Articles for April 2013

2013 Design Review Committee

We are very happy to announce the 2013 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE – homeowners who have volunteered their time, energy and enthusiasm for the PSM by serving in this very important committee.
The new members have unanimously approved by the Board.

The new members are:
RAY SOL
JILL VAUGHN
MIKE OGIEGLO
Alternates:
TONY AMICI
GREG MAXON

If you’d like to send a ‘congrats’ message to the new members, please do so by clicking on Leave a Reply on the top of this post.

What is an HOA?

It sounds like a simple enough question – and there actually IS an answer. The Arizona State Legislature (azleg.gov) site provides the answer:
A homeowners’ association (HOA) is a common interest organization to which all the owners of lots in a planned community or owners of units in a condominium must belong. The four defining characteristics of all HOAs are:
• all owners are automatically members.
• governing documents create mutual obligations.
• mandatory fees or assessments are generally levied against owners and used for the operation of the association
• owners share a property interest in the community.

To read the entire BRIEF, click here

Blockwatch alert.

Hi Neighbors,

I would like to share this story and pertinent information with all of you.
Two weeks ago our relatives living in Surprise had their home broken into while they were out of town for the weekend. The criminals got in thru the LOCKED garage door and then thru the LOCKED door in the garage leading into the house.
After the police investigation they were told that the 2013 thieves are equipped with a new device which is called a garage door SLIM-JIM. It is similar to the SLIM-JIM used to break into your cars. It is inserted between the window and the outer door edge of your car to pull up the door lock for entry.
The garage door SLIM-JIM is inserted under a closed/locked garage door to grab the emergency release cord that hangs down to disengage your garage door from its motor-allowing it to lift up for entry.
POLICE SUGGEST: When leaving your house, put a metal rod, screwdriver, or other metal device into the roller wheel channel when the door is down and closed/locked. At this point it cannot be lifted from the outside.
Be safe and secure.
From your neighbor,
Vic Sibilla

Update Board Meeting of April 12 2013

Thank you to all who atteneded the April 12 2013 Board meeting. The board business was accomplished in a just over 17 minutes leaving ample time for all to discuss issues and topics of interest. The agenda is posted in the DOCUMENTS section (login required) and the minutes will be posted after they are approved at the next meeting.
As many of you may know Maura Shaffer resigned from the board. On April 12th Lynne Weaver was nominted to fill the position and appoved by a vote of the board. (The quorum was THREE current directors (President, Vice President and Treasurer/Secretary. The fourth member was not present). Lynne will serve for the remainder of Maura’s term.

Updates from the Legislature

Sen. Nancy Barto is the State Senator for our district. The follwing is legislation currently in the works that affects HOAs: (text from Sen. Barto’s email updates).

  • Last week I learned HB 2371 – an HOA “omnibus” bill that has already passed the House – includes a provision that ought to ensure its demise if not amended.  The provision enables an HOA’s property management company to represent them in small claims court, turning what ought to be a level playing field into a VERY uneven one as homeowners have no right to legal counsel in the same venue!   See CBS-5 coverage or read this article by George Staropoli  about the bill – then contact your Legislators and let them know your concerns.  HOAs don’t need legislative protection in court disputes –  homeowners do.
  • Meanwhile, SB 1278 – my HOA roadway bill clarifying rightful authority over public streets within HOA communities – has not been scheduled for a RULES agenda in the House.  The bill passed the Senate 22-7 and has faced little opposition this time around as it only affects new HOA communities beginning in 2015.  The thinking here is it is better to fix this problem going forward than NOT to fix it at all!  Read more about SB 1278 and other 2013 Barto bills on my Legislation page.
  • For more news coverage of my legislation see Nancy in the News. –www.NancyBarto.com