Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association
Board of Directors Meeting
White Oak Conference Center
June 13, 2012 Meeting
Board Members Present: Residents that signed in:
President Julie Grothues Glenn Dicken
Secretary Sharon DeRousse Peter Florsheim
Treasurer Jane Martin Fred Sheppard
Director Marida Curry Pete Herrada
Margarito Gonzalez
Mel Weiser
Donna and Jerry Davis
Board Members Absent: Helen Jocco
Director Don Emerson Julie Mata
First Vice President Hugo DuBois
Second Vice President Tom Haynes
Meeting Called to Order
President Julie Grothues called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Bryan Pierce was designated as Parliamentarian. Jane Martin was appointed as Sergeant at Arms. The agenda was adopted as the Orders of the Day. There were no objections.
Homeowner Forum
A homeowner asked about where all the ducks have gone in the neighborhood. Grothues stated that she has seen them around the neighborhood just in different areas.
A homeowner asked about the speeding on Victory near his home. He stated he was afraid someone was going to get hit. Grothues asked if the homeowner had contacted the Mayor’s office. It was also noted that the construction work on W. Little York may also be pushing more traffic by his house.
A homeowner asked about what can be done if people are seen taking things from mailboxes. Grothues said that if they can get a description of the vehicle and the license plate that is the best information they can get and that they should call the post office and report the incident.
A homeowner brought up the fact that some motorists throw trash on the streets around the neighborhood. He lives in a corner house. Grothues noted that this, as well as trash blown around after the weekly trash pick up, is a problem. She noted that she picks up trash in her area, as well as other areas, at least once a week.
A homeowner noted that one day dogs were running loose on the former golf course while she was walking and she was not sure where she was on the property to be able to contact someone if needed. She asked about posting signs with street names along the path. Another homeowner stated there was a map of Inwood Forest that included the former golf course property on the IF website.
Dorothy Miller, an IF resident and member of the Near Northwest Management District, mentioned that they would be taking down the bathrooms on the golf course and that there would be a quilting convention held at the clubhouse in October this year.
Another homeowner asked about the foreclosures in the areas. Grothues responded that there was a spike in foreclosures late last year and early this year, but that that it has not reached the level of foreclosures IF had in 2008, which was the highest year to date.
Approval of Minutes
Martin moved to accept, as presented, the minutes from the May 9, 2012 general session and executive session meetings. Curry seconded and the motion passed unanimously with all in favor.
Financial Reports
Martin reported that the collections are going well and are in the normal range for May. They did receive some big payoffs the first part of June and a few more payments plans have been authorized.
Management Reports
- Properties and Facilities Committee Report
Grothues reported that the pool is open and things are going well. She noted that there are a number of dead trees in the park area and that bids have been obtained to take those trees down. That will be discussed later in the meeting. Part of the fence in the park along Vogel Creek is down. The board will also be obtaining a bid to repair that part of the fence.
B. Deed Restrictions Committee Report
Pierce reported that 376 violation letters were sent out and 107 violations were cured this month. He noted that a lot of the violations were for mowing and painting their homes.
- ACC Committee Report
There was no ACC report at this time.
- Security Committee Report
No security report at this time.
- Communication Committee Report
No report at this time.
- Resident Relations Committee Report
The yards of the month for May were 4215 Black Locust on the East side and 5915 Green Terrace on the West side.
Old Business
Deed Restriction Amendment
Curry reported that she wants to get community comments and suggestions while they are in the process of discussing the revisions of the deed restrictions Curry also suggested a mass email or mailing to each homeowner of each section for their input. She feels this would help get the 67% approval needed to amend the deed restrictions. Curry stated that would like to have something to present to the membership by the next annual meeting.
New Business
.
Deed Restriction Violations to Legal
To first be discussed in Executive Session.
Collections
To first be discussed in Executive Session.
Retirement of Sgt. Mike Corley
There was a discussion about Sgt. Corley’s retirement from HPD and the IF security patrol and having a retirement party for him. Corley indicated he is available the later part of June. The date of Saturday, June 30th from 4 – 6 pm was suggested. Grothues suggested having something at Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant in the back room. Appetizers could be served and there would be a cash bar. Martin motioned to approve a budget of $500 for Sgt. Corley’s retirement party, Curry seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Elgohary Lawsuits
Grothues reported that Hays, McConn, Pickering & Rice, the law firm handling these lawsuits, enquired whether IFCIA had received a bill from Traveler’s Insurance for the deductible. Genesis confirmed that we had not. Hays McConn will follow up with Traveler’s to have them bill IFCIA.
Bids for the Removal of Dead Trees at the Park at Victory
Grothues presented bids from 3 tree companies in the area to remove 9 dead trees and haul them away from the park on Victory. The bids were from Felipe Tree Services for $2,100, Tree Experts Inc. for $3,500 and US Tree Experts for $4,500. It was noted that all three companies carry insurance. Grothues recommended that the board go with the bid from Tree Experts for $3,500. She noted that the bid for $2,100 appears to be very low considering the number of trees and the size of the 2 large water oaks and the pine tress that will be taken down. She also noted that Tree Experts Inc. also took down a very large tree last summer without damaging any nearby trees last summer. Martin moved to approve the bid by Tree Experts for $3,500.00, De Rousse seconded and motion passed unanimously.
Bids for Repair of Fence at Park
Martin motioned to approve a maximum of $1,000 for fence repairs at the park by J&D Fence. These fence repairs would include repairing the downed fence along Vogel Creek and adding chain link along the bottom portion of the fence in the pool area along Victory where there has been soil erosion. Curry seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
ACC Policies and Procedures
Grothues noted that last December, the board approved a number of policies and procedures for things such as collections, deed restrictions, collections, document retention etc and filed them with the Harris County Clerk’s office. She noted that policies and procedures also need to be filed for ACC (architectural control committee.) In the next couple of months, she hopes to have a draft of policies and procedures to be reviewed by the board.
The Board moved to Executive Session at 7:59 pm.
The Board reconvened to the General Session at 8:26 pm.
There were no homeowners present. There was three items to be voted on.
Deed Restriction Violations to Legal
Martin moved to send certified demand letters to the 12 homeowners listed in her June 10, 2012 email to the board for their deed violations, and previously discussed in executive session. DeRousse seconded and the motion was passed unanimously.
Collections
Martin moved to send certified demand letters to the 9 homeowners with outstanding account balances from $1,471 to $1,617 per her May 31st email to the board. The motion was seconded by Curry and passed unanimously.
75XX Brushwood
Martin moved to send a letter to the homeowner noting that the current color of the house does not appear to match the paint sample approved by ACC and that the current color would not have been approved. The letter would then offer to reimburse the homeowner for the cost of ACC approved paint to repaint the house and for a mutually agreed upon amount to cover their labor since the homeowner indicated that they were going to paint the house themselves earlier this year. Curry seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Budget – Retirement Party for Sgt. Corley
Martin moved to approve a budget of $500 for a retirement party to be held on Saturday, June 30th at Don Jose’s for Sgt. Mike Corley. Curry seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment
With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was formally adjourned at 8:36 pm on a motion by Martin, seconded by Curry and unanimously carried.
Next Regular Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2012.