Telegraph Landing
Board of
Directors Meeting
MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: President: Nancy
Spero
Vice President: Morton Beebe
Treasurer: Barry Shiller
Deputy Treasurer: Barbara Charlton
Secretary: Marilyn Nichols
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER & ESTABLISH A
QUORUM
President Nancy Spero called
the meeting to order at
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF
PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the August 2, August 9 and
3. OPENING HOMEOWNERS’ INPUT
A resident, Eli Frank,
requested that when foliage is returned to the roof of Building Three no branches
hang over the edge of the building, as birds nest there and make a mess on the
patios below.
A resident, Florence
Schwartz, brought up concern that very large trees in pots on homeowners’ decks
and the roof could put undue stress on those membranes. Barbara Charlton
reported that Ferrari & Moe did check on that very concern and were
convinced that they could bear the weight. Treasurer Barry Schiller said the
issue needs its own agenda item for the next meeting.
A resident, Marilyn Breen,
expressed concern about the real-estate sandwich boards outside the building.
Property Manager Adele Laurence said the homeowners cannot restrict advertising
of a unit for sale and added that Tuesdays are a regular open-house day with
more than usual advertising.
A resident, Margaret Miller,
requested to get a count on grocery carts available, how many are broken,
etc. She stated on weekends it is very
hard to find one. The Property Manager
agreed to look into it.
A member, Joe Nagy,
suggested the association consider buying the adjacent building at 1620
4. TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Barry Shiller
presented the August Treasurer's Report. Operating expenses are running around
7% below budget, but winter utility costs may be high and there are still some
possible security bills that may go through this year.
5. OLD BUSINESS
a.) Deferred
from the August 17 meeting was a homeowner request in a Building 3 lower unit
(3-55) to extend the dining room to the edge of the overhang, as had been done
in the past by other owners. There had
been two director votes in favor at the August meeting. This matter was deferred so that Barry
Shiller could look at the proposed location and see the similar work which had
already been allowed by previous Boards, with a recorded agreement of
responsibility by the homeowner. After
his review, Barry reported that he voted in favor of the proposal, making a
majority of the Board approving and allowing the construction to go forward,
after getting the owner’s signature on the document specifying his
responsibility.
b.) Introduction
of new property management company CitiScape Property Management Group. Kevin
Wiley, who was the on-site manager for Telegraph Landing in the 80’s, has been
in the property management business in
c.) Treasurer Barry Shiller
reported that the Finance Committee has met since the August Board meeting and
has discussed and carefully considered the two proposals from two homeowners
for special assessments over fewer years and for less money, as an alternative
to the Finance Committee 6-year $6.3 million proposal. He stated that, unfortunately, neither
proposal provided adequately for Telegraph Landing’s needs as detailed in the
2005 reserve study. Both would have
created uncertainty and instability for owners and prospective buyers and one
of them suffered from unsupported and unrealistic assumptions. The Finance Committee is aware of and Barry
reminded the homeowners that there is a new law this year that requires the
association to report with the pro forma budget in November the percentage of
full funding of the reserve study.
Therefore the Finance Committee recommends to the Board that it stay
with the Finance Committee proposal and set a meeting for the members to vote
on it.
Deputy Treasurer Barbara
Charlton spoke to the motion and noted that the other proposals just would not
generate enough money for Telegraph Landing’s needs to maintain, repair and
replace worn out and deteriorating components. She also noted that many past
boards have noted the need for increased assessments, but did not take any
action. Secretary Marilyn Nichols expressed her confidence with the
thoroughness and completeness of the process reaching this conclusion. Mort
Beebe mentioned that the 101
In response to a member
question of how 2000’s assessment raise was spent, Treasurer Barry Shiller
directed the member to the association’s website that contains his report,
“Info Meeting Q&As.”
Regarding the
“front-loading” of the first installment of the assessment, i.e. that it is
larger than the other five installments, Barbara Charlton noted that this very
issue was seriously discussed by the Finance Committee, but the Finance
Committee eventually decided and recommended a larger amount for 2006 because
so many projects that are coming due for 2006 should really not be postponed
any longer and because insufficient money had been reserved for those projects
in the past.
Homeowner comments were also
invited. After discussion was complete,
it was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the board accept the
recommendations of the Finance Committee concerning a special assessment,
reaffirm its Resolution from the August 17 meeting, and give notice of a
special meeting of members for the purpose of voting on this special
assessment. The motion passed unanimously.
Nancy Spero announced that
the date will likely be Wednesday, October 19, the third Wednesday of October,
and the location will likely be the usual place for members’ meetings, the
Fishermans’ Wharf Holiday Inn on
6. NEW BUSINESS
a.) A Sherman-Clay upright
piano has been offered to the association for the Club Room. The Board invited
members’ comments on whether this gift should be accepted. A member recommended that those who live
above and near the Club Room should be given more deference in the decision
since the piano will impact them more than other members and residents. A
member recommended provisional acceptance in case the sound is a problem for
adjacent residents. The homeowner who is donating the piano, Margaret Miller,
said she would be happy to give the piano provisionally. If it doesn’t work out, she can give it to a
school. The board unanimously voted to accept the piano provisionally as set
out above, giving more weight in the ultimate decision to those residing in
units above and near the Club Room.
b.) Adele Laurence reported
that the Workers’ Compensation premium is due and delivered quotes to the
Board. Because some committee members are now gardening and doing work on
communal areas like the rooftops, Adele recommended Option 2 which would
provide workers’ comp insurance for board members and committee members. Two
homeowners were concerned that the association was paying for unnecessary
insurance. New Property Manager Chris Corey agreed to investigate the policy
and report back to the board.
7.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
a.)
The Maintenance Committee is considering how to get trash and recycling
appropriately separated and how to get cardboard properly folded. It will also
look into getting some recycling bins in the towers. Bicycle storage is another
issue that will be investigated, and the committee is preparing recommendations
to the Board. The Committee also requested ideas from the membership on how to
encourage greater electricity conservation. Adele Laurence reported that
CommAir had visited the property today to begin repairs on the men’s sauna.
b.)
Morton Beebe showed a video documenting the current waterproofing work
at Buildings #1 and #3. This video or an updated one will be screened at the
October 19 meeting, and Mort will try to make it available over the web.
8. FALL PARTY
Il Fornaio is hosting a party for Telegraph Landing residents and
owners on Tuesday October 4,
9. SET DATE OF NEXT MEETING & ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Board of Directors/Members’
meeting is scheduled for
There being no further business to come before the
Board, the meeting adjourned at
___________________________________ ___________________________
Approved by the Board Date
approved by the Board