Annual Meeting and other activities set for Monday, September 17th…

By Randy Simpson & Debra Jones

Mark Monday September 17^th on your calendar and plan to attend the Annual Meeting for Andover Glen to be held at Shalom Park, where there promises to be lots of interesting things to talk about, including a recap of all the year’s events in the Glen, as well as an election new Board Members.  Just prior to the meeting, there will be an Ice Cream Social outside at Shalom Park (free of charge to AG residents!)  Here’s a summary of the activities:

6:15 p.m. – Ice Cream Social

   Your Board will serve you your choice of an ice cream sundae or a Root Beer Float. We will hold the Ice Cream Social at 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. outside at Shalom Park. (look for the balloons!) Please come and enjoy some ice cream while mingling with your neighbors.

7:00 p.m. – Annual Meeting Begins

   After enjoying the ice-cream, we’ll go inside to the Community Room at Shalom Park and start the annual meeting. Many interesting topics are on the agenda (a tentative one included in this newsletter), so please plan to attend! ~

Balloting and Board Elections…Your Association Still Needs You!

There will be no less than 5 vacancies coming up on the AG Board this fall! Your ballot will be coming in the mail, or you can also vote at the Annual Meeting. Also, if you’ve ever thought about serving your neighborhood, this would be a great year to take the plunge! Contact any current Board Member for more details. ~

Final "Dumpster Weekend" Oct. 6th - 7th will also offer Document Shredding

By Debra Jones

Oct. 6 -7 will be the last "Dumpster Day" this year, so bundle up all of tree branches, bushes and anything else you can live without from around your house. We are also offering "Document Shredding"  once more, sponsored by Rich and Donna Foerster with Keller Williams. The shredding truck will be next to the dumpster on Saturday, October 6th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This is a safe, fast and easy way to destroy your unwanted documents and protect your identity. It destroys all paper, paper clips, staples film, CDs, checks and checkbook registers into pea size. All of the shred will be recycled. Shredding will cost $2.00 for a 8x8 banker box and $3.00 for a 12x20 large/legal size box. Again, the Dumpster is FREE and the additional shredding is worth the couple of extra bucks! ~

Code of Conduct for Board Members Adopted by AG Board…

By Randy Simpson

At the August Board meeting, your AG Board adopted a Code of Conduct for Board members. Such codes are common for associations, but up until now the AG board has lacked one. The substance of this code has been gathered from other similar codes. It is reprinted here in its entirety:

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR

ANDOVER GLEN BOARD MEMBERS

The Andover Glen Board of Directors has approved the following code of conduct for its members in order to ensure that they maintain a high standard of ethical conduct in the performance of the Andover Glen business, and to ensure that the residents maintain confidence in and respect for the entire Board.

The following principles and guidelines constitute the Code of Conduct:

No Board member shall use his/her position for private gain, including for the purpose of enhancement of his/her financial status through the use of certain contractors or suppliers or confidential information. 

No Board member nor his/her agent or employee or family member shall enter into a personal service contract with the Andover Glen Homeowners Association without previous disclosure of such interest to the Board.

No Board member will seek to have a contract implemented that has not been duly approved by the Board.

All communications with contractors will go through the appropriate Board designated Project Coordinator and be in accordance with policy.  No Board member will interfere with the duties of any other Board member.

No Board member shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gifts, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or any other thing of monetary value from a person who is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relations with the Association. 

No Board member shall receive any compensation from the Association for acting as a volunteer.

No Association funds will be expended on behalf of any political party, candidate, or cause.

No Board member shall willingly misrepresent facts to the members of the community for the sole purpose of advancing a personal cause or influencing the community to place pressure on the Board to advance a Board member’s personal cause.

Language and decorum at Board meetings will be kept professional.  Personal attacks against homeowners, residents, service providers and Board members are prohibited.  Writing, publishing, or speech making that defames any other member of the Board is also prohibited and is not consistent with the best interest of the community. 

No Board member shall violate the duty of confidentiality by disclosure to any person, including but not limited to spouses, friends, homeowners, and non-homeowners, of confidential information not addressed in open meetings of the Board. 

Board members will respect and support all majority decisions of the Board. 

Board members will inform and acknowledge conflicts of interest between their personal life and issues brought before the Board.  Board members will abstain from voting on issues where they are conflicted. 

All Board members recognize that the President is the official spokesperson for the Board. No Board member will speak for or on behalf of the organization unless specifically authorized to do so. 

No Board member will harass, threaten, or attempt through any means to control or install fear in a member of the Board or other Andover Glen homeowner, resident, or associate of the Association.

Responsibilities of Andover Glen Board Members:

Ø       Represent the interests of those whom this organization serves.

Ø       Consider myself a trustee with a fiduciary responsibility to the organization, and will do my best to insure it is well maintained, financially secure and always operating in accordance with the Association’s stated objectives, governing documents, and applicable laws and statutes.

Ø       Work to learn how to do my job better through educational seminars offered for HOA’s.

Ø       Carefully consider and respect the opinions of my fellow Board members.

Ø       Refer homeowner complaints timely and directly to the Board.

Ø       Bring to the attention of the Board any issues I believe will have a significant effect on Andover Glen and its residents.

Ø       Keep well-informed of developments relevant to issues that may come from the Board; plan to attend and participate actively in Board meetings and actions.

Ø       Keep confidential information as such.

I, the undersigned, as a member of the Board of Directors of Andover Glen Homeowners Association, acknowledge that I have received a copy of Andover Glen’s policies on Code of Conduct for Board Members, and Responsibilities of Board Members.  I have read these policy statements, I understand them, and I agree to uphold them.

Signature:______________________________________Date:_____________________

Special Feature Article:

Wood Floor Shopping

Types, styles and trends in wood flooring

By Donna Foerster, GRI

Keller Williams Action Realty, LLC

Wood floors make a house a home and seem to last forever when cared for properly.  It’s a natural product and it’s easier to walk or stand on than tile or marble because it ‘gives’.  Plus, it’s far better than carpet for allergy sufferers.

Types of Wood Floors

Selecting the most appropriate wood floor can see daunting to a homeowner or do-it-yourselfer.  But after understanding the basic types and analyzing individual needs, choosing the right one is easy.

Wood Flooring Styles and Trends

Unfinished oak strip wood flooring, in either nail-down or glue-down, has been the top preference for homeowners and builders alike.  Today there are frequent requests for exotic species such as Jarrah, Australian Cypress, African Pedauk, Santos Mahogany and Brazilian Cherry. Besides being environmentally-correct, recycled or salvaged wood is a hot design trend.

Installation:  The No. 1 Priority

When installing a hardwood floor, it’s what’s underneath it that counts.  Cupping, cracking and clicking floorboards usually are the result of an installation on a substandard sub floor.  Also, moisture affects how would behaves, both during and after installation.  Before you attempt a do-it-yourself installation, do your homework online or in person at a home improvement center or flooring retailer. ~

Security Alert: A burglary in the Glen…

By Bob Meyer

One of our neighbors had a recent burglary in broad day light. The front door was broken, lock disabled, and entry gained. Valuables were taken, but no one was home and thankfully, no one was injured.

What can we learn from this? Well, no matter what prevention measures are taken, the bad guys seem to be able to overcome them. This neighbor's next deadbolt lock will be keyed from the inside, so that just reaching in will not allow the lock to be opened. Alert neighbors called police, but the burglars had vanished. We may try to remember our cell phones when walking and take particular notice of anyone who does not "look right". There are lots of contractors in the area, but honest ones shouldn’t object to identifying themselves. Do not hesitate to call 9-11 if you see something suspicious or for less than an emergency, call 303-739-6000. Stay Alert! ~

Lawsuit Update…

By Randy Simpson

As many of you are aware, the Association has been involved in litigation against a resident for failure to comply with covenants. The lawsuit has been settled and the Association has prevailed. A more thorough summary of this will be given at the Annual meeting, and also can be found in the minutes from the August meeting, available at www.andoverglen.org.

_______________________________________

a)    Water Rates

b)    Annual Dues

c)    Snow Removal

d)    Covenant review

If you have an ad or notice you’d like to place in the Gazette under the Neighbor to Neighbor section, please contact Randy Simpson at rgatess@yahoo.com