Ascot Homeowners Association
Minutes, Board of Directors -- Monday, December 19, 2005
Prepared by Secretary, Julie Reiss
Ascot's Board of Directors met at Heide Zufall's home on Monday, December 19th at 7:30 pm. Board members present included Heide, Mick Fox, Lars Okeson, and Julie Reiss. Approval of the prior minutes from the November meeting was our first order of business.
Reston Town Initiative
The next order of business was to hear from our Restown advisor, homeowner Leslie Braunstein, who briefed us on events surrounding the issue of Reston becoming a town. Having served on the Board of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, she is familiar with this initiative and related issues. The bottom line is that while a small group of Restonians continues to push for Reston becoming a town, they have virtually no chance of succeeding, due to a lack of local political support and restrictive state law. The Virginia General Assembly has approved only two new towns in the entire state in the last 50 years.
In a related issue, at the last Reston Community Center Board meeting, a motion to remove neighborhoods outside the Reston Master Plan (including Ascot) from the tax district failed by just one vote. Our neighborhood continues to be part of Fairfax County's Small Tax District #5, in which each household and business pays a property tax surcharge to support the Reston Community Center. If a similar motion is passed in the future, each Ascot household would save several hundred dollars per year, yet could still enjoy full use of RCC's facilities, which are owned and operated by Fairfax County. The Board thanks Leslie for her insight and encourages her to continue apprising us on related issues.
Budget
The Board also reviewed '05 actual financial results through December 12, 2005. We discussed the nature of the expenditures and reasons behind a few significant budget variances. For the '06 budget, the Board reviewed a preliminary spreadsheet and plans on reviewing and passing the final budget at the January 17 meeting. A $1,200 capital expenditure fund remains in the budget, and the Board will be considering when and how it should be spent. Lars remarked that at some point in the future the basketball court may need an overhaul of asphalt.
There was a motion to raise homeowners' dues by $5.00 to keep up with the cost of inflation and price of gasoline. The motion was seconded, and the resolution passed unanimously. Dues will increase in 2006 from $115.00 to $120.00.
If you have any questions about the budget, it will be posted on the website at www.ascotwalk.org. The Board appreciates Lars' diligence in overseeing all of Ascot's financial operations.
Community Survey
Approximately 40% of homeowners responded to the survey, and Mick's analysis of the results are posted [here] on the Ascot website. In general, Safety and Security and Property Value Enhancement were top concerns, with an overwhelming interest in the speeding issue.
To address the major concern of speeding, the Board is asking for volunteers to join a taskforce that would investigate options for reducing speeding through the neighborhood. Mick pointed out that a specialist from the county could be asked to address the task force and the Board at an upcoming meeting. This county representative could possibly present various enforcement and prevention scenarios to offer insight into how best to address the issue. It was noted that no permanent solution such as speed bumps, rumble strips, or additional stop signs would be installed without further input from a majority of Ascot homeowners. If you or a driving member of your family is interested in leading or joining the Speeding Taskforce, please contact any Board member.
Other top areas of interest included remaining in the Great Falls School District, Neighborhood Watch, and the Bike Path Connection. Last year Lars spoke with Cathy Hudgins, our County Supervisor, concerning the bike path. The County will be connecting our bike path in 2009/2010 as part of the Route 7 widening project. Hudgins said thousands of private dollars would need to be raised in order to connect the path any earlier.
As a final note, some homeowners expressed an interest in the Board strictly enforcing the bylaws, while many others did not want to see Ascot's governing body become overly stringent.
Common Grounds Maintenance
Ascot's 2-year contract with Sunrise Lawn and Landscaping ends March 15, 2006. In the following month or two, Board member Heide Zufall will consider renewing the Sunrise contract, as well as evaluate bids from local competitors. Please contact her or any Board member if you would like to recommend a lawn service for the common area.
Neighborhood Watch
Diane Preston has been conscientiously volunteering as our Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. The Board appreciates her much-needed efforts and invites her to report at the next Board meeting at the home of Julie Reiss on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:30 pm.
Directory Updates
In the Ascot directory, there were a couple of noted changes: Judy Lee's e-mail address ... and the McConnell's e-mail address [are in the printed copy of these minutes distributed to homeowners]. Please notify a Board member if you have changes in e-mail, pet names, etc., so the master directory can be updated for the next publication.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Reiss
Secretary, Oct 2005 - Sep 2006
COMMUNITY NOTES
In an effort to spur competition, homeowner Chris Bolster again encourages everyone to investigate Verizon Fios for television service, a replacement for cable. Chris believes that high interest will drive which neighborhoods are built out first.
Contacting the Board
Homeowners are welcome to contact the Board about community concerns. Send email to the Board, write to Ascot Homeowners Association, PO Box 934, Great Falls, Virginia 22066-0934, or contact any Board member.
