The Hickory Woods Board of Directors met Wednesday 18 May to consider suggestions, questions and requests provided by residents, and to review a couple of requests for Additions, Alterations or Improvements.
The Board discussed whether or not we would need a meeting with the residents present once the management company contract started in June. Our conclusion was that a meeting at that time would not be necessary. The completion of the transition from Hickory Woods LLC to Harvard Management Solutions will, in time, lead to the resignation of John Kalantzakos from the Board and the need to elect an additional Board member to replace him. That event is expected to create the need for a meeting with all residents present. That meeting date will then set the date for future annual meetings with the residents.
We discussed the suggestion of getting new furniture for the clubhouse. A resident suggested that we might be better off with different types of furniture. While the Board can see some advantages to replacing some of the furniture our estimate is that this would be a considerable expense. With our budgets still in transition and many changes expected over the next few months we do not feel that this is the time for an expense of this type. In the meantime furniture that breaks will be repaired or replaced as necessary and we will continue to review the usage and requirements for new furniture.
There has been concern expressed by residents associated with the costs of watering common land adjacent to a homeowners unit. While the Board discussed this concern at great length and considered a number of alternatives we have so far been unable to come up with a solution that we consider fair to all unit owners and that will not generate significant expenses that the HOA must fund.
With the summer months coming and the area behind the clubhouse being landscaped many residents have asked about getting a key fob lock for the back door. The Board obtained a quote for adding this type of lock and found the cost to be much higher than expected and higher than we thought was reasonable. We will continue to look for alternatives that are more affordable.
Sincerely,
The Hickory Woods Board of Directors
Your rational for waiting until John’s resignation to have a meeting with residents present is acceptable but beyond that you should consider monthly (or bi-monthly- during Summer) meetings to include residents interested in attending. While you are and elected body you are representing the entire community of owners and should not be operating in a vacuum.