Emerson Master HOA Notes 3/25/13

Highlights from the Emerson HOA Meeting on 3/25/13 are below. More detailed notes are posted to our Facebook page.

• New Board introduced:
• Louis "De Von" Saunders (President)
• Jack Jurgensen (Vice President)
• Erica Root Cikanek (Treasurer)
• Kathy Simpson (Secretary)
• Pool
• CMC will stagger staffing so that they can extend pool hours to include some late nights and longer Saturday hours
• May make CMC service a little slower when staffing is thin
• American Pool (pool management company) has a plan in place to address deficiencies in pool operation and lifeguard training
• Will include increased management oversight, weekly meetings with CMC, enhanced training, and explicitly setting expectations for staff
• Last season they won the contract very late, had to rush staffing; this year they already have 80% in place (almost all new)
• Emerson will buy a defibrillator for use by the lifeguards
• Resident forum
• Can we get a map of the neighborhoods
• Issue with cars parked along both sides of street, blocking access into some neighborhoods
• This is also a safety issue
• Discussion of Emerson delinquency rates
• Committee reports
• Activities
• Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday 3/30/13 in Sterling Park (12 pm - 1 pm); if weather is bad will be in Clubhouse.
• Clean-up Day: Saturday 4/13/13.
• Emerson Yard Sale: Saturday 5/4/13, will be advertised in papers last 2 weeks in April.
• Pool Party: Saturday 6/8/13.
• Movie Night: Friday 7/19/13 (changed because new movies not available on Saturday).
• Renovation of Clubhouse
• Goal is to make it more welcoming and easier to configure (move furniture out of the way for bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties).
• Committee brainstorming ideas
• Safety Committee
• Howard County Police ask people to be watchful for uptick in opportunistic crime, e.g., open garage doors at night
• Safety patrol covers every street
• Off-duty Howard County police officers, can assist if on-duty officers respond to a call
• Planning has begun for National Night Out
• Finance
• Discussions about investments, debt, insurance
• Large balloon payment due in 2015
• Legislative
• CAI (HOA industry group) has raised the issue that current laws make HOAs liable for pit bulls but this is not enforceable 
• CMC will draft a letter for Board signature urging legislature to take some action to clarify and not get locked in stalemate over 4 alternative bills
• New Business
• Emerson facilitated an informational meeting with the sub-HOA Presidents
• Concerns expressed:
• Seek better definition of roles of Master and Sub-HOAs
• Explanation of the tangible/intangible benefits from the Master HOA
• Pros/Cons and feasibility of dissolving the Sub-HOAs and absorbing into Master
• Board authorized a second meeting, and expenditure for lawyer to be present to explain what Emerson bylaws permit
• Discussion only: People are parking overnight at Clubhouse/tennis court
• Problem is growing
• Already has been an issue in past during large events (Pool Party, National Night Out)
• Action tabled. Directors want better understanding of root cause, and any policies adopted must be enforceable.