Windgate Farms II Annual Homeowners Meeting

 Meeting Minutes- March 18, 2013

2013 Elections- Three seats on the Board of Directors were up for election.  Tom Hopkins (331 Aftons Circle), Jacki Romano (634 Hoffman Blvd) and Craig Laloup (506 Tiffany Lane) were all running again for re-election.  In addition, Todd Gerber (330 Aftons Circle) submitted himself for nomination. Tom Hopkins, Jacki Romano and Craig Laloup were each re-elected for the 3 positions for another 2 year term after collecting votes from those present and those voting via proxy.

Budget- The budget was reviewed and discussed.

Old Business- Review of community improvement projects completed last year, such as the planting of additional trees near the basins and in common space, as well as the replacement of trees that died before.

New Business- The following community improvement projects for this year were suggested and discussed, which will utilize funds already in budget:

-  Pond-There is interest in the community to improve the pond off Tiffany for our neighborhood children. Ideas include cleaning up pond algae using fish, creating a natural path to pond from Tiffany, and clearing more brush away. Additional or future items may include a bridge to North section near pond as well. A Committee will be created to determine most immediate needs and suggest budget to address those needs. Ed Abate, Jamie O’Neill, Todd Gerber, Jim Kelly and Brad Grant volunteered to be on the committee.

-  Basin-Improvements are needed in basin area off Aftons Circle which stays wet and has been difficult to properly cut and maintain by our Landscapers.

-  Trees & Re-grading-Additional suggestions from Sandy Hopkins included more trees throughout the neighborhood, particularly in the area of common space off Kirsten Ave, as well as looking into re-grading a few open areas in the North section which are rocky.

-  Dogs- The recent letter regarding dog problems which went out to all Homeowners in the South section was discussed and reviewed. The North section does not currently have any problems with dogs so the letter was not addressed to them. The items discussed were based on numerous complaints the Board received about dog barking, dog waste not being picked up, dogs roaming off property, dogs not being leashed, and dogs creating a general nuisance or safety issue to other Homeowners. Homeowners were notified they would receive one written warning to correct the problem and after that the Board had the right to begin fining them to correct the problem immediately.  Homeowners are encouraged to talk to their neighbors to address any issues. However if that fails to work, Homeowners can report the complaint to the Board through RMS Management at rmsmgt@aol.com for further assistance.

Housekeeping Items- Homeowners are asked to please take a look at their properties as the weather improves this spring and address the following:

-  Power washing- There are many homes in the neighborhood which need to have their home exteriors power washed this spring to remove exterior mold and mildew.  As a community, it is unsightly and brings down property values. Typically in the spring a few Homeowners will contact local companies and try to coordinate a group rate for those that are interested. Look for more information in email communications this spring. 

-  Street Lamp Posts-Please make sure your lamp post light bulb has been replaced. Another item is the sensor in the lamp post which may need to be replaced if it is still not functioning properly. It can be picked up at Lowes or Home Depot. A well lit neighborhood is a safety measure and helps us to deter crime and keep our kids safe as they play more outside in the warmer months.

-  Driveways- Please check your driveway and consider resealing if it is warranted this spring or summer.

-  Trash Cans and Recycling Receptacles- The Township has asked us to notify all Homeowners they would like us to make sure our cans our placed at the end of our driveways on the night before pickup or on trash day.  No trash cans or recycling containers should be placed in the street. It causes a problem in the winter when snowplowing is needed and in the summer when street sweeping needs to be done by the Township. In addition, after pickup, the containers must be stored out of sight. This means kept inside your garage or behind a privacy screen. Homeowners leaving their containers in their driveway or next to the garage, visible to the street, on non-pickup days will receive a warning.

-  Miscellaneous- Please check to be sure you have not lost any shingles, shutters, etc in the bad weather months. These items need to be replaced.  In addition, please store any extra containers, storage items, tools, mowing equipment, etc out of sight.  These items need to be stored in your garage, in a shed or behind your home.  They may not be left out visible to the street. Homeowners will receive a warning for any items left out in plain sight for a period of time.

Additional Questions, Comments or Suggestions before Meeting Adjournment-

-  Ed Abate requested that Homeowners who will be using fireworks in the warmer months notify immediate neighbors as a courtesy for the temporary noise nuisance. Obviously it may be expected on the 4^th of July but if there are other times they will be used during summer, it may be unexpected to surrounding neighbors.

-  Heather Mighton said she will begin working on collecting Homeowner contact information for both sections this spring for a new Community Directory. Our last directory was published by the Grant family in 2008 and that was for the South section. The North section had created their own directory at that time.  Since it’s been awhile, we need to collect new neighbor information and also update contact information for those with any email address changes.  Most of our communications are done through email, so having updated contact information for our Homeowners is especially important.  Brad Grant volunteered to assist with this, as well.  Please look for more information to follow regarding the new directory. 

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Annual Homeowners Meeting- March 12, 2012

Meeting Minutes:

1. Elections- Brian Leister (502 Tiffany Lane), Heather Mighton (624 Hoffman Blvd) and Christina DiArcangelo (339 Aftons Circle) were submitted as candidates for 2 Board positions. Brian Leister and Heather Mighton were both re-elected to the Board for new terms.

2. Old Business- Last year spring project ideas for the Community were voted on such as neighborhood entrance signs, perimeter fence, and additional tree plantings. The consensus of the Community vote did not support moving forward with the sign or fence. (See open space improvement project below for more information on trees as the consensus).

3. Open Space Improvements for 2012- We are moving forward with new landscaping for the Community to include trees and flowers. The Board approved $20,000 in the new Budget for additional trees to be planted in common open spaces throughout the community, as well as flower beds at the street entrances. Where and how many trees will be determined upon review of the spaces by the Board and our Landscaper.

4. New Business- Kim Acosta suggested we revise the bylaws to include allowing for outside hanging laundry lines for homeowners and also consider allowing homeowners to add solar panels to their roofs. No one in attendance seconds either suggestion. The Board explains in order to change or revise the bylaws we would need a 67% homeowner vote in favor of the change and we would need to further agree as a Community what specific bylaws need to be changed or added. It is suggested to table this idea until there is enough interest to garner 67% interest on the same ideas needing change or addition. Amanda Bringhurst asks if we can switch the trash pickup time on Friday to a later time with AJ Blosenski. The Board says the early pickup has allowed the majority of homeowners to put trash cans away before leaving for work and by requesting a later time we may get a much later pickup time that could cause more problems with trash being blown throughout the neighborhood all day. Connie Schaaf wonders if there has been any interest in using community money to build a playground in a common area. There isn’t interest in pursuing the idea with the homeowners present. Jamie O’Neill asks (via email request) if we can create a foot path and clean up the overgrowth near the pond on Tiffany. He suggests stocking the pond with Carp to control the algae so the community’s children can fish there. There is lack of interest with homeowners in attendance at the meeting. Denise & Brad Grant ask (via email request) how the bylaws are enforced. The Board explains that enforcing the bylaws remains at the discretion of the Board. However the current process for most offenses is that RMS Management (Leslie Bianchini) will send a letter directly to that homeowner. Hopefully, the homeowner will remedy the issue. If the issue remains unresolved, the Board has the right to issue a fine or have the problem corrected at the expense of the homeowner. In addition there were some questions about the complaint process in general. The Board recommends that complaints can be sent to Leslie Bianchini at RMS Management at rmsmgt@aol.com. Leslie will address the issue and/or forward it to the Board for further review. If the issue is with another homeowner, the Board recommends you speak to your neighbor to try & remedy the issue first. If the issue remains unresolved, it would go to Leslie or the Board, or East Vincent Township when necessary, depending on the complaint. There were several complaints about the excessive amount of dog barking in the neighborhood and what can be done about it. The Board reminded all homeowners that we adhere to East Vincent Township’s Noise Nuisance ordinance which states that dogs should not be permitted to bark for longer than 15 minutes. The Board suggested to homeowners who have complaints about persistent dog barking to contact the non-emergency number of East Vincent Township Police to report a complaint. Ed Abate asked if there were any burning or fire pit restrictions in the neighborhood and the Board said we do not have any restrictions, however the Township may. He was directed to contact Paul Schmidt at East Vincent Township. Ike Long asked what can be done about speeding through the neighborhood and the Board reminded all homeowners our speed limit is 25 mph and there are many children playing throughout the neighborhood. If anyone sees someone excessively speeding please ask them, or their visiting guest, to slow down. Any further complaints can be directed to East Vincent Police Dept if you have the make, model and license plate of the speeding car. The Board also approved the new Budget for the year and will add a line item for a $20,000 allocation of funds to the community improvement project.

Annual Homeowners Meeting- Mon Feb 28 7:00pm

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Annual Meeting of the members of Windgate Farms II Community Association will be held on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., at the Vincent Mennonite Church, 39 Seven Stars Road, Spring City, Penna. for the following purposes: the election of three (3) members of the Board of Directors to serve in accordance with the By-laws of the association and to discuss proposed community improvement projects.

The term of Tom Hopkins - 331 Aftons Circle, Jackie Romano - 634 Hoffman Blvd. and Craig Laloup - 506 Tiffany Lane will expire. Tom, Jackie and Craig will seek reelection. Other members wishing to be a candidate for the coming election should send a short resume to RMS no later than February 23, 2011.

If you will not be able to attend the meeting, please complete your proxy and return it promptly to Windgate Farms II Community Assn. c/o RMS Management Co.,Inc., P.O. Box 1563, Pottstown, Pa. 19464 or prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Meeting Minutes- Board of Directors Meeting 11/8/10

Old Business: None

New Business:

Review of Estimated Budget for 2011

Approval of $50 monthly homeowners maintenance fee

Discuss ideas for reserve money- Allocation of $15,000 for community improvement project in 2011- suc h as:

Neighborhood Entrance Sign- several options to be submitted

Community Perimeter Fence

Neighborhood Street Lights

Speed Bumps

Common Area Trees

Write In Option for additional ideas from homeowners

Contact East Vincent Township regarding the use of Children At Play signs and speed bumps

Annual homeowners meeting to be held in January 2011 to discuss community improvement project ideas

Suspicious Neighborhood Incident

Hello Windgate Neighbors,

Please be aware yesterday a suspicious man was seen soliciting in both the North & South section of our neighborhood. East Vincent police were notified and the man was given a citation for Soliciting Without a Permit. This is the 3rd person that East Vincent Police have cited in the past 2 weeks for selling phony subscriptions in our area. As Chief Demski stated in the spring East Vincent Newsletter, all vendors or salesman must have a permit to sell their product in our township. Unfortunately, in many cases, these wandering "salesmen" are criminals selling phony subscriptions or even possibly canvassing a neighborhood for theft or burglaries, so we need to be watchful of any unsolicited or suspicious activity in our neighborhood. Please contact the East Vincent Police Department immediately at 610-933-0115 if you observe anything suspicious.

Thanks for your time and cooperation in keeping our neighborhood safe. Enjoy your summer!

Windgate Farms II Board of Directors10-933-0

Notice of Street Sweeping May 3- May 6

Dear Residents:

The Township will be street sweeping on Monday, May 3^rd through Thursday, May 6^th. To assist us, please remove all vehicles from the street by 7:00 a.m. each morning until sweeping has been completed on your street. No parking will be permitted on the street from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on those days.

Special Note to Residents of: Opperman Dr., Valley Creek Ln., Wampler Dr., Mennonite Church Rd., Airy St., Arch St., Macbride Dr., Keen Rd., Lake Dr., Patience Ln., Andrea Ln., Oakwood Dr., Maplewood Dr., Shady Ln., and Wilson Rd.

Although a proper sealing of these roads was accomplished, an unseasonably wet and cold fall last year may not have allowed the chips to properly adhere to the second coat of oil. The week of May 10^th, a process called “fog seal” is scheduled to be applied to these roads to re-seal the top layer of stones. There may be delays as this process will take several minutes to set up before allowing traffic over it. Please have all vehicles removed from streets again until your street is completed.

Your cooperation will be appreciated. Please call the Township office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Darwin Schafer Director of Roads, Parks and Grounds

East Vincent Township

Meeting Minutes- Windgate Farms II Annual Homeowners Meeting 11/23/09

Election of Board Members:
Brian Leister and Heather Mighton were both re-elected to the Board of Directors for another 2 year term.
Old Business:
This past year, improvements were made to the Aftons Circle open space by seeding the grassy area. In addition, grate covers were installed over all the drainage openings in the basins for safety purposes. Our subcontracted landscaper, Doug, will ensure that branches and leaves do not become trapped in the coverings and homeowners are asked to let a board member know if they notice this happening.
New Business:
Neighborhood entrance signs and lighting are a potential improvement project for 2010. We are in the process of contacting contractors, designing what the signs will look like and obtaining bids. We will keep homeowners updated as we narrow down the design aspects and cost of this project. We plan to allow homeowners to vote on the final choices after the holidays. In addition, we are obtaining bids and considering installing low wattage, discreet, street lights in a few of the dark corners of the neighborhood. More information on this at a later date as well.
Safety Reminders:
Please remember to replace lamp post bulbs when they burn out and remember to lock all doors and windows, especially when many of our neighbors are away for the holidays. Report any suspicious behavior to the East Vincent Police.
Speeding in our Neighborhood:
Please slow down in the neighborhood! The posted speed limit signs are 25 mph and are the absolute maximum speed in our neighborhood. Ideally, we should be driving slower throughout our neighborhood because of all the small children. Please remind your family members, neighbors and visitors to your home to slow down. If you see someone speeding, please get the license number, make and model and contact the East Vincent Police. We have talked to them and they will follow up on any speeding violations.
Website Reminder:
We have gone green and done away with our quarterly printed newsletter. You can now see all our happenings on this website. Please email Heather Mighton at heathermighton@comcast.net if you have any neighborhood or community information you would like added to the site.