David's Anthem Journal

The latest Board of Directors Town Hall Forum for residents was held on November 12 in Anthem Center's Hanneman Hall. A late change from the originally scheduled Freedom Hall had to be made, apparently because the person responsible for room bookings has been out while recuperating from surgery, and her fill-in missed the fact that another group was using Freedom Hall at the same time.

The Board held this session at 10 a.m., in keeping with its recent practice of varying the times of the Town Hall Forums to accommodate residents with different schedules. I was pleased to see that the actual attendance count of 94 residents at the start of the meeting was only four fewer than the number of residents who attended the October Board meeting.

There were no special guests or topics at this Town Hall Forum, so Board President Mike Dixon went directly to resident questions and comments, reported as follows:

Norman McCullough quoted from the minutes of an October 2005 Board meeting at which then Board Vice President David Berman moved for adoption of the proposed 2006 Association budgets. McCullough asked if this meant that the Board at that time had determined that the reserve accounts had been fully funded. Board member Barry Friedman responded, pointing out that statute refers to "adequate funding" of reserves, not 100-percent funding. Board Treasurer Roz Berman said that the issue is being addressed this year, and Board member Bob Frank added that the greatest possible disclosure should be a goal.

A resident commented on the Calvary Church-BLM issue. He asked if the Board would consider asking the City of Henderson to support use of the controversial land parcel for parks and trails instead of for the controversial church proposal. Mike Dixon said this is a good idea. Bob Frank said our city councilor Andy Hafen, is definitely open to supporting this. Frank added that he's disappointed that not all residents are expressing concern over the church issue. Board Secretary Lanie Berg said the BLM wants the most money it can get for this land, which she said is zoned commercial. She reminded the audience that the land occupied by Independence Center was formerly zoned for commercial use, but that use had been defeated. Mike Dixon, correcting part of Berg's statement, said the allowed use of the controversial BLM parcel is not commercial, but is quasi-commercial in nature.

Rivka Wolf asked for information about Code of Conduct letters, saying she wanted to know such things as what they are, who orders them to be issued, who sends them out, etc. Barry Friedman replied that any person, including any resident, can start one. Roz Berman said that the letters are provided for in our SCA Rules & Regulations, "which can be easily changed."

Wolf persisted. "I want to know who sends them out," she said. Bob Frank asked her if she was referring to a specific case or was asking a generic question. Community Manager Terry DaSilva said the Board can start a complaint process, but that any resident can also make a Code of Conduct complaint, which will then be investigated. Wolf then said she was referring to a warning letter received "for asking a question." Bob Frank said that "when you receive a warning letter, you should be told what you did wrong."

Wolf, apparently unhappy with the responses to her questions, raised her voice and continued to press for responses. Roz Berman said that "we have a process, and that process will be followed."

Pam Nichols said she was at the meeting to raise a quality-of-life issue. She said she is a resident of a newer home that has an air-exchange system, which is necessary because the newer SCA homes are much more air-tight than those built earlier. She said her neighbors have trees such as eucalyptus that produce pollen, as well as a fire pit, which results in harmful impurities being pulled into her home and affecting her health. She said she wants to see the list of banned trees and bushes expanded. After Nichols was allowed to speak for nearly five minutes, Lanie Berg, saying she is the non-voting Board representative on the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) suggested that Nichols submit a violation form to ARC. Mike Dixon added that she can attend an ARC meeting and ask for the changes she believes are warranted.

Sheila Morse expressed thanks that an issue she had raised regarding the proper placement of bathroom towel holders in the Independence Center bathrooms had been satisfactorily addressed. She also expressed continued concern, as she has in the past, about plans for outdoor barbecue grills at Recreation Center 3. Mike Dixon said the grills are still in the building's design. Morse then listed several concerns to make her case that there should not be a barbecue area at the new recreation center. Bob Frank asked if Morse had written a letter to the Board on the subject, and Morse answered that she had sent such a letter to each Board member. None of the six Board members in attendance could recall receiving the letter, so Morse said she will send it again.

Charlie Nocifora said he enjoys dancing, and he expressed displeasure that the Smith Brothers Band was not hired to play for the SCA New Year's event. He said he does not like Deja Vu, the band that has been hired, and he asked why resident input is not obtained on such decisions. Lanie Berg said he should send in his suggestions to the Activities Department, and Nocifora replied that he had been told Activities Manager Greg Dreyer has said he personally didn't like the Smith Brothers.

Camille Brunetta said she has noted that the questions asked by residents at these meetings are "logical and respectful, but it's frustrating when we don't get responsive answers." She said the Board needs to give residents the opportunity to speak and express their emotions (applause).

Tony Brunetta said he still hasn't received a mailed issue of the Spirit magazine after living in SCA for several months. He expressed concern about the timeliness of some information published in the Spirit, citing as an example the reporting in the November issue of Board resolutions acted upon in July. And he also asked about a prior decision to spend $5,000 on a lighting consultant to improve outside lighting in the area of our two current recreation centers, suggesting that the money would have been better spent on a qualified lighting contractor. (Reporter's note: At its August meeting, the Board approved the Property & Grounds Committee's request for authorization to spend up to $5,000 for a lighting consultant, but the approval was rescinded at the September Board meeting after P&G advised the Board that quotes for this service were closer to $10,000 than the $5,000 approved amount).

Regarding the subject of the non-delivery of the Spirit, Barry Friedman suggested that the Brunettas talk directly with Communications Manager Scott Fewell about the problem. Camille Brunetta said she has called Fewell and left messages, but that he has not called back. Fewell was in the hall, and he explained that there have been some mailing-list problems that he is close to resolving. He invited the Brunettas to come by his office and he will take their information for the corrected mailing list.

A little later in the meeting, coming back to Tony Brunetta's comments about the Spirit, Roz Berman explained why Board information takes so long to make it into print. "Information coming out of Board meetings usually can't be published until at least a month later," she said, "because it is not official until we vote to approve the minutes at the next Board meeting." She also noted the long advance deadlines required for publication of information in the magazine. Bob Frank suggested that people should use the community website to get information in a more timely manner, and he said the  information in the Board reports on the web is more complete. Lanie Berg said that the prior Board had also used the website to communicate SCA information.

Jack Shirley noted that he was recently approached by a Security Patrol member to sign a petition aimed at lowering the speed limits on Anthem Parkway and SCA Drive back to 35 mph from the present 45 mph. He said he believed this issue was settled several years ago, and he wanted to know who authorized the Security Patrol to distribute the petition. Mike Dixon asked Security Patrol Chief Dave Servello, who was in the hall, to comment on the subject. Chief Servello stated that he was circulating the petition to benefit the entire community, not just a few. Shirley pointedly asked, "Did the Board authorize this?" Servello: "No." Barry Friedman echoed Servello, saying this was being done for the whole community. Servello added that there are related line-of-sight issues, and that clearing foliage will not be enough to solve the problems caused by speeders. Bob Frank said that people in the community have a right to circulate a petition.

Nelson Orth commented on $196,000 in developer delinquencies recently unearthed by RMI, involving unpaid property assessments, copies of the Spirit provided to the developer. etc. Roz Berman confirmed that these delinquencies had been found and said that the money had not yet been collected. Orth asked if the developer would be assessed the same penalties and unpaid interest that any resident would be assessed, and Berman replied that she presumed this would be the case. Orth asked if he could get copies of the billings, but Mike Dixon and Roz said this might be a problem due to the same confidentiality issues that would apply to individual residents. Later in the meeting, Orth also noted that the Finance Committee had confirmed that the Association is owed an additional $432,000 in homeowner delinquencies, and he expressed awareness that the Finance Commitee's Shirley Cheri will be chairing a task force that will work with RMI and Red Rock Financial to improve the collection process.

Rana Goodman expressed concern about the annual homeowners meeting scheduled for November 15, and the 15-day notice that comes with it. She said there wasn't time to get items on the agenda. She said motions should be allowed from the floor. "This is our meeting," she said, "and we should be allowed to put items out for consideration." Mike Dixon replied with an explanation of the three ways in which items can be put on the annual-meeting agenda, one of which is by petition of 10 percent of unit owners. Bob Frank said that regardless of what the law specifies, we should do the right thing for our homeowners. Dixon quoted from the statute covering the process for getting items on the agenda. Roz Berman added that special members' meetings can be called at any time upon petition of homeowners. With controlled anger in her voice, Goodman echoed the comment that we should "do the right thing." She also asked how could we possibly get 10 percent of our homeowners in one room at the same time, but Roz Berman responded that the requirement is not that 10 percent attend the meeting, but that this is the percentage required to petition for a meeting. Bob Frank said that the Board has the right to do its job, but he added that the large size of our community is a real problem. Barry Friedman urged residents to express their concerns about these and other issues.

Lynn Pendleton, a leader of the Board-authorized task force coordinating opposition to the Calvary Church-BLM proposal, said that more than 2,000 signatures are going to the BLM. She urged everyone to write and call the BLM.

Steve Ballweber asked if RMI delinquency reports can be included in the Board-meeting minutes posted online. Roz Berman said the information could be posted in summary form. Ballweber also asked what the impact on our budget is due to uncollected amounts, and he asked Berman if shortfalls are planned for when the Association budget is prepared. Berman answered that possible collection shortfalls are a part of the planning process. Mike Dixon added that like having a personal rainy-day fund, the Association has a financial buffer because it maintains reserves equivalent to three months of anticipated expenses.

Mary Lee Duley expressed concern about what she called "negativity in the room." She thanked the Board for implementing the Town Hall Forums (applause) but accused Mike Dixon of showing disrespect toward the residents. She referred back to her claim that Dixon was rude to her at a meeting several months ago. She said that since she has learned that there is no time limit on the filing of Code of Conduct complaints, she will file a complaint against Dixon. She said that the Board attacks residents.

On another subject, Duley complained about unwanted solicitations in SCA. She said that something must be done about this. Mike Dixon replied that at its October meeting, the Board authorized the Facilities Department to obtain quotes on "No Solicitors" signs to be placed at key entrances into the community. Barry Friedman added that this step will provide SCA with the basis for notifying the City of Henderson of unauthorized solicitations.

Having observed that the demolition of the SCA Sales Pavilion had occurred, Norman McCullough asked if it would be possible to acquire the three flagpoles that had stood in front of the building, perhaps to be used as some sort of veterans memorial. Mike Dixon said it sounded like a good idea, and he asked Community Manager Terry DaSilva or Assistant Community Manager Caren Carrero to look into it.

Paulina Roth asked why Roz Berman had referred in earlier comments to the reporting of fines and assessment delinquencies as separate items when answering Steve Ballweber's question about delinquent amounts. Berman said we can't assume automatically that if we are owed $300,000 it means there are 300 owners owing $1,000 each in unpaid dues. Some of the amounts, if composed of fines and penalties, would be less.

A resident asked about the timing of the Annual Members Meeting and the regular November Board meeting. Mike Dixon answered that the Annual Meeting will be at 1:30 on November 15, and the regular monthly Board meeting will be held immediately after the Annual Meeting.

Marcia Kosterka asked if the Board was going to send a letter to the BLM stating opposition to the Calvary Church application. Roz Berman said absolutely, and that such a letter will be going out.

Johanna Di Stefano reminded the audience that the community joined together to defeat the proposed heliport location, and she said the same kind of cohesiveness can defeat the Calvary Church proposal.

Charlie Nocifora asked if other Anthem-area communities are organized to fight against the Calvary Church proposal. Bob Frank said that we should do something to energize those communities also.

The meeting concluded with comments by Rich Miller, president of the SCA Democrats Special Interest Group, who urged residents to attend a November 27 meeting at which Barbara Buckley, speaker of the Nevada General Assembly, will be guest speaker.