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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fearrington Homeowners Association
APRIL 2005  MINUTES
(Approved May 3, 2005)

DATE: April 5, 2005

PRESENT: Cynthia Jones, Tom Hauck, Edith Lange, Drew Bratton, Ron Boyington, Bob Oram, Bill Sommers

ABSENT: Maggie Frantz, Jim Pomroy, Bob Flower

GUESTS: Rita Spina, Kay Gundlach, Anne Granath, Barbara Snotherly, Marilyn Band, Louise Riley, Eamon Kennedy, Evy Barrow, Betty Zelouf, Jim Granger

President Tom Hauck called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

Resident Input

Rita Spina, FV resident and CCEC Board member spoke re the CCEC and the history of what's happened in the county. The organization keeps current with county issues, decisions, budgets. They have representatives attending all Chatham County Board of Commissioners meetings and work sessions and Chatham County Planning Board meetings. In the past 2 years the CCEC has learned a great deal about soils, erosion and sedimentation. A member of CCEC lives in Chatham and is a soil erosion and sedimentation engineer/specialist. Chatham County never employed a specialist. They have the services of ¼ of person from the state. Currently in Chatham County, 19 sq miles land being developed over the next 10 yrs. The CCEC has been asked why no attention has been paid to what's happening in Fearrington. It is because Fearrington concerns have never been brought to them. They knew that the Beaver Pond was filling in due to 15-501 construction. And now that Briar Chapel is official approved for 1400 acres and will break ground in the fall there is concern because their streams feed ours.

Soil ordinance now in place passed 3/21/05; Patrick Barnes work was significant in this. A grant has been submitted to cover the cost of 1 possibly 2 soil erosion people for the county ASAP. To understand what's going to happen when Briar Chapel begins construction, take a look at Chapel Ridge, a new development north of Pittsboro on route 87. CCEC has been taking a better look at streams that come out of Briar Chapel underneath 15-501 into Fearrington streams. A new stream bed is being formed because sedimentation has filled the previous stream. There are concerns about South Camden and Bush Creek. The critical issue in Chatham County is the security of our watershed where we are getting our drinking water. All I've spoken about feeds into Jordan Lake as well as all runoff from parking areas, untested waste water, rain, etc. Vigilance of FHA is critical. The CCEC has asked for and received a public hearing Monday, 5/16, to discuss a textual amendment re watershed protection ordinance from further encroachment. A letter from the FHA would be significant. The public hearing 5/16/05 will begin at 6 pm (location to be determined). Welcome other residents to speak to this. Thank you.

Bill Sommers replied to Ms. Spina's remarks that he is a member of the Chatham County Water Advisory Committee and he is focusing on the environmental problems involved in storm water runoff, spray irrigation end products from private owned sewer systems and the potential for contamination of the County's water supply, including Jorden Lake. He suggested that he meet with Ms. Spina to review in the field the problems she spoke of so that he can better understand them and include them in the preliminary assessment he is attempting to put together. It is important to have a handle on the problems in the Village, particularly when Briar Chapel may begin construction soon. Mr. Sommers will call Ms. Spina to arrange a visit.

It was noted in the ensuing discussion that we should be concerned about what is happening in our own development. The runoff and stream treatment in both South Camden current development as well as similar problems that maybe developing in Galloway Ridge even though the mess is not clearly visible in the latter, it is still an important issue. Rita Spina wanted to come to the FHA Board first before the CCEC took any action. The CCEC would be happy to work with FHA, although the FHA doesn't own it yet. The CCEC is fighting for everyone; please keep them involved.

Kay Gundlach #247 I have been a resident for 22 years. I bought my property because of its beauty. Anyone who truly cares about Fearrington should come and look at the creek. Its a crime and someone should be called to task. There is standing water now which brings sanitation problems, mosquito problems, we will lose hardwoods, and the value of my property will decline. The stream that feeds into the pond is just as important as the pond itself. We need support.

Ron Boyington We are working with a pond consultant to address a number of these issues. We are in the process of trying to get some money from the state to dredge the pond. They are trying to find a place to put what comes out of the pond. The pond will not be restored to its original size. The pond consultant said this is an evolution of this type of pond and the road situation accelerates this. The pond boundary will be moved back up to higher vegetation. If a place cant be found to put dredged material, there is a possibility that a dam will be built back in the standing water area you've talked about. Were taking it step by step. The waste water treatment doesn't impact this at all. The water level would not change; the water level is set by the drain at the dam end of the pond.

Jim Granger #75. It seems like were fighting Mother Nature. Have we considered creating a wetland park. With the possibility of facing this every 5 years or so and spending money, is that something to consider.

Ron Boyington has discussed this with the pond consultant. The pond was built long before FV was constructed. It depends on how much money we want to put into fighting Mother Nature. We will see what the state will give us and what we can do with that. One problem is hauling the dredged material out; special trucks that will contain the wet material are required. It is possible that some time in the future the pond will be filled in and the creek maintained with a nice park.

Approval of Minutes

The March 1, 2005 Board meeting minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer's Report

Tom Hauck reported for Bob Flower that our monthly income for the period ending 2/28/05 totaled $4,472 primarily from dues and user fees. February expenses were $7,263 and included payment of our federal tax $485 and state tax $118. The expense detail is shown in Table 3 of the Treasurers report (the entire Treasurers report is attached to the filed copy of the minutes of this meeting). The balance in our checking account as of 2/28/05 is $62,944. The treasurers report was approved.

Committee Reports

Presidents Report Tom Hauck

Forms A and B: 300 forms out of a possible 1000 have been received and entered into our database.
Annexation/Incorporation Report: The report of the committee is now available in several ways: (1) if you wish to purchase the entire 90-page complete report, you may do so by placing an order with the FHA Office between 9:30 am and noon Monday thru Friday. Call them at 542-1543. They will make photocopies of the report as they are ordered at a cost of $4.00 each. (2) You can obtain a 10-page summary of the report at the FHA Office during its business hours for free. (3) The report and the summary are also available for view on-line. To access the report and/or summary you will need to enter the same username and password that you use to access the Bulletin Board or Directory on the FHA web site.

FVs Community Watch Program will be discussed on Thursday, April 21, from 7 pm to 9 pm in the GP.

Gathering Place. Edie Lange

65 groups have reserved the GP in April. 1,042 people used the GP in March; this included 2 large FHA meetings. In the future, are we going to be able to handle these large crowds in the GP.

Quality of Life Drew Bratton

Service Groups Committee: The extensive follow up is complete now thanks to Ron Boyingtons work. We are working on some tag ends like a proposal on communication being placed on the mail kiosk bulletin boards. More about that in the next meeting.

Road Safety Committee: Jack Traywick and his group are making real progress. The speed control sign placed on Village Way revealed over 246 cars per hour during peak times. More detailed info coming on that.

Communication Committee: The newsletter guidelines were submitted for approval and approved. The full text of the guidelines are attached to the filed copy of these minutes and will also be published in the FHA newsletter. Work is under way for the 25th Silver Anniversary of the FHA. A special note of appreciation to Bob Comey for his fine efforts on this program.

Long Range Planning: Evy Barrow and her group are focusing their efforts on new projects that will be submitted to the FHA Board.

FHA Board Succession: Please tell your friends, neighbors and people you see in the village area to think about volunteering. Six positions are open next year for the FHA Board. The nominating committee is chaired by Ken Richardson and consists of Bob Comey, Doris Dunlap, Betty Lou Cobb, Joe Lyons, and Barbara Snotherly. We need your help to get the most qualified people to contribute during our Silver Anniversary year.

FHA Office: Pat Harkins, FHA office manager, reports 42,983 photocopies made during the month. Sales amounted to $657.00 Pat is looking for volunteers.

Community Affairs. Cynthia Jones

Due to questionable weather, the Easter Egg Hunt was moved to the barn. It went very well.

County Liaison. Bill Sommers reported that the ANINC Committee would be meeting soon to begin a review of outstanding technical issues regarding incorporation that need to be worked on before the process can move to its next step. Sommers also reported that, via the Liaison responsibility, he is focusing on a number of water management issues, with particular emphasis on environmental problems as they arise regarding surface runoff, storm water control, waste water management via spray irrigation that will affect the neighboring environment while carrying long range problems affecting the long range vitality of Jordan Lake, the County's chief water source.

Grounds & Facilities Report. Ron Boyington

Ron submitted estimate #44 by 4-ever Green Lawn Card in the amount of $1,208 for planting of the 4 corner beds at the GP to place railroad timbers to reduce environmental degradation.. The estimate was approved. He also asked for & received approval of a 3 year contract for Foster Pond Care.

Final Resident Input

Marilyn Band #657 spoke about a problem she encountered when volunteering in the FHA office. Someone from out of state called inquiring about 2 residents who were thought to have been taken to the hospital. The individual was concerned and asked if that was true. Marilyn spent 2½ hours trying to locate them. There was no Form A nor B, the block captain nor neighbors knew where they were and she was unable to help the caller. This is a perfect example of how Forms A and B can be helpful in locating our residents in an emergency situation.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at the conclusion of business. The next regular board meeting will be on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at 7:00 pm in the Gathering Place.

Respectfully submitted,
Maggie Frantz, FHA Secretary