MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/A2094634/MinutestoRiverDownsHomeownersAssociation_1004.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Minutes to River Downs Homeowners Association

Minutes to River= Downs Homeowners Association<= /p>

General Meeting<= o:p>

September 29th, 2004

 

Boa= rd members present: Bert Ozgun, Roland Harris, Car= ol Fearns, Kara Urban, and Christine Webbert

 

7:0= 0 pm, snacks

7:3= 0 pm, meeting opened

 

Ber= t opened the meeting by welcoming the home owners and started the meeting at 7:20 p.= m. Bert also informed everyone that John Lopez and Donald Hoffman were going to discuss the Finksburg employment Center at the end of our HOA meeting.

 

Standing Business

 

Treasurer's Report - Carol = Fearns

  • ADVANCE \d4The 2005 Annual Budget was handed out. Community dues are what we use to upkeep the community. We have 126 lots and 120 homes are occupied.
  • ADVANCE \d4Electricity bill has incr= eased due to the fact we have put dusk to dawn timers on the front entrance = to prevent vandalism.
  • ADVANCE \d4Our postage and printing = cost have come down due to the www.riverdownshoa.com= website! Everyone is encouraged to check it out.
  • ADVANCE \d4Welcoming committee budge= t has been lowered, not that many new people moving in.

= Community Events

  • This is what the HOA pays= for, there are four a year. We recently held the Back to school picnic which was a big success. Next community event will be Halloween. =
  • ADVANCE \d4The McDonald and Harris families are working diligently on the 2004 haunted house which is whe= re the community will be having its Halloween party. Thank you to the McDonald and Harris Families for your time, energy and creativity for = all of River Downs to enjoy.
  • Other Community events in= clude ‘Breakfast with Santa’ in December and an Easter Egg Hunt = in the spring.

= Web Site Update - Roland Harris

  • The www.riverdownshoa.com= web site that Roland has been very attentive to in all aspects has had over 4000 hits. This is a fantastic way to keep everyone in the neighborhoo= d up to speed on community events. The "mailed out" newsletter is= no longer being used because the content tended to get out dated to quick= ly. This was also an additional expense. You may also submit things to the site such as a lost dog, car pooling, or sharing tools. Our By Laws and legal docs are here as well. Please check out your community web site!=

= Landscaping - Shirlee Marrs

  • ADVANCE \d4Entrances are to be re se= eded or have sod put down this fall. Due to heavy rains, mulch is not being maintained so new rock mulch will be put down around Turnberry.  Remember try to stay on the r= oad and don’t cut the corners as you drive in the neighborhood<= /o:p>
  • ADVANCE \d4A neighbor commented on a= dead tree across from Chambers/McCallam home. C= an it come down? Some believe it is Forest Conservation and that it is not t= o be touched.
  • ADVANCE \d4Another issue brought to attention was the tacky look of the entrance of Francis Scott Key Golf Course on Brinkburn. Shirlee has brought i= t to their attention and  they have said they are short staffed. Shirlee said that= she would address this issue again with the club house. An offer was made = to have the HOA assist and maintain the entrance to the golf club.
  • ADVANCE \d4We are also getting bids = to put lights on the wall at the Turnberry entrance.  C= arol Fearns said that we are looking for someone to take = on the duties of maintenance activities. Someone to make phone calls to c= ome out and replace light bulbs or fix mail boxes, to facilitate these typ= es of tasks. Please let us know if you would be interested in this. =

= Social Committee - Kara Urban

  • ADVANCE \d4Kris= Ann Annulis and Amy Holmes are the chairs for = this committee. Both of these ladies along with their committee plan the fo= ur neighborhood events for the HOA.

 

Old Business<= o:p>

= Francis Scott Key Sign

  • ADVANCE \d4Francis Scot Key Golf Club asked the River Downs HOA if they could put up a sign on 91 at the entrance. The club house allows us to use their facility free of charg= e so we said yes. The county on the other had said NO, therefor, there is NO sign on the entrance at Lawndale and = 91.

Commercial Vehicles

  • ADVANCE \d4As it states in our By La= ws no commercial vehicles with logos are to be parked in our community. Plea= se be aware that if complaints are made, the situation will be addressed.=

 

New Business<= o:p>

= Open Board Position

  • ADVANCE \d4Janet Truhe has been nominated and elected to serve on the board.
  • ADVANCE \d4Kara Urban is stepping do= wn from her position of Club Committee Coordinator. We are looking for someone who would be interested in taking on this responsibility.  This position communicates wi= th all the committees and keeps the board aware of what is happening in each group.

= Driver Responsibility Pledge

  • ADVANCE \d4Everyone will be asked to= sign an agreement (though not legally binding) that states, "I will monitor my rate of speed while driving in River Downs. " This will be mailed to all homeowners to sign and return= to the HOA.
  • ADVANCE \d4A resident from Lawndale is = very concerned about the speed everyone travels There are several people (outside the community) that cut through to Sandy= mount. There will be an increase in traffic as the new community is completed further down on Lawndale<= /st1:place>. (Catonsville Homes)
  • ADVANCE \d4Suggestions were made to = put your car on cruise control. Other suggestions included a digital sign = that monitors the speed of cars. Bert said that he would write a letter to = the Sheriff’s Department (State Patrol) regarding this. John Lopez a= lso offered to help Bert with this situation. A suggestion was made to wri= te our state Congress woman Nancy Stocksdale.

= Bus Stop Parking =

  • ADVANCE \d4Please be aware of your surroundings.  The most important thing is the safety of our children, please exercise patience when driving during school bus hours, stay to the side of the road or = walk in the grass. Do not park on neighbors grass.  Please try and park to one si= de of the road so oncoming traffic can pass.

= Finksburg Employment Campus - /John Lopez and Donald Hoffman from the Finksburg Area Council =

  • ADVANCE \d4These men serve as a liason with the county. They meet the 4th Thurs.= of the month at Sandymount Methodist Church. Anyone= is welcome.
  • ADVANCE \d4Next door to Gerstell Acade= my on Route 140, an employment campus could be developed. The term " Employment Campus" means it could be developed for industrial, commercial,hotel= or other purposes (buildings up to 120' tall). This is of major concern because of its proximity to River Downs, particularly those residents = in the lower Turnberry/Falkirk lots, and the potential impact on our neighborhood. Maps were presented and showcasing the specific area. Th= ere are several concerns about this facility, the allotment for water and = the septic system. Finksburg has NO plans of getting city water. It is too= costly! It could be devastating for all if there is septic or storm system failure. Contamination is also of concern not to mention dried-up wells.  Complete informat= ion on the proposed Employment Campus is available on the HOA Website www.riverdownshoa.com. 
  • ADVANCE \d4Traffic is a huge concern. Currently the intersection at 140 and 91 has 43,500 cars passing throu= gh daily!  We must make ever= yone in the community aware of this situation. It is NOT a done deal and we wi= ll be heard. Tues. Oct 12th at 7 PM there will be a critical meeting at <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Sandymount= Elementry School regardi= ng this matter. All Home Owners should make plans to attend and learn abo= ut the development plans in Finksburg

 

At 9:05 the meeting was adjour= ned.

 

Res= pectfully Submitted

 

Jan= elle Baderian

Sec= retary