Kingsbury Square Association Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

January Monthly Meeting

Date: March 19, 2005

Time: 12:00 PM

Place: Sour Dough Hot Soup

Attendees: Barack, J.; Rater, M.; Kerz, C.; Gregory, W.; Evans, G.; Quigless, C.; Torstenson, V.; Cross, A. (Community Guest).

Old Business

The minutes from meeting held on February 2, 2005 were distributed for review. The minutes were accepted and approved.

An updated list of homeowners was distributed. One correction noted to add Charles Quigless to 5739 Westminster Place.

New Business:

There was a motion to elect Wyatt Gregory as Secretary to the board. The motion was accepted and approved unanimously.

Treasurer's Report:

Kerz distributed the treasurer’s report balanced according to current bank statement. Total balance for KS I is $21,366.36 and total balance for KSII is $16, 170.00. Expenses for snow removal and income for 2005 dues were reviewed. Currently the dues that are paid to KSII are deposited into this account and the joint dues that KSII owes KSI are paid to KSI. All other KSII dues remain in the KSII account.

Currently 86 out of 96 homeowners are current with their dues. Seven of the ten outstanding will be sent follow up statements with late fees added. These people will be notified that if the dues are not paid by July 1st then they will be turned over to an attorney for collection and will be responsible for their dues, late fees, and attorney fees at that time. These people will also be encouraged to contact the board if there are circumstances that are preventing them from paying these dues so that alternative payment schedules can be arranged if needed. The board decided that Barack will make calls to those homeowners with outstanding dues to offer alternative schedules if absolutely needed. Three of the ten outstanding dues will be turned over to the attorney. Barack and Kerz will meet with the attorney next week March 21, 2005 to compose a letter that will explain the lien process that will be applied if the dues remain unpaid. These three homeowners have a history of non-payment and have not been responsive with attempts to establish an alternative payment schedule.

The board discussed the current status of a KSII account at Missouri State Bank with a balance of $18,000. The amount is currently in a CD in the name of M. Jaffe (KS developer) and S. Miller (former treasurer). Kerz and Rater will discuss with Miller and Jaffe about what needs to be done to change the account.

Landscaping Committee Report:

Torstenson reported that suggestions had been made to not use the same contract from last year for the landscaping maintenance. There were several concerns with the work that this contractor provided for Kingsbury Square last year. A new contract will be negotiated with the same gentleman that takes care of our snow removal during the winter months. He has agreed to do the maintenance for the same cost that was contracted last year and a 10% discount was negotiated if payment is received right away. We will try this contractor for the spring months and if concerns arise, then we will pursue a different source for the maintenance of the landscaping during the summer months. Torstenson will follow up with the negotiation of this new contract.

The board reviewed a letter from homeowner, S. Fitzgibbons, addressing concerns for the revitalization and maintenance of our park area. The letter identified Brickman landscaping, who is paid through Rodemeyer Crystal, as the company responsible for several of the park maintenance activities including: cleaning of all flower beds and mulch; cutting ornamental grass and bushes near benches; planting annuals in center bed and four corner entrance beds, spraying walks for weeds; and edging bricks and sidewalk inside and outside of park. These services are paid for with our Debaliviere Place neighborhood dues. The letter identified David Balsky as the contact for getting the work done.

Several activities were also identified in this letter, for Kingsbury Square neighborhood association to supplement and enhance the work done by Brickman landscaping. The board explored the possibility of forming a KS neighborhood gardening club. The board also discussed the development of a park landscaping enhancement plan. Torstenson suggested sharing this plan with the Debaliviere Place Association as a guide for the landscapers who are currently responsible for providing services. The board discussed the possibility of hiring a landscaper to provide services that will complete any work on the enhancement plan that Brickman Landscaping will not do as part of their services.

The board discussed setting a budget for the repainting of our park gazebo. It was suggested that we have the work professionally appraised. Barack agreed to call and get several quotes for the work. A goal was set to have the repainting done prior to June 1st.

Evans spoke to her master gardener contact about the type of services that could be offered to KS. The two options were to either contract for the gardener to complete the work or for the gardener to act as a consultant to a neighborhood gardening club. At this time since negotiations are being made with the snow removal contractor these services are not needed. If after the spring it is determined that the services are needed then Evans will again explore the options with this gardener.

Architecture/Maintenance:

Evans reported that the letters from the fall inspection identifying property repairs that need to be made have been completed. A 2005 Home Exterior Maintenance Checklist was created to include in the letters so that homeowners will have a guide to begin their annual property maintenance activities. The board discussed inclusion of a deadline in the letter for homeowners to bring their property repair into compliance. The agreed upon date was August 1, 2005 this will give the architectural committee some time to follow up with homeowners who remain out of compliance prior to the 2005 winter months. Board also discussed the challenge of hiring contractors for smaller jobs. It was agreed that a list of contractors that have been used for our neighborhood in the past would be generated and included with the letter. The letters will be distributed next week March 22, 2005.

Neighborhood Events:

Rater confirmed the Blitz day for April 2, 2005 from 10AM – 12PM. The focus of this year’s Blitz day will be for the pick up of trash that has blown into our neighborhood and accumulated over the winter months and to trim back any obvious brush that needs to be trimmed immediately or cannot wait until our paid services are able to come and take care of the need. Rater will distribute a letter requesting neighborhood participation in this effort. The letter will be sent out March 22, 2005 with the Property Inspection and Repair Notifications.

A. Cross was a guest speaker at this board meeting and joined the board to discuss KS participation in the Skinker-Debaliviere Community Annual Breakfast and Garden Tour that will be held on June 4, 2005. Mr. Cross is the organizer of this fundraiser/ community building event. He shared the success of the event for community building in the past few years and explained that all of the funds that were generated would go to support the Skinker-Debaliviere Community Council. He described this year’s tour and identified KS as the location for the end of the tour. He would like to have KS park space available to host master gardener demos and children’s events for those who attend the tour. A list was generated of homeowners who might like to have their backyard garden open to those attending the tour. He also explained that the front gardens that line the KS neighborhood will be a unique inclusion for attendees to enjoy as they move to backyards that are included in the tour. Tickets for attendance on the breakfast and garden tour will be $10 if purchased prior to the event and $12 if purchased on the day of the event. Mr. Cross explained that KS participation in this event will raise the awareness of those in our surrounding neighborhood about the presence of KS and will add to our visibility as members in the community. The board discussed the significance of addressing our current park landscaping and maintenance needs prior to the June 4th event.

Homeowner Requests to the Board: Homeowner, K. Maverick, submitted a request to the board asking to post a real estate sign in his front yard. He also submitted pictures of 64 properties in the KS neighborhood that reflected security signs in and around the front entrance of properties. His request states his awareness that the by-laws do not permit signs being posted in the yard, but if these 64 properties are not in compliance then he believes he is justified in posting a real estate sign in his yard. The board discussed his request and voted to deny granting permission of such a sign. The board discussed alternatives that could be offered to the homeowner including the posting of such a sign in his front window from inside his property. The board will also offer the posting of such a sign during a one day open house as long as it is taken down at the end of the day. These types of alternatives have been granted to other homeowners in the past and the board would like to be consistent in their practices. The board decided that although there are signs on some properties indicating that the house is protected with a security system, this type of posting was acceptable to maintain the safety of our neighborhood. However the neighborhood stability also needs to be maintained and therefore the board would not like to see real estate signs posted in the yards of properties for sale. Barrack will respond to the homeowner request.

Next Meeting:

Rater made a suggestion to change the current monthly meeting schedule to either an every other month or quarterly schedule. The board agreed that there may be times when extra meetings are needed but at this time it was agreed that a quarterly meeting schedule would serve our current needs. The next meting was set for June 11, 2005 at 12:00 PM and will be held at Kayak’s Coffee on Skinker.

Meeting adjourned at 2:40 pm.

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