Steering minutes: 2010-06-05

Minutes:

Minutes of GO-Steering Meeting

6-6-10



Present: Judith, Vincent, Gail, Jim, Helen, Amy, Nancy, Catherine



1. Fire Suppression Update



Judith is getting 3 estimates for an expansion tank in her building. She
has two already. She’s impressed with a new firm that Stan at TS located
and learned a lot of new information. The following are notes she sent to
Buildings on 6-2-10:


I just met with Ray Fuller (the guy that TS uses), and I was impressed. His
prices are basically lower, and he explains things much better. He spent a
good hour here looking around with me. Here are a few of the important
points:

1. Every system probably has a shut off valve - most have several. He
could install expansion tanks for about $700 each. The expansion tanks are
crucial to our future safety and the best place to put our money (according
to Ray).

2. The things that drip water are called RPZ valves, and they are for
backflow prevention (letting water out). They are not a big problem unless
they are constantly spewing water out, as in Adi & Heather's basement. Ray
can rebuild this.

3. The cost to completely drain a system, install a shut-off valve and
expansion tank would be about $1500/per.

4. We have glycerine in our system, but probably not enough. It is
supposed to be good to -50 F. He can test each system, and we will probably
need more glycerine.

5. Glycerine eats through steel pipes and propyline glycol eats through PVC
pipes. We should be checking our basement pipes for signs of leakage.
Steel pipe is required in exposed areas like our basements. If they had
dry-walled our basements, everything would have been PVC pipe.

6. The mis-placed light on Mac & Amy's is the least of our worries. Ray
said that he wouldn't pay for moving it unless the Township makes us move it
(and they don't even know about it).

7. The full inspection will cost about $2400 for all the buildings with
fire suppression, CH included.



2. Property Question



Amy recently heard through the grapevine that CDC has bought back from TS
the parcel of land on which the remaining buildings were going to be built.
It's the land in front of the blue building near the turnaround/Great Oak.
It does not include the spot where the TS Common House will go. Touchstone
now has no intention of trying to build the missing buildings.



Assuming the information is accurate, we are concerned about this for at
least two reasons:



- CDC could presumably do anything they want with the land, Township
willing, without consulting us.

- We thought that the GO/TS land was one parcel, and that GO and TS are
considered to be one project by the Township, which is why we've never had a
final Certificate of Occupancy. Given that, shouldn't we have been apprised
of such a sale? How might it affect us? Would the Township have agreed to
subdividing the property in this way?



MONKEY: Nancy will ask for more info at the next TS Steering meeting she
attends.



3. Summit with Touchstone?



We agreed that a summit of members of GO & TS Steering would be a good idea.
We’ll select a few possible dates and go with whatever attendance we
get. Some
possible agenda items:



- Fire pit

- Entrance traffic

- Check-in about Meals

- Property question



Invite additional agenda items from both communities.



MONKEY: Nancy will bring this idea to the next TS Steering meeting and
suggest some possible dates.



4. Matters arising



Helen said that someone had put metal fencing and tomato cages into the
dumpster – these are taking up a lot of space in the dumpster and in any
case should have been put in the metal recycling.



5. Committee Reports



CH: Two big repairs recently: one of the CH furnaces and a washing
machine. Have asked for quotes on additional windows shades in the CH. At
yesterday’s committee meeting, prioritized the list. It will happen, but
slowly as money is available, probably starting with the south windows in
game room, kid’s room, etc. Applause for Becky for being such an excellent
convener!!



Work: Willie will talk with Lyn Solms and Maryann Marquart at TS about TS
people’s difficulty participating in the workdays at GO. Would like Meals
to educate cooks and cleaners to contact Lyn or Maryann about no-shows. Eight
GO people have still not participated in community work days (5 hours).
Helen is trying to match people with grounds jobs. One of those eight has
put in part of her time. Need to decide who allocates contingency
hours. Working
on reforming the work system this summer --- recommendation that Work get
comty input before drafting the proposal. Need to recruit new members for
Work.



F&L: presented an education piece at the May 18 community meeting about the
reserve fund. Answer people’s questions, both submitted in advance and from
the floor. Invited input on items that should be included in the revision
of the reserve study. Also working on placing a lien on one unit that is
significantly in arrears.



Meals: Met on 5/25. Checking in on allergies at TS and GO to make sure
we’re on top of this. Getting some smaller, shallow baking pans that will
fit in the Hobart and be easier to lift. Adi suggested that we use one sink
to soak dirty dishes as part of our routine. We’re going to try using a
second bus tub to soak plates/dishes. Soap dispenser on fridge: who
refills? Would like someone on CH committee to do it – Jim
volunteered. Complaint
about the attachments for Cuisinart, mixer, etc. – all jumbled. Committee
members went to look at this, and someone had straightened it all out
already. Suggest taking a picture of how it should be and post this. Would
be helpful to have pictures of all kitchen cupboard contents, what they
should look like. Complaint about salad dressings: too many kinds, not all
good, expensive. Will be doing an experiment with simple olive oil, lemon
juice, and vinegar combos. Big heavy iron skillets need a better place to
live. Plan to ask Ted or Jeff or someone else to build strong wooden
shelves in the cupboards under the stove for these. Three names were given
to Mary of people who had not showed up to do Meals work. Meals is still
trying to get a handle on exactly how much money they have because this
figure is a constantly moving target. Pam found a desirable grill at
Lowe’s, but a purchase is on hold until we know there is funding for
it. Judith
asked for more info about this grill.



Membership: Have been catching up and are now staying caught up with new
member welcomes. Working on the buddy system – considering an orientation
piece, a new member packet. Vincent offered to review this. It would be
good to reach out to people even before they move in, so they know how to do
things on arrival. We need to remind the community to let us know when new
people are arriving. Also need to revise the committee mandate. Gail
initiated a GO history project and is working on the 2009 edition. Membership
will keep an eye on when kids become teens and find out whether they will
become teen members. Catherine will check into whether Sam and Joe will
become teen members.



MONKEY: F&L needs to get back to Membership about the cover letter they
drafted for realtors to cover an info packet in anticipation of the sale of
the foreclosed unit.



Buildings: Decided that Jeff should fix some rail on Erik K.’s deck that
the painters may have damaged. Judith is working on getting estimates for
fire suppression. Judith has been working on getting junk out of the bike
sheds. Ted is working on bike-shed doors; Jeff may help. Proposal to leave
incorrect Knox box and strobe on Building 10 where they are and label the
key directing firefighters to unit 507 where the riser is. Amy expressed
concern that if the firefighters missed the label on the key, they could
lose valuable time hunting around in her basement for the riser.



Grounds: Lawns look great since we’ve had the service. Some landscape
workers have not been contacted about their assigned areas. Grounds has
been discussing the Fire Pit. Is Steering going to do anything about this?
It’s GO Steering’s understanding that TS Steering has approved the
removal. Even though it may be on TS property, it is within 50’ of our
property and the Swim Club’s property and is therefore illegal and needs to
be addressed. Needs to be contained in a metal fire pit. Available at
Lowe’s. We think TS should take care of the old one before they worry
about creating a new one. It’s illegal and dangerous. Also urgent, because
this is fire-making season.



MONKEY: Nancy will bring this to TS Steering again.



Process: Plan to present the revised committee mandate at the next
community meeting. Working on a convener job description and an alternative
meeting proposal. We have run out of things on the stack for community
meeting agendas, so if committees have things to bring forward, now is a
good time. Willie will be presenting about on line resources on 6/21 – send
him ideas if there are things you have trouble finding on line. Next two
alternative meetings will be led by Katie and Pam. In the fall season, we
only have 2 alternative meetings because of the budget.



6. Next Meeting



July 4 would ordinarily be our next meeting, but we think it’s problematic
because of the holiday. We’ll meet on July 11 at 5 pm instead.
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