Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Members and BRCA Board - January 21, 2017

The Annual Meeting of the Members and Board of Directors of the Bennett Ridge Community Association was held at 2:30 p.m. on January 21, 2017 at the home of Mike and Lynne Walsh, 2841 Bardy Road.

Attending: Dan Nachtigal, Ann Hoban, Helen Sedwick, Dina Kuntz, Sherry Parker, Erik Klee, Jim and Marilyn Stocks, Warren Davis, Rebecca Lewis, Denis and Margit Yasukawa, Mark and Carol Wieszczyk, Frank Tansey, Stan Sommer, Shane Weare, Cole and Susan Carter, Richard Rudnansky, Mike and Sharon Wright, Les De La Briandais, Ann Wendecker-Southwick, and Lynn and Stephen Olsen. Marilee Jensen joined about half-way through the meeting.

Dan Nachtigal, interim President, ran the meeting.

  1. Due to family matters, Erik Klee resigned as President of BRCA and Dan Nachtigal, as Vice President, has been serving as interim President.
  2. Dan called for Members to volunteer to serve on the Board and/or as officers of BRCA. By unanimous consent we elected the following folks to the Board: (term expiration in parenthesis)
    • Daniel Nachtigal, President (2019)
    • Helen Sedwick, Vice President (2019)
    • Dina Kuntz, Treasurer (2018)
    • Helen Greaves, Secretary (2019) (Helen wasn’t able to attend the meeting and subsequently accepted this position but only until 2018.)
    • Lynn Olsen (2018)
    • Sharon Wright (2020)
    • Carol Wieszczyk (2020)
  3. We need an Assistant Treasurer who will work with Dina for the next year and become Treasurer after that. Dina says it takes her about 25 to 30 hours a year to be Treasurer. Please help us find the right person for this important job.

  4. We also will need a new Secretary to start next year.

    Reports

  5. Treasurers Report - Dina Kuntz
    • Dina Kuntz reported on the finances of BRCA. Her report is attached. BRCA has 85 members as of the end of 2016. She and others will be following up with Members to collect membership dues for 2017.
    • The Treasurer’s Report was accepted by unanimous vote.
  6. Architectural Review Committee - Sherry Parker
    • Building permits for the house and garage/living unit at 2855 Bardy have been approved by PRMD.
    • Sherry requested clarification about who is responsible for providing new property owners with welcome packages that includes a residents directory and information and BRCA. Dan agreed to take on that responsibility and develop procedures for delivering these packages.
    • Sherry will continue to provide realtors with copies of the Deed Restrictions and information about BRCA
    • Marilyn Stocks reported that story poles for a large house were up on a property adjacent to hers. The property is not within the Bennett Ridge Community, but is within the Bennett Valley scenic area. Marilyn felt the proposed house did not conform to the development limitations of Bennett Valley. She said she had discussed her objections to the proposed house with Derik Michaelson at PRMD and encourages others to do the same.
  7. Water Board Report - Mike Wright, Water Board President
    • Water usage increased substantially in the fourth quarter of 2016, mostly due to major leaks.
    • Three members of the Water Board are retiring in April. He asked for volunteers to serve for two-year terms. If you are interested, contact Mike directly.
    • There have been no new coliform detections.
    • The Board ran tests for lead and copper, and low levels were detected at the tap in some home faucets. Those homeowners have been notified.
    • The Board is looking to amend the Bylaws to update them.
    • Mike reported that the Capital Improvement Fund has reached $150,000. The Water Board’s original plan was to consider reducing the capital improvement assessment from $50 a calendar quarter per household to $25 a calendar quarter per household once a $150,000 reserve had been achieved. However, the Water Board is considering keeping the assessment at the $50 level in order to cover the cost of replacing our existing (and old) water meters with smart-meters. Smart-meters would enable homeowners to check their meters from their computers or phones and would eliminate the need to have volunteers walk the Ridge in order to read meters. Smart-meters would also send alerts to the home owner and the water board if leaks were detected. Upgrading all meters would cost approximately $100,000. This issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Water Board, scheduled for the first Saturday in April at the fire station.
  8. Frank Tansey reported that the BRCA website is up and running. Everyone thanked Frank for his work is creating the website.
  9. The Members discussed the need for volunteers to revive the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Tasks would include organizing response teams and restocking the emergency supplies in the shed. Steven Olson volunteered to assist.
  10. Dan then asked to a volunteer(s) to help maintain the fire break. The volunteer would work with the fire department to coordinate the work and get permissions from new owners when properties turnover.
  11. Rebecca Lewis announced that she had set up a Facebook page for the Bennett Ridge Community. She welcomed people to join the group and post information that may be of interest to the Community. https://www.facebook.com/groups/248040388965490/
  12. Erik Klee reported about problems with PG&E tree trimming. The state regulations about tree clearance for power lines were discussed. It was suggested that Frank Tansey be provided information about these regulations so he could add them to the BRCA website.

The next Board meeting was scheduled April 30 at 2PM at 2685 Bardy Road. All are invited.

The Meeting was adjourned.