2019JuneMinutes

BFCA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

6:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Jack McLean Community Center Meeting Room

Call to Order: 6 p.m.

Attendance:

Board Members: Llona Geiger, Virginia Sasser, Mike McCrea

Officers: Treasurer: Ben Clark Secretary: Margaret Stephens

Committee Chairs: Crime Watch: Open

Members: Sue Dinges, Fred Willes, Karen Willes, Mario Lopez, Lynda Davis, Jana McKinnon, Frank Roycraft

Introductions:

The members introduced themselves around the room.

Old Business:

The minutes of the April 2, 2019, meeting was unanimously approved via email on April 8, 2019.

New Business:

President’s Report – Llona Geiger

The good news is that repairs are being done especially with the fences. The path around the pond is now being weed wacked by our lawn care service. There was prior controversy on whether they should be weed wacked or not but that is cleared up. More common area tree work was approved May 24. It was promised to be done before hurricane season but not scheduled yet. This includes a tree removal near the Willes house and trimming near the bridge. Fred asked about a limb overhanging the lamp post at 1733 Brookside. The board will investigate it.

On the dues collection, fines have been assessed. The fine collection deadline is May 31st. Allowing for postage, June 15th will be the date that the management company will start collection. Our attorney has placed liens on homeowners with delinquent fees of at least $1,000.

There has been a lot of turnover and some rentals are now occupied and improved. There is still an abandoned house at the end of Silverwood that is poor condition and the board is looking into options (beyond fines) with attorney. One resident needs to be evicted. She does not have a rental agreement and has been reported as having smashed property and her dog has bitten people.

Neighborhood Watch is on life support. Frank is suffering from health issues. We have an increasing number of trespassers and have added a new “no trespassing” sign on the boardwalk near Indian Head Acres. One trespassing exception was granted to a person just outside the neighborhood who has been walking the area for 20 years and is a friend of a homeowner. She is now a “guest.” Mario added that people are coming in and rifling through cars at night. Llona again stressed the importance of Neighborhood Watch. We also have more dog poop on the boardwalk and, as Karen added, the island.

Karen brought up the issue of the outdoor cats and how, in NW Tallahassee, rabies was reported. Cats should be indoors.

Treasurer’s Report – Ben Clark

Click here for a complete treasurer’s April-May report

Ben pointed out a few expenditures as follows:

· $34 in April – a refund to Tracie Priest for wrapping a tree

· $500 in April – another tree was removed

· $61.25 in April – annual fee to Florida Department of State

· $2,325 in April – beaver trapper was paid. Jana and other members reported beavers are still here.

Ben reported that Accounts Receivable is in better shape now due to outstanding dues being paid. There is still an aggressive push to get overdue payments. 2 new liens were filed, and other options are being explored as well (foreclosure). The informal policy is that when the delinquent dues reach $1000 a lien is filed. Karen asked if all were billed and Ben’s response was “yes”. Fred asked about lawn care and Ben said the $612 is for February/March and May/June is not up yet.

The tax return is extended to October and TPAM is handling it.

ACC Report – Fern Senra (sent via e-mail)

April/May 2019 ACC Requests and Committee Decisions:

· 1685 Silverwood Drive

o Request to stain front porch and back deck; request was approved.

o Request to add landscaping gravel in front; request was approved.

o Request to add fence around back yard perimeter; initial submitted options were not approved. Homeowner will provide additional options at a later time.

o Request to add shutters to front window: request was approved.

· 1741 Silverwood Drive

o Request to paint exterior of home; request was approved.

· 1720 Silverwood Drive

o Request to paint exterior of home; request was approved.

· 1669 Silverwood Drive

o Request to add a corrugated metal roof over back deck; request was approved with the request that the final materials match the existing color scheme of the home.

Grounds Report – Tracie Priest (not present)

There are many unfinished tasks Tracie wants to accomplish. See April minutes grounds report.

Crime Watch Report – Frank Roycraft

Frank and Llona requested a volunteer to chair the crime watch. Frank will share information and assist. Mario reported cars being rifled through after dark. Virginia also reported a neighbor who has had a rifled through. It was discussed how important crime watch is and how we need to re-vitalize it.

Discussion of Issues by Board and Association Members

Reforestation

A proposed reforestation policy was introduced in the April meeting and has been in the works since February. The board wanted feedback at this meeting. Llona, Stan and Sam have discussed sharing the cost of tree planting. In the original policy Llona suggested the tree planting assistance might be funded from fines. In the revised policy that was removed. If the revised policy passes today, people will need to commit to replanting. Llona proposed that the reforestation policy be up for discussion/vote and Virginia seconded.

Click here for the revised, proposed reforestation policy

Frank asked if this was for trees at least 6 inches in diameter. “Yes” was the answer.

Fred commented that he has new trees already growing and can this suffice vs planting new ones? “Yes” was the answer.

Llona added that you don’t have to plant the tree on your own property.

Karen asked if the tree is required to be in a gallon container? Llona said that is the recommendation.

Ben wanted to know if he must water a tree he plants in common area. Ben is against the policy because there is not enough specificity. He asked if there was a fine for not re-planting. Llona said “no”.

Mike says he already has new trees and wanted to know if there will be new income to assist the people planting trees. He also asked if there is limit of the reimbursement amount? He suggested a limit.

Llona shared that the point is to remember our origins and we should protect our forest. We removed around 100 trees. There is a list of native trees to pick from on the web. She also added that the beaver trapping has been extended but no beavers have been caught. She motioned that we table reforestation for now until after the hurricane season and see how we fare. Virginia seconded the motion.

Revised Covenant Violation Fee Policy

Click here for a revised covenant violation fee policy

Llona noted a revision in place – that the board approves actual fines before TPAM assesses them. Numerous warnings have gone out regarding garbage cans visible in the driveway. Many homeowners have responded with solutions, but a few have not. Fines will be going out to non-compliant neighbors of $100 per day up to $1000 limit. There are some exceptions granted when the houses are too close together.

Fred asked if the notices were sent via certified mail and Llona responded that, yes, they were. He also asked if the board has copies of the e-mails sent out. The response was no, not for the warnings. But for the fines, and the revised policy, the board must approve so they will have the e-mails.

Karen asked who initiates the warnings. Llona said the board does but also TPAM conducts regular drive-byes and initiates the warnings.

Mike asked if board approval of fines is the current policy. Llona responded that this is not the current policy but with approval of the revised policy, it will be effective immediately. She said Patrick, our attorney, has approved it, then the board must approve it and it goes on to TPAM.

Llona motioned for a vote. Virginia seconded and the revised policy was approved unanimously.

Community Activity (Potluck?)

It was suggested we have a community activity such as a Potluck. There was some discussion about holding this event when it’s cooler. Some members remembered this event from years ago around the pond. It was noted that it was fun but not well attended.

Jana suggested a monthly catch and release fishing day for kids. She said there was lots of bass and this family-oriented activity could be used to teach kids how to tie knots etc. Llona stated that there was no fishing and a long legal history of incidents. To allow and promote fishing would open a can of worms. Mike and Virginia were also opposed.

Other

Fred wanted some follow up on some previously approved lattice work. Llona said the board changed their minds. Also, there’s a house on Brookside that still has a blue tarp from tree damage since Michael. He wanted to know if the board is sending a letter about that. Ben also encouraged the board to send letters about things like the blue tarp and disrepair issues. Fred also asked about the violation by Fielder in cutting down a tree without permission on a neighboring Silverwood property. Llona stated that we were unable to collect the fine before the property sold, but we are discussing other options with the attorney.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

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