Ventana Lakes
Property Owners' Association
President's Report
November 16, 2005
1:30pm
I want to publicly thank all those volunteers who spent more than 80 hours helping me with the recall process. They coded envelopes, put address labels on envelopes, stuffed the envelopes, sealed them, ran them through the postage meter and got them to the post office. All of this work was done in a few days. The recall process cost the Association over $2100 and one or two invoices have not been received as yet.
The recall process went smoothly and was handled just like prior elections in which ballots had to be counted. The process was not new to residents because each had received a mail-in ballot in February 2005 when new board members were being elected. Representatives were present from both sides of the recall issue. The Concerned Citizens 2 group had two representative: Denna Cigoy and a Ms Anne Stewart from Sun City Recreation Center. The Association had the Manger of Colby Management Company, Lynn Krupnick and me. Ballots were counted four times by members of the Election Committee and tallied twice by Anne and Lynn who then signed off on the count as being correct. The number of votes cast for recall of Bob DellaPia was 456. Votes against his recall were 525.
The Annual Meeting will be held on the first Tuesday in March which is the 7th. There is one board position to be filled. It is for a three year term. Currently only one person, Joe McCord, has submitted his name. The Election Committee developed forms last year for anyone who wants to become a candidate. These forms are in the Management Office. Time is critical. If you want to run, then material must be submitted by Dec 5 for inclusion in the January newspaper.
The process similar to that for the recall will be followed. Residents will receive a mail-in ballot and a coded envelop in February. The enclosed envelop with a code number must be used. The code on the envelop will match the code number given to each resident. The return envelope will have the Management Office address. Envelopes can be mailed or dropped off at the Office. A staff member will check off returned, coded envelopes against the master list of home owners. The sealed envelopes will then be placed in our locked ballot box.
In person voting will also be allows on the day of the Annual Meeting. The same master list of homeowners on which those who voted by mail have been noted will be used for in person voting. After the poll closes, members of the Election Committee will recheck the numbers on the coded envelopes with the master list. Once all coded envelopes have been rechecked for accuracy, the envelopes will be opened and the envelopes placed back in the ballot box. All ballots from the mail-in and those obtained from in person voting will be counted following the procedure established four years ago.
Results of the voting will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
4. Inside and outside door locks have been changed at the Management Office. This is standard business practice in many companies after employees leave. Here as you all know, too many people have keys to the facilities. The office staff is charged with maintaining privacy and confidentiality of homeowners’ documents. Changing locks and having only four with keys is a major step in that direction.
I have been in contact with Cathy Carlat regarding a petition for use by he with the City of Peoria. Here is the form she suggested. Ray Gonella has offered to obtain signatures. I will let Ray and Joe determine how to handle the forms. In conversation with Maricopa County Dept. of Transportation, I was told by the person I spoke to about petitions, that the widening of Deer Valley and a bridge over the river were being considered for 2010 when the county expects there will be 500,000 people around this area. A similar project for Beardsley would by in 2011 at a cost of $27 million dollars. All of this can be moved ahead of schedule. Their concern is moving traffic. Health and noise issues are not at the top of the list.
A request to all residents: If anyone has a concern that requires discussion by the Board of Directors such as issues with the governing documents or a board member’s conduct, please put your concern(s) in writing and drop off the letter at the Management Office. The manager can not respond to these types of concerns. She also has been requested not to respond to any emails related to these topics. Thank you.
All barley straw bales have been removed from Lake 8 and 1. Fish habitats are being cleaned. Each of the habitats had numerous minnows which is a good sign for the lakes.
Lastly, residents are reminded not to become involved with a contractor by telling him how to do his job, the type of truck used, if the truck is left running and it is giving gives off fumes, etc. Concerns are to be brought to the attention of the manager. Liz has been able to obtain several good contractors and one has expressed concern that he does not need residents giving him a hard time.