Minutes of annual meeting

Shady Grove Station Townhouse Association
Annual meeting 2008
February 10, 2008, at #7519 (Witze’s house)

In attendance: Pete Patellis (7506), Art Carter (7522), Melissa and Gregg Price (7527), Jean Smith (7521), Ottie Gates (7505), Debbie Edgerly (7529), Mathias Roth (7511), Chi-Ang Yuen (7523), Larry Flores (7515), Luis Sandoval (7503), Tavi Alvarez (7532), Lynne McConnell (7501), Alex Witze and Jeff Kanipe (7519)
Minutes by Alex Witze, outgoing secretary, SGSTA


Art Carter, the outgoing president of SGSTA, called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.

Art opened by thanking the community for their hard work over the past year. Steve Edgar, treasurer, was sick and so Art presented the proposed budget for 2008. Items of discussion included the $2,000 paid to appraiser Hal Gearhart for an ICC-related study; the intent is to pay this back out of the funds we receive from the state regarding the ICC taking. Costs for Capitol Landscaping and Waste Management continue to rise, but the outgoing board negotiated a 2-year deal with Capitol so those costs are set for 2008. Waste Management’s fee increases are something of a mystery, but Steve has indicated he will pursue this in his next conversation with them.

Debbie noted that several items should be included in the 2008 budget, such as potential budgeting for a tax accountant should we need one to deal with ICC monies; any potential costs associated with hiring lawyer Harry Lerch regarding the ICC (such as copying and phone expenses); and the cost for parking signs and hangtags. In addition she recommended adding in the reserve fund as a line item with amounts going in and out throughout the year instead of a year-end total. Debbie and Steve will discuss. The budget as broadly outlined was passed by a voice vote, pending further possible amendments.

Alex presented an ICC update. Residents in row 1, plus 7518 and 7520, have been asked to vote on whether or not we want a sound barrier for the neighborhood. The state has been having public meetings to this effect and 75 percent approval of resident voters are required for the barrier to be constructed. It is still unclear whether that means 75 percent of returned ballots or 75 percent of voters. Alex can provide details to anyone as needed on who was determined to be a voting resident or not with regard to the sound barriers (in essence it boils down to how close to the road you will be). The sound barrier, if approved, will be 18 feet high behind our community, atop the 24-foot-high embankment as it approaches the Shady Grove Rd overpass. The SHA holds public meetings on the second Thursday of each month at its offices in Rockville; call 866-462-0020 to make an appointment with a representative. No sound barrier is planned for along Shady Grove Rd.

SGSTA has retained Bethesda lawyer Harry Lerch to represent us in the fight for more money. A meeting with Witze, Lerch, and the State Highway Administration and its lawyer is scheduled for February 13. [Note added later: this was delayed due to weather and has been rescheduled for March 12.] SGSTA is in the process of getting the ‘petition to withdraw’ to get the initial $102,000 offered to us by the state. Jean noted that we should ensure the fund we put that into is FDIC insured. The board had planned to place it into a money market fund with United Bank. Mathias questioned whether the tax implications of withdrawing the money and where it should be placed. Alex and/or Steve will research before depositing the money.

Alex then presented an update on the new parking situation. The outgoing board of directors voted to adopt a hangtag situation for parking. Each unit will received 2 parking hangtags. Any vehicle parked on Weatherby Drive without a hangtag, between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am, will be towed. The current status of not parking in someone else’s reserved space still holds; and even if you are parked in your reserve space you still must have a hangtag. Alex is in charge of acquiring the hangtags, and distributing them with plenty of notice to residents before towing is enforced. This will happen sometime this spring.

Melissa as the nominating committee then led the elections procedure. New officers for 2008 are as follows: Art Carter, president; Mathias Roth, vice-president; Steve Edgar, treasurer; Luis Sandoval, secretary; Alex Witze and Debbie Edgerly, board members at large.

The meeting was adjourned.