Washington’s Headquarters Homeowner’s Association
Annual Meeting, September 14, 2010 at 8 p.m.
Dobbs Ferry Public Library
Attending:Â Toni and David Schoen, Eli Cohn, Sabin and Ellie Meyer, Bernice Giscombe, Stanley and Ann Winston, Anne Tannenbaum, Phyllis Feinberg, Lynn Cartwright, Jeffrey and Erin Coyne.
Christina Bloise- Impact Management
Proxies: Cheryl Leban to Lauralynn O’Halloran, Robert N. Parke to Toni Schoen, Gary and Donna Zimmerman to Anne Tannenbaum, Mary and Herbert Donovan to Anne Tannenbaum. It was thus determined that there was a quorum and the meeting could proceed.
Board Vice President, Toni Schoen, presided over the meeting.
Minutes: The minutes of the 2009 annual meeting had been circulated to the homeowners previously via email. There was no discussion. Stan Winston moved that the minutes be accepted. Ellie Meyer seconded the motion. The motion was passed and last year’s minutes were accepted.
Annual Reports
Financial – Eli Cohn delivered the financial report. Eli reported that the Association was generally in good shape and that at this time there was no reason to increase the monthly dues. Eli also noted that the only really major expense that is still outstanding is the red brick perimeter wall. The Board had been advised that the wall be done is stages. David Schoen inquired as to what needed to be done with the wall. Eli replied that the first order of business would be to hire an engineer.
Eli further reported that there had been a State Insurance Fund Audit of the Association, during which the auditor expressed interest in knowing the workers compensation coverage of contractors hired by individual owners. Eli advised that all owners make sure that anyone they hire for projects on their units have such coverage.
Eli also reported that the roadway would probably need to be replaced in about five to six years and that we would need to build up the reserves for that project. The Board should make sure that the contractor use the top grade of asphalt next time. Discussion of the roadway led to a discussion of why there was no bump after unit 13. Toni reported that it had been determined that a speed bump would be more useful near unit 2; but that the Board would look into another bump. Lauralynn reminded the meeting of what the snow plows do to the bumps.
Gardening – Anne Tannenbaum reported that the major issue with regard to gardening was the general dissatisfaction with the work of Carlo Fraioli. After Sabe Meyer noted that he had encouraged homeowners’ to report their complaints to Carlo, it was the sense of the meeting that it would be better if all such complaints or suggestions to Carlo be relayed through the Board’s gardening committee who will either speak to Carlo or relay it to the managing agent. Anne reported that the gardening committee and the President spoke to Carlo several times with a checklist of areas that need to be worked on. Ellie Meyer noted that it was not always easy to determine what was a common area and what was the responsibility of the homeowner. Toni explained that the maintenance of plantings was generally the responsibility of the Association, but that new types of plantings, different from what had been originally planted, were the responsibility of the homeowners to purchase. Lauralynn reminded the meeting that Carlo had really improved the look of the grounds.  It was the sense of the meeting that since this was a yearly contract, the next contract require Carlo’s presence on the property, while his men are working.
Pool- It was noted that the brand new doors at the pool entrance were rusting and that the vendor needed to be contacted. Sidney needed o clean in between the windows and the screen. Toni noted that people really need to sign in when using the pool. We risk having the health department require a lifeguard which would cut down on the pools availability.
Tennis – It was discussed that sprinkling the Tennis court daily during this very hot and dry summer made the court less dry and more usable. Oval tennis was rolling the Court more often this summer. The tennis court usually closes in November.   During the tennis discussion, Eli noted that the water bills had become a lot more expensive. We decided that we would adjust the sprinklers to every second day now that the weather had cooled.
Miscellaneous- The lighting issues on the south end of the property were discussed. Toni read some messages from the President regarding the moving of parking spaces 4 and 5 to the pool house and that the old 4 and 5 were visitor spaces. Again, the homeowners were reminded that double parking between units 9 through 13 constitutes a hazard.
Most homeowners had not really had the opportunity to go through the division of responsibility. David Schoen noted that foundation issues were not included. Eli reminded the homeowners that we should be careful about what we want the association to take over, since we are a small condominium association. Toni noted that Anne and She would meet with the President of Impact, who is a real estate attorney, about amending the by-laws.
Elections
By acclamation, Eli Cohn was reelected and Jeff Coyne was elected to replace Rob Parke on the Board.
Toni thanked the Board for its service in the past year.
The meeting was adjourned on motion by David Schoen and seconded by Eli Cohn.