Meeting Minutes > January 2007

Taberna Master Homeowners Association Board of Directors

Bob Constanzo,           President
Bernadette McNulty,  Vice President
Suzanne Forsythe,      Treasurer
Alva Windham,          Acting Secretary
Representatives:         Martha Daniels, Jim Krise, Terry Smith  

Board Members and Guest Present: Bob Constanzo, Bernadette McNulty,  Suzanne Forsythe,  Alva Windham,  Martha Daniels, Jim Krise, Terry Smith, Larry Alderson (Crime Watch), John Reichenback (Adjudicatory Committee Chair) 

The president of the Board introduced John Reichenbach, head of the Adjudicatory Committee (AC). John provided the New Board an idea of how the AC operates and what their responsibility to the Board is.
John put most of the emphases on the following items:

1. Most of the violations have been resolved before they have been brought to the AC.  Thanks to the help of Glenn K. and Dick Turner and others on the committees.
2. Important that we follow the written procedures to ensure we do not lose a case.
3. The HOA cannot afford to lose a challenge to the AC.
4. Violators can present their case to the AC or their representative may present the case.
5. A member of the board must attend the meeting.
6. Don’t want to get in a situation of he said/I said.
7. All residents of Taberna are proud of what they have and want it protected.  We must be sensitive that people are aware of their rights.
8. The HOA can never afford to lose a law suit over the covenants.   If we do that part of the covenants is gone.
9. The panel will never amend the covenants nor legislate from the bench. 

The latest case is the Garage Sale that was held at 138 Geneva Road a couple of weeks ago.  There are no pictures to use as evidence, neither of signs nor people buying goods, etc”. It was recommended that this resident not be brought before the board or the AC but a strong letter should be forwarded to them explaining their violation. 
Alva recommended that the President mention what action the board has taken when he writes his article for the Taberna Tribune. 
Bottom line from John:  The AC will enforce the covenants; the Board has to defend them.

Larry Alderson spoke on Nyon Road drainage issue and Crime Watch. 
TMCO is still scheduled to perform the dredging.  However, a number of calls have been made to no avail.  Bad weather will probably delay the operation till late January, early February.  Larry has agreed to stay on the project till complete.
Crime Watch (CW) is progressing well.  Working with Ron McCausland  and Rick Layton.  'They have had their first meeting with David Lloyd, past head of CW.  There are 45 separate neighborhoods in place; each will be required to have a CW Captain.  Nine communities will have CW Captains with 5/6 residents reporting to them.  We are hoping to have a CW established within 60 days.
Surveillance in our community has tripled over the past few months.  Bob will address this issue in his letter to the Tribune. The President thanked Larry for providing the Board with the information.

Minutes of December: Minutes presented by Bernadette McNulty, 2006 Secretary Motion to accept by Suzanne Forsythe, and seconded by Martha Daniels with the following changes: Second page change 'raffic to traffic'.  Motion passed

Treasures Report:

Cash at 12/31/06 (before any bank interest, s/c adj)
    Master:        $42,659
    Abbington:    $ 2,349
    Boleyn:        $    866
    OTW:           $ 5,396
    Tab.Ldg        $ 1,371

    Total            $52,641

    There was approx. $20,000 in restricted compliance and mailbox deposits in the Master checking account which left a net of $32,641 in spendable cash at 12/31/06.

A/R balances at 12/31/06:
    Master        $  1,119.00
    Abbington    $    162.50
    OTW:          $    153.68
    Boleyn        $           -0-
    Tab.Ldg       $          -0-
    Total A/R     $ 1,435.18

    A/R totaled approx. $8,500 on 12/5/06.  Reminder letters sent out 12/5 stated that a late fee would be applied to anything open as of 1/1/07.  This appeared to assist in the reduction in open accounts by year-end.  Of the items remaining in the Master, $1,100 represents six remaining unpaid liens.

    The January 2007 invoicing has been prepared and mailed for the Master and Sub-Associations.  Master invoicing totaled $177,600, Abbington totaled $10,075 for the first quarter; Boleyn totaled $14,375 for the year; OTW totaled $8,000 for the first quarter; and Taberna Landing totaled $6,000 for the year.

Tribune contribution:  The $700 from the Tribune to defray the cost of the park trash receptacles was received and deposited.

Finance Committee:  The Finance Committee is scheduling a meeting in February to begin the review of the Sub-Association Reserves.

Letters sent out in early December explaining the implementation of late fee for those who do not pay their dues on time.  

Presidents 2007 Priorities: Maintenance of Bylaws and Covenants.
Scheduled meeting with Dodd Jan 17th for a discussion on the Beautification Project.  B&G will attend the meeting.
Discuss the response time of the Police and Fire units.                       What do we want to be accountable for from the community? 
        Suzanne:    Heads up on what is happening outside           
                     and around the community.  Attend the Alderman’s meeting. 
         Provide information to the Community as necessary  
         President: Invite local politicians to a Board Meeting.                                                           
        James: Question and Answer period for general meetings.              
                     Bernadette:  Possible open forum in May.   
        President:  Would not hurt to send out flyers. Invite residents to an        
        open meeting which will include question and answer period.        
                     Bernadette: Will chair a group to come up with an agenda for a  
                     meeting. State of the Community Meeting would be good.  Alva and
                     Bernadette will work on an agenda to present to the Board.

Violations: 

Garage Sale at 138 will not be turned over to the AC.  Send a strong letter and the President should mention it in the letter for the Tribune.
Suzanne - Need a HOA written process for handling violations.

Draining Water from Pools:  Jim has looked into the covenants; no specifics on draining pools.  Suzanne – Someone noticed that a resident may be draining their pool into the Lake. Because of the chlorine in the pool water, and other obvious reasons, pools should only be drained to the street. Jim and Suzanne will follow up on the issue and report. 

(2)

New Business:

President – Budget Projection:    Will probably be some fixed cost that may cause the budget to automatically go up next year. No specifics at this time.  Will meet with Suzanne to go over a few items of concern and address these issues at a later meeting.

Steve Tyson requested a sit down lunch with the Board Jan 10 at TCC to tell us what is going on around the area.  Anyone is welcome to attend at noon.

Jim K: What is the status of natural gas coming to Taberna.  Status of cost to hook up, either from the street or in the home, will be looked into by Jim.

Old Business:  Open Item list presented by Bob.  Everyone approved of the list.  It will be used as a working document for the upcoming year.

President:  Summary of 2006 Minutes were e:mailed to all members.  The document will be a great reference tool for the board.

Martha:  Brought up concerns about demographics within the area.
  How is Taberna changing and what are some things we should be looking at?   
  I have spoken to real estate personnel about concerns within the community.
  Where do we stand as compared to other areas in New Bern?
  How is Taberna changing?
  What impact will there be on the Taberna Community once Carolina Colours has been  
  established?
  What things should we be looking at as a THOA BOARD? 
These items will be added to the agenda for next meeting.

Alva:  Questions and answers from the December General Meeting should be published in the next Taberna Tribune. 

Alva is looking into establishing a WEB Site for THOA. He will report status to the board at next meeting.

Good of the Order:  Letter addressed to Kurt concerning the timing of  the traffic lights on Rt. 70.  Timing of the lights will be looked into and improved.
Need to approve the members of the Adjudicatory Committee.  The AC is the only committee that has members with term limits.
John Reichenbach would like to be re-confirmed for another year.  Bryan Scoggins term was up in December and would like to remain on for another 3 years (normal term).
Chuck Cencullo’s term expires in 2008, George McNulty term expires end of 2007.
Motions to pre nominate John and Bryan for terms mentioned.  Martha made motion to Nominate John and Brian for terms mentioned.  Suzanne seconded and all approved.

President:  Concerns about the Late Fee program being legal according to the by-laws.  According to the by-laws nothing can be changed unless you go through the normal process.  Contacted Beth; should an amendment made by the members?  “No, per our attorney, the NC statute, as amended, gave us the right to charge late fees unless specifically prohibited in our By-Laws/Covenants."

Meeting adjourned at 6:10 PM 

Submitted By:

Alva R. Windham
Acting Secretary