Due to this recent pandemic surge, it looks like we are all going to be home a little while longer than we expected. The current board members strongly encourage each homeowner to become the change that you want to see in Rogers Ranch. Your active participation on the board or service within a subcommittee could make a difference and make this neighborhood a better place for your family. The Board handles the administrative decisions to keep the community functioning. Your thoughts and opinions on these issues are important:
• Current Discussion Topic 1: Enhanced security – Security Committee (Newly formed). The $50K cost of patrolling this Crosstimber for only 4 hours a day doesn’t deter crime in a neighborhood of 650+ high dollar homes. For this reason, we continue discussion with community members to come up with innovative ideas to improve security in the community. One popular idea is to modify the entry process to use TX Tags with enhanced cameras and/or the current RFID gate openers.
• Current Discussion Topic 2: Unify DCCRs – Architectural Control Committee. Ensure Architecture Standards are applied uniformly across each sub neighborhood. EX: Developers still have access rights to easement areas that they shouldn’t.
• Current Discussion Topic 2: Code of Ethics – Ethics Committee Add transparency and efficiency to the board, by working with home owners to agree on a general code of ethics. Here’s a link that describes how the proposed code of ethics will
define solid rules and metrics that will ensure that Crosstimber HOA members will enjoy working with the board going forward: https://blog.realmanage.com/creating-an-hoa-board-member- code-of-ethics-0
• Current Discussion Topic 4: Separation of powers – Per our bylaws, Home Owner Association President, Swim Club President, and Architectual Control Committee Chair are intentionally designed to be independent leadership roles with total autonomy. The HOA President and SC President are elected roles. The ACC Chair is appointed by the HOA President. Essentially, a person who seeks to occupy all three roles is proposing to be Crosstimber Mayor, Head of the Chamber of Commerce, and City Planner all at the same time. The idea of one person heading the HOA, the Swim Board, and the Architectural Committee runs counter to the fundamental principle of separation of powers and does not work well in a crisis situation for 648 homes. It may be legal for one person to be neighborhood czar and autocrat. Should this potential risk be a concern?
• Current Discussion Topic 3: Board Member Misbehavior – Under our current bylaws, the corrective action for board member misbehavior is rather extreme - removal from office requires a 50% (325) vote of all households to approve under our current by-laws. Do we require ethical behavior as a condition to board membership and ensure that all director-level violations are subject to progressive disciplinary action, up to and including termination. If so how do we implement this requirement?
• Current Discussion Topic 4: Disaster Recovery Planning Concerns – Our lawyer tells us that he is actively working with other communities to put together a plan in case things go from bad to worse. This is not about hiring guards and setting up a base camp. This is about establishing clear communication and coordination at the local level BEFORE an emergency escalation. This is just good leadership.
• Current Discussion Topic 5: Garage Sale – Because of our Covid-19 concerns, there has been no community garage sale this year. What is our stance on this topic? Do we need to coordinate with all of the other RR communities to discuss having one this Fall? Do we need to make sure that people don’t try to have their own within our RR community? This is a good idea but it raises safety concerns.
• Current Discussion Topic 6: Private community and Trespassing Signage – The board agrees that a survey of such signage to remind residents and visitors is required within Crosstimber. We need to ensure these signs are still present and/or visible. If any are missing they should be replaced with duplicates of the originals. We need to know what those actually looked like and where they were placed. Hopefully some examples still exist or someone has pictures. Getting these made may prove difficult if sign businesses are closed.
• Current Discussion Topic 7: Coordination w/ Law Enforcement and Surrounding Neighborhoods - I’ve contacted one of the Police officers assigned to our area to help us ensure that Police will issue actual citations when home owners report valid violations. I will also talk to the local constables to see if that makes more sense and we have to start serving people civilly. Comparing notes with the other HOAs and discussing what we find with our lawyers would also be a good thing.
• Current Discussion Topic 8: COVID-19 related concerns – Crosstimber has a large elder community at risk and a Swim Club with a younger audience. Social distancing is a concern with COVID-19 surging. We have taken measures in the form of signage. We are monitoring the situation.
We would like to hear from the community about suggestions and solutions which we can collate and discuss in the upcoming annual meeting.
No comments:
Post a Comment