Meeting Minutes May 25, 2023 Virtual Governor’s Meeting @ 6:30 PM
Roll Call
Christopher Rossetti, President, Governor
Sue Jansen, Governor
Katia Salokas, Governor, Treasurer
Mitch Uzwack, Vice-President, Governor
John Williams, Governor
Susan Franke, Secretary, Governor
Lois Hessert-Blawie, Governor
Unit Owners
Judy Larkin
Greg Weston
Mark Visconti
Paula Darlington
Charlotte Salmon
Property Managers
Michael Montgomery
Meeting called to order at 6:35 PM
Meeting Minutes of April 2023 approved as submitted
Hearings
7 Edgewood – Mark Visconti agreed to install a replacement 2” sugar maple on his EUA in a location to be determined by Michael Montgomery on a sight line between his house and the kitchen window of 8 Edgewood.
1 Owl Court – Paula Darlington has identified a suitable replacement screen door that is brown and is willing to paint the door. She would like Pond Place to pay for the door because its nonconformity was overlooked when her resale certificates were issued.
Resident/Homeowner Questions and Comments (Limited to 20 minutes)
None
President’s Report
Nothing to report
Manager’s Report
Spring inspection report was released on 5/24/23 to the Board. Overlooked matters or suggested corrections should be promptly sent to W&K to Mike Montgomery’s attention. Montgomery restated the violation protocol as follows: Unit owners who are out of compliance receive an initial violation notice, second violation notice, and then a hearing notice is sent although there is no requirement to send the second notice.
During the manger’s report Christopher Rossetti moved and the Board directed the manager send out a violation notice to all units which have white violations with a September 21, 2023 compliance date for those violations. The manager agreed to give all new violations a September 21, 2023 compliance date. Hearings will be scheduled for outstanding violations at the June and July meetings.
Design Review Committee
Community was reminded that applications must be submitted either through the PILERA platform or through White & Katzman, not directly to the DRC. John Williams will post updated instructions on the EMA process and a blank EMA application for download on www.pondplace.org
Building Guide Update
Christopher Rossetti reported that a hearing for public comment will be scheduled in June after which final revisions will be made and the completed revised version of the Guide will be circulated to all Board members for what will hopefully be a final vote for its approval in July. The draft guide will be sent to all homeowners electronically in advance of the hearing. Lois Hessert was advised to send window dimension measurements to Susan Franke for addition to the draft guide.
Report Treasurer’s Report
Katia Salokas requested that we transfer $100,000 out of the checking account and contribute it to the Pond Place Tax District Capital Reserve account with LPL for investment in certificates of deposit. Christopher Rossetti so moved; Mitch Uzwack seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Northington Meadow, Inc. Report
Christopher Rossetti reported that on 5/11/23 Life-Lakes, Inc. performed its first seasonal treatment; that on 5/16/23 it was reported that 2 dead geese were floating in the pond in the vicinity of the dam. W&K was promptly requested to notify DEEP of this event. On 5/18/23 Susan Jansen resigned as Treasurer of Northington Meadow, Inc. On 5/21/23 Min Huang, Migratory Bird Program Leader, (Min.Huang@ct.gov) suggested by e-mail that in the future such birds be recovered by Pond Place, refrigerated and delivered to DEEP promptly for examination.
Website Design
Gena Hamilton did hold a training session for interested board members on editing the website with WordPress. Williams and Rossetti attended. The session was recorded and is available for interested persons to view.
Old Business
None
New Business
Election results were reviewed. Incumbents Jansen and Uzwack were re-elected and Lois Hessert-Blawie was elected as a new Governor replacing Austin Patenaude who moved to the Tax District Board.
Rossetti reported that our attorney was acquainted with concerns mentioned by board members in connection with the proposed updates of our Declaration and ByLaws. An e-mail proposal by Greg McCrackin was shared with the Board members prior to this meeting. McCrackin also confirmed that absentee ballots for tax district voting are still not permitted under state law. The initial phase of the update of the Declaration, By-Laws and Tax District Ordinance which would include a search of the land records for all Pond Place Association, Inc. and Tax District recorded items and a draft of the new proposed Declaration, By-Laws and Ordinance would cost somewhere between $10,000-$15,000. Christopher Rossetti requested approval for moving forward. There was discussion among the Board. Mitch Uzwack would like to have Attorney McCrackin at a meeting to answer questions regarding his proposal. Motion was withdrawn and Rossetti indicated he would invite McCrackin to a future board meeting. Uzwack requested, and Mike Montgomery agreed, to provide to the board a census on the number of rental units.
Christopher Rossetti, Mitch Uzwack, Katia Salokas, and Susan Franke all agree to continue their terms. Christopher Rossetti moved that these officers be re-elected. Mitch Uzwack seconded. Passed unanimously.
It was reported that 3 Owl Court, currently condemned by the Town of Avon, and which had advised Mike Montgomery that violations would be completed by early spring 2023, has failed to do so with only sporadic work being done on the exterior. Christopher Rossetti directed the manager send it a Notice to Appear at the June board meeting for possible fines.
Executive Session
1 Owl Court – The Board voted to “grandfather” the non-conforming screen porch door at 1 Owl until replacement or future sale of the unit. The Board voted to decline paying for any replacement door as it would set a poor precedent. Any future replacement will need to comply with the current Pond Place Building Guide.
Future Meetings
The 2023 meetings being held @ 6:30 PM by Zoom on the 4th Thursday of the month, except for November when due to Thanksgiving it will be on the 5th Thursday of the month.
Here are the dates for 2023 as agreed to by post meeting electronic consensus.
6/22/23, 7/27/23, 8/24/23, 9/28/23, 10/26/23, 11/30/23
Meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM
Respectfully submitted by Susan Franke, Secretary
