Attending: Heinz Mantel, Bob Weiss, Lauren Conte, Carole Pascarella, Susan McClements, David Riley, Jason Meade
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Bob Weiss presented the Treasurer’s Report (see handout) with emphasis on Profit and Loss comparison from the previous year. Legal counsel has been retained to assist in the collection of Association dues that are in arrears. Funds received from the past due membership fees that have been successfully collected are being placed in the money market account toward contingencies. The Board has voted to keep the membership dues at the current rate for all homeowners for 2013. The Business Entity filing is currently in progress and once up to date will be filed automatically yearly to avoid late fees.
Maintenance/Landscaping: Entrance wall lights have once again been vandalized and Craig’s Electric has been contacted for repair. Committee Member Jason Meade discussed the possibility of lowering the height of the lights and it was discussed that they will be kept as is to avoid the cost of replacement at this time. There was discussion as to whether the Russian Sage perennial is too invasive for the landscape bed area and if it should be removed and/or replaced with a different type of plant.
Social Events: It was decided that the Christmas wreaths will be placed on the entrance walls at the beginning of December. Committee Member Carole Pascarella suggested the possibility of the neighborhood using luminaries on Christmas Eve. The suggestion will be mentioned in the newsletter to see if the homeowners are interested.
Communications/Publicity: Contact information for new neighbors was discussed and Committee Member David Riley indicated that currently 55 email addresses have been collected for communication purposes. As this is less than half the neighborhood, there is still a need for homeowners to register their email addresses on the website.
Architectural Control: Committee Member Jason Meade indicated that there were currently no architecture requests needing approval by the Committee.
Covenants: There was discussion regarding the continued problem of post lamps not being lit and homeowners who continue to leave grass clippings in the street, resulting in the increase of lake chemical treatments and costs. Letters to be sent to homeowners regarding these two subjects were reviewed. The extra cost of the lake treatments and what appears to be a lack of concern regarding the destruction of the lake will be presented to the homeowners who attend the January 2013 Annual Meeting.
Vandalism: There was an update and discussion of the recent vandalism resolution between the police and the perpetrators from Devonshire Pointe and surrounding subdivisions. A Neighborhood Watch Program was once again discussed and will be revisited at the January 2013 Annual Meeting to give homeowners a better understanding of what such a program involves and the possibility of setting up an official introductory meeting in the spring with the assistance of the St. Joseph County Sheriff.
Entrance Signs: There was discussion regarding the deteriorating condition of the entrance signs that are used for Association announcements. Repair options and replacement costs will be researched.
The Devonshire Pointe Homeowners Annual Meeting has been set for Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 7 pm at the Harris Branch Library, Elm Street.