Steering minutes: 2006-10-01

Agenda:

1. Touchstone-related item updates
2. Basement windows
3. Steering Contingency Fund for 2006
4. 2007 Budget
5. Committee go-around
6. Other/matters arising

Minutes:

Facilitaor: Rod

Minutes: AmyH

Present: Rod, AmyH, Jim Sw, Tracy, Malcolm, Judith, Pam, Laura (filling in for Nancy)

Guest : Chet Rolka from TS Steering

1. Touchstone-related item updates

GO Steering's role in decisions

SteeringA-a...-a...-s mandate allows it to make decisions only when a matter is
urgent. There was discussion about our role in making decisions
about the entry sign and fence/hedge. Amy had spoken with Tim about
getting Grounds involved. Rod pointed out that both matters involved
CDC and had been in discussion for a long time. Malcolm pointed out
that the entry sign was really a CDC decision, not ours; JD was just
getting our input. We decided to evaluate our role as we touched on
each item.



Entry sign

JD sent us e-mail with a bid from Zeke Mallory signs on Jackson Rd.
We had asked that he get a bid from Zeke as we had originally asked
him for information and he is a neighboring business. Bid was for
$1175 A-a...-a... good news because even if we pay 1/3, our share would only be
$400. We like the cedar posts, but some concern about the alumalite
panel A-a...-a... this is quite thin. TS and GO were hoping for something more
substantial, but this may nevertheless last for 10 years. Feeling in
the room that we should just get it done. In ten years we can
upgrade. We assume Ted will bill JD for his graphic design. Good
graphic design will overcome lower desirability materials. We hope
Ted will work directly with Zeke.



Garbage/ recycling

Nothing new A-a...-a... TS could start recycling tomorrow if we can work out
the cost. Garbage will take longer to figure out.



Fence/hedge

New info from JD A-a...-a... ccA-a...-a...-d a proposal from Michael Appel for hedge
plants, soil amendment. Most TS members want all greenery, not a
fence. Concern about maintenance. Original purpose is to block
headlights for GO. Fence would do that immediately. Hedge will take
years. It would be nice to block the view of raised cars at TS.
Some think the hedge proposal sounds very attractive. Concern about
the angle of the slope. Concern that we move cars when whatever is
put in is installed and maintained. Are the plants guaranteed?
Usually guaranteed for one year. Sense of room is that the hedge
proposal is ok.



MONKEY: Rod will take hedge proposal to the Grounds meeting on
Thursday for final discussion.

MONKEY: Amy to tell JD that Grounds will discuss on Thursday.

MONKEY: Amy will send an announcement to Rachel for the comty mtg.



Modifications to garages

- Amy talked to all three people who had made changes to their
garages. Tracy then sent out a message on behalf of Steering and
F&L, reminding people that garages are LCEA-a...-a...-s. We only own the right
to use the space, we donA-a...-a...-t own the structure, so any changes to the
structure apart from shelves, hooks, racks, etc. should be discussed
first with Buildings Committee.

Chester explained that TS is concerned about security. In the places
where GO garage owners have cut through to access space above their
garages for storage, that stuff is visible from the TS garages.
There is no barrier in between. In particular, the construction
company working on TS is concerned. They store their stuff in a
garage contiguous with one of the GO garages where the owner has cut
through to the roof space. They donA-a...-a...-t want anyone to have access to
their stuff.

Apparently, JD had suggested to members of both communities that they
should use that space for storage.

GO suggestion is that if TS owners are concerned about security, they
should put up a wall up to the ceiling to create a barrier. Chet
replied that they thought there was a barrier: the roof! And who
pays for the barriers? TS would be happy if there were a barrier.
Some sentiment that if GO owners cut through, they should put up the
barrier. Others thought that if TS is concerned about security, they
should put up a barrier.

There is also a confusing gray area: what does it mean, exactly, to
modify a structure? Discussion about vertical space above GO garages.

We decided to ask Buildings to take on this issue, to clarify.

MONKEY: Judith will ask for a tour so she can see whatA-a...-a...-s going on.

Chet says that TS will be happy if no more holes are cut and if
someone is working on this issue at GO.



Snow/Truck A-a...-a... no news.



2. Basement windows



Mac got a builder to come look at the window wells and showed him
Bldgs 10 and 4 as examples. He gave the builder the Mark Stranahan
document. Contractor commented that the plastic well construction is
bowing in. He will send an estimate for replacement.

MONKEY: Malcolm will follow up with his contact.

WeA-a...-a...-ll keep nudging until we learn something. WeA-a...-a...-re talking about all
the wells. Once we have a sense of the cost we can decide whether
weA-a...-a...-re talking about legal action or not.



2. Steering Contingency Fund for 2006

We still have $2000.

Entry Sign

Appears that the max would be $400. Agreed to set this aside from
the $2000.



CH sound system/microphone

CH will pay $300 for Phase I as proposed by Willie and Keith B.
Agreed to set aside an additional $300 from Steering. This should
cover Phase II.



Balance of $1300. Some may go to hedge. If any other needs come up,
weA-a...-a...-ll consider them, otherwise funds will be rebated to households.



MONKEY: Amy to tell JD we need to spend sign money by Dec. 31 or else
it will be rebated. We donA-a...-a...-t want to offer him money for the hedge
project unless he asks for it.



3. 2007 Budget



Steering has one item to present at the 10/4 comty meeting: the
Steering Contingency fund. Our preference is to have same as this
year: $2000, but we will also propose a low of $1500 and high of
$2500. Rod is presenting the overall budget. Mac will answer
questions at the meeting on behalf of Steering. Last year used the
funds to repair the treadmill, to purchase soil for regarding playing
field, and to purchase parking lot signs. 2006 expenses would be the
entry sign, stereo/mike system, hedge. If not spent, it is rebated
at end of year.



4. Committee go-around



Process: preparing for the 11/11 comty training. Lots of exciting
things planned! Finishing budget. CRC giving a short blurb at Weds
meeting to try to be more proactive, including a gimmick!



Membership: Working on budget. A-a...-A...Living well with childrenA-a...-A- group is
now a subcom of membership.



Buildings: Talked about the AkivaA-a...-a...-s addition proposal. Ted did a
sketch of what it would look like. Working on budget. Gutters are
still not resolved. Fronts of CA-a...-a...-s will get gutters and back of
Building 10. After that, havenA-a...-a...-t finalized. Fire suppression system
tested, Heather & AdiA-a...-a...-s leaked after the test and the workers had to
come back the next day and fix it.

F&L: Talking about Master Deed changes, defining what the assoc
takes care of and what owners took care of. Planning to bring to a
comty meeting to see what comty thinks. Concern over what we do when
households get far behind on assoc fees. Procedure is that
bookkeeper with another person with will meet with the household and
set up a payment plan, even a token amount, so that something is
happening.



Meals: short meeting this month. Meals budget: is paying comty $25/
mo. toward its original loan. What comes in from diners, goes out to
cooks, all balances out.

MONKEY: Pam will meet with meals billers to ascertain budget info.

Tracy will also talk to the Meals billers to find out their procedure.



Grounds: getting organized for work day and budget. Large work day
project: steps by Adi and HeatherA-a...-a...-s house.



CH: Work day plans. Laura and Keith working on CH entryway floor
from Friday through Sunday next weekend. Low VOC paint. Coating on
top is a 2-part epoxy, may smell. Start with acid wash Friday night,
paint on Saturday, spray 3 colors, let dry, 2-part epoxy on Sunday.
Also talked about budget, looks good at this point per utilities.
Had spent less than half the utility budget as of August. Probably
will have two utility budget levels to propose: the same and a higher
level at +3% because of increased fuel costs. Improvements in budget
also A-a...-a... furniture options for media room.



Work A-a...-a... working on Comty work days 10/14 & 21.



5. Other/matters arising



Revised facilitator/minutes schedule:



10/15

fac: Mac

min: Rod



11/5

fac: nancy

min: Pam



11/19

fac: AmyH

min: Jim Sw



12/3

fac: Jiim Sw

min: needed


Chester will come back to a future GO steering meeting.