It was a dark and stormy night…

As President Craig Kennedy was held up in traffic, Annette Gildea opened the meeting with a review of UMHOA social activities over the year. It was decided that the summertime Friday wine socials were a success and should be continued next summer, and that the name of the gatherings be changed to "meet'n'greet" or some other name that omits the mention of alcohol.

Other activities that were held this year, discussed, and will be continued next year are the Holiday Cookie Exchange, the Labor Day Party, the Tag Sale (with coffee and donuts), and the occasional Busstop Mommy breakfasts. There was some discussion of considering a minor increase in the annual neighborhood dues in order to accommodate additional social activities. Craig Kennedy later pointed out that a decision like this would need to be made by ballot for a quorum of the HOA, and so it was decided to postpone any such modification for the time being.

The new UMHOA directories were distributed to all meeting attendees, and later the next week to the rest of the neighborhood in mailboxes.

Craig Kennedy then reviewed the budget for the HOA. Mowing the detention pond continues to be an issue that has not been easily remedied by hiring neighborhood kids for the work. It was decided that for the same price, Vienna Landscaping (owned by a neighbor on Stuart Road) has the equipment and schedule flexibility to do the mowing and edging according to our needs. It was decided that next season the HOA will contract Vienna Landscaping to maintain the detention pond.

Craig also related an issue with our bank account at First Virginia, whereby he was denied any information to the UMHOA account. He is working with the banking officers now and feels certain he can straighten out this miscommunication, even if he has to play hard ball. (The group had a good laugh imagining how shaken First Virginia must be at the prospect of losing our big account of $859.)

Craig has been talking to the site supervisor (and, when necessary, the county supervisor) to ensure that Edgemoore abides by the agreement put in place re: access and disruption to our neighborhood during construction. No construction traffic is to ever use Heather Down Drive; that had continued to be an issue, but is less so now that the jersey barriers are in place.

The homes in the new development are listed for sale at $609K to $698K, and at the time of the meeting all were sold but 5. (Two of the units are not for sale, though Craig does not know why.)

Laura Hicks asked about the privacy fence; shouldn't it face the other way? The understanding was that the nicer-looking side of the fence should face our neighborhood. Craig said he'd check on that.

Rick Sulkovsky said that construction debris (40+ pieces of lumber?) has been backing up in the creek behind his house. Ed Walker volunteered to inspect the creek area up to the construction site, and to report back to Craig who will escalate this item if need be.

Bruce Fraser pointed out that the detention pond in the new construction area was filling up and not draining properly, creating a serious issue as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Craig said he'd follow up on that with the Edgemoore site supervisor.

There was some discussion of a sign, then a monument, then a grand full archway to designate entrance to our Union Mill neighboorhood; the group had a good laugh about this. The real reason it's not even physically feasible is that the HOA has no common property on either boundary of the neighborhood.

Debbie Katz asked about gas power in the new neighborhood, as she and Annette Gildea noted gas fireplaces in the homes under construction. Craig said that once the gas lines are in place, we can ask the gas company for estimates to provide our neighborhood with gas. This issue is tabled for now, and may be revisited if anyone is interested in pursuing once the gas lines are in place.

During the big siding blitz of 2001, everyone who wanted siding in any color they wanted was approved. The feeling of the Board is that approval for improvements are largely decided by the neighbors who have a view of the home. Formally, the UMHOA Board of Directors is the Architectural Board, together with others who have an interest. Anyone who would like to be on the ARB is welcome to do so; just notify one of your Board members.

Informally, the Board of Directors will ask neighbors with sight lines to a home to review the Application for Structural Addition/Change for that home, and register their concerns with the Board of Directors. That gives active ARB-approval power to neighbors with a vested interest.

Unanimously voted in for another term were President Craig Kennedy, Vice President Jon Katz, and Secretary Annette Gildea. Joel Sequeira was nominated and approved as the new Treasurer.

Respectfully Submitted,

Annette Gildea

Secretary, UMHOA

11-20-02