Lake Linganore Association, Inc.
January 19, 2004
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. Those in attendance were: Alan
Dinkelacker, Grant Sheehan, Todd Young, Andrew Twillman, Bill DiLoreta, Lisa
Rogers, Brian Kopec.
Also in attendance were: Stephen Hembree, LLA general manager; Larry Brown, LLA
assistant general manager/ECC administrator; Joy Gurley, community resource
manager.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 5, 2004 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes of the January 5, 2004 board of directors meeting were approved as
written.
Director Sheehan suggested that staff begin to look at eliminating some of the
meeting minutes from the web site to make room for new and upcoming minutes. He
suggested that the web site page that links to the minutes carry a statement
that all board minutes prior to those listed on the web site are available at
the LLA office for review.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Land Exchange Status— Director DiLoreta recused himself from the discussion and
the vote on this issue. Following a workshop with residents on January 10, GM
Hembree posed the question as to whether staff should continue with the
surveying work involved in the land exchange.
MOTION: Director Twillman made a motion that the board not pursue the land
exchange proposal that would trade a Woodridge parcel for a parcel in Meadows
and Aspen North. Director Rogers seconded the motion.
Discussion: Director Sheehan said that it was clear that those in attendance at
the workshop did not support the exchange and offered good reasons for not
supporting the exchange. He said while he was interested in Land Stewards
succeeding in its goals, the Woodridge parcel had clearly been promoted by the
builders in Woodridge as green space. He cited a recent court case in which the
elements of the situation were similar and the court upheld homeowner
expectations. He said Woodridge residents had expectations based on what the
builders were telling them.
Director Twillman said that without this land exchange, the reality remains that
the LLA still needs a site for its maintenance facility and that the Meadows
site was the only feasible site available. Director Rogers said she did not
believe that the Meadows site worked for the purpose. GM Hembree said the site
was workable and that the LLA has to have something for this purpose and that
essentially there is no other site within the PUD. Director Sheehan asked about
using the Nightingale site for the maintenance facility. Mr. Hembree noted that
the Nightingale site was in the middle of a “high-end” residential area but that
the Meadows site was not attached to any lots, which was another feature that
made it preferable.
Director DiLoreta said that Land Stewards would be willing to consider other
proposals to help the LLA gain a maintenance site.
VOTE: the board voted 6-0 in favor of the motion to not pursue the proposed land
exchange.
Covenant Book Status— Under legal review, no report at this time.
Aspen Village Request— Under legal review, no report at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
Letter to Division of Planning and Zoning re: Land Stewards Revised Phase II
Plan- the board asked GM Hembree to address the letter to Eric Soter instead of
Mr. Thompson. Director DiLoreta asked that a copy of the letter be sent to
Christine Mayo.
Letter to Division of Planning and Zoning re: County Zoning Change on 20-acre
camp site from PUD to Conservation Area Zoning- GM Hembree said the county’s
Small Area Plan for the Linganore area/New Market Region Plan changed the zoning
designation of a 20-acre camp site owned by the LLA to conservation area. He
told the board that the LLA needs to make the point to the county that the
association must have input on this matter. Director Twillman asked whether the
campsite land could be banked for future FRO obligations. Mr. Hembree said he
would look into that possibility. Some discussion on what the 20-acre site could
be used for took place. Director Young suggested that the letter deal only with
the matter of the LLA having input on the designation and to not include
information about any specific possible future uses of the parcel.
FY’05 Budget Discussion— LLA president Dinkelacker noted that the board was in
the middle of the budget process and that the board was considering a three
percent increase in the assessment rate. He said the increase would allow the
association to get some projects done this year.
The board discussed when to vote on the improved lot assessment rate and decided
to do so at the end of the Jan. 24 referendum meeting.
Resident John Snow said that he supported the increase in the assessment and
that the board should outline what it would use the money for, let the residents
know how it would be used and “go for it.”
Director Sheehan said that he was against increasing the assessment because
residents were seeing an increase in the state’s property valuation assessments
and because he believed the LLA would end the year with more money in hand than
had been projected. In addition he said the state’s increase would generate more
money for the association next year. Director Young reminded the board and
audience that the association was legally facing more than $1 million in
financial obligations during the next few years and that those obligations could
not be met without a special assessment or an increase in the dues.
Resident Larry Dusold said that the level of maintenance of assets was not
acceptable and that the association could not meet its financial obligations on
funds generated from future valuation assessment increases.
Resident Carol Thames asked whether the LLA was legally obligated to return to
LLA members any money that is left over at the end of the year in the budget.
She asked for a legal clarification on the matter.
MATTERS FOR BOARD INFORMATION
January 24 Referendum Reminder— the board decided that the agenda for the
meeting would be as follows:
•Question/Answer period on vacant lot assessments
•Voting on vacant lot assessment
•Discussion on improved lot assessment rate
•Vote on improved lot assessment rate.
Board president Dinkelacker asked community resource manager Joy Gurley to
contact the Frederick News-Post and the Gazette reporters to ask if they could
help get the word out about the agenda for the 24th.
Board Elections— GM Hembree announced Saturday, May 15 as the date for the
annual membership meeting and board elections. He said candidates interested in
running for the board will need to submit information for the voter guide, at
the latest, by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15.
GM Monthly Report— Director DiLoreta asked about the mailbox area lighting
project and asked for a specific date. GM Hembree said that a contract had been
signed, the materials for the project were ordered and once the material
arrives, the contractor will be working on the project as weather permits.
Director Rogers said that she was concerned that the LLA gives an expected date
for completing a project and then becomes late on that schedule.
Aspen North CDA— Director Sheehan reviewed the to-date results of the Aspen
North CDA and noted that the percentage of responses favorable to the
feasibility study for a CDA was below the 66 2/3 percent level desired by the
board and therefore gave the board no reason or cause to move ahead on the study
at this time. Mr. Sheehan asked staff to forward to Mr. Dinkelacker a list of
non-responders so that he can check to see if those who had not responded had
possibly sold their lots and that the information was not known to the LLA.
RESIDENT FORUM
Charlotte Dusold told the board that a possible workshop on the CDA was being
considered. She said the tentative date was Saturday, February 21.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Kopec made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Director Rogers seconded
the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.