Summary of June 2009 Elizabeth Condo Board Meeting

Highlighted in the June meeting of the Elizabeth Condo Board were: transitioning of building management to Legum & Norman including methods of paying condo fees, energy issues including hiring consultant to assess requirements for new windows and balcony doors, and need to fix plumbing/pipe issues before renovation can move forward.

Present at the meeting were the following Legum & Norman representatives:
Patricia DuBuque, Executive Vice President, Community Management
Judy Branthover, Vice President (Regional Manager who will oversee the ECA Community Manager and the transition)
John Algner, Senior Community Manager (assigned to the Elizabeth and other buildings in Friendship Heights)

L&N also offers the flexibility to charge condo fees. If the ECA Board votes to permit charging of condo fees to credit cards, there will be an $8.00 convenience fee charged to the Association and a $3.00 charge to the user of the card. Electric Funds Transfer (automatic deduction) is the most cost-effective way for the ECA to have condo fees sent to L&N. Personal checks always incur a service charge to the Association.

Energy issues not only include replacement of leaky windows and balcony doors but assessment of the heating and cooling units (McQuay units) and whether it would be possible to meter energy use on a unit-by-unit basis. Currently utility costs are rolled into condo fees. Metering the use of electricity and water within owner units would significantly encourage energy conservation because owners would be able to see the cause and effect of use within their units. Also separate metering would reduce condo fees. While windows, balcony doors, and the old heating and cooling systems must be attended to, retrofitting utility meters for individual units may not be a financially viable option.

While the committee overseeing the renovation by the Hartman Design Group is pleased with the palettes of color and materials, the ECA cannot move ahead until a number of plumbing and pipe issues are corrected. Fixing these problems is a sizeable expense but must be done. To move ahead without fixing these things would jeopardize the investment in new carpet, wall coverings, furniture, etc. For example, the lobby level has a number of water leakage problem areas. However, what is clear is that the entire building needs to be assessed for structural, mechanical, and plumbing issues (there may be other categories too) BEFORE any renovations can safely be implemented.

Securitas reported that an apartment on the East side was broken into but nothing was reported missing though a glass table was broken.

Contracts: The Board approved repair to the big chiller used on high temperature days. Board voted to renew contract for Clean inc. Landscaping contract was put on hold as was the Aqua Fit contract.

The Social Committee reported that over 100 people attended the BBQ party.