Friday, May 20, 2016

Annual Membership Meeting Minutes May 2016

Bridger Creek Subdivision Community Association
Annual Membership Meeting
Minutes of Meeting – May 2, 2016
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 P.M. at the Lindley Center.
 The Board President, Sharyn Anhalt, welcomed members to the membership meeting, reminding members that this is a membership meeting, not a board meeting.
 Confirm Attendance and Quorum
Sharyn stated that 160 proxies had been returned by mail prior to the meeting (with a handful provided at the meeting) and that 109 were needed for a quorum (being 40% of 272 lots or votes), confirming that a quorum was reached for this meeting.
 Officially Nominate and Appoint Chairperson
Paul Gianas was nominated as Chairperson by Sharyn Anhalt and approved by the membership.  Paul talked about the three sets of rules we operate by, the nonprofit rules for corporations administered by the Montana Secretary of State, the Bylaws and Covenants of BCSCA, and Robert's Rules of Order adopted in 2008 to govern meetings. As we go through agenda items, we will not leave that item until everyone who wishes to be heard has a chance to talk.  I will call on you, please give your name before any comments and keep your comments to two minutes.  You may have a chance to be recognized a second time if everyone else who wants to comment has had a chance to participate.
 Officially Nominate and Appoint Recording Secretary for the meeting
Sharyn Anhalt nominated Billie Ranard as recording secretary for this meeting and she was approved by the membership.
 Consider Adopting Amended and Restated Covenants
In order to approve the Amended and Restated Covenants, our Covenants require approval by 75% of each class of R1 and R3 zoning. At the very least, for the amendment to pass we would need a total of 205 ballots to be returned. As of the start of the meeting, only 160 ballots were returned so the vote is moot for now.  However, it was encouraging because 85% of the returned ballots were in favor of changing the Covenants. The Board will discuss presenting to the membership for a second vote. An additional amendment may be considered with the next vote, given the fact that the original covenants required voting by R1 and R3 classes. As phases 2 and 3 were developed, the zoning was all R3, making the classes heavily weighted towards R3.
 Sharyn provided a summary of the court actions and implications to the Association. The court interpretation requires us to separately collect any money needed for improvements, no matter how small. Previously we had been funding improvements with the annual assessment of $75.00. Additionally, the word “Improvement” is not defined in our covenants, making it difficult to determine what expenses would be considered an improvement vs a repair.  The amendment to the Covenants would have given us a definition of improvement; small improvement versus capital improvement with an amount of $5,000.00 as the dividing line, and allowed the Association to fund small improvements with the regular annual assessment. This provides efficiency, and reduces the cost of administration.
Questions?
·        Tom Carne - if people send in ballots late can they be counted? Sharyn - no, they have to be submitted before the end of the meeting. 
·        George McDowell – Suggest sending educational information in a simplistic manner before we try again.  I think there was a lot of confusion with all the emails, etc.
·        Paul Gianas - It is easier to change our Bylaws than our Covenants.  Problems are part time residents, investment owners, we will need phone calls and more direct contact.
·        Catherine Nelson - If we have to wait a period of time to try again, how will the Association function?  Sharyn - we can do maintenance, just nothing which might be construed as an improvement without a vote of the membership for a special assessment.  The court ruling stands as long as the wording in that section of the Covenants remains the same.
·        Paul – our Covenants and Bylaws are poorly written and often contradictory. A committee met several years ago to come up with a list of items that need changes.  We went to a vote of the membership with only the 5 most important changes to the Bylaws, out of some of the 35 items which they believed needed changes. Changes to the Bylaws are much easier than the Covenants; lower percentage of votes are required.
·        George McDowell - Does Montana law allow you to change the Bylaws?  Sharyn – yes but we have to follow the requirements in the Bylaws for approval to change them.
·        Paul talked about independent HOAs within BCSCA.  Informed people they should have received a copy of the Bylaws and Covenants from their real estate agent. He gave the website (http://bridgercreek.blogspot.com/) for information about Bylaws and Covenant, meeting minutes and other information.  If you are not receiving information from BCSCA please make sure to provide your working email address. You may do so by emailing bridgercreekboard@gmail.com.
Design Review Committee Report
Karin Jennings reported for Dave Andreassi:
Sept 3 minutes: fence in backyard on Boylan was approved with conditions as outlined in minutes.
Jan 4 minutes: 
  • November new home construction approved to build on Augusta;
  • May board approved repainting a home on Augusta;
  • April building of an addition and remodel on Augusta was approved; and
  • January the board approved painting trim of a home on Augusta.
March 28 minutes:
  • Request for covenants variance for roof pitch for preliminary plans for a new home on St. Andrews was denied because the major roof form was a shed roof and not gable or hip roof as required by the Covenants;
  • The board approved plans submitted by Dave Andreassi for additional Links Condo Units – submitted plans on behalf of Golf Course Partners to the Board, as he cannot approve them since he is committee Chair. The new units will use the same floor plans and exterior design as the existing units.
Sharyn stated a reminder that anything done to the exterior of your home should be sent to the Design Review Committee.

Park and Trail Committee Report
Karin Jennings reported on the construction of the gas mitigation system in the Phase 3 park adjacent to landfill, which has disturbed the trail installed and funded by our Association. The City contract requires the contractor to replace park and trail to same or better condition. Expected to be completed by mid-June. City will inspect prior to releasing contractor.
Tom Carne commented that it would be good for the Association to also inspect the work prior to final. Karin indicated that she has asked that of the City and they said they would try to coordinate, but that she will also contact the City in early June to remind of our request.
Treasurer’s Report for 2015-2016 Fiscal Year
Copies of financials through March 31 and proposed budget were provided. Dian Bottcher is Treasurer and is present, as well as Sharyn Anhalt, Association bookkeeper. Sharyn asked if there were any questions? 
·        Tom Carne asked about several items where we budgeted much more than was spent during the year. Presumes that is due to desiring a cushion?  Sharyn replied yes, cushion for items such as mowing and snow removal as those vary depending on the weather.
·        Sharyn also clarified that $75 per year per lot is the current minimum annual assessment. The Bylaws set the minimum at $20 per year per lot originally, which was changed in 2002 by vote of the membership to $75.  The Board must collect the minimum annual assessment per the Bylaws, unless it is changed by a vote from the membership.
Presentation of Budget for July 2016 through June 2017, and Member Vote for Approval
Vote held by written ballot.

Nomination and Election for two Board of Director positions, serving two years to May 2018
The Board is composed of five directors, one Director is appointed by Golf Course Partners, four are elected by the membership. Term is two years. There are 2 openings. 
·        Paul - I will entertain nominations. Jan Deal nominated Sharyn and Karin. No other nominations were made from the floor.
·        Sharyn – Indicated that both she and Karin cannot, and do not wish to stay on the Board forever.  We really do need some new people to step up.  Please start coming to the meetings and learn what it is like.  Karin and I wanted to finish this covenant issue and that is why we have agreed to continue.  A lot of HOAs are turned over to a management company which we want to avoid as it increases the dues.
·        Paul thanked the current board members for their diligence and service and made an appeal to membership to become involved.
Voting was conducted by written ballot.
New Business
Paul brought up the issues with the 12 acre park west of Boylan Road and gave a summary of the current status.
Sharyn added that Tom Murphy recently requested a zoning change from the County which was denied. To date, all of his requests to either the City or the County have been denied. He has recently requested a septic permit.
Any other new business?  Seeing none, we will entertain a motion for adjournment. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:49 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,
Billie Ranard, Recording Secretary

Final vote tallies from written ballots, counted after the close of the meeting:
Present in person or by proxy = 171 (109 needed for a quorum)
 Vote to amend the covenants:  118 YES from R3 (165 needed for approval) and 26 YES from R1 (39 needed for approval)
Vote for Directors serving May 2016-May 2018: 155 YES for Sharyn; 158 YES for Karin
Vote to approve budget: 156 YES