repairs and trees removed in common areas. The beaver trapper was paid $2325 in June. Llona inserted that we still have beavers and ongoing issue made worse by the loss of habitat around us.

Ben pointed out with an absence of emergencies/natural disasters/huge project payments this fall, the 2019 surplus will be over $24,000 with a $500 dues assessment.

The budget will be discussed more at the October meeting and dues assessment decided. Before the October meeting, Ben requests a conversation with the Board about the dues, the likely surplus in average years and the possible creation of new budget line items labeling the ongoing beaver damage etc.

ACC Report – Fern Senra (via e-mail)

June/July 2019 ACC Requests and Committee Decisions:

1702 Silverwood – Request to paint home. Colors were submitted; Request was approved.
1683 Silverwood – Request to put in a picket fence along the backyard perimeter. Plans and sample fencing were submitted; Request was approved.
1738 Brookside – Request for storm shutters. Sample provided; Request was approved.
1721 Silverwood – Request to replace screen panels and porch roof replacement; Request was approved.

Grounds Report – Tracie Priest

Tracie did not have anything to report. It’s been too hot, and she is not pulling weeds in people’s yards due to the heat and an allergic reaction. For the pond path Tracie recommends just pushing a mower along the path. The board is dissatisfied with the lawn service and one board member is looking into other options. Tracie asked for input.

Discussion of Issues by Board and Association Members

Proposed Budget 2020: Ben provided a proposed budget for 2020. Click here to view. Fred had issues with collecting money now for future issues. He was questioning how much money we save for future roads and emergencies. Mario wanted to know if some pending projects will be done by the next meeting in October. Ben suggested a separate emergency fund for hurricane disasters and asked if the fallen trees will be removed. Llona said no and the former board members voted not to clean up. A short discussion followed without agreement.

Drainage Issues: Llona said the Board is going to initiate a project to help with drainage issues. Tracie said the culverts also need to be cleaned out.

Pond Path: Llona said the pond path improvement project is still being discussed and suggested that also plantings around the path would help with erosion. Tracie suggested that the drainage issues be tackled first, before pond path improvement. Mike said that maybe they should be done at the same time if the drainage project lasts longer. Charlotte asked about the plan for path improvement. Llona said the idea is a kind of surface material where it’s easier for strollers and or people with walkers to walk on the path.

Speeding: Llona brought up the ongoing issue of speeding especially at Brookside and Silverwood. She has called some of the violators. Sylvia bought a few cheap signs and put them out. She thinks it works. Sylvia commented that many people speed including long term residents. Fred wanted to know if the signs were approved by the board and Llona said yes. Sylvia noted the signs were an experiment, but after researching she thinks speed bumps is the only thing that will work.

Karen asked about a dead car violation of the covenants and will violation letters go out about other offenses. Llona said they started with the trash can violations and will continue to Plan B – non-moving cars etc. Mike said there are many major violations that need to be addressed. Llona said although TPAM can report violations, each neighbor can also report them.

Llona asked everyone to help keep our Board protect the neighborhood and ask if you suspect a trespasser. If you see people walking dogs without bags, say something. Keep your garage door closed.

Llona announced that TPAM has been taken over by North Florida Association Management, a larger organization. TPAM is still working with us but Llona thinks we will have a closer relationship with the new management company. Virginia has researched other management companies and didn’t find any others.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

The next scheduled Board of Director’s meeting will be on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at 6:00 p.m., at the Jack McLean Community Center.