|
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
March 31, 2005
SPECIAL NOTICE
President Drummie announced his appointment of Erin Erlenborn (unit 713) to fill the Board vacancy until the next Annual Meeting.
READING, MODIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 24, 2004 MEETING
The Board approved the Minutes as a true record of the meeting.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Net cash available at the end of FEBRUARY was $749,374.13
For year to date operations, through the end of FEBRUARY:
- total income was $71,319 which is under budget by $5,466;
- total operating expenses were $116,330, which is under budget by $10,291;
- capital expenditures were $30,585.
Certificates of deposit activity during FEBRUARY was as follows:
- -NONE-
Fund Balances
- operating fund balance as of the end of FEBRUARY 2005 is $85,603
- reserve fund booked balance as of the end of FEBRUARY 2005 is $645,008.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 24, 2004
HVAC - Whalen Unit Replacement is Two Issues
Joe Morris emphasized the point that there are two separate heating/air conditioning issues. One is long-term and involves the eventual replacement of all HVAC units. The second is near-term and involves correcting a construction anomaly in the 04 tier.
In view of the importance and possible expense of the replacement project, several owners suggested that a second opinion from another engineer would be desirable. The Board agreed to seek such an opinion.
Issue One: Long-Term Replacement of All HVAC Units
One issue is the need to, at some point in time, replace the Whalen HVAC units throughout the building. Everything has a useful life. The "industry standard" for the life expectancy of these units, according to the replacement supplier, is 18 years. The Lauren is now 30 years old. Our reserve studies also indicate these units will need to be replaced sometime in the future. We have already had problems with one unit. However, our consulting engineer Jack McNabb has said that with careful maintenance it may be possible to extend the current life of these units for some more years. The Lauren will need to closely monitor the conditions of the units. However, the long-run issue is that the Whalen units will all need to be replaced at some point and they will need to be paid for then.
Issue Two: Near-Term Corrections in O4 Tier
The second issue is the 04 tier. This involves near-term corrections. As previous Minutes have reported, due to a construction/design anomaly, the supply pipe and Whalen units that service the living room/dining room, kitchen and bath in the 04 tier of units is substantially smaller than is needed to provide adequate cooling that is available in the rest of the building.
(The same 1" pipe size is used in the 11 tier. However, because of that tier's location on the northeast corner, the solar burden is substantially less and cooling is sufficient.)
The consulting engineer proposed two possible solutions. Plan #1 would involve 1) reducing the solar load on the air conditioning in all rooms in the 04 units and 2) diverting cooler air from the bedrooms and from the Lauren hallways into the living room areas. To accomplish this would entail replacing the windows in the living room and both bedrooms in the 04 units with double pane glass, applying solar film on all windows, and insuring adequate blinds or drapes are in place. This plan would also involve installing sheet metal ducts across the ceiling of the master bedroom and through the closet into a vent to be cut in the living room wall in order to divert relatively cool air from the bedroom HVAC unit.
Plan #2 would entail replacing the HVAC pipe and living room Whalen units in the 04 tier. Work would take about four weeks. As reported earlier, the Board selected this option, noting that the Whalen units would in any event need to be replaced and option one would be an additional expense.
Payment Options
The Board has been considering options for paying for the rectification of the 04 anomaly and for the unit replacement program as a whole. It was agreed to seek the opinion of the Association s lawyer on a range of options.
Hallway/Exhaust Fire Dampers
The RFQ has been sent out but no bids have been received yet.
Sunderland Place Exit Security
Proposal from Monarch Construction to replace the brick wall with a more open grille work for over $8,000. The Board agreed that this price was too high and the bid was rejected.
The Board asked the manager to have additional lighting installed in the area, perhaps with a movement activated sensor in addition, and to investigate the cost of installing a dummy or real camera.
Vending Machine
The Lauren has sent a letter to Pepsi Cola stating that we will take over their abandoned machine in the laundry room. The Board authorized the manager to test whether we can in a cost effective way maintain the machine.
Mold
Don Benedict reported a mold problem in unit 617. Maxine Schwartzman reported that she also has a mold problem.
The Board agreed to hire a consultant to determine the cause of mold reported in some units and to recommend solutions.
In-Unit Air Conditioning Advice on Request
The President reiterated that on written request to the manager, Mr. McNabb would provide consultation related to in-unit air conditioning issues.
COMMITTEE REPORT
Wi-Fi Committee
Erin Erlenborn reported for the Wi-Fi Committee that she has investigated various possibilities for installing Wi-Fi throughout the building. She concluded however that the matter may be too complex to be handled on an ad hoc basis and that there are companies that can install Wi-Fi professionally. She said no bids are available nor are there specifications yet.
Neighborhood trash pickup
Erin Erlenborn reported positive discussions with the manager of the office building next door regarding getting some changes in the schedule trash pickup. They have been doing this early on Saturday. The office manager was surprised to hear this and said she would work with their service to find out what the schedule is and to enforce that.
ACTION ITEMS - IN ADDITION TO THOSE FOUND IN 3.0
HVAC Maintenance Contract
The Board discussed the two bids but requested more information before it could make a decision.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of The Lauren Condominium Association Owners is scheduled for June 2, contingent upon meeting room availability.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Unit Window Replacement
The Board is considering the possibility of again coordinating arrangements and activities to assist owners who wish to replace their old windows with new double pane glass windows.
Garage Bike Storage Area
Clean Up
The Board approved a plan to clean up the bike area. Residents will be given 30 days to tag their bikes or they will be removed.
Bike Storage Area Fee
A proposal was made but no action was taken to initiate a charge for the use of the bicycle storage area.
Roof Garden
Stains on Tables
The Board asked the manager to see if stains can be removed from the roof garden tables.
Lounge Mattresses
Board asked the manager to get a bid for either the replacement or recovering the roof garden lounge mattresses.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2005 at 7:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Followed the meeting the Board met in Executive Session.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
Elizabeth A. VanderPutten, Secretary
TO SUBSCRIBE
To receive e-mail copies of Board Minutes, send a request to Property Manager Walter Krolman at manager@lauren.org
Minutes and other Lauren information may be found on The Lauren web site http://www.lauren.org/minutes.htm