Questions And Answers (Q&A) This is a new web page that your Board of Directors is bringing to you to help answer questions you have for your POA, and to enhance communications within our community. Your Board wants to hear from you, will attempt to answer all of your questions, and we will post them here for you and other community members to read. We will not post questions which are derogatory, demeaning, or personal in nature. Thank You in advance for your understanding and cooperation. GENERAL Q & As: Work Study Sessions - Question: No Resident Named - Why isn’t the Board having “work sessions” prior to the regular Board meetings anymore? Answer (Dec. 2007): Working Sessions were cancelled by the previous Board, but as President I have not reinstituted them because I believe that ALL Board business should be conducted in front of the homeowners at the regular business meetings. The working sessions were for the purpose of establishing the agenda for the regular Board meetings. They were held in the Management Office. While some homeowners did attend, many commented that they couldn’t really hear what was going on. The current Board believes that all Board business, including the decision of what does or does not get voted on by the Board, should be conducted at the regular business meeting with sufficient advance notice and a good sound system so that everyone can hear and participate.
Swimming
Pools - Question:
Kay Orzechowski
wants to know why the
Answer (Jan. 2008): Regarding the heating:
It is very expensive to heat the swimming pools, so the decision was
made to heat only two of the four pools, and these choices are
rotated from year to year. This year (2007-2008 winter season) the Regarding Use By Children: The reason this particular pool is not in the rotation for use by children is because it is the only pool equipped for use by our disabled residents. When children were allowed to use this pool, they would pull out and jump on the special chairs, breaking them. One of the chairs had to be totally rebuilt, so it was decided to take this pool out of the rotation for use by children.
Committee Chairpersons - Question: BILL KEITEL wonders if the Board will be appointing all Committee Chairpersons, since it appointed Ken Hunstad as Chairman of the Architectural Committee at its October meeting. Answer (Nov. 2007): This was a special situation where the Board wanted to show it’s support for the Committee by honoring the Committee’s own choice for leader at the same time it appointed a new member for the Architectural Committee.
FINANCIAL Q&As: Treasurer's Report - Question: JOHN LUGO pointed out that the Treasurer’s Report should never be limited to the balance sheet. It should also include income and expense information and results. Answer (Nov. 2007): The Board agrees, and Treasurer Moe Frenette is and will be including this information and more in his monthly report. We believe the money coming in and being spent belongs to the members of the Association and we all should be aware of how it’s being handled. CLICK HERE to view our Financial Reports web page, or click on "Financial Reports" in the Menu Bar of the homepage of our website www.vlpoa.org.
Spending Limits - Question: DR. RICHARD MATSUISHI expressed concern regarding the legal fees that were expended by the previous Board of Directors, and asks if there is no limit on the dollar amount the Board can authorize without a vote of the homeowners. Further, he asks, if there is no such limitation, shouldn’t one be established? Answer (Jan. 2008): The Board is elected to conduct the business of the Association (which is a non-profit corporation). Without the ability to expend funds, that business would not be possible. While State law does require that financials be open for review by all members of the Association, and the Board’s Treasurer does provide a report at each regular Board meeting, there is no limit on the amount of the Board’s expenditures, nor is there a requirement that the Association membership vote to allow expenditures over a certain amount. Should there be such a limit? While it would appear there should be, it would be difficult if to run the business of the association that way, particularly as it relates to legal fees. It’s impossible to know, going into litigation, just how much it might cost before it is over. Lawsuits can take a very long time and become very complicated. Voting by the Association membership is in itself a lengthy and expensive endeavor (consider printing, mailing costs, and weeks of time) and would not be a practical method for operating any business or government. All of this being said, however, you and I and every member of the Association must protect ourselves by being active in our own interest. We can do this by ensuring that the Board of Directors we elect represent and are responsive to the community at large. We must demand that its Board follow the open meeting law requiring all business be conducted in front of the membership. A representational Board is imperative to keeping your community whole and ensuring your expenses are reported up front. Attend as many Board meetings as possible, and volunteer in ways that help the community and keep aware of what is going on.
And get to know the CC&R’s. This is the contract that we all bought
into when we bought our house, like it or not. They can be
changed, by vote of the community, and in fact there is a committee
that has been working on this for five years. Let’s all be
sure to take a good look when they come to us… this is our
opportunity for real change in
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