JUNO ISLES CIVIC ASSOCIATION

April 2, 2007

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Juno Isles Civic Association Board of Directors was held on Monday, April 2, 2007, at Holy Spirit Church on Ellison Wilson Road. 

 

Roll Call and Call to Order:

 

Jim Jackson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.  The following board members were present: 

 

Douglas Acker

Present

 

Blas Contreras

Present

 

Shelley Green

Present

 

Kathy Greene

Present

 

Wayne Hatten

Present

 

Jim Jackson

Present

 

Dave Mastran

Present

 

Bernard Slean

 

Excused

Frank Slevinski

Present

 

Idella Vinho

 

Excused

Dinah Washam

Present

 

Tom Wajdowicz

Present

 

 

Note: The minutes refer to Board Members by their first name as listed above.

 

 

Agenda Review:   Jim Jackson

 

The standard agenda will be followed.

 

 

New Business

 

A variance request was submitted to allow the pool at 2092 Ascott Road to be moved closer to the canal, allowing more space to extend the house. A full set of plans were submitted to Jim. On March 22nd Jim sent a copy of the plans and a copy of the homeowners’ letter to each of the adjacent homeowners along with a cover letter.  James Paine, the architect for the property, was present. He said the variance request asked for 4.5 feet of relief, bringing the pool within 3 feet of the setback. James Paine also said the pool was in compliance with county requirements. Wayne mentioned that if the homeowner wanted a screen enclosure in the future, another variance request would be required. Jim received a response from the neighbors at 2076 Ascott Road and read it aloud. The neighbors stated that they had no objection and supported the variance request. There were no other responses. Dave made a motion to approve the variance request. Shelley seconded the motion. Frank asked if there were plans for the seawall to be reinforced. James Paine said the seawall and the dock were to be reconstructed. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. Jim advised James Paine that plans still need to be approved by the Architectural Committee.

 

 

Architectural Committee:  Shelley Green

 

The shed at 2141 Ascott Road has an aluminum roof and is not in compliance with the Covenants. Wayne met with Lee Heaton, the homeowner. Wayne said the shed was brought in by a crane, and was a very nice structure. Lee was present and said he did not realize sheds were not allowed in Juno Isles, and did not acquire a county permit for the shed. He did not know if his contractor acquired a county permit. Dave said there were sheds in Juno Isles, but they were grandfathered in. He expressed that the Board was concerned that the roof and location of the shed were within the guidelines of the Covenants. The shed may not be within the 7.5 feet setback requirements. Jim told Lee he needed to submit a survey to the Architectural Committee. After Architectural Committee review, Lee may then submit a variance request to the Board if the shed does not meet the setback requirements. Lee said he had already acquired approval of the shed by several neighbors.

 

 

Covenants Committee:  Frank Slevinski

 

The County Health Department was contacted because of a rodent problem at 1627 Bowood Road. Upon investigation, they found no rodents. Since the vehicle had been removed and the pool had been cleaned, it appeared to the inspector that the homeowners were taking positive action to improve the appearance of the property. The County said they would do something about getting the vegetation and debris removed, but it would take time. Ken Bouler, homeowner at 1643 Bowood Road, was present. He lives next door to 1627 Bowood and said the back yard had not been mowed in the past 15 years. Ken questioned why the issues with the property were passed on to the County since the property appearance was clearly in violation of Juno Isles Covenants. Frank said the homeowner has been in touch with the Board members and said she would clean up the property. Ken said that since the homeowner moved out eight months ago, he sees squirrels and rats running in and out of the house. Dave proposed that the Board contact their attorney and ask him what the Association could do about the situation. Dave said, ‘I do not want to continue this discussion for the next year.’ He asked Jim to contact the Association’s attorney and bring the attorney’s recommendations before the Board. Then the Board could vote on the recommendations and take action. Wayne said he agreed with Dave, but that the County was already involved and that they could force the homeowner to clean up the vegetation. Kathy said she believed the Board would have to send several letters to the homeowner, the owner does not live there, certified letters may or may not reach the homeowner, and the County is already doing what the Board would have to do.

 

Pricilla Star, residing at 1685 Bowood, presented photos of 1675 Bowood, showing boat storage violation and several vehicles parked on the grass and over the sidewalk. The homeowner told Wayne that he would move the boat, but he has not. Wayne said it was a County ordinance that the homeowner is not allowed to park vehicles on the sidewalk or on the swale overnight, but it is not a violation of the Juno Isles Covenants. Frank will send a certified letter to the homeowner advising them of the boat storage violation.

 

 

Secretary’s Report:  Jim Jackson

 

There was nothing to report.

 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Bernard Slean

 

Bernard told Jim that due to recent health issues, he wanted to resign from the Board and his position as Treasurer. Kathy made a motion to accept Bernard’s resignation. Frank seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. Frank made a motion to appoint Wayne as Treasurer. Kathy seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. The 2006 Actual Budget Report compiled by Bernard is January 1, 2006 through November 29, 2006. Wayne would like to have 10 days to compile a complete 12-month Actual Budget Report for 2006.

 

 

Old Business - Approval of 2007 Budget and Assessment

 
Wayne made a motion to decrease the annual assessment from $90 to $70, using surplus funds to balance the budget. The Board discussed the use of surplus funds. Jim talked with Scott Gherman, Association attorney, in regard to having reserve funds. He said that the Homeowners’ Association Act is the one that governs the Association, not the Non-Profit Act. Wayne expressed his concern that if there was too much money in the general fund, the Association could loose its’ non-profit status with the state of Florida. He explained that as a non-profit organization, the Association is currently required to pay taxes only on money gained from interest; taxes are much higher for an organization that is not non-profit.

 

Jim said that although the funds were not designated as reserve, the clear intent of the Board at the point the dues were raised to $90 was to build up funds for phase II of the street lighting project. Kathy said there was a problem with putting a line item in the budget for street lighting electric costs, giving the homeowners the impression the Association is paying for street lighting. Funds have accumulated for several years since electric expenditures have not yet been incurred. The surplus funds that have accumulated were never designated specifically for the lighting project. Jim said the Board had discussed leaving money in the budget for the electric costs since they were working with Commissioner Marcus’s office to extend the agreement.

 

Frank seconded Wayne’s motion. Jim said, ‘The issue with doing that is you’re then forcing a major reduction in the reserves, in the funds we have available to us, and will require a much more significant increase in future assessments to do phase II of the street lighting project. An increase of anything more than $20 per year, goes back to a vote of the homeowners.” Wayne reasoned that if phase I of the street lighting project occurred, the assessment could be brought back up to $90 next year. Dave said there was a lot of surplus money without a current estimate of what the lighting project will cost.

 

The Board discussed whether the budget could be approved tonight, and concluded that it could. The 2006 budget and actual expenditures were discussed. Wayne pointed out that the lighting project was never brought before the homeowners for a vote. He suggested that if funds were needed in the future for the lighting project, it can then be brought before the homeowners. He added that if the lighting project never occurs, there was a tremendous surplus of money, and it has grown every year during the past several years. Kathy made a motion to make the annual assessment $80. Wayne amended his motion to lower the assessment to $80. Kathy, Wayne, Dave, Frank, Blas, and Dinah were in favor. Shelley, Jim, Tom and Doug were opposed. The motion passed.

 

Wayne made a motion to approve the 2007 Budget at $43,342 with the understanding that it would be amended at the next Board meeting. Frank seconded the motion. Wayne, Frank, Jim, Dave, Doug, Blas, Shelley, and Dinah were in favor. Kathy and Tom were opposed. The motion passed. The Board planned to meet around April 17-19 to finalize the 2007 Budget. Blas will be out of town that week.

 

 

Approve Minutes:   Jim Jackson

 

February 5, 2007 Regular Meeting – Wayne made a motion to approve the minutes. Frank seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

February 26, 2007 Budget Meeting – Wayne made a motion to approve the minutes. Blas    seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

March 5, 2007 Regular Meeting – Wayne made a motion to approve the minutes.  Frank seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Old Business – Stropp Fence

 

Shelley asked about the status of the Stropp fence. Jim said the next point of discussion would be if the Board was ready to pursue the issue to the next level and incur more expenses. Jim said he was not ready to come back with a discussion to the Board for that in particular. Wayne asked if the Board could put a date on a time that they were going to discuss it and decide what they were going to do, if there was something anyone needs to do to find a resolution to this problem. Jim said there had been several discussions and votes with the Board and sessions with the attorneys. He asked the Board to review and determine where they wanted to go with the issue. Kathy said she thought Jim was contacting Scott Gherman, the Association attorney, for his advice and recommendation. Jim asked Kathy to email to him the exact questions for the attorney.

 

Blas left the meeting around 9:00 p.m.

 

 

Web Site:  Jim Jackson

 

The purchase of the website software was discussed. Wayne and Jim said Pete makes any and all updates to the website that the Board gives him. Dave said the Association should own the software, rather than maintaining the website with Pete’s personal copy of the website software. Kathy asked Shelley what would happen with the website software when she acquired it. Jim said it would be owned by the Association and shared by the Board member that maintains the website, the same way the QuickBooks software is owned by the Association and shared by the Board member that is Treasurer. Wayne made a motion not to purchase the website software. Frank seconded the motion. Tom, Kathy, Wayne, and Frank were in favor. Dave, Shelley, Doug and Dinah were opposed. Jim broke the tie and voted against purchasing the website software.  The motion passed.

 

Shelley left the meeting around 9:25 p.m.

 

 

Crime Watch:  Tom Wajdowicz

 

The Sheriff’s report for the month of February included 7 cases:
07033935        12900 Drayton            trespassing

07034681        1700 Juno Isles Blvd  burglary

07037109        1855 Tudor Road        larceny

07038593        2141 Ascott Road       larceny

07042565        2084 Ardley Road      information (3 mail boxes were knocked off)

07043044        1855 Tudor Road        stolen car

07043028        12615 Ashby Road     alarm

The March report has not yet been received.

 

 

Social Committee:  Shelley Green and Dinah Washam

 

Earlier in the meeting, Shelley submitted picnic announcements to Kathy for the newsletter.

 

Dinah asked if the Board members knew of anyone who would like to contribute things to give away at the picnic.

 

Dinah left the meeting around 9:30 p.m.

 

 

Landscape Committee:  Douglas Acker

 

There was nothing to report.

 

 

 

 

Community Improvements:  Jim Jackson

 

Jim has been in contact with Commissioner Marcus’s office and submitted a formal request to extend the street lighting agreement between Juno Isles and Palm Beach County, with no cost to the Association, and with no changes to the contracted amount in the future. Jim clarified paragraph 14 of the agreement with the County that the intent is that Workman’s Compensation Insurance is required only during construction, not during ongoing maintenance. Wayne said many homeowners have said annexing into Juno Beach is desirable. He said Juno Beach would put in better quality street lighting in Juno Isles than the lighting Florida Power and Light has proposed. Wayne said the Association may want to hold off on the installation of lighting of lesser quality and entering into a 10-year agreement with Florida Power and Light. He said street lighting could be included in the Juno Isles annexation package with Juno Beach, along with their other requirements. Jim said that current legislation may reduce the threshold for joining Juno Beach. He said annexation would require a vote of both Juno Beach and Juno Isles residents. Dave questioned the placement of the lights, and the Board discussed it. Wayne made a motion for the Board not to renew the lighting contract with the County. The lighting agreement with the County expired March 31st ; it has not officially been extended. Frank seconded the motion. Wayne, Dave, Kathy, Frank, and Tom were in favor. Doug and Jim were opposed. The motion passed.

 

Wayne said the Community Improvements Committee had been given authority in the past to do as they saw fit with the street lighting project. He then made a motion to take authority away from the Community Improvements Committee, requiring them to bring all changes before the Board as far as community improvements go. Dave seconded the motion. Wayne, Dave, Kathy, Frank and Tom were in favor. Jim and Doug were opposed. The motion passed.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Wayne made a motion to adjourn. Frank seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Rhonda Thomas