Lake Linganore
Association, Inc.
August 15,
2005
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. at the LLA Coldstream Drive office.
Board members present: Jim Cates, Jay Decker, Lisa Rogers, Grant Sheehan.
BoD members absent: Jim DiMeglio, Alan Dinkelacker, Brandon Frazier.
Staff in attendance: GM Edwards, CRM Gurley.
Minutes of the July 18, 2005 regular board meeting were approved as written.
DEVELOPER’S
REPORT— no report given.
• Security— Larry Herald of Security Services of America (SSA) was introduced to give a brief report about SSA’s work since reporting for duty at Eaglehead 15 days prior to the meeting. Mr. Herald told the board that a report would be prepared on the work of the SSA officers after 30 days and would be presented at the next board meeting. He said that generally, parking at the beaches was a big issue that officers were dealing with, as well as juveniles at the dam and dogs on the beaches during restricted hours. He also noted that there were a lot of vehicles that were towed initially. GM Edwards said that SSA officers were doing an admirable job. Mr. Herald said the officers were staying on top of problem areas. Director Sheehan reminded the audience that the LLA intended to evaluate the work of SSA officers and the blending of their schedule with that of county deputies at the end of three months. GM Edwards also noted that the LLA tip line had received two tips regarding the August vandalism of Coldstream Pool. He said he was confident that the information will help determine who was responsible for the vandalism.
•Environmental Control Committee— GM Edwards reported that it was a busy month with applications for fences, additions, new homes and decks.
• Finance Committee— no report from the treasurer. This month’s report is to be reviewed at the next board meeting.
• Trailblazers Committee— the committee reported that 1,000 feet of the lake trail had been refurbished, as well as a new culvert that had been added. Approximately 80 percent of the trails budget had been expended on this project. The drainage project at the Indian Cave area would have to wait because there is not enough funding this year to implement the project. This would be the number one project in the next year’s budget. The remainder of this year’s budget would be used to fix a drainage problem on the lake trail at Aspen. Approximately $25,000 was used on the trail refurbishment project. Clearing work in Aspen and Coldstream areas was to continue.
• Election Committee— The committee is to report in the fall on the matter of better control of declarant votes for the annual board election and other voting matters.
• Aspen Village— Chairperson Kathy Brown reported that the committee had met with Land Stewards about the southeast parcel in Aspen. She said the committee has some suggestions that it will present to Land Stewards.
• Woodridge Village— Co-chairperson Steve Oesterle thanked the GM for installation of trail signs in the village. He said the village will soon hold another village committee election. He had questions on how fences in the community were approved. GM Edwards and board members explained the process and also explained that there was an appeal process in place, too. Director Sheehan noted that the board can overturn decisions by the ECC.
Ladoga Lane Speed Bump— GM Edwards tallied information from the LLA insurance carrier and explained that the association does have exposure to liability with the installation of the bumps. Installing the bumps would not change the LLA insurance rate. GM Edwards said that he had reservations about the height of the bump and said that no spike would hold the bump in the ground on that road. He also said that he did not believe that this would help the neighborhood. After some discussion director Rogers asked if residents on that street would be open to installation of a three-way stop and noted that this had been successfully used in other areas of the community. Resident Christiana Rosenaur said it was possible that residents would be open to this remedy.
MOTION: Director Rogers made a motion install stop signs at the intersection of Ladoga Lane and Ladoga Place for a 30-day period. Director Decker seconded the motion. Director Cates said he would support the three-way stop and if it did not work, something else would be attempted. VOTE: four of the directors voted in favor of the motion; none of the directors voted against the motion.
Date/Deadline on Covenant Change Vote— CRM Gurley explained that LLA attorney Shelah Lynn had been on vacation and had not been able to get back to staff with a response about the draft documents for the covenant vote. Director Sheehan said the board could discuss the matter at the next board meeting and decide how to handle the vote- whether to call a meeting to settle the vote or simply include a deadline on the cover letter of the voting documents.
Vehicle Permit Study— Director Sheehan reported that in January he gave a report on vehicle identification procedures during the membership/assessment process. He said it was the obligation of the directors to enforce the definition of member in the LLA covenants. He noted that earlier in the year the board had approved a motion to not issue vehicle ID stickers unless all vehicle information requested by the association on the membership data sheets was provided to the LLA by the member. He said it was an effective directive. He said that of the total membership approximately 103 members requested five or more vehicle ID stickers, which brought up the question of whether all of the vehicles actually belonged to members, as defined in the covenants.
MOTION: Director Sheehan made a motion for staff to randomly review 15 of those 103 members to see if the vehicles actually belong to legitimate member. The 15 members to be reviewed were to be selected from a variety of villages and staff was to contact the MVA to determine how/whether licenses could be checked. Director Cates seconded the motion. VOTE: four of the directors voted in favor of the motion; none of the directors voted against the motion.
ECC Appointment of John Allemang— The ECC submitted to the board a letter recommending the appointment of Balmoral resident John Allemang to the ECC.
MOTION: Director Rogers made a motion to approve the appointment. Director Decker seconded the motion. VOTE: four directors voted to approve the motion; none of the directors voted against the motion.
• Pinehurst resident Donita Garrett told the board that she was having problems with a neighbor about a fence line. She said she had applied to install a fence, for which she had to have the property surveyed. Her neighbor also applied to install a fence but installed his in such a way that it denied her use of her property. After discussion the board explained that staff would have to do the research to determine who was responsible for what in the matter. Director Sheehan said that if the LLA was responsible to any aspect of the matter, it would take the appropriate action. If it was a land issue between the two property owners, he said Ms. Garrett may have to ask the courts to settle the matter.
• Brian Jacobs asked about the covenant
rewrite on the matter of boats. Director Sheehan said the board’s real concern
was the fact that Eaglehead is a lake community and that the current covenant
related to boats not being seen on lots seemed to harsh and that the intent is
to make the rule easier for residents.
Mr. Jacobs said his concern with the proposed change was the LLA
approval requirement, which he said made it difficult to determine if the
proposed change was actually easier or not.
• A resident asked who to call regarding
dogs being caged outside or tied up out front of a house. Director Sheehan said that the LLA rule only
pertains to loose dogs. It was noted that complaints can be made to the
county’s Animal Control Office.
• Larry Dusold told the board that at the
recent public hearing with the Board of County Commissioners on the New Market
Region Plan that there were many comments and complaints regarding Eaglehead.
He also noted that no one from the LLA was in attendance. He said there were many people who
complained to the commissioners that the county can’t seem to control what goes
on in the PUD, particularly regarding tree removal. Mr. Dusold said that the commissioners will continue to take
email comments on the plan and recommended that the LLA do so. Director Sheehan
asked whether there were any major changes in the plan presented to the BoCC
that night from what the LLA last commented on. Mr. Dusold said the zoning issue related to the LLA campground
site is still on the plate and that it was decided that Quinn Road would not
access Eaglehead Drive. Charlotte
Dusold told the board that the county’s procedure for the region plans is not
sufficient because it requires that you speak on one issue to three different
bodies in order to get your point across.
She said you think you have covered all your bases but unless you speak
to all three bodies involved in the process you leave work undone. Aspen
resident Kathy Brown agreed.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Rogers made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Director Cates seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.