I was unable to attend last night's meeting due to not getting out of work early enough. If anyone went can they share any important information. Thanks!
Here are the notes from the meeting.
Notes and Summary Brd of Dirs mtg 3-23-2015.pdf (89.65 KB)
NOTES AND SUMMARY-
Provided by Dennis Knight for BTMAmembers.
BURNT TAVERN MANOR ASSOCIATION – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Open meeting
- March 23, 2015 7:00pm
- Millbrook Manor clubhouse
Attendees:
- Martin McDermott (President)
- Mariland Oldfield (Vice President)
- Mary Anne Hayes (Secretary)
- Steve Kotzas (Attorney)
- Marie Check
- George Bischoff
Agenda: (provided at time of meeting)
A. Board of Trustee Meetings
- a. Format – public meetings
- b. Conduct – public meetings
B. Tax Lien – BTMUA
- a. Outstanding Debt of $67k (CY 2014)
C. Next General Membership Meetings
- a. Election
- Judges
- Candidate statements
D. By-Law Changes
- a. Process
- 1. Mail-in Voting
- 2. Increase in fines
E. Committees
- a. Watter Committee – status
- b. Website Committee – status
Discusstion Items – Board
F. Finances
- a. Current financial report
- 1. Questions/ Comments from board
- b. Annual budget – status
- c. Requests for next General Membership Meeting
- 1. Receibables
- 2. Debt
- 3. Savings
- 4. Proposed Plan/s
- (a) Collect receivables
- (b) Reduce operating expenses
G. Water Issues – BTMUA
- a. BTMUA Meetings
- b. Billing Rates
Summary of notes from attendance at meeting.
The Board voted and approved the appointment, to the Board of Directors, of George Bischoff.
It was discussed and noted that the Association has finanlly paid it's outstanding debt from 2014
and the Association is no longer listed for Tax Sale on the BTMUA website.
The Board noted that to save time at the upcoming meeting, concerning the election process,
the judges have been pre-set as Lois Testa and Cheryl Liss. The judges will be sworn in at the
start of the meeting. Martin McDermott commented the judges would be given a set of
instructions, ahead of time, as to what will be expected of them at the election meeting. It was
decided by the Board, and commented to all members in the audience, that all candidates for
the upcoming election be submitted, to the office, by March 30, 2015 to allow time to compile
a list of candidates to be included with the notice of the upcoming meeting. Martin McDermott
commented the candidates would introduce themselves and say something as to who they are,
with a brief Q&A.
By-law changes were discussed. Namely, the allowance of mail-in voting and an increase in
the standard fines permitted. It was stated the current fine of $5.00 was probably a lot
originally but doesn't present a real deterrant today. A range of increases up to $25.00 was
mentioned as comment only. It was commented the By-laws required 2/3% of all members
was required Mariland Oldfield commented the (2/3%) had to be members in good-standing.
Steve Kotzas attempted to locate the correct percentage in the By-laws Amendment XVI
and stated his copy only had blank spaces. Martin McDermott offered his copy, which also
had blank spaces. Martin McDermott said the correct percentages would be look into. It was
discussed the posibility of contracting the quorum requirements to a smaller percent of
members needed to make changes. Steve Kotzas stated, an attempt must be made to obtain
a regular quorum, before moving to legally reduce to number of members needed to make
a quorum. These items would be discussed at the April 15, 2015 meeting to determine if the
membership are interested in moving forward.
Martin McDermott spoke briefly on the Water and Website committees. A website that
allows both public information and a private members only section, is being considered.
Also the possibility of online payments of maintenance fees. The committee will create a
proposal outline of costs and features available. Water bill and metering solutions are being
researched. Reference to conversation that if we were experiencing a massive water leakage
in the main piping, between the meter and the buildings, we would see a massive sink-hole.
Other comments heard; Steve Kotzas recounted representing an association that put digital
meters on each unit to allow separate billing, even with common main piping. Mary Anne
Hayes commented and motioned to apply to the town to take over responsibility for the
streets. The board voted to approve application to the town to be initiated by Mary Anne Hayes.
The Annual budget for 2014 / 2015 was discussed. It was said current receivables to be
$238,000 and included 20 foreclosure properties; 107 units $500 or morre; and 46 units
less than $500. Martin McDermott stated the ending balances for 2014 was $107,000, made
up of $81,000 in the bank and $26,000 in reserves.. Discussion by the Board centered on the
time needed to foreclose on liens of property owners. Steve Kotzas explained the technical
aspects of foreclosure and the order of lien position as it relates to collection of funds. Mary
Anne Hayes commented on the need to increase the bond amounts. Martin McDermott initiated
discussion of possible cost cuts to prevent a need for another assessment. Comments included
asking the vendors to take less on their contracts. Mary Anne Hayes mentioned Lakeside was
entitled to an annual increase by their contract. Mary Anne Hayes while looking at an
accounting printout, made a comment “we could have the town pick-up the trash”. The benefits
of the Geese Police was discussed, with Mary Anne Hayes saying the cost was $900 per month.
The Board voted to approve the 2015 Budget, passing it with an intension to have the
membership vote by amendment, at the April 15, 2015 meeting, as to whether to close the pool
for 2015. This was said to provide a cost savings of approximately $30,000.
DISCLAIMER: This is not the official minutes of the Board and should not be considered
absolute. This document is the result of an observer in attendance of the meeting. Though
every attempt is made to provide accurate information, the information noted here may
differ from the official Association minutes as to format and as to the importance given to
comments by different people making notes. This document is provided for information only.
