HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION OF LA CASA, INC.
MINUTES OF DIRECTORS MEETING
JANUARY 21, 2015, 2PM @ REC HALL
R. Burlison awarded Norma Beach a certificate for coordinating the Sarasota County Fire Department smoke detector & fire extinguisher reviews along with the file for life records with LaCasa residents.
CALL TO ORDER – President R. Burlison called the meeting to order at 2PM with 189 attendees present.
ROLL CALL – Present were N. Amos, R. Ballard, B. Bicknell, R. Burlison, C. Curley, J. Danner, R. King, E. Medling & C. Welch.
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED AGENDA – R. Ballard moved to accept the proposed agenda. C. Welch seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
SHAREHOLDERS REQUEST TO SPEAK – L. Lakatos thanked the board for their work on removing the club house laundry room & for the artisan glass storage cabinet in the activities building.
OPEN FORUM ON AGENDA ITEMS – V. Fryer questioned why a board member can be a member of a standing committee & he believes the board should restrict such action.
D. Mahoney reported a fully managed investment firm is more expensive & La Casa has less control of finances with them compared with a financial advisor firm who recommends investment opportunities for LaCasa to implement which is the standing finance committee’s recommendation to the board.
G. Warner recommended the current board delay its decision on investments policy until new board is elected in February.
D. Patton is against a Fully Managed investment firm.
SECRETARIES REPORT – E. Medling moved to approve the December 11, 2014 Board Meeting . R. Ballard seconded the motion. Motion was accepted unanimously. He moved to approve the December 17, 2014 Board Meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by B. Bicknell. Motion passed unanimously.
TREASURERS REPORT – J. Danner reported that the unaudited end of 2014 financial statement continued to show a slightly improved end result. He expects to move more unused funds into the reserve funds next month.
FINANCE COMMITTEE – J. Pasquale reported the finance Committee’s recommendation to begin using a financial advisor managed approach for reserve funds. He said three positions are available on the Finance Committee with applications due no later than February 1, 2015
LACASA REAL ESTATE – M. Kulibert reported 2014 property sales equaled 2013 with 10 pending shareholder sales going into 1015. 12 shareholder & 2 properties are currently available for sale. Income has been good & a dividend is expected to be given to the HOA later.
MANAGERS REPORT – R. Browning reported the next mowing will be the week of February 2, 2015, two cuts in March & April followed by weekly cuts beginning in May. Red mulch installation is completed. FPL has contracted with Pike Electric to replace all above ground power lines & power poles in LaCasa in January, February & March. Any damage to yards will be repaired by the contractor upon notice by residents.
PRESIDENTS REPORT – R. Burlison moved to approve the front park wall landscape design as presented to the board 12/11/14. Motion was seconded by N. Amos & approved unanimously. He moved to approve the front wall color & design as currently exists. Motion was seconded by C. Welch & approved unanimously. He moved to approve the 2% park manager bonus as evaluated by the board. Motion was seconded by B. Bicknell. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yea & 1 nea by R. Ballard. He moved to approve the purchase of a refurbished copy machine for the office $6,950.00 because parts for the old copy machine are not available. Motion was seconded by R. Ballard & passed unanimously.
N. AMOS – Thanked J. Clark & I. Clooney for working Christmas day repairing a water main leak behind the club house. He moved to approve a fully managed approach to La Casa’s financial investments. Motion was seconded by C. Welch. Motion failed by a vote of 8 nay and 1 yea by E. Medling. J. Danner made an amended motion to invest LaCasa’s reserve funds only in U.S. Government backed or FDIC insured instruments. Motion was seconded by CC. Welch. Motion passed by a vote of 8 yea 1 nay by R. King. N. Amos listed the future dates for Rules & Regulations review meeting with residents Feb. 4 at 6PM in rec hall. And Feb. 11 at 2PM in the office board room during the agenda meeting followed by a board vote at the Feb. 18 2PM board meeting in the rec hall.
R. BALLARD – Reported that new home at 538 La Playa will have an open house for the board on February 6-8, 2015. He congratulated LCRE for their excellent work in 2014. He moved to purchase an electrical Gem brand ME1400 utility vehicle for $11,796.75 from reserve funds for heavy duty maintenance work. Motion was seconded by R. Burlison & approved unanimously.
B. BICKNELL – Reported that 3 pickle ball courts are being considered at LaCasa due to a request from the 40 member pickle ball group that continues to grow in size. La Casa representatives visited Holiday Park which has three courts & is going to add another court soon.
C. CURLEY-Reported on La Casa problems including defacing board candidates resumes, rules violations, & vandalism. Residents should report any problems to the office. She reported on the January 14, 2015 AMC meeting of our five park group.
J. DANNER – Thanked three departing board members for their three years of service. He moved to open a business relationship with PNC Bank. Motion was seconded by R. Burlison & approved unanimously. He moved to open a business relationship with Wells Fargo Bank. Motion was seconded by N. Amos & approved unanimously.
R. KING – Reported that the February 4, 2015 coffee hour will include a presentation by the Firewise committee. La Casa has a new Comcast representative to deal with.
E. MEDLING – Reported that the Rec hall kitchen committee has been meeting weekly with the designer to review drawings & have generated significant operating efficiencies. A cost estimate is being developed in time for the February 4, 2015 for a 30% progress presentation to the board. Work is proceeding on schedule to allow construction during the slow months of May to September 2015.
C. WELCH – Moved to reappoint B. Bicknell to the CRC committee. Motion was seconded by R. Burlison. A voice vote was taken resulting in three nay votes by C. Curley, J. Danner & E. Medling, B. Bicknell abstained & 5 yea votes so the motion passed. She moved to request proposals for repair and/or replacement of six bocce courts at the rec hall using reserve funds. Motion was seconded by R. Burlison & passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS – There was none.
NEW BUSINESS – T. Bohan reported on the increased use of the lacasaroc.com web site in the past month & we have 480 residents signed up to use the web site.
OPEN FORUM – J. Sargent reported on the defacing of future board candidates resumes in the rec hall & clubhouse. He said the election proxies are coming in very well.
J. Holovachuk thanked the board for reporting on the defacing of the future board candidates resumes & the board decision on investments.
J. Libby reported on the March 1, 2015 training of volunteers in using the AED & CPR equipment. Please sign up for the training on the rec hall bulletin board.
G. Fryer questioned the $700 cost for landscape design fee. Construction will be bid soon.
B. Anderson reminded everyone about the 6:45 meeting today in North Port on flood zoning changes.
D. Patton asked if we would cancel our relationship with Sun Trust on investments. Yes we will.
L. Lakatos asked if natural barriers will be built by
R. Burlison reminded everyone of the February 10, 2015 shareholders election at 7PM & the next HOA board meeting February 18, 2015 at 2PM both in the Rec hall.
MEETING ADJOURN – at 3:11 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Everett Medling