MINUTES
AGHA BOARD MEETING
APRIL 15, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER-The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by President, Randy Simpson.
II. ROLL CALL- Absent were Anne Stellmon, Dave Estes and Dick Moore; Debra Jones arrived at 7:20pm qualifying the meeting for a Quorum, majority of board present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-Minutes approved by Carl Miller and Debra Jones and Royal Shields (at 7:27pm)
IV. AGHA FORUM- No residents from Andover Glen in attendance other than Norm Arlt who is reporting on various Xeriscape projects he is overseeing for the HOA
V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Xeriscape Grant – Norm reported he received contract paperwork back from Randy and submitted to the contractor, they will begin the project with a series of grass killing applications probably sometime in early May. Derrick Laughlin inquired about the possibility of approaching the City of Aurora program for additional funding to complete the breeze path north of the large pines but Norm advised that all funds for this Xeriscape program have been exhausted.
B. Xeriscape Rebate Program- Norm reports that the rebate program no longer will rebate for simple turf conversion/removal but that a new xeriscape plant valuation program has been initiated.
· Values of plants must add up to 60% of area renovated for xeriscape
· Norm presented a valuation sheet for plants which included a cost to purchase versus the value assigned by the xeriscape rebate program. He gave some good examples of opportunity to profit by and others where the valuation exceeded the cost of the eligible plant.
· Norm laid out he and Quink’s elaborate but impressive scaled drawing of the areas around and north of the tennis courts. He made adjustments to their original design of some years ago to address the new valuation concept and to address avoiding Russian Olive trees to the north of the creek to reduce our square footage of renovation/xeriscape to meet his revised plant distribution allowance.
· Other examples of plant value were discussed, noting this again will be a project the entire HOA would have to volunteer for so the board will try to devise some plan for participation.
C. Covenant Review Update-Randy Simpson reported that Hindman-Sanchez had not returned his request for a firm estimation to complete and ratify our covenant review. He noted we might want to shop rates, anticipating they will come in higher than our $7500 agreed budget from our last meeting. He will apply some pressure to them in hopes of getting an answer.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. City of Aurora Budget Town Meeting, Ward VI -Bob Broom, facilitator was announced
1. May 14, 2009 at Tallyn’s Reach Municipal; Center, 23911 E. Arapahoe Road at 7pm
2. Randy mentioned part of this discussion will center on the Library District Mill Levy and how the city would petition to the public for continuation of a bond such as from the sports complex (Arapahoe Horse Park for example). This is a classic example of where the city/public might have an opportunity to reduce taxes but instead are continued on the same tax schedule for some other agenda.
3. Randy also noted that in these changing times, Libraries might become obsolete to their traditional use but could effectively be transformed into a type of information center for the public to use such as internet transmittal of resumes and job search programs as every household doe not own a computer.
4. We also discussed the job security of the Aurora Police Department noting that they have a ruling to follow for every thousand inhabitants of the City there are two police officers. Most of the crime occurring in North Aurora brought this edict about some years ago and with the development in South Aurora in recent years with it’s demographics (middle/upper-middle income) and low crime rate there is an over flow of well paid police officers, the young and inexperienced getting the weekend detail, etc. This is another example of a continued taxation that needs some sort of amending.
VII. BOARD REPORTS
A. President- Nothing other than the Hindman-Sanchez debacle
B. Vice-President- Out ill
C. Secretary- Out “on assignment”.
D. Treasurer- Hand delivered financials (by Royal) were reviewed and approved by the board as Dick was absent. Dick noted in a previous email he will continue the monthly financial reporting similar to former Treasurer Barb Powell starting in June.
E. Arch. Control Committee- A review of the recent HOA requests followed - Joann Mitchell 4853 S. Crystal St.
1. re-paint house and trim with colors almost like what she has
2. take down split rail fence on
north side and replace with 6' cedar fence;
3. plant flowers around base of deciduous tree in
front yard
I approve all 3
Dena Kitsos -- 14173 E. Layton Dr. Reshingle house with same shingles (warranty problem); paint house with basically same color/trim-all approved.
4804 S. Crystal St. --Royal Shields-paint trim same color-approved
14133 E. Layton Dr; Wimetts---wanted to erect 8' fence along back side and side of neighbors- disappoved. Changed request to a 6' fence-approved.
· A discussion surrounding the proximity of the community garden to the Wimett’s property took place. Randy made a request to move the garden 25’ to 30 feet north along the fence line as a gesture of good will to the Wimett’s. It will be presented to the community garden committee for consideration.
4823 S. Crystal St.-- Gross- paint house same color-approved.
4804 S. Dillon Way Kilgore & Sharp- Plant 7' pinion pine where old was and there is now a stump which will be removed-approved.
F. Social – Debra confirmed the dates for the garage sale (May 29-30 ) and dumpster days (June 5-6). She has not heard from our former sponsors for the garage sale and dumpster days (with shredding) which means she will budget for a newspaper add for the garage sale; Randy mentioned he could have it posted on the City of Aurora information channel and that might get better publicity given the state of the newspaper industry. She mentioned our former sponsors paid for half of the shredding but that will not be continuing either so she advised the shredding is up for bidding this year.
G. Neighborhood Watch- Nothing to report activity wise for AG but Derrick advised a new PAR officer has been assigned (2nd one this year), a reply was sent to invite the officer to any of our board meetings or get acquainted with this area watch but there has been no response thus far. The email alert system has been effective to date and we will continue to grow that contact list.
H. Welcoming- No report
VIII. ADJOURNMENT-Randy Simpson adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:37PM
Respectfully submitted,
Derrick A. Laughlin (for Anne Stellmon, Secretary, AGHA Board of Directors)