DREAMS LANDING
CONDOMINIUM BOARD MINUTES
BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Vicki
Lathom, President
Dennis
Seymour, Vice President
Ray
Turner, Treasurer
Rusty
Bergen, Secretary
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT:
Dennis
Sesplankis, Regional Property Manager
Jennie
Muse, Assistant Property Manager
OWNERS
PRESENT:
Christine
Alvey
James
Morrow
Jean
Morrow
Tim
Pohmer
Nancy
Pohmer
Jill
Voran
Eva
Gholson
_____________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at
MINUTES:
Upon motion, the minutes of the
NEXT BOARD MEETING: The next Board meeting will be held
on
Dennis
Sesplankis reported on behalf of Brodie Management. He advised of the following issues:
·
The water leak situation in the area of the 900 building has been
successfully repaired. The location of
the leak was consistent with that determined by the leak detection
contractor. The excessive sump pump
operation in 901 has ceased, and there is no more water percolating up through
the road bed.
·
An electrical contractor investigated the inoperative street light in
front of 1002. It was determined that
the recent concrete work may have severed the power line. Repairs are under way.
·
A maintenance contract for the fitness club has been consummated with
Fitness Technologies at a bi-annual cost of $190.00.
·
Work is in progress to determine the best way to address repairs to the
eroding wall at the northwest end of the tennis court adjacent to the access
road.
·
The roof of 1304 was inspected and a missing shingle on the ridge cap
was replaced. Also, based on a report of
leaking in the patio room at 601, an inspection revealed clogged weep holes in
the sliding glass window. Repairs were
made.
Tim
Pohmer extended appreciation to Brodie Management for the prompt fix of the
water leak problem at 601. He also
inquired about inadequate outdoor lighting in various areas of the
community. Dennis Seymour related that, several
years ago, BG&E assisted in a lighting security study of the
community. Several areas were identified
for possible improvement, but the Board at that time determined that the cost to
upgrade the existing lighting was prohibitive.
The Board now agreed that Brodie is to study the situation and see if
improvements can be made at an affordable cost.
_____________________________________________________________
ARCHITECTURE
COMMITTEE:
No
report.
FITNESS
CLUB:
Jill
Voran reported that she and Rusty Bergen have been working on a revision to the
club rules so as to provide for use of members’ personal trainers. The revised rules will be submitted at the
next Board meeting.
GROUNDS:
No
report.
Dennis
Seymour reported that the bill for the repairs and replacement of the marina
electric circuit breakers totaled $547.45.
He also reported that there have been several recent incidents of crabs
being stolen from marina slip holders’ crab traps. All residents are asked to watch for and to report
any suspicious activity around the marina.
PET COMMITTEE:
No report.
POOL:
Ray
reported that the pool is now closed for the season. The Board also discussed that there were
several incidents of less than satisfactory behavior and performance by the
lifeguards provided by the pool management company. Dennis Sesplankis stated that Brodie has
received reservations from other communities which it manages about renewing
the contract with the same pool management company. However, it is unclear what other pool
management options might be available.
SECURITY/PARKING:
No
report.
SEWER:
Vicki
Lathom reported that
The
current four year maintenance contract with our treatment plant operator will
expire at the end of this calendar year.
The current contractor has submitted a renewal proposal reflecting an
annualized increase from $26,000 per year under the expiring contract to
$36,000 per year under the proposed renewal.
Vicki believes that the contractor would be willing to agree to a year
to year agreement which would give Dreams Landing the right to terminate
without penalty if circumstances change.
The increase is driven by escalating time required to maintain the aging
plant, and by significant insurance cost increases imposed on treatment plant
operators. The Board agreed that it is
unlikely that we could find a reliable treatment plant operator which would be
willing to serve our needs at a significantly lesser cost. Also, the current operator has knowledge of
and experience with issues unique to our plant.
Thus, it is the sense of the Board that we should reach an agreement
with our current contractor for a one year renewal.
In
response to community questions about the probable cost to individual unit
owners related to the potential county sewer project, Ray Turner made a
presentation concerning the options. He explained the different cost scenarios,
based upon variables such as the applicable interest rate, percent of
ownership, etc. Ray has prepared a
written summary of his presentation, a copy of which is attached to these
Minutes.
_____________________________________________________________
Ray first discussed the state
of the current budget and made these points:
·
Expenditures for
maintenance of the sewage treatment plant are currently over budget and will
certainly be over at years end.
·
The year to date
deficit is about $5,800. However, due to
the timing of various recurrent expenses, this may move closer to even by the
end of the year.
·
There is one unit
owner account showing delinquent. Brodie
will verify and invoke the collection process as appropriate.
He then addressed the draft
budget proposal prepared by Brodie Management.
Ray advised that the proposal includes a recommendation to increase
condominium fees by five percent (5%).
One major factor in the increase is the thirty-six percent (36%)
increase under the proposed renewal of the sewage maintenance contract. Ray also stated that the Brodie draft budget
did not include a proportionate increase in reserve funding consistent with
historical budgeting. If the reserving
is increased proportionate to the overall budget increase, the condominium fee
increase would be approximately nine and a half percent (9.5%). On a related matter, Ray briefly discussed
the recently completed Replacement Reserve Report prepared by Miller Dodson
Associates. Any owner wishing to obtain a
copy of that report may do so by contacting Brodie.
One bit of positive news --
we have learned that the condominium insurance premiums for the coming year
will actually go down. While the base
premiums will remain level, we will no longer be required to pay a loss history
surcharge, due to the fact that Dreams Landing has not submitted claims over
the last three years. The total amount
of property coverage under the master policy is now six million dollars.
The budget committee will be
meeting soon in order to review the Brodie proposal and to develop a budget
proposal from the committee for submission to the Board. Any owner may participate on the committee; contact
Ray Turner to do so.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Rusty
Bergen reported on recent activity in the Strange
v. Dreams Landing civil matter which is still pending before the
District Court of Maryland. Though trial
in this case was completed last fall, no decision has been issued as yet by the
court.
_____________________________________________________________
None
not addressed elsewhere in these Minutes.
_____________________________________________________________
ADJOURNMENT: Upon motion, the meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully
submitted,
Rusty
Bergen, Secretary
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Attachment
to 28 September 04 minutes:
The following is in response to several owner requests
about estimated costs for public sewer.
As previously circulated, there are three components of the cost:
1. Equivalent unit capacity purchase charge (aka
"connection charge"):
$3,000/unit, one time upon connection to public sewer. Billed by county to homeowner directly;
financing available from county.
2. Debt service and retirement on Dreams
Landing capital project sewer construction costs of $748,000. Billed by county to homeowner directly; financing
available over 30 years, as expanded on below.
3. Waste water treatment sewage charges billed
by county to Dreams Landing Condominium and paid for by owners as part of condo
fee (like done presently).
-------------
Expansion on Item #2 above:
ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR 30 YEAR
LOAN FROM COUNTY OR STATE
FOR CAPITAL PROJECT
CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF PUBLIC SEWER
Total cost: $1.2
million
County share: $442,000
Our share: $748,000
|
Loan rate (30 years) |
Typical Unit @1.79%* |
Highest % ownership units @2.86%* |
Lowest % ownership units @1.34%* |
|
|
5.2% (county) |
$889 |
$1424 |
$667 |
|
|
2.8% (state) |
666 |
1063 |
498 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lump sum |
$13,389 |
$21,393 |
$10,023 |
|
Notes:
1. County remains consistent in saying our share
of project will be equal to, or less than, $748,000.
2. Loan rates are county estimates and are
subject to change with market conditions.
We continue to hold out good hope that we will qualify for the lower
state financing rate.
3. Loan balance may be transferred to new owner
or unpaid balance may be paid off at any time.
4. Annual payments will be billed by county to
unit owner annually on January 1.
Mortgage lenders sometimes provide, and may require, that annual
payments be prorated and made part of monthly mortgage payment (similar to
property tax escrow process).
5. *percentage of ownership. These numbers are intended to show some
examples. Owners can check the web site
for specific unit percentages and do their own calculations.
6. Sewage Plant Contract, Sewage Plant Supplies,
and Sewage Plant Maintenance accounts all would disappear from Dreams Landing
budget upon connection to public sewer.
Dreams Landing Condominium
DECLARATION FOR ESTABLISHING A PLAN FOR
CONDOMINIUM OWNERSHIP OF PREMISES LOCATED IN
Units Grouped by Percent
Interest as Provided in Condominium Declaration (Exhibit "B")
% ownership interest units to which % ownership interest applies
1.34 301,
302, 303, 801, 802, 803, 804, 1201, 1203
1.41 304,
1202, 1204
1.49 1004,
1005, 1006
1.58 904,
1102
1.60 902,
903
1.61 703
1.62 403,
1101, 1104
1.64 1103
1.66 901
1.70 701,
1301
1.73 402,
702, 1302, 1303
1.74 704,
1304
1.77 202,
203
1.79 201,
204, 401, 404
1.85 1007
1.87 1002,
1003
1.96 102
2.00 1001
2.03 103
2.13 604
2.21 101
2.24 602,
603, 605, 606
2.45 502
2.70 503
2.86 501,
601, 607