April 20, 2004 Minutes ~ Annual Meeting

The April 20th, 2004 Skippack Ridge Community Association "Annual" Board of Directors meeting was held at the Skippack Township Building. Attendee's included Barb Hallman, Jim Klementisz, John Pritchard, Mike Roynan, Mike Washington and several community homeowners.

Topics addressed included:

• Minutes of January 2004 meeting approved. 

• The 2004 Operating Budget was distributed, reviewed, and approved by all in attendance. 

   

  • All homeowner dues have been paid and received for 2004. Thank you to everyone. The Board highlighted budget items where we have been able to introduce savings from the prior year.  By a community team agreeing to mulch the trees on the common ground, the Board was able to save an approximately $1000. A similar proposal was agreed upon at the meeting to have Fran Tendall coordinate a “Green Thumb” committee which will be responsible to plant perennials in the front entrance, again to save the outside expense from the landscaper. 

   

  • The biggest unknown to the 2004 Operating Budget is insurance for the community. The Board will continue to research alternative providers to see if the cost can be maintained. 

   

• Website: A homeowner has brought a concern to the Board regarding family personal information being made available on the website.  If a homeowner would like to request their information be removed from the website, please send an email to our site’s WebMaster. The Board will also pursue the option of password protecting certain information on the website so that only homeowners will have access. 

• Tree Removal: Continued conversations with Joe Thoma from Fieldstone have been taking place over the last few months.  Jim Klementisz has scheduled a walk around with Tim Withrow (Skippack Township Field Engineer) to review the remaining punch list items with the township to insure the Fieldstone bond money will not be released until all items are addressed to our community's satisfaction. The walk around is scheduled for 10:00am Thursday April 22, 2004. Should you have any community items which need to be considered please email Jim Klementisz or place a note in his mailbox prior to Thursday morning.  An update after the walk around will be published on the website afterwards. 

          Letter to the Board from Joe Thoma:

From: "Joe Thoma" <jthoma@fieldstoneassoc.com> 
Subject: RE: Trees! 
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:25:51 -0400 

As you are aware, the weather so far this spring has not been favorable for outside work. Fieldstone Associates intends to uphold our responsibilities fully and will appreciate the Board members and the homeowners continued patience. According to our landscaper, the maple trees are not able to be removed (dug) until the ground conditions are more favorable; being that the likely hood of  traumatizing the root system will harm the trees.  We will not jeopardize the health and longevity of the trees for the purpose of appeasing the desires of the community. I hope that you understand this fully and appreciate our professionalism in respect to providing the Skippack Ridge Community healthy trees that will flourish. Please feel free to contact a landscaping contractor, nursery and/or arborist to verify our statements. 

With the forecast of warm and dry weather next week, Iam confident that this project will be completed in the very near future. Again, I thank you and the rest of the Skippack Ridge Community for your patience. 

Joe Thoma 

 

UPDATE 2004.04.22

 

Thursday April 22, 2004 Update Meeting with Tim Woodrow and Joe Thoma Jim Klementisz conducted the walk around with Tim Woodrow (Skippack Township Engineer) and Joe Thoma (Fieldstone Associates) regarding several open issues still remaining on the communities punch list. Tree Replacement: The trees are part of the maintenance bond which is being withheld from the builder.  The maintenance bond is for approximately $50,000.  Tim has drafted a letter to Fieldstone stating the trees must be replaced in order for the funds to be released. Tim could not commit on what our potential recourse actions or time frame other than to say now is the time to plant.   He personally does not think Fieldstone will delay the planting because the release of the bond is dependent on their replacement.   Jim also told Joe Anthony’s comments.  Joe’s landscaper claims, if the trees would be removed when they are too wet, the entire root ball would fall off. He is going to call his landscaper today to get a time frame.  Joe will update Jim by the end of the week. Retention Basis The basis between lot 11 and 12 will be corrected by installing an underground perforated PVC pipe from the point of the water ponding to the drain opening at the far end.  Handicap Accessible Walkway According to Tim a handicap accessible walkway at the front of the entrance is not required. Sidewalk on Buck Hollow Tim was not sure if the black top walkway on Buck Hallow was the work of Fieldstone or John Garis (the builder next door).  He will follow up with both builders. Erosion behind the Mark’s Property Township did not feel this was an issue that needed to be addressed by the builder. Cracks in the Walkway Cracks in the walkways will be corrected. Also, some sidewalks show damage from what they believe is attributed rock salt. Tim has asked Joe fix them as well. Erosion behind lots 36 and 37 and the Common Area in front of Mountain Laurel Circle The erosion will be corrected by applying top soil and seeding.  Also, the temporary erosion filter will be removed from lot 37.   The board will continue to work these issues and supply updates as appropriate.

• Community Events – Mulching of the trees in the common ground is being coordinated with the tree replacement issue. If anyone would like to assist on "mulching day" please contact Quan Nguyen or Mike Washington. Community clean up day will also coordinate with this date. 

• Brian Ley was elected to coordinate the community golf outing.  Pam Ley and Janet Fries will be coordinating the summer picnic. The date for both events is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend in June. 

• An election for the 2004-2005 Skippack Ridge Board of Directors was held. The final vote resulted in the following two candidates being selected as Board Of Directors - ELECT with their term commencing in June, 2004: 

• Pam Ley

• Albert McCormick

• Official titles for all Board members will be established over the course of the next two Board meetings.  

• Please take the time to congratulate these folks for their achievement and their willingness to contribute to this cause.  By managing the Association ourselves, voluntarily, we are each saving a few hundred dollars annually.

• The floor was opened for "Community Questions & Concerns" 

• Melissa Older proposed the idea of planting trees along the walking path.  A couple of options were discussed for funding.  A community wide special assessment, the Board funding part of the enhancement and a special assignment for homeowners next to the walking path. It was agreed upon to have Anthony Vatari complete a walk-around and deliver a proposal to the community. 

• David Marks asked if the community would be interested in signing an agreement with one of the refuse removal companies for a community wide proposal, that would paid for out of our homeowner dues. The potential saving from the community agreement could be put into the homeowners’ association, funding potential enhancements like trees along the walking path and plants in the front entrance. 

• David also proposed should the community consider a management company to coordinate the efforts performed by the Board today. The proposal had been consider in the past by both prior Boards. Attendees to the meeting, either through past knowledge or research felt a management company would not add value to the association. 

• Pam Ley for a clarification of the area to be mowed by Providence Landscaping. With the renewal of the contract with Providence this year the Board preformed a walk around with them to clarify which common areas need to be mowed on a scheduled basis. If a homeowner feels an area is being neglected they should contact the Board immediately so that we can address the issue with Providence or withhold payment.