Tuesday August 10, 2004 Minutes

Board members present: Barb Hallman, Jim Klementisz, John Pritchard, Albert McCormick, Pam Ley

Homeowners present: None

Meeting location: Jim Klementisz's home

1. Gypsy moths are nesting in various trees in the common grounds. Jim will call Providence Landscaping to spray all common ground trees, as was done last year.

2. A lacrosse/sport net has been noticed as being left out for overly extended periods of time (days and nights) in the Mountain Laurel common-circle. Jim will address the issue with the responsible party.

3. Bob Croke has inquired about a wrought-iron style fence to be built around a swimming pool on his Lot. The Board voted by majority agreement that wrought iron is not acceptable, based on the amended by-law and voting survey results from residents.  However, a wrought-iron style fence made of PVC material is an acceptable form. Albert spoke to Bob confirming this decision, and an email was sent to him from the Board.

4. The Board has decided by a majority vote that Bob Croke's shed is a matter of concern for liability. The shed is off his property and an email from the Board was sent to him asking him to move the shed back onto his property within a required period of time.  Bob has requested a meeting with the Board to discuss his further actions, being that he did not receive his email in time. Date is pending based on Board members' availability.  It has been suggested that future notices to residents be done via postal mail, rather than only by email.

5. A SR Newsletter will be published again and distributed to all residents soon; it is a great way to inform and acknowledge our community and residents.

6. Concern over the speed limit of 25 mph throughout SR is still an issue.  Last year the township installed one speed limit sign at the front entrance to remind all visitors and residents alike. Many drivers are still speeding. A reminder will be put in the newsletter to prompt all residents to heed to the 25 mph limit. Please remind our delivery drivers
and visiting friends to slow down and obey the 25 mph speed limit for everyone's safety.

7. There is an electrical pole that was left by the builder still standing along the Perkiomen Creek Road/SR common ground near the right-entrance side (near the picket fence). Brian Ley spoke to PECO who then removed an overhead wire and confirmed the pole and meter box is owned by Fieldstone from use for their builder's trailer.  Barb will contact Joe Thoma about removal of the pole.

8. A few items remain on the builder's community punch list to be completed; namely, water retention in Dave and Dana Marks's back yard; various residents' cracked/chipped sidewalks; and a safety grate to be added to the water retention basin at the front entrance. Jim will contact Skippack Township engineer Timothy Woodrow and Joe Thoma for an update.

9. Grass clippings are being dumped by residents into the common ground and woods adjacent to the common grounds as well. Concerns by residents are regarding smell, unsightliness, and nesting of rodents. It is noted in the Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Skippack Ridge, Section 16, (j) "No portion of the Property shall be used or maintained as a dumping ground for rubbish, trash, new or used lumber or wood, metal scrap, garbage or other waste, except that such material may be kept on the Lot or in areas of the Property designated for this purpose. . ." Please note that all waste disposal companies (BFI, etc.) will remove grass clippings if properly bagged.

10. Pam Ley was granted permission to plant fall perennial mums at the front entrance sign with help from SR Garden Club volunteers.

11. A concern was phoned from Lori Wusinch over neighbors feeding recently-sighted wandering guinea hens. Please do not feed these hens as they are bothersome to residents and antagonize children and dogs.

12. The "Mountaintop Musicfest" neighborhood fall party to be held in September has been cancelled due to a conflict in the band's schedule.

13. Via email, Dave Marks proposed an "Angel List" for Skippack Ridge. It is a compiled list of businesses that perform services within the neighborhood for individual homeowners (e.g. plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, babysitters, mechanics, etc.). To be on the Angel List, the company/businessperson must be recommended by a SR homeowner and have actually completed work for that homeowner in the past. Dave thought we could publish a yearly book that vendors could pay to advertise in, and thus raise funds for the neighborhood. While the Board contemplated this as a good idea, we thought it may not be too successful as there are not enough homes here for vendors to solicit advertising that would be worthwhile. However, it is a great idea for neighbors to share ideas or vendor referrals. We suggest contacting bill.turner@skippackridge.com to post any personal business referrals on the SR web site www.skippackridge.com for all neighbors to view at their leisure.

14. The Board discussed the past proposal from Dave Marks regarding selecting one trash disposal company for all of SR to use at a discounted community rate. The Board had concerns over who would maintain the process and who would collect the monies; it is also a large amount to ask homeowners to add onto our annual dues. We feel it is too much for the Board to manage these extra monies from each homeowner. We appreciate Dave's research into the matter but will not pursue the matter at this time.

15. Veronica Vitari has stepped down as SR Happy Hour coordinator. She has suggested asking for another volunteer to take over, or simply posting the available months to host a Happy Hour on the SR web-site for neighbors to choose from. Thanks for all her hard work in organizing these events which allowed neighbors to get more acquainted with one another on a social level. Anyone interested in hosting a Happy Hour or coordinating it altogether can kindly contact the Board@skippackridge.com.

16. Bill Turner has resigned from his volunteer role as SR Snow-Removal Coordinator for our community. On behalf of the neighborhood, we thank him for all his effort and hard work in making sure all common-sidewalks were shoveled in wintry weather by a team of our own SR kids who volunteered to help out and get paid in return. Anyone interested in taking over his position can contact Board@skippackridge.com.

17. The next SR Board meeting will be held on November 9 at 7 PM at the home of Pam Ley at 849 Mountaintop Drive.