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.

Annual Homeowners Meeting- 7pm November 23rd

Please attend the Annual Homeowners Meeting at 7pm on Monday November 23, 2009 at the Vincent Mennonite Church on Seven Stars Road. The purpose of the meeting is to elect 2 members to the Board of Directors. Brian Leister and Heather Mighton's terms will both expire and both are seeking reelection. In addition to the election process, we will be discussing past projects this year and potential projects for 2010.

Windgate Farms II Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Windgate Farms II Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2009

Old Business

Grates: Uncovered grate openings in all open space basins had been a safety concern. All grates have now been covered by 3rd party contractor. Cost was $3,625 for all grates throughout both sections

New Business

2010 Budget: Reviewed estimated budget for 2010- voted to approve budget and keep homeowner dues at $50/mo

Annual Homeowners Meeting and Election Date: to be held either Mon Nov 23 or Mon Dec 7th. Meeting reminders and voting ballots will be mailed out soon

Community Improvements

Fence Work on Bridge: large section of fencing has been removed on bridge near trail- getting a repair estimate from same contractor who installed grates

Street Lights: getting a preliminary estimate to consider installing several street lights throughout both sections of the neighborhood to eliminate dark areas in neighborhood

Neighborhood Entrance Sign: working on preliminary estimates for entrance signs. Considering large masonry sign with Windgate Farms II and several smaller pillar signs at each street entrance. Will present some choices at next annual homeowners meeting for discussion

Fence: Discussed installing fence along Seven Stars (similar to other Windgate Farms neighborhood) but decided it would be too costly to consider this year as community improvement- tabling that improvement for now

Windgate Farms II Community Yard Sale

COMMUNITY YARD SALE

Saturday September 26th
8:00am-1:00pm
Aftons Circle and Tiffany Lane

Gather all your unwanted items and come join us for the community wide yard sale!

Windgate Farms II Labor Day Picnic

You’re Invited To A Neighborhood“Picnic Style” Labor Day Gathering!

Sunday, September 6th (Weather Permitting)
At the open area and yards of the Mancini’s & Gregory’s homes
Any time after 5pm

What do we mean by “Picnic” Style?
Each family will bring all items needed for a picnic dinner. A few grills will be provided for barbequeing

What do you need to bring?
-All seating (chairs/blankets)
-All food and beverages your family will need to enjoy their meal
-Utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
-Napkins, paper towels etc.

The Paradox will be performing later in the evening.
Should you like more information on this band and their music please visit their website: http://www.paradoxrocks.com
If you would like to show your appreciation for the band, donations would be gratefully accepted

All neighborhood families can attend! We're looking forward to seeing you there!!

Arts & Crafts Day & Chicken Barbecue

Saturday, August 22, 2009
10 AM – 6 PM
Vincent Mennonite Church
39 Seven Stars Road, Spring City

Free Activities: Annual Tractor Parade, Bumblebee train, Moon Bounce
Youth Group Lunch Stand 10 AM – 2 PM
Chicken Barbecue begins 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Music by Sunnyside

Tickets available in advance or day of BBQ- $8.50 for adults & $5.00 for children
Info or Advanced Tickets call: 610-948-2129 or 610-948-6130

Homeowners Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for July 2009

Old Business

• Vote approved to hire Contractor to install grate covers for all basins
• Speeding is still an issue in the neighborhood- remind all homeowners and visitors to adhere to posted 25 mph speed limit signs. The EVPD will now be enforcing speeding violations. Jacki will talk with Mary Flagg at the township to see if we can get a digital speed sign on Tiffany Road where speeding has been observed
• First Contractor bid on potential community Windgate Farms II entrance sign came in too high. Tom will contact Contractor who installed Windgate Farms I sign. The project will be scaled back. Potential ideas are to eliminate the stonework/masonry around the sign and reduce the sign’s size to create a smaller, more basic sign. Additional ideas discussed were to use 2 smaller signs, one for the corner of Seven Stars and Aftons, and one for Seven Stars and Hoffman, as well as installing flowers next year at all our entrances.
  

New Business

• With the resignation of Kim Acosta from the Homeowners Board, Craig Laloup (506 Tiffany Lane) was voted in to replace her on the Board
• Brian is working on getting trees in the community replaced that have died or been removed over the past year

Owen J. Roberts School District - School Board Candidates

Information on the Owen J. Roberts School Board candidates can be found at www.ojrschoolboard.com. This is a non-partisan site.

Additional candidate sites:
Chris Fogwell
A Better OJR

If you are aware of other candidate sites, please comment on this post so that they can be added to this posting.

The primary election is May 19th.

Tax Appeals

This post is courtesy of Ike and Tracy Long of 504 Tiffany Lane

Appeal your taxes and save money !! 

I want to let everyone know that last yr my wife Tracy and I appealed our taxes through Donald J Weiss, Esquire.  Don was able to save us over $1500.00 on our annual tax bill.  Here is a brief overview of how it works.

It costs $25.00 to appeal your taxes.  Don goes to court for you and appeals the bill.  You do not have to do anything.  You will get a letter in the mail describing how much he was able to save you. If he is not able to save anything for you, you are only out the $25.00.  Whatever Don is able to save you his fee will then be 75% of the savings.

For example.  If he is able to save you $1000.00, then his fee is $750.00.  After that your taxes will go down by $1,000.00 a yr.  The savings will be reflected in the 2010 tax bill.   The only way your tax bill would go up is if you sell your house or the county re-evaluates  the property.  This typically only happens every 10 yrs.  

Please contact Ike Long for additional information and the forms needed.  

ilong@leasedirect.com

Owen J. Roberts School District - Meet the School Board Candidates Forum

The League of Women Voters of Chester County, in conjunction with the Owen J. Roberts PTA Council, is presenting a "Meet the School Board Candidates" forum on Monday, April 27, 2009 at the Owen J. Roberts High School Auditorium from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Important Facts:

• May 19^th is the primary election. The primary typically sets the tone for who will win the general elections
  
• 6 of 9 seats are up for election
  
• Historically 80% of those that vote are not parents of school aged children. Only a few hundred votes are needed to win a seat
  
• Responsible for a 75 million dollar budget, policy, administration, full day kindergarten, contract negotiations
  
• 4 Four Year Seats; 2 Two Year Seats are up for election
  
• All questions must be submitted ahead of time
  
• Please make and effort to get out and vote
  

Street Sweeping

The Township will be street sweeping the week of April 27th, Monday through Thursday.

To assist, please remove all vehicles from the street by 7:00 am each morning until the sweeping has been completed on your street.

No parking will be permitted on the street from 7 am to 5 pm on these days.

Your cooperation is appreciated.  Call the Township office with any questions - (610)933-4424.

Darwin Schafer - Director of Roads, Parks and Grounds

Community Reminders

Safe Driving

Many vehicles have been observed driving through the development at excessive speeds. Please slow down when driving through the development and ask your guests to do the same. With the onset of the nice weather, the children of the development are out and playing and we want our children to be safe.

If you observe anyone speeding through the development, you can call the township to make a report. Chief Dempski has directed us to do so. A few weeks back, three cars were observed “drag racing” on Seven Stars Road. Residents called the township and the police were able to stop all three cars. Help us keep our families safe!

Spring Cleaning

The township has already removed the wooden stakes from the drainage grates and will be coming through in April or May with a street sweeper. Please take any opportunity you have to pick up trash that has blown around over the winter. This will help us all to maintain a clean community.

Home Maintenance

April showers bring May flowers – and green grass! This is a gentle reminder that grass clippings should not be blown into the street or disposed of in the drainage basins.

Please replace burnt-out light-bulbs in light posts.

The winter winds have taken their toll on a few of the homes in the development.  Please be sure to repair any fallen shutters or missing siding on your home.  

Home Safety

While there have not been any recent reports of break-ins, it is always a good idea to keep your doors and windows locked when you are not at home and at night. If you see anything out of the norm, please be sure to notify your neighbors or contact the township police.

Help Provide Solar Power for the Park

On 11/01/2006, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Resolution #06-11-01-01 to support the goals of the PA Clean Energy Communities Campaign sponsored by SmartPower. The primary goal is to offset at least 20% of the Township’s electricity usage with clean energy sources beginning in 2007 and increasing until the goal is reached by 2010.

When you, as a resident of East Vincent Twp, sign up for clean energy, you will be helping to create cleaner air and a healthier environment. Not only that, but when 7% of the local residents or businesses of East Vincent sign up for clean energy with one of PA’s three suppliers, then East Vincent Twp will receive a free one kilowatt solar energy system worth at least $10,000 that will be used to bring electricity to the pavilion in the Park on the Ridge. This is an opportunity to fulfill that need at no additional cost to the taxpayers.

More info can be found at www.cleanyourair.org .

Upcoming Township Events - April 15, 2009

Clean-up Day

The Park & Recreation Board will be sponsoring their annual Clean-up Day April 18^th. A dumpster will be at the township building. Call for specific details.

Community Day in The Park – Saturday, May 2, 2009 4 – 8 pm @ the Community Park on the Ridge

Come one, come all! Bring your family and friends and enjoy the afternoon and eveing in our beautiful Community Par on the Ridge. There will be games and activities for everyone and lots of music. Come enjoy the fun with your family, friends and neighbors.

Canned Food Drive

The Township is sponsoring a canned food drive in April to benefit the Spring City Food Pantry. Please take cans of vegetables, fruit or any boxed foods to the Township Building between 9 am and 5 pm daily. Be sure to check expiration dates on cans and no glass containers.

Windgate Farms II - Introduction

Windgate Farms II is a community made up of 88 homes in rural East Vincent Township, Chester County. The development is built on what was the Hoffman Family Farm and the street names reflect the families history that lived here for many decades.

The Homeowners Association Committee is made up of 5 members, voted upon by our residents, and serve 2-year terms, alternating 2 and 3 positions, such that in odd years we vote in 3 members and in even years we vote in 2. Current directors can be re-elected and there are no limits on length of term in office. 

Our current board members are:

Brian Leister - President

Tom Hopkins - Vice President

Heather Mighton - Vice President

Jacki Romano - Treasurer

Kim Acosta - Secretary