homeowners’ newsletter€¦ · 1 homeowners’ newsletter in this issue • your hoa in action...
TRANSCRIPT
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HOMEOWNERS’ NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
• Your HOA In Action
• Upcoming Events
• Homeowner Education
• Being a Board Member
• Governing Documents
• Property Damages
• Home Maintenance Checklist
• The Social Scene
• Acts of Kindness
• The Great Sand Dunes
• Landscaping News
• Cook’s Corner
• Who’s Who
Volume 4 No. 3 October 2018— January, 2019
Upcoming Events
Social Committee Happenings
Autumn Breakfast
Tuesday, October 2 at 8:30 AM Mimi’s Cafe, 7133 N. Academy
First Tuesday of the Month
Tuesday, November 6 , 10:00 AM Panera Bread, 7344 N. Academy
Annual Holiday Dinner
Sunday, December 9, 1:15 PM
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano,1805 Briargate Pkwy
Homeowner / Board Meeting
Annual Meeting for CAB
Monday, November 5, 6:00 -8:00 PM
Registration begins at 5:30 PM
Falcon Police Station
7850 Goddard St.
Your HOA In Action
Reminder: Submit your Board Member Interest Form by October 9 By The Nominating Committee
We are in need of replacing two retiring board members (Margaret Dreher and Linda Nicholos) both who have provided leadership and dedicated endless hours in helping
make our Homeowners Association successful. The remaining board member, Ted
Dresie, has two years to serve and will continue to contribute his knowledge and
strong leadership skills to our success.
Thank you Margaret and Linda for your generous contributions!
Homeowners who have an interest and share a commitment to protect and maintain
our community, fill out the Board Member Interest Form and submit it to: Nikki Greg-
ory at [email protected] on or before October 9, 2018. Access the form at https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/docs--forms.html.
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Homeowners Learn About Their HOA By Margaret Dreher, Board of Director’s Vice President
The Board of Directors, in response to a questionnaire dis-
tributed in the Spring, has conducted education seminars
for the homeowners at Carriage at Briargate and have
been pleased with the level of participation and interest in the topics presented.
Educational Session - Homeowners Associations - Rights and Responsibilities
On May 30th, twenty-one homeowners attended a seminar that described and explained
the structure and responsibilities of homeowners and their HOA. Linda Nicholos, Ted
Dresie and I presented various aspects of living in an our HOA and the differences between
that and in a single family HOA. Bob Kelly coordinated an informative PowerPoint presen-
tation that is available to everyone on our community website under Archives. (https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/archives.html)
Educational Session - Master Insurance Policy for Carriages at Briargate
On July 30th, twenty-nine homeowners attended a seminar that features information about
insurance and was presented by Ronda Ashley of CB Insurance, the HOA’s new insurance
broker. She addressed the coverages under our new Master Insurance Policy as well as providing information about the importance of an adequately funded HO-6 policy. The
handouts that she distributed at that session are also available on the community website
on the Docs and Forms page (https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/docs--forms.html)
Educational Session - Financial Components On September 18th, with the assistance of Bob and Susan Stiverson, the Board presented a session on understanding the financial components of an HOA. Susan gave a presentation
about understanding the HOA’s monthly financial documents. Bob presented the im-
portance of a Reserve Study and making contributions to the Reserve Fund. Ted Dresie
presentation helped to explain the difference between Loss Assessment and Special As-
sessment. My presentation explained the Budget Process. This session was drafted into a PowerPoint presentation that is available for all homeowners to view on the Docs and
Forms page of the community website. (https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/docs--
forms.html)
The board is committed to providing ongoing educational opportu-
nities for homeowners in our community. Please watch for articles
in upcoming newsletters that help bring more information about
how your HOA serves you.
The Board appreciates all homeowners who attended these sessions. They are grateful for the volunteer efforts of Bob and Susan Stiverson and of Bob Kelly.
Please let the Board know if you have any questions or comments.
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BEING A BOARD MEMBER: A Responsibility — An Opportunity
By Margaret Dreher, Board of Director’s Vice President
So often we focus on the responsibilities of be-
ing a board member, but as I am soon to de-
part from the board, I am reminded of how
much more the experience has been.
Yes, the position comes with responsibilities.
The responsibility to make the best decisions
for the entire community, which sometimes
requires you to set aside your own personal
preferences. The responsibility to educate
yourself, to attend meetings, to be reasonable, and all the other things you
have heard about.
But being a board member has been so much more. It has given me the op-
portunity to be involved in decisions that impact the value of my home, to
set standards for the community, to establish goals for the board, to moni-
tor the financial performance of the Association, and to be more aware of
what is “going on”.
Most of all, however, it has given me the opportunity to know and work with
many of my neighbors, and to get to know them in a much different capaci-
ty. I feel most fortunate to have worked alongside such knowledgeable and
dedicated fellow board members and have so appreciated their commit-
ment to maintaining and improving our community.
To have had the opportunity to work with committee volunteers who have
worked hard to build community cohesiveness by bringing us together in so-
cial settings.
While our volunteers work hard for the betterment of our community, we
have shared many fun times, laughs— and yes desserts too.
Being a volunteer board member has indeed been a privilege and a wonder-
ful part of my life’s journey.
I hope that others in our community will volunteer and experience this re-
warding opportunity to make a difference and enjoy the camaraderie with
your friends and neighbors.
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Governing Documents Revision By Ted Dresie, Board of Director’s Secretary
When was the last time that you took the opportunity to read
the governing documents for Carriages at Briargate? Those would be the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the
Declarations of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Ease-
ments. When we all closed on our property, we signed a doc-
ument that acknowledged that we had read these documents
and agreed to be governed by them. I would imagine, for most of us, that was the last time that we looked at them.
However, these documents are available and can be accessed
on the Docs and Forms page of the Community website.
The Board of Directors use these documents frequently. They became aware that
there were areas in the documents that needed review and revisions. The Communi-
ty Guidelines (Rules and Regulations) adopted by the Board in the fall of 2017 con-tained provisions related to such things as marijuana and rental of homes that were
not specifically outlined in the governing documents. The section on insurance in
the Declaration was outdated and difficult to understand. The declarations con-
tained many provisions regarding the rights and privileges of the Declarant, Elite
Properties (Classic Homes), that were no longer pertinent or binding. In addition, the State of Colorado has revised, amended and passed new laws that govern HOA’s
that are not contained in our governing documents. These must be incorporated into
our governing documents to be compliant with Colorado laws governing HOA’s.
The Board appointed a Task Force to review and make recommendations for chang-
es in the governing documents. After interviewing several law firms, the Task Force
recommended that the Board meet with Melissa Garcia, an attorney with Hindman-
Sanchez, who specializes in HOA law. After meeting with the attorney, the Board requested that HindmanSanchez perform a review of all of our documents and make
recommendations about revising them. The review revealed many areas that needed
to be edited or deleted and provisions added to bring them into compliance with
State of Colorado laws. Because of the large number of things that needed remedy,
the attorney and the Task Force recommended that the documents be re-written rather than writing and adding many amendments to our current documents. Doing
the latter would make them longer and more difficult to read and to manage as well
as not being cost effective.
The Task Force will work with the attorneys at HindmanSanchez to produce new
governing documents that will be cleaner, clearer and in compliance with Colorado
State law. When those documents are completed, they will be distributed to all homeowners for review. Two-thirds of the homeowners must approve the new docu-
ments before they can be ratified and registered. The Board will keep homeowners
apprised of the progress being made on this important project.
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Property Damage and Losses By Ted Dresie, Board of Director’s Secretary
No one likes to consider the potential for losses to valuables and/
or property damage. Unfortunately, they happen when least ex-
pected and sometimes just trying to figure out how to deal with
them can be stressful. Fortunately, homeowners can rest easier
knowing that the HOA all-inclusive master insurance policy and/or the homeowners HO-6 insurance policy that carries adequate loss
assessment coverage may provide assistance when needed.
This article provides guidelines and procedures to the homeowner that may be help-
ful if and when those property damage losses occur. This information can also be found on the Community Website under Docs and Forms (homeowners needs to sign
in with password.) When confronted with damage to the homeowner’s unit, along
with a potential claim under the HOA master insurance policy, homeowners should
follow these procedures. It is important to be aware that prompt notice of a claim is
critical and that there is full cooperation with all insurance companies involved. The following guidelines may be helpful.
1. Homeowner should notify the Community Manager at (719) 389-0700 and provide the following information:
a. Name, address, date of and nature/description of loss
b. Advise if any emergency repairs are needed to protect the property from
further loss (examples: broken glass, broken door. Water intrusions, etc.)
i. If emergency repairs are needed immediately, homeowner should have those repairs completed
ii. Keep ALL receipts for emergency repairs
iii. Homeowner should inform the Community Manager when those emergency
repairs were made
iv. Forward all receipts for emergency repairs to the Community Manager
2. The Community Manager will contact the HOA master insurance carrier and con-vey the information that the homeowner provided.
3. After full determination of the nature and scope of damage, if a loss assessment does not apply, the Community Manager may direct the homeowner to file a claim
under the dwelling coverage of their HO-6 policy.
4. Homeowner should notify their HO-6 insurance agent and provide them with the
list of information given to the community manager along with a copy of the asso-
ciations Master Certificate of Insurance that shows the property policy’s deducti-
ble.
a. The certificate of insurance can be downloaded from the HOA website under Docs and Forms. https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/docs--forms.html
b. Provide the Community Manager name and contact information to the HO-6
insurer (Continued on page 6)
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(Continued from Page 5)
c. To help the homeowner to determine who has primary responsibility and who has secondary responsibility for certain losses that might occur,
please refer to the Insurance Claim Matrix located on the Docs and Forms
page of the Community Website.
5. If a loss is wind or hail related, please keep in mind that a loss may not reach the 2% wind and hail deductible for the association’s master policy.
6. The community manager will work with the association’s insurance company to
obtain the full scope of damage and hire contractors to make proper repairs.
7. If the loss is wind or hail related, there is a chance a loss assessment may apply
which will impact the loss assessment coverage on the homeowner’s HO-6 policy.
It is for this reason that it is important for the homeowner to carry adequate loss
assessment limits on their HO-6 policy.
8. In the event of multiple losses, the Board of Directors may convene a special
homeowner meeting to apprise all homeowners of the status of the contractor work and estimated cost and date of completion. This meeting may also include a
presentation from the insurance representative who will provide guidance with
instructions on coordinating the HO-6 coverage with the Master policy.
Restitution for out of pocket expenses due to the homeowner from insurance set-
tlements may be paid directly to the homeowner. If not, they will be made to the
HOA and the management company will process that payment. When contractors/
vendors are brought in to complete repairs, the management company will meet with the contractor/vendor and the homeowner to assess and insure that all work
has been completed to the requirements of the initial commitment. When contrac-
tor/vendors have completed repairs, they will submit an invoice to the HOA. The
management company will process these invoices and they will be forwarded to
the insurance company. Insurance payments will be sent to the HOA and the man-agement company will make payments to the contractors. Any insurance deducti-
bles that apply and are the responsibility of the homeowner will need to be paid to
the contractor/vendor by the homeowner.
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HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and Air Conditioning) annual checkup and service
Furnace filter check and/or change
Whole house humidifier service (if you have one)
Gas fireplace checkup and service
Dryer vent cleanout
Sump pump check
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide battery check/change
Door and windows seals
Window well(s) – clear out any debris that has collected in or around the drains
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The Social Scene By Patricia Kimbrell
Bring Your Favorite Appetizers
In late August, the social committee hosted a Carriages at Briargate “Bring Your Fa-
vorite Appetizer” garage party. Who would have thought a garage could be a party
space? But it was. Thirty people, appetizers in hand, joined the festivities on Castle-
ford Grove.
(Picture by Ted Dresie)
In one of the adjoined garages, two food tables sported bar-b-que, deviled eggs, hot
cheese dips, crab dip, and egg rolls, while the second garage held the bar and a mul-titude of chairs. Sangria, with and without the high proof ingredient, magically re-
newed itself in all the seated drinkers glasses. No one had to move much. The bar-
tender saw to that as she moved around pouring and pouring until all the drink was
gone. Thirty people eating and drinking in a garage. Go figure.
To summarize, the party was a grand success. The sun went under a cloud at just the
right time. A scattering of raindrops lowered the temperature, a small breeze sprang
up; all of these contributed to a perfect late afternoon summer garage party on the Front Range.
To see the photos from the Appetizer get together, follow the link: https://www.carriagesatbriargate.com/
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“Caught in the Act” … of Kindness By Bob Kelly
Our community is unique in so many positive ways. Daily acts of kindness are done
without a thought of recognition or praise. However, some these acts have been no-
ticed and recognized here. The vast majority of kind acts go without notice but are nevertheless most appreciated by those on the receiving end.
The following are but a few examples:
Continually trimming flowers/roses throughout the community
Feeding flowers/plants
Placing newspapers where it is easy to pick up each morning
Watering a particularly thirsty flower or plant
Watching for packages/deliveries for a neighbor
Picking up mail for a neighbor that is out of town or unable to pick it up
Weeding where you see one poking its head up throughout the community
Picking up a bit of trash
Changing exterior garage LED light bulbs
Being on call for a neighbor who may need extra help from time-to-time
Checking up on a neighbor you have not seen in a while; physically, phone,
email, or text
Taking a neighbor to the store/post office
Carrying groceries into the house
Helping with a household chore
Taking a neighbor to/from the airport
Letting a neighbor in need use your garage for a short time
The list could go on, as these are but a few of what our neighbors want to do as part
of our community and extended family.
It’s hard to imagine living in a community where we would not have this benefit.
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The Great Sand Dunes National Park By Bob Kelly
For those who enjoy a great day trip, it takes
between 3-4 hour to drive to and from this
park. This area is another featured “gem” of Colorado. The Great Sand Dunes contains the
tallest dunes in North America. At the base of
the dunes, there is a shallow, seasonal creek;
Medano Creek.* Of course, one the features
that makes this such a beautiful area is the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountain
range.
During the summer months, you will see many families enjoying sand sledding and sandboard-ing. We happened to enjoy watching them ver-sus participating, but there is no judgment here.
Regardless of the season, The Great Sand Dunes are a wonderful visual treat. Where else can you see towering mountains, sand dunes, and a stream so close to home?
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(Continued from page 10)
Park video of Medano Creek: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/medano-
creek.htm
To view the photo gallery of The Great Sand Dunes:
https://graphique.smugmug.com/People/The-Great-Sand-Dunes
To view a short video of the different seasons for The Great Sand Dunes:
https://graphique.smugmug.com/Travel/The-Great-Sand-Dunes-National/i-
2k6GTNm/A
Caretaking of our Surrounding Grounds By Jim Stata
In October, actually currently, the vegeta-
tion on the banks are being trimmed to an
even 4" height. This will provide a clean appearance to the retention pond. It is an
annual project.
As in the past, if you observe a malfunc-
tion with the sprinkler system, please con-
tact Jim Stata at (719) 630-1296 or (719)
201-0649. If I cannot be reached, please
contact a member of the Board of Direc-tors so that they can report the problem to
Metco.
Be on the look out for an eBlast invitation with the date for a neighborhood HOA
landscape party. The eBlast will be sent out this month seeking participation in pre-
paring our property for the winter months. These volunteer projects have been a big
savings to our HOA, as well as giving us another opportunity for a fun social event.
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Carriages Cook’s Corner By Ted Dresie
During his life, Brother Boniface baked more than his share of bread. For 40 years the German-born monk was the cook for Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monas-
tery near Charleston, South Carolina. Try his spicy pumpkin bread recipe for
breakfast, alongside soup for lunch, or as an unexpected addition to your favorite
entrée.
BROTHER BONIFACE’S PUMPKIN BREAD
(High Altitude Recipe)
4¼ cups all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1¾ teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons salt ¾ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice ½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil (less 2 Tbsp.)
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 2/3 cup water
1 cup chopped pecans
Beat first 14 ingredients at medium
speed with an electric mixer just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in pe-
cans. Spoon evenly into two greased and floured 9 ´ 5-inch loaf pans.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour 15 minutes* or until a wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and
cool completely on wire racks.
Yield two loaves.
_______
* Cooking time depends upon oven and the pans used to bake the bread. Glass pans require longer cooking time. Check bread after 1 hour by inserting cake tester. If batter remains on tester when removed, cook additional time in 5-8 mi-nute intervals between tester comes out clean. Do not over-bake.
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Contact Information
Nikki Gregory, Community Manager, Hammersmith Management Incorporated [email protected]
Linda Nicholos, Homeowner, Carriages at Briargate HOA Board of Director President, Budg-et & Finance Committee, & Carriages at Briargate Website Team, Governing Document Task Force [email protected]
Margaret Dreher, Homeowner, Carriages at Briargate HOA Board of Directors Vice Presi-dent, Governing Document Task Force, Nominating Committee [email protected]
Ted Dresie, Homeowner, Carriages at Briargate HOA Board of Directors Secretary, member of Carriages at Briargate Website Team [email protected]
Bob Stiverson, Homeowner, Co-Chair of Budget Committee, Governing Document Task Force [email protected]
Susan Stiverson, Homeowner, Co-Chair of Budget Committee, Governing Document Task Force [email protected]
Robert Kelly, Homeowner, Webmaster & Photographer for Carriages at Briargate website, member of the Landscape Committee, Governing Document Task Force www.carriagesatbriargate.com, [email protected]
Jim Stata, Homeowner, Chairperson for the Landscape Committee [email protected]
Karen Marr, Homeowner, member of Landscape Committee [email protected]
Jan Van Derber, Homeowner, Co-Chair of Social Committee [email protected] Patricia Kimbrell, Homeowner, Co-Chair of Social Committee [email protected] Clarissa Bull, Homeowner, member of Social Committee, Nominating Committee [email protected]
Jo & Bob Mix, Homeowners, members of Social Committee [email protected] Jamie Stata, Homeowner, member of Social Committee [email protected]
Jim Stansberry, Homeowner, member of Carriages at Briargate Website Team [email protected]
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Community Contact Information
Association Manager: Nikki Gregory, [email protected]
Website: http://www.ehammersmith.com/
Colorado Springs Office: 1155 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Ste. 495, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Community Website: http://www.carriagesatbriargate.com
Webmaster: Bob Kelly, [email protected]
Classic Homes
Corporate Office: (719) 592-9333
Website: http://www.classichomes.com/
Emergency Services: (After Hours) (719) 592-9333
To request warranty service for your home, please submit a request online at
www.classichomes.com
Contact Us
This is a publication created by the Communications Committee for the homeown-
ers and residents of Carriages at Briargate and articles are submitted by members
of the community. The newsletter is published electronically 2-3 times a year and is
available in printed form if a request is made.
If you have concerns about content or would like to submit an article for upcoming
newsletters, please send your comments and submissions to the editor, Rhonda
Shapiro, at [email protected]. Volunteers are welcome!
Cathy Lenzini, Homeowner, Governing Document Task Force [email protected] Debra (Deb) Sivesind, Homeowner, Nominating Committee [email protected] Rhonda Shapiro, Homeowner, Editor of Carriages at Briargate Homeowner’s Newsletter [email protected]