DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE
RIVER PLACE EAST HOUSING COOPERATIVE
2011 ANNUAL MEETING
March 30, 2011
Directors Present:
Mr. Rob Vignato
Mr. Hiranya Maru
Ms. M.J. Schmelzer
Ms. Carol Jackson
Mr. Brian Fredericks
President
Vice-President
OA Representative
Director
Director
Directors Not Present:
Mr. Jeff Walyus
Mr. Harry Lawrence III
Treasurer
Secretary
Management:
Others:
I.
Mr. Andre Baker
Sarah Tyson
Building Manager
Recording Secretary, MBM
CALL TO ORDER:
Mr. Vignato called the 2011 Annual Meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
II.
ROLL CALL AND ASCERTAINMENT OF A QUORUM:
Mr. Vignato stated that there was a quorum.
III.
PROOF OF NOTICE OF MEETING
Mr. Vignato stated that the letter advising the shareholders of the Annual Meeting was sent
through the mail on February 18, 2011.
IV.
APPROVAL OF 2010 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION: A shareholder moved, another shareholder seconded, to waive the reading of the
2010 Annual Meeting minutes and approve the 2010 Annual Meeting minutes. The motion
passed by acclamation.
V.
APPOINTMENT OF VOTE TELLERS BY THE OFFICER PRESIDING
Mr. Vignato reported that members of The League of Women Voters were present and presiding
over the election.
VI.
INTRODUCTION
The Board members introduced themselves to the Shareholders.
VII.
OFFICER’S REPORTS
President: Mr. Vignato thanked everyone for coming. He also thanked the Board and Mr. Baker
for all of their work. He then commented on the following:
Minute-By-Minute
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Accomplishments:
 Zalco Realty: taken over accounting, payroll and financial recording.
The Board is very pleased with them. This gives Management staff
more time to focus on the building and residents.
 Financial Records: there were some issues with the records. A team
spent some time getting financials in order. The audits are complete.
Zalco will take over the audit going forward. Mr. Vignato is very
proud of the team that worked on this project.
 Replaced all carpeting in the building.
 Reorganized the management office (done by Mr. Baker).
 Tuck pointing done on the upper levels of the building – this
prevents leaks and other damage done by heavy rain.
 Review current contracts to see if there are any places to save money
– specifically HVAC. Did renegotiate some contracts and sign some
new contracts.
 Going to be looking at utility contracts to see if some savings can be
found.
Planned Projects:
 Website – get it up to date and providing timely information
 Bike room – clean it out
 New management office hours to help working individuals
 Talking with DirecTV about getting a dish on the roof so
individuals can get DirecTV
Treasurer:
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There was no increase in assessments last year. There are some plans for big
projects in 2013 and the Board needs to start saving for those projects now.
The assessments were increased by 4.75% this year. The Board wants to
increase contributions to Reserves to redo the windows and there are rising
energy prices (gas prices). Mr. Vignato asked residents to try their best to
save energy and keep costs down.
An owner asked for the Reserve balance. Mr. Vignato stated that it is about
$408,000. The windows will cost around $720,000 – looking into having
other River Place buildings replace their windows at the same time to try and
get a discounted price.
List of 2012 improvements was provided (all are Reserve items):
 Roof repair
 Pipes
 Fire alarms
 Elevators
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Owner Questions:
An owner inquired regarding assessments specifically earmarked for windows,
asking whether the special assessment was still dedicated solely to windows. Mr.
Maru noted that the shareholders voted to change it so the money could be used
for both windows and HVAC. Mr. Fredericks added that the computer system
that tracks the temperature in certain parts of the building was installed using this
money, costing $50,000. Continual temperature adjustments in individual units
would defeat that system.
An owner inquired about the system for monitoring the fire alarm system. Mr.
Vignato noted that the main control system was upgraded recently. However, the
individual fire alarms on each floor are being replaced systematically over time.
A faulty detector caused our most recent fire alarm.
Minute-By-Minute
An owner inquired about the website noting that there are dead links and the
latest minutes are eight months old. Mr. Vignato noted that the East office
manager has only recently assumed his duties and will be sure to keep the web
site more up to date.
An owner stated that snow removal was very impressive for this year.
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Owner Question: it was voted on a few years ago to raise assessments
specifically earmarked for windows – was it used for something else? Mr.
Maru said that the Board voted to change it so the money could be used for
windows and HVAC. The owner also asked about having a system where
residents could adjust their own heating/cooling – she thought the money was
supposed to go towards that. Mr. Maru said that when engineers came to look
at the HVAC system they said that having owners able to adjust the
temperature is not a good idea for the main system downstairs. Mr. Vignato
said he would have the Board look into it again. Mr. Fredericks stated that
when the West building changed their heating/cooling in the early 1990s,
they did the windows at the same time and they borrowed money, and went
into debt, to do it. They did an entire re-engineering of their heating/cooling,
and it was not a pleasant experience to live in the building while all of that
work was being done. He said that doing something like that would be much
more expensive than the planned project. He said that there is a computer
system in the building that tracks the temperature in certain parts of the
building which cost about $50,000 to put it in place. It was put in about four
years ago and the funding for it came from the window fund.
An owner stated that there were two evacuations on the 24th floor for fire
alarms, and she was told that the fire alarm map indicated no point source
and could not ascertain the cause. Is the fire alarm system monitored by the
office? Mr. Vignato said he would look into it. He said there are plans to
have the fire alarms replaced. Mr. Fredericks said that the main control
system was upgraded a couple of years ago. The individual fire alarms in the
corridors were not replaced at that time due to the cost, and the Board has
been replacing individual units as needed. An owner said he ran into a handy
man going to replace the alarm that may have been the cause of the dual
alarm on the 24th. Mr. Baker said it was a faulty detector on the 12th floor, and
it will be fully replaced by tomorrow.
An owner inquired about the website noting that there are dead links and the
latest minutes are eight months old. Mr. Vignato said that the Board will be
working on the website soon.
An owner stated that snow removal was very impressive for this year.
End Delete Section
Owners Association Representative: Ms. Schmelzer commented on the following:
o Snow Removal: the OA spent $135,000, of unbudgeted money last year to
remove the snow during the various storms. The OA changed companies
after last year. The OA is also looking at all of their contracts to save money.
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VIII.
There is a new General Manager: David Weinstein – who has 30 years of
experience as a manager of properties – mostly commercial properties. He
will be having more meetings with Board Presidents and the managers of the
various buildings. He will be looking to see if common contractors (between
the buildings) can be found to save money.
The property has been cited by the County because the railing is not high
enough near part of the pool. The OA is hoping to get an extension on this
project and is looking at either replacing the entire fence or just patching it.
Hopefully the project will be finished by the time the pool opens.
Vandalism: This occurred in the WP garage around 2:00 a.m. Car windows
were demolished and things stolen from cars. The OA is looking at the best
way to protect everyone’s property.
Looking into having all residents have keycards for the garages. An owner
said she was unhappy when that precaution was removed a few years ago.
Mr. Fredericks said it was removed because of maintenance: the cost was too
high to fix them.
Landscaping: Spent a lot of money on landscaping and the property looks
much better. An owner said she really liked the new landscaping.
Security procedures at the gatehouse have been changed - the guards are
much more inquisitive after 9:00 p.m.
Save money by getting more energy efficient lighting around the property.
Renovate the entertainment center – some ripped rugs, staining on the carpet,
supplement gym equipment.
The County will be digging up the property along the back area which is
parallel to Route 110. They are putting in a new sewer line called the
Potomac connector. It has been planned for 17 years. It will take out the
playground, so a new playground will be created probably in the new picnic
area. The County will reimburse about $15,000 for the new playground. The
County hopes that this will help with the flooding in the East building.
Ms. Schmelzer passed out the Rosslyn Renaissance Magazine and the OnSite
Magazine. The OnSite Magazine provided an update on projects that had
been approved in Rosslyn. Ms. Schmelzer stated that residential construction
is coming back and that small projects are being funded. There is not much
financing out there right now. The OA has been trying to work with
Lafayette, PNC and Acacia.
An owner stated that you can park under the Artisphere after hours and on
the weekend for free.
CAPITAL RESERVE UPDATE
Mr. Vignato stated that there is $408,000 in the Reserves right now. He said that based on the
budget and plans for next year, the Reserves are on track.
IX.
ELECTION RESULTS
Mr. Vignato stated that there are two positions open. Mr. Vignato reported that both Carol
Jackson and Jeff Walyus were re-elected to the Board.
X.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION: A resident moved, another resident seconded, to adjourn the 2011 Annual
Meeting at 7:16 p.m. The motion passed by acclamation.
Minute-By-Minute