Ascot Homeowners Association
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting -- Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Prepared by Secretary, Scott Rackham

The Ascot Homeowners Association Board of Directors met at the Peirces' home on the 12th of July, 2005, beginning at 7:30 pm. Four Board members were present -- Claudia Raffman, Dave Peirce, Lars Okeson, and Scott Rackham.

Tennis Court Assessments

Lars Okeson reported that fifty-nine homeowner families have submitted payment for their share of the tennis court repair special assessment that was approved by community vote on the 14th of April. He has been in touch with most of those who had not yet paid, as of the meeting date, and was expecting more payments soon. The Board reminds any homeowner who still has not yet paid that payment was requested by the the beginning of June. Payments should be mailed to Ascot Homeowners Association, PO Box 934, Great Falls, Virginia 22066-0934.

Interested homeowners may review the covenants regarding assessments and payment of special assessments in Article IV of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as posted on the Ascot Web site.

Progress on Tennis Court Repairs

Lars reported that Bishops Tennis was preparing to lay the two new layers of asphalt within the next few days after the Board meeting. These two layers will be left to cure for thirty days, then Bishops will return in late August to apply the playing surface and finish getting the tennis court ready to be put into use again.

The Board had Sunrise trim back the limbs on the surrounding leyland cypress trees that had been protruding through the tennis court fence. This was on the advice of Bishops, who had suggested this would help prevent tree debris from accumulating on the tennis court surface and damaging it. Lars noted that the trees were not trimmed as high up as might have been best for the tennis court. The Board decided to defer a decision on additional trimming until the tennis court fence is restored.

In addition to trimming back the Cypress, Sunrise was to remove the dead tree in front of the basketball court. As of the time of the meeting, the tree had been cut down, but the stump was not yet removed. Board members will take a look at the area to assess how best to position a tree to replace the one that died.

Financial Report

Lars also reviewed year-to-date financial summaries. Assuming that all special assessments are received by the end of this month, the Association's financial situation after completing payment for the tennis court repairs will be as originally anticipated, with minor variations in grounds maintenance expenses and revenue from sales of homeowner information packets. Any homeowner who would like a printed copy of the interim budget worksheet is welcome to contact Lars Okeson or Scott Rackham to request it.

Common Ground adjacent to northwest end of Falls Park Estates

Scott Rackham reported that he had asked Falls Park Estates homeowner Tony Bansal to more clearly describe the landscaping that he would like to have done on the finger of Ascot common ground between his home and Bishopsgate Way. Mr. Bansal did respond with a somewhat clearer statement of work, which Bob Naftal is reviewing.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, the 23rd of August, at the home of Dunbar and Lars Okeson.

Respectfully submitted,
Scott Rackham
Secretary

COMMUNITY NOTES:

In September it will be time to elect a Board of Directors for the next year. Not all of the current Board members intend to volunteer again for next year. If you'd be willing to do your share to help manage the common grounds and to further community interests for the new year, please let one of the current Board members know. We'd like to put your name on the September ballot.

Ascot loves horses, but ...

Not horse manure -- not on the community streets where we walk as well as drive, not in front of our homes, and not on the public nature trails where we walk. If your horse leaves a mess, it's appropriate to go back and clean it up. We haven't checked the Fairfax County ordinances regarding this, but we do know there are regulations regarding the much smaller deposits left by dogs.

Contacting the Board

Homeowners are welcome to contact the Board about the tennis court or other community concerns. Write to Ascot Homeowners Association, PO Box 934, Great Falls, Virginia 22066-0934. Contact any Board member. Or send email --