Leewood Homeowners Association
Board Meeting
Minutes

July 8, 2008

Board Members Present: Also Present:
Janet Rourke – President Bob Flynn - Homeowner
Ramanuj (Bob) Chilakamarri – VP Al Carchedi - Homeowner
Maggie Pitotti – Treasurer
Melinda Ford – At Large
Rose Weber - Secretary

Convening: Meeting was called to order at 7:33 pm. Meeting was held in the Phillips School Library.

Architectural Review Hearings: There was one scheduled ARC hearing. The Board convened an Executive Session to deliberate at 9:02pm, adjourned the Executive Session at 9:34pm and reconvened the regular meeting. The Board voted to assess penalties, beginning August 1, 2008, for violations at 7037 and 7041 Leebrad Street. Decision letters will be sent to those homeowners.

Minutes: A motion was made to approve the minutes of the June 10, 2008 regular meeting. The motion was carried and the minutes were approved as written, signed and accepted for the record.

Open Forum: Bob Flynn was present to share with the Board a letter he received from another homeowner. The Board had also received a slight variation of the same letter, and thanked Mr. Flynn for his concern in ensuring the Board had a copy.

Officer Reports:
President: Discussed plans for National Night Out 2008. The President also discussed Virginia legislative issues that may affect our Association, however clarification is needed to be sure as the legislative language is not clear. Content and number of copies of POA packets was the specific piece of legislation that appeared to have the most direct impact on the LHOA. Streetlights were also briefly discussed, as was the J&M Grounds Maintenance Contract.
Vice President: Nothing to report.
Treasurer: Investment opportunities/Leewood investments (bonds/CDs etc.) were discussed. Homeowner accounts continue to be resolved and are much improved since last month, but it is too early in the period to provide or project figures.
Secretary: The Secretary still has not approached pet owners with regard to donating towards the cost of four “clean up after your pet” signs, but sees National Night Out as a good opportunity to do so. The State has begun their study of traffic patterns at Backlick Road and Leestone Street. The results of the study provided by the County when the study is complete. Homeowner cleanup from the downed tree at 5278 Bradgen has been done and the large stump has been removed. A small section of the perimeter fence still needs replaced. The tree removal company has been contacted to repair the sidewalk and that should be done within the next two weeks. Dead and unhealthy trees in Leewood are of great concern to residents and numerous homeowners have asked that trees be removed or pruned to avoid potential property damage. The Secretary has contacted the County to see if an Arborist was available to come assess our trees so that we can formulate a plan to remove those that pose the most immediate danger and treat those that are not healthy. The County cannot send anyone out, but did provide contact information for the National Arborist society. The Secretary has sent correspondence to a local Arborist but has not heard back. In response to a much earlier request to Verizon to clarify whether or not they are required to provide notice prior to working on private property, a response was received: “Thank you for contacting the County regarding Verizon providing notice to a neighborhood prior to construction.

The County Franchise agreement with Verizon does not address providing notice before construction begins, as the State regulates construction by Verizon, because Verizon is a former telephone company. Nevertheless, we are currently in discussion with Verizon to look at revising policies with regard to providing notice to County residents. I will be glad to contact you again as soon as I have an update. Best regards, Allan Hide, Communications Analyst, Communications Policy and Regulation Division, Fairfax County Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection.”
At-Large: Provided the monthly update on drainage & mailboxes. With regard to mailboxes, the local Stationmaster responded that no requests were being entertained until after October 1st, the new fiscal year. J&M proposal for drainage work was discussed and approved for work to begin in three areas: lower Leestone behind 7001-7029; area behind 7033-7037 Leestone and area behind 5266 Leestone Court.

Committee Reports:
Architectural Review Committee (ARC): The following motions were made and approved regarding active ARC violations: Note: as the ARC Chair, The Board President, Janet Rourke does not vote on ARC hearing decisions or other ARC matters requiring approval of the Board.
Hearing(s): There are no violations pending hearing this month and subsequently, no Hearing Letter(s) to be done.
Extensions: There was an extensions requested for alleged violations at 7058 Leestone Street. The request was disapproved.
Hearings to be re-scheduled: There were no hearings to be rescheduled.
Second violation notices: Second notices were approved and will be sent for alleged violations at the following properties: 5258 Bradgen Court; 5261 Bradgen Court; 5288 Bradgen Court; 7037 Bradwood Court; 7002 Leebrad Street; 7008 Leebrad Street; 7019 Leebrad Street; 7025 Leebrad Street; 7037 Leebrad Street; 7038 Leebrad Street; 7039 Leebrad Street; 7040 Leebrad Street; 7041 Leebrad Street; 7058 Leestone Street, 7074 Leestone Street; 7081 Leestone Street and 7088 Leestone Street.
With Lawyer: One case is with the lawyer. A request was received from a homeowner requesting to settle out of court for a case that was in appeal. The Board voted to work with legal counsel to reach a settlement acceptable to all parties.

Grounds and Maintenance: No report provided. Al Carchedi was present to discuss bid proposals on sidewalk repair. Two bids were reviewed, discussed and approved. One was for sidewalk repair, the other for asphalt work. Dates for work to begin will be scheduled soon. Brothers Asphalt and Paving will do the work.

Financial Report: Reports provided but not discussed. Financial secretary also provided, via e-mail, a schedule of availability of Leewood reserve funds based on maturity date so that future investments and expenditures an be discussed.

New Business: There was no new business, but parking was discussed, specifically complaints against a homeowner who parks a second car in an unreserved spot without ever moving it. A Board member will speak to the homeowner before the car is towed to provide an opportunity to move the vehicle.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:35pm.

Certified for the record:

___________________ _____________
Rose Weber, Secretary Date
LHOA