Swimming Pool!

Swimming Pool!

The annual Spring maintenance on the swimming pool solar panels will take place Apr. 7. Give it a few days, depending on the weather, for the pool to heat up, then — enjoy! (I would guess it will be heated by the weekend of Apr. 16-17.)

No jean cutoffs, T-shirts, etc., as cotton fibers clog the pump and can even cause it to have to be replaced.

No diving as even the deep end is too shallow for safety. I once worked for a nonprofit where I daily saw 2 wheelchair-bound co-workers who, in their callow youth,had taken a dive into a shallow pool. They would confirm: it is not cute, it is not smart.

No horseplay or running.

Nofood or drink poolside. You must leave your picnic items on the table outside the pool fence.

The pool is open for adult lap swimming and therapy exercise from 9-11 am and 8-9 pm. The remainder of the day, 11 am until 8 pm, is for the enjoyment of all.

Off-site owners: Please remind your tenants that the pool rules must be obeyed. We’ve had problems in the past with renters who have no financial stake in the park and therefore don’t care what damage they cause. If they don’t obey the rules, they will lose their pool privileges and so will you. 

“Tool Shed”

The former office space in the Clubhouse, which has been used to store tools, has now been restored to its original purpose. The walls are freshly painted; all we are waiting on are a couple of sets of Venetian blinds and a carpet.

The maintenance guys have done a great job on the conversion and only worked on it during rainy days when they could not be outdoors.

Religious Materials on

Our Bulletin Board

A few weeks ago, a fellow came into the office and demanded that his end-of-the-world, gloom ‘n’ doom religious prophecies be permitted on our bulletin board. Both Rose and Dean Morrison, who happened to be in the office that day, pointed out that The Oaks is private property and that we can therefore control what does and does not get posted. He claimed that, by virtue of our allowing tradespeople’s business cards on the bulletin board, we had converted it into a public space.

I thought the question was interesting enough to submit it to a Davis-Stirling Act on-line forum I subscribe to. Here is the lawyer’s response:

“Your fellow is mistaken. The bulletin board is the association’s private property. The board has the right to regulate the materials posted on the association's bulletin boards. Allowing business cards as a service to members does not make bulletin boards ‘public.’”

Executive Sessions

According to our Bylaws and the Civil Code upon which they are based, the following are the only items which should be discussed in an executive meeting which is not open to the membership: (1) Conference with legal counsel. (2) Personnel issues. (3) Member discipline. (4) Litigation in which the Assn is involved. (5) Formation of contracts.

The legislature added another in 2006: Lien enforcement procedures (several sections of Civil Code 1367). Other than for these reasons, no board should be meeting in secret.

Also, apologies to all homeowners for my error in assuming that an executive session could be conducted electronically for a personnel issue, viz., increasing an employee’s hourly wages. I was rightly taken to task at the March board meeting for not following Bylaw 7.9 which stipulates that telephonic communications must include at least one board member with his or her feet on the ground at a physical location.

Personally, I think that is something our legislature needs to take a long look at. In this age of electronic communications, it’s a pretty silly stipulation to my mind. Still, it is currently in effect, and I should have been aware of it. I shan’t make the same mistake again. 

Feb. Financial Summary

NOTE: Full financial statements for any month are always available to any homeowner in office or by mail.

INCOME & EXPENSES STATEMENT
February 1-28, 2011
INCOME
Assessments (HOA dues) / $27,170
Utilities billed / 42,788
Other income / 2,547
Total income / $72,506
EXPENSES
Utilities paid / $16,574
Water treatment plant / 6,728
Sewer farm / 2,332
Maintenance / 5,400
Administration / 17,210
Deposits to reserve funds / 5,921
Total expenses / $54,167
NET INCOME (LOSS) / $18,339
BALANCE SHEET
on February 28, 2011
ASSETS
Cash in operating accounts / $72,798
Cash in reserve accounts / 244,827
Accounts receivables / 161,075
Other assets / 6,424
Total assets / $485,124
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities / $44,364
Reserves liabilities / 608,855
Total liabilities / $653,219
OWNERS' EQUITY / ($168,094)
TOTAL LIAB & EQUITY / $485,124