Insulation
After installing new insulation in the 500 block attic, which resulted in a reported 15% gas savings there, the property manager has meet with an insulation contractor regarding moving forward with re-insulating the attics at the rest of the blocks. Total cost to do the remaining five blocks as one project would be $254,188 less $179,452 in energy program initiatives/savings paid for by National Grid, for a net cost to the cooperative of $74,736 ($14,947 per block). The contractor will additionally install new programmable digital thermostats, new sink aerators, and new shower heads in all units in that price. The property manager said they anticipate overall heating savings of 17% annually. The Board voted to accept the bid contingent on funds being available to do the entire project this year.
Insurance
The vice president reported costs for renewing the cooperative's property and casualty insurance will be just under $75,000, about $1,000 lower than last year. Treasurer credited a good claims record and the copalum electrical rewiring project with the overall decrease. Costs rose in two areas: workers compensation and crime.
Stock Certificate Amendment
President noted she has not received approval from Arbor Commercial Mortgage yet.
Laundry Committee
The committee chair reported a Request for Proposal had been sent to six vendors and Q&A sessions with them have begun. The committee plans to have its recommendations ready for the Board in January. Current contract expires April 30, 2012.
Finance
The treasurer said he will be requesting the board approve a recommendation to change cooperative bylaws from requiring a formal financial audit each year to a less involved financial statement review. If the board and Arbor Commercial Mortgage approve, the change would be voted on by membership at next April's annual meeting.
Maintenance
The coop has submitted 24 rebate applications for a total of $9,600 for new indirect water storage tanks.
Emergency repairs were completed on a gas leak at the 100 block, necessitating shutting down heat, hot water and stove service to the block for 18 hours while an underground line was replaced and inspected by the town. Staff also repaired damage to a storm drain at the 500 block.
Abutters Fencing
The president said she had not yet sent a letter to cooperative abutters about neighbors' fences on cooperative property. This was discovered when the property was surveyed as part of the refinancing process.
Open Meeting
No Smoking Area
A member spoke to the board regarding a request he made earlier this year to make the pool a no smoking area. He noted he checked with the town and all town pools prohibit smoking. The president said the question will be decided by the time the pool regulations are distributed for the 2012 season.
Replacement Windows
A member asked why the cooperative is seeking bids to replace all kitchen windows in the 200 block for that block's refurbishment project next year when it only replaced some kitchen windows (about 10) in the 500 block last summer. That means most 500 block shareowners will have to wait for another six-year maintenance cycle for their new kitchen windows. The board explained that the windows were not a part of the original refurbishment project for the 500 block and done when the extent of damage became evident during the repair work. The treasurer noted his objection to redoing work that had just been done to replace sheathing, trim, etc. and painting the 500 block.
A dozen shareowners attended. The board adjourned to executive session after 55 minutes.
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17 comments:
I WAS AT THE MEETING LAST NITE.I ASKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE 200 BLOCK IS NOW GETTING NEW KITCHEN WINDOWS.I TOLD THE BOARD I LIVE IN A TOWN HOUSE AND HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 30 YRS.I CLEANED THE HALLWAYS EVERY WEEK UNTIL I MOVED TO THE TOWNHOUSE.NOW I AM IN A TOWNHOUSE AND ALL THE UNITS IN THE 500 BLOCK GOT NEW CERAMIC FLOORS NEW CARPENTRY WORK & A CLEANING SERVICE CAME IN TO CLEAN ALL THE HALLWAYS.I PAY MY "CARRYING CHARGES"AS I WAS TOLD BY PRESIDENT MULLINEX TO CALL IT & LIVING HERE I PAY MORE THAN ALL THE OTHER 1&2 BEDROOM UNITS.I EXPRESSED THAT ATLEAST I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET NEW KITCHEN WINDOWS IN THE WINTER YOU CAN FEEL THE WIND BLOWINGIN WHEN SITTING AT THE TABLE.THE TREASURER WHO WAS VERY AROGANT AND CONDISENDING TOLD ME "YOU ARE NOT GETTING NEW WINDOWS"PERIOD.THEN BOB EGAN VOICED IN AND SAID"IF YOU WANT NEW WINDOWS GO OUT & BUY THEM.I THOUGHT THIS WAS A COOPERATIVE BUT APPARENTLY YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE BOARD OR KNOW SOMEONE THE GET SPECIAL TREATMENT HERE.THEY ARE THE ANOITED ONES.THIS PLACE IS A DISGRACE AND HOW DARE THEY SPEAK TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE IN ANY KIND OF A DEMEANING MANOR.THIS IS DEFINITE NOT A COOPERATIVE.SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR FOR THE SO CALLED SPECIAL ONES.
feel your pain about the windows here
can't get hallway and kitchen windows even cleaned and they won't address the issue other than to say it's not in budget
why can't the employees do it? they have a ladder
please answer that!
Mr. Egan, I need new windows desperately as well, but will not spend my money on any improvements without an increase in my equity.
president blamed amount of repairs at 500 on poor workmanship by previous company to do the repairs, without acknowledging it was current self management that hired them and approved their work
Good to see we're finally getting energy rebates on insulation and heating systems. Should have happened years ago. But why no energy rebates for all kitchen appliances?
OMG, crime insurance went up? I was told this was a safe place when i broght my family here. What is crime issues?
Good to see they're doing this. But beyond wrapping the hot water piping in the units, they should have been doing this in the laundry rooms for years. They're always reminding people to keep the doors closed in the winter, but all those pipes are unwrapped! The wrapping costs are minimal.
In addition to new windows, they need to supply every unit with 2 new air conditioner covers. Constantly feeling a draft there, especially on windy days. They had them in the past so what changed that they no longer supply them. The air conditioners are part of the building structure. Like you say it's all in who you know and if anyone on the board likes you. If you don't follow the rules then you don't get any perks. It's hard to believe that the president herself doesn't follow therules. For years her son has been subletting and then all of a sudden he has his own stock with no credit checks like we all had to do. That has been a rule since day one of this place but I guess its who you suck up to.
To the person who would like new windows. I also agree. Maybe if you become friends with Peg and Bob. They will like you and you will get some new windows. Or maybe if you run for the board and get elected you'll get them also. Oh but you have to agree to whatever they want wheather you like the idea or not. Then they'll give you what you need. Look at their track record.
security is an issue. other places i looked at in town all had it so i forgot to ask when looking here. surprised a complex this size does not have any at all. i was told they used to have a night/overnight guard patrol the property but cut it to save$.
It's not a particularly dangerous place, but far from the wonderful and safe, secure place management leads you to believe. As soon as they put the new playground up problems with late nite drinking and sex started.
they reported it to the police but only as a cya deal. they never did anything to try and stop it or even let the members and parents know. When i found out from a schoolteacher i set my daughters curfew at sunset. She was very upset because the coop allows the other kids to hang out until 9pm which is well after dark any time of the year.
management does cover stuff up rather than let us know whats really going on. Manager sent out one memo last year notifying us to keep cars locked and empty because of several vehicle break-ins on the property one nite.
But since then they have ignored police reports of a sept breakin, an oct casing, a oct assault and battery and a dec vandalism problems.
one newsletter comment noted we should be mindful of security but gave no specifics about the seriousness or frequency of problems.
along the thoughts about security, or lack thereof, when are they going to change the security codes on the door locks? Have not been changed since installed. Any security company recommends regular changing of the numbers. Yes, it's a pain for USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. but we now have no way to prevent access to people who have left the coop. I had one former neighbor leave, which pleased me no end because of how he looked at my daughter, but now he is around and about a lot even if not living here. We paid over $200,000 fr that security and it's pretty useless.
changing security door locks is a good idea. they also need to make people stop propping the doors open for more than a few moments to bring groceries in. Employees should close doors when they see them open
Changing security codes is a good idea as long as president doesn't publish it in her newsletter again. Duh!
Board won't give us info on spending budget because they don't want it to "get out." You have to take time off work to go to office to find out what something is costing us. But they publish security codes?
Tpypical
Another security issue is the president's recent history of publishing information about new members. I'm glad I'm not just moving in here. I'm a single woman and don't want that information spread around to a hundreds of people I don't know. People are also especially vulnerable to identity theft when moving and make so many changes to their personal information and records.
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