Ventana Lakes

 Property Owners' Association

President's Report

February 15, 2006

1:30pm

 

The Annual Meeting is March 7 at 7:00pm.  Announcement of who won the election for the one seat on the Board of Directors will be announced.   I urge you to vote, if you haven’t done so already.  Your vote is important.  Choose wisely.  Do not be swayed by promises such as a chicken in every pot or two cars in every garage as a former USA president promised.

 

The next announcement will probably ruffle the feathers of a few.   The Board after considering the cost agreed that no group or activity except that what is planned monthly by Adrienne for which tickets are sold and two clubs who have an agreement with her will be supplied with any type of paper products.  Those who play Bocce, cards, use the Rec Ctr for meetings and other groups who want paper products will have to supply their own paper products.  It was decided that it was not fair to ask residents in Ventana Lakes to pay for paper products for a small group of persons who want paper products weekly.   The cost is too much when looked at annually.

The Volunteer Recognition dinner will be held on April 29.  It will be by invitation only.  Chairs of each committee will select those members of their committee who are to be invited. 

I would like to put to rest the age issue.  Our documents state you must be 55 years old to live here.  Liz has examined every property owner’s file to check for an age verification form.  She has notified those few who had nothing on file.  What happened in the past is not correctable by this Board.   If there is a form in each property owner’s file showing the age of the resident or residents is 55 or older, then neither the Manager nor the Board is going to do anything.  If residents fabricate their verification forms, who is to determine this?   The legal stance is that if a resident believes that there is no one in a particular house who is 55 then that resident has to supply proof and be willing to go to court.  The Board and the Manager are not police.

Since Liz became the Manager, she has obtained age verification forms from all new residents when the papers are received from the escrow company.  New residents meet the age requirements as of this date.

The second issue.  VLPOA governing documents do not state a Board member has to be 55 to be a Board member.

The next issue.  The Board had our law firm rescind the resolution that defined permanent occupant.  The present Board has decided it will not attempt to define permanent in relation to occupancy.

It appears that some residents believe they are shareholders in the Association in relation to Common areas and the facilities.  Homeowners are not shareholders.   The Association provides amenities which assessment fees help maintain.  Use of any facility such as the Craft Building or the YC for an event has to be scheduled through the Activities Director.  Those who want to hold a picnic at the Coves are asked to work with the Activities Director.  Buildings and common areas are maintained by the Association for use by residents, not for residents' to solely decide on their use.  Events suggested by residents and planned with Adrienne are considered.  Residents must work within the framework for offering events.

A question was raised as to whether election signs for Board members were approved for placement in home owners yards.  The 2005 Supplement under AC Guidelines states that political signs are allowed  45 days before an election and must be removed 7 days after the election.  Signs are allowed for local, city , state , etc elections and  based on AZ law are for any elected position.  A board member is an elected official and thus signs for a board candidate are allowed.   In addition, Article XV, Section 5 gives the Association the right to adopt rules and regulations to aspects of the Association’s rights and duties.

Volunteers are needed by the Building Monitors.  Our previous group had served for many years and just tired of the job.  New volunteers are needed.  Call Diane Della Pia if you are interested.

As members of the Board of Directors that are elected by means of an election of which all eligible homeowners vote, we have a duty to the Association to look at all matters that are presented in a manner that is to be understood.  The governing documents for Ventana Lakes give the Board the right to interpret as they see fit the language provided within the documents.  The Board also has the right to implement rules and regulations from time to time to address concerns that affect the community.  As with any changing of the guard, the interpretation is going to change as well as research necessary to determine the answers to questions that may be posed.  We work hard to stay within the scope of the governing documents as well as guidelines to maintain our community.  The Board will not address slanderous comments that have no real basis and would urge the community members to think their thoughts through and provide an exact question for the Board to answer without insults or disparaging remarks, of which we will be glad to research and respond accordingly.