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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fearrington Homeowners Association

JUNE 2004  MINUTES

DATE: June 1, 2004

PRESENT: Anne Bigelow, Stephen Bodner, Frank Chut, Jerry Gaudet, Cynthia Jones, Al Lebeau, Janet Lorant, Lisa Stewart

ABSENT: Richard Bird, Steve Ruziechi

GUESTS: Alice Maurer, Nancy Kern, Bill Kern, Evy Barrow, Chris Farnan, Maggie Gaudet, Don George, and Jim Granger

APPROVED: July 6, 2004

President Gaudet called the meeting to order at seven p.m. He introduced Captain Birchett, Community Affairs Officer in the Chatham County Sheriff’s office. Captain Birchett replaced Sheriff Webster who was unable to appear at tonight’s meeting.
Captain Birchett presented information on the speeding issues in the Village. There is a twenty-five mile per hour speed limit sign posted at the main entrance; the speed limit is uniform throughout the Village. There should be a sign at the second entrance and throughout the Village; Captain Birchett promised to ask Department of Transportation for additional signs.

As a deterrent to speeding, a speed trailer has been placed inside the second entrance to read and post the running speeds of each passing car. The trailer is battery operated and must be recharged periodically. The trailer will remain throughout the week, moved to another location and then returned to Fearrington. Captain Birchett will provide a schedule.

Al Lebeau asked about the present needs of the Sheriff‘s department. The Sheriff’s office is studying their needs since the new sheriff’s arrival; they added fifteen new cars due to high mileage on the old cars. A power point presentation on the county’s issues and needs is available upon request.

Jim Granger asked the Captain to overview the changing face of crime in Chatham County. In general, criminals are getting younger and more mobile; crimes are often drug related. There has been an increase in drug areas from twenty-four to ninety. There were 1962 county prisoners last year, which represents an overall increase of two hundred prisoners with two fewer personnel in the office to support the work load. Chatham County is increasing dramatically in population and is a geographically large county difficult to traverse quickly, which places an extra burden on vehicles and personnel.

Approval of Minutes

There was a motion to accept the minutes from the April and May meetings and their addendums. The motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report (Appendix A)

Frank Chut provided a treasurer’s report. Income for the copier appears down due to a backlog of billing. Upon adjustment, this has been corrected. All expenses and income are as planned. There was a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. The motion was passed.

Committee Report

a. Covenant Issues – Anne Bigelow provided a copy of the history of covenants to anyone who needed one.

b. County Liaison – Al Lebeau informed the board that Sheriff Webster recently requested an expansion of his staff and replacement vehicles due to an increase in responsibilities of the department, increasing population, and large geographic size of the county. The Commissioners took his request under advisement and briefly discussed possible measures to alleviate budget constraints. Developers are considering a possible new housing and business development across 15/501 from Southern Village; they are seeking an official opinion before committing to blue prints. As consultants prepared to expand the water system they discovered a hydraulic problem at the Jordan Lake water treatment plant; if not corrected it could pose a serious problem to the county’s expanded capacity. Accordingly, the commissioners approved spending up to $30,000 to correct the problem. Jim Granger added that he feels the Commissioners are not looking at the complexities of growth in the County and are not allocating enough funds to deal with crime and other issues. [Complete Report]

c. Gathering Place – Lisa Stewart reported that the quilt in the entrance will be cleaned with equipment borrowed from the art museum. She also will be working with the quilters who originally made the quilt to make sure they are in agreement with the work. The existing microphones in the Gathering Place are old and in poor condition. Lee Caldwell has located a new hand held omni directional microphone and two lapel microphones to replace the old ones. They are expected to be here in one week
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d. Grounds and facilities – Steve Bodner reported that the water department was digging on Ashton and left piles of dirt; he is working to have it leveled. Other upcoming work includes the planting of new grass near the Gathering Place this fall.

Additional Resident Input

Alice Maurer inquired as to the purpose of the excavation near Millcroft; the response was that it is for the purpose of installing sewer lines; Alice also asked if the large amount of construction south of Cole Park is for building a new shopping center; the answer was negative, it is part of the road reconstruction.

Don George asked if new audio equipment will be provided at the Gathering Place. Lisa Stewart reported a technician from Bose review the complete system. He recommended company names for needed changes. Lisa received estimates to totally upgrade the AV and sound system with special hearing devices for those with hearing loses. However, the FHA Board felt that the cost of $4000 was prohibitive at this time. Don also stated that he was concerned about water damage and asked Steve Bodner if he followed engineering recommendations in the recent grounds works. Steve responded to the question; grading was done in Smokehouse area and a berm added to redirect water. In addition, gutters will be installed around the Gathering Place to redirect water. Other recommendations at the Gathering Place kiosk were not followed due to cost issues. The recommendation for improved drainage at the Smokehouse was solved by regrading.

Nancy Kern posed several questions to Steve Bodner: does drainage work follow paving work; why was just one engineer’s report obtained and from one who was not an expert in water problems; and why was the action to approve the grounds work taken in a closed board meeting rather than at the open May board meeting. Jerry Gaudet said the May meeting was canceled with agreement of the full board due to the status of floor refurbishing in the Gathering Place, and all criticisms of decisions should be directed to the full board, not one individual. Nancy and Don George requested that Steve listen to their questions and complaints. She also asked that the board consider a cap on the amount of money that can be approved at a closed board meeting. Evy Barrow said that she thought that all monies expended were supposed to be approved during open meetings. Jerry stated that he disagreed with that opinion based on prior conversations with past presidents.

Don George applauded the board and Steve Bodner for their work. Nancy Kern asked that we keep watch on the amounts of money in reserves due to possible legal fees that may come with incorporation and major repairs of roofing and parking repairs at the Gathering Place. Jerry responded that the amount of reserves that will be left will be the same as that left by the previous board.

Evy Barrow asked if the board will create the ad hoc committee on incorporation as recommended by the Long Range Planning Committee; Jerry responded to the affirmative and that it will be done within the next two weeks.

Chris Farnan announced that the League of Women Voters will have a meeting in Pittsboro on June 9th from seven to nine p.m. with the candidates running for the Board of Commissioners; information will be on the website. Chris said she was impressed with the driveway in the Smokehouse kiosk area and that Gathering Place repairs are a great improvement.

Adjournment

Upon hearing no other responses to a call for resident input, the meeting was adjourned at eight p.m. The next board meeting will be July 6, 2004 at seven p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Janet Lorant, Secretary