Summary of March 2009 Elizabeth Condo Board Meeting

The March meeting of Elizabeth Condo Board highlighted such items as the annual audit, professional management, and the contract with Phyllis Hartman of the Harman Design Group related to the building refurbishment. Here is a thumbnail list of what took place.

A representative from DeLeon & Stang provided a quick overview of the late annual audit report (held up by the Board in favor of completing the Reserve Study first). Finances appear to be in good shape and under sound auditing principals. A question from the floor regarding whether window replacement would provide a tax break to either the building or owners yielded a positive response.

Among the items reported by treasurer Monique Fridell was that while delinquencies doubled in January and February, they went down 2.09% in this period. One case has gone to litigation but other cases have been resolved.

A considerable amount of time was spent discussing and voting on the contract with Phyllis Hartman relative to the building refurbishment. Jeffrey Alexrad wanted the contract to state that the ECA total budget limitation is $1.2 million. This limitation includes Hartman’s design work, materials and other contracted work. Monique Fridell wanted the Board to agree on a spending cap for Hartman’s design work.

The Board is closing in on details regarding how professional management will be handled. Once a contract is signed, there will be an information meeting (as early as April) including a presentation by Legum & Norman to discuss the details.

The nominating committee for election of three new Board members will be Peg Downey, Jerry Feldman, and Pat Peyser. They will accept candidate resumes until April 15. There will be a Meet the Candidates evening on April 23. [Current Board members whose tenure is up include Monique Fridell, Judy Gann, and Alexandra Kielty.]

A contract was agreed upon by the Board to begin maintenance work on the G-3 level of the parking garage. The work, which includes quick setting concrete, periodic jack hammering and concrete dust, will go on for two months. Plastic is available at the front desk to cover cars in the construction area.

Arcade owners asked for placement of planters and benches to spruce up the arcade. The Board authorized use of existing planters. Also it was mentioned that the new arcade sign was paid for by the arcade owners.

The Social Committee will organize use of the new West Lobby television. Residents wishing to use the TV will be able to sign up on a list available at the desk.

Comments from the floor included concerns about replacement of exercise equipment, having front desk staff answer the phone (and not make the caller go through the automated attendant), cars that leak oil destroying the membrane, residents running car engines for extended periods of time that cause toxic fumes throughout the garage, and cars that have no current tags on them.