GreaterWorld.org

[ZachreyBB]

GREATER WORLD SUBDIVISION - LAND USER’S ASSOCIATION
Meeting: Board of Directors Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Earthship Biotecture Press Office, Greater World Subdivision, NM
Board Members in Attendance: David Henry (DH), Nicole Leduc (NL), Ted Elsasser
(TE), Phil Basehart (PB), Amy Duke (AD), Michael Reynolds (MER)
Meeting Agenda:
I. Business
A. Financial Report
1. Account Balance: The GWLUA account balance is $2,750.
2. Insurance policy: The common land portion of liability insurance was paid in
full by the GWLUA ($1,300).
a. Request to put the community name on the insurance policy as there is
concern that the members may not be protected under the current policy.
MER and the Board will contact Mike Love about adding the GWLUA to
insurance policy.
b. Question: Are all roads to county specifications? No - If not could this be an
insurance liability? MER: Let’s deal with our own issues. If there is a
problem with any of the roads, bring it to the Board and we will handle it.
3. Property taxes: The total property tax bill was $2963.93 and the GWLUA
portion, 68.84% of the tax or $2040.37, was paid from the GWLUA bank
account. MER is responsible for the balance.
4. Report on road maintenance
a. Earthship Way
Ted Elsasser to report on road maintenance work: Road work was
performed on sections of Earthship Way near the homes of Duke and
Rhysing, near the well, and near the home of Marvin-Grabel. MER
authorizes TE to maintain roads as needed. Total cost was $300.
b. Lone Tree Lane
i. Input from Lone Tree Lane members is that members want pit run spread
out and graded but no widening of the road. Their request is that the work
be done before winter: Looks like it’s too late now. Will have to wait for
weather to clear up.
ii.Clarification on who pays for the work: Since the road is complete, this is
considered maintenance and the GWLUA is responsible for funding the
work.
B. Annual membership dues
1. Clarification requests
a. Do the annual dues of $75.00 cover those members that don't pay? – (i.e. we
do not pay more because others do not pay). Is this true and if so how is the
Bill currently being paid for in full? Non payment of dues is a relatively small
problem since there are only a few people not paying. The annual dues are
moderately higher than the projected expenses of the Association to cover
unexpected increases in insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc. The bills are
getting paid and there is a surplus, despite a few people who are not paying
their dues.
b. Would it be less if all members were in compliance? No.
c. If there is a shortfall in the annual dues received who is responsible for
covering it? MER “Let’s not make it a problem until it becomes one.” The
percentage of people paying their dues is very high and it is not expected to
drop in the foreseeable future.
d. Who enforces compliance with paying the annual dues, the Board or MER?
MER “It is not a problem now. If it does becomes a problem, I will get a
lawyer to make people pay their small, $75 dues.”
e. Is there any prior discussion or initiatives taken with the member that has
not paid their dues before a letter of non compliance is sent out? AD “I add a
little note to the minutes and bills I send out to non payers reminding them
to pay their dues.”
f. Request additional clarity on the interest penalty and the threat of liens. Is
this action legal? Are our By-laws and LUC legally binding? Tabled to next
board meeting, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 5:30PM at the Press Office.
2. Delinquent member
There is a community member who has not paid his dues for the past 3 years.
Do we wait until spring of 2008 to do something about it? What's our
protocol? MER to send certified letter with threat of legal action to this person.
MER requests creation of a protocol for non payers be added to the next
agenda.
II. Old Business
A. Covenant Compliance
1. Plarr Storage Shed: It’s still there. MER will contact Malloy Storage and arrange
pickup of storage container.
2. Need to define “Return to Compliance” in GWLUA Land Users Code: Tabled
to next board meeting, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 5:30PM at the Press
Office.
III. New Business
A. Covenant Compliance
1. Missy and Aries shed/playhouse
a. Does the free standing structure being built at Missy and Aries house have
Board or MER approval as it’s not attached to the main house or berm and
seems to be of frame construction, not tires. If so, what was the rational?
AD handled the initial conversations with Aries and had difficulty
communicating with the contractor. Aries did not consult the Land Users
Code prior to construction. MER urgently requests that all GWLUA
members consult the Association Documents if they have any questions
about a contemplated structure. The Association Documents (Articles of
Association, By-Laws, and Land Users Code) always prevail over what
anybody might say.
b. Presentation by Aries on plans for the structure: Aries presented plans of
the structure in question and pictures of structures in the subdivision that
are not in compliance.
2. Larger covenant compliance issues - fences, other nonattached outbuildings,
selectively enforced by-laws and current precedents, what you can do on your
property, or behind your wall. Sally has asked to speak briefly to the Board
regarding her concerns: Sally yielded the floor to Jonathan. Jonathan stated
that what happens behind his walls is nobody’s business. MER reiterated that
the documents always prevail over what anybody might think or say.
B. Minutes and Agenda for Board meetings
1. Request that the minutes and date for future scheduled meetings
be sent out in enough time that members receive them one month prior to
the meeting. This would allow Members sufficient time to review and
respond to minutes and plan to attend the next meeting: Tabled to next
board meeting, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 5:30PM at the Press Office.
2. Request that the agenda for upcoming Board meetings be sent out to
members ahead of time so that they can send comments or ask to speak at
the meeting: Tabled to next board meeting, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at
5:30PM at the Press Office.
C. Greater World Group health insurance (MER) MER made brief announcement
that he is looking into securing a health insurance plan for the whole
community and wants to hear from interested members. This will be brought
up at the next meeting.
D. GW Neighborhood Association Meeting: NL made an announcement that there
will be a series of meetings to create the Greater World Neighborhood
Association. First exploratory meeting is December 6, 2007 at Jonathan
Traister’s home. The next meeting is from 7pm to 9pm Tuesday January 29,
2008 at Jonathan Traister’s home. We will create a roadmap of the
neighborhood association creation process and go from there.
IV. Issues from Annual Meeting: All annual meeting issues tabled to next board
meeting, Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 5:30PM at the Press Office.
A. High priority
1. More community participation in general and specifically at the annual
meeting:
a. Request to vote on motions proposed by the board or GWLUA members
at the annual meeting - motions pass by simple majority vote
b. Request to vote on amendments to the GWLUA land User's Code or
ratify those amendments passed by the Board at the annual meeting
c. Request that currently everyone in the community have equal voting
rights. MER would like to see this happen @ 90% build out. When does
MER project that the land will be 90% developed?
2. Concern that the GWLUA name does not appear on the deed, taxes or
insurance policy and Members are being asked to pay for the above while
MER has veto power
3. Mike's ability to veto any amendment to the official documents until 100
GWLUA memberships
a. General community concern about when/why it would be applied
b. Point of information - some members thought MER said that the Board
would be in charge 7 years after subdivision started?
4. By-laws and Developer vs. member responsibilities
a. Request to see one set of by laws and LUC created that would reflect the
current responsibilities of the community.
b. Request to see more time spent working to get members to comply with
those by laws.
c. Request to look at why members are not signing and abiding by the By-laws
and happy to pay their community fees.
d. Request clarity on community responsibilities vs. MER as the developer
responsibilities
5. What can the community do to help support the board?
a. Is it time to adopt a community treasurer?
B. Lower priority
1. Are free running dogs grandfathered in for the like of the dog or life of the
owner?
2. Update on the gravel pit - what's happening?
3. Developer/County issues
a. Estimated rollover date?
b. How does county "grandfather in" noncompliant homes?
4. Request clarity on "build-able" square feet - how defined/calculated?
V. Action Items
1. AD to send Jennifer Stoldt the insurance policy to review and obtain her
feedback
2. AD to make a report of all the members who are not paying dues and how
much money is uncollected.
3. Board to create a protocol to nudge delinquent people into paying their dues.
4. Board to review playhouse/shed plans and work with Rhysings to devise a
reasonable solution.
5. Board to discuss the distinction between playhouse and outbuilding.
6. Create an ongoing list of noncompliance issues a handle them at each board
meeting.
7. MER to present health insurance proposal to the board and attending
members.
8. Arrange for road maintenance on Lone Tree Lane.
9. AD to call insurance company and request that GWLUA name be added to
liability insurance policy.
10. MER to arrange removal of storage container with Plarr.
11. AD to contact Dream Catcher Realty regarding outstanding GWLUA dues at
times of sale.