Annual Meeting -- May 5,
1999
President’s
Report
Talking Notes
Joseph Morris
I. Traditional to start with thanks and
acknowledgements
- Introductions:
- Board: Mike Silverstein,
Elizabeth VanderPutten, Adrienne Simenhoff,
Waldemar Weisziek. John Doolittle resigned in
September, after nine years of service for
which all members should be grateful.
- Brian Larkin: Maintained the
Association's web page; he
will report.
- Landscaping committee: Don
Benedict, help of Cacho.
- Staff: Walter Krolman:
Competence and civility.
- Other staff contribute to the quality of life.
- - Henry Ambe recognized for 10 years
- - Others for outstanding service on
particular occasions
- - Joe Douglass, Whiteford, Taylor, and
Preston
- - Susan Fitzpatrick, financial management
support firm, Dubin & Assoc.
II. Highlights of year: Essentially uneventful;
that is, a year of few surprises; will hear more from
treasurer's report
Lobby redecoration: a big capital
expenditure that four successive boards have judged
necessary for the viability of the building.
Last year:
- Committee made conceptual proposal.
- Board accepted and added to.
- Cost increased over anticipated because what we
could buy for money would not have had big enough
visual impact.
- After committee reported and disbanded, Board
acting independently hired Georgetown Design Group,
Mokhless Al Hariri's firm, first for detailed specs,
then as essentially contractor for redecoration.
This year: major components of work finished
- lobby wall surfaces
- new US mailbox in lobby
- lobby ceiling and lighting
- refurbishing of lobby marble floor
- first floor hallways: new wall covering and
carpet; doors painted
- new side doors on N and Sunderland
- new front double doors
- vestibule between double doors refurbished
- brick paving at entrance
- lobby clerk's office gutted and rebuilt
- elevator lobby and stairs: new flooring and
railings
- elevator lobby: new wall covering and mirrors
- elevator interiors: lights, ceiling, and wall
covering
- elevator interiors: graffiti removed from doors
and metalwork
Unfortunately, without new furniture, work is not
seen to best effect: right now it looks empty &
threadbare.
- New furniture was always a part of the plan.
- Delay in furniture has been too long and board
apologizes for this. Decorating has always been the
most difficult topic for the board to make decisions
on.
- We received two proposals for furniture: one
from decorating committee and one from GDG. We
rejected both of them; then attempted to come up with
our own scheme; which was also a failure.
- At April meeting we resolved to hire a decorator
to get the job done and have had interviews. I would
recommend that the next board continue on this plan.
There are some problems with the
work that has been done, which we are slowly
resolving:
- Board received numerous and vociferous
objections to new elevator interior lighting and wall
covering and resolved to correct this.
- There has been a problem with lighting, and with
elevator lobby mirror. We are still missing a
bulletin board. Stairway walls are scuffing. Door
latch is awkward.
o New chiller installed April 1998
is working fine after some initial, to be expected,
adjustment problems.
o Lawsuit: In May, 1998, a lawsuit was
filed by Ms. Jan Schneider in D.C. Superior
Court (Civil Action Number 98ca003887) naming the
Association and several individuals as defendants.
It is not possible to discuss the lawsuit at this
meeting without risk to the Association. Walter
Krolman can give you the necessary reference so that
you can obtain public filings from the court. We have
also given a copy of the complaint to members when
asked.
The Association is being defended by a lawyer
appointed by and paid by our insurance company. We
have also asked our regular counsel, Whiteford,
Taylor, and Preston, to monitor the proceedings--to
passively follow them on our behalf.
The insurance company has said they are providing a
defense under a "reservation of rights,"
that is, their provision of a defense does not mean
that they necessarily accept responsibility for any
damages the Association may be required to pay. They
have stated that at least some of the claims against
the Association fall outside our coverage. The
Association has disputed this interpretation.
It would be impractical to go into detail on this
here. If you want more information, please write the
board a note and the board should answer in writing
to the extent that it can.
o Cable and internet services:
board, especially Waldemar, investigated services
providing high-speed internet access and cable TV.
These will become standard soon and we must know
competitors. No decision made yet but we would like
to go ahead. Most would involve no cost to
Association.
o Upcoming major expenditure: It
is expected that the roof will need replacing in 2000.
Will cost $200,000. We will have a preliminary
assessment of condition this summer.
o Finance: continuing
strengthening: holding line on operating costs and
augmenting reserves. 1999 was the first year in a
while of no condo fee increase. Mike will have
details.
Posted December 9, 1999
