Current Board of Directors
Joan Giroux,
President, Augusta, Maine, Term Expires 12/31/08
Tim Letourneau,
Member, Old Town, Maine, Term Expires 12/31/09
Jerry Williams,
Member, Livermore, Maine, Term Expires 12/31/12
Janet Franz,
Treasurer, Bangor, Maine, Term Expires 12/31/09
Dianne Lytle, Member, Mount
Desert, Maine, Term Expires 12/31/08
Minutes of Special Meeting of Members - December 1, 2007
President Joan Giroux
called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. President Giroux
introduced the board members, along with introducing the
prospective board members.
A quorum of the members
was present in person and by proxy. The election of a new
board member was completed by proxy. The results of the
voting: Linda Connelly had 79 votes, Donovan Lajoie had 53
votes, Dianne Lytle had 60.5 votes, Jerry Williams had 201
votes, Carson Woods (withdrawn prior to the annual meeting)
had 36 votes, and 54 blank votes were mailed in.
Treasurer Janet Franz
opened the budget discussion with a description of the new
Quickbooks accounting procedures. The association financial
records are now on a strictly accrual based system. Resort
Manager Margaret Austin presented and explained that the
escrow accounts need to be set aside according to state
statues. She explained the 2008 budget line by line. Bad
Debt Expense is a new line item, as the developers are no
longer paying back maintenance fees. An explanation of the
past collection procedure was given, and a brief
introduction on the upcoming change of maintenance fee
collection and foreclosure procedures due to legislation
changes. The resort has updated its credit card processing
to try to lower the processing charges by asking for
security codes and addresses.
Annette Bartlett
explained that the overage of computer costs was caused by
new equipment costs necessitated by the increase of internet
use by guests. The Connellys noted that some DHCP servers
may be able to block gaming and unacceptable websites, which
would allow more bandwidth usage. Harbor Ridge is changing
its internet service provider in January, which hopefully
will improve the service. Three full-time employees have
health insurance benefits. Margaret discussed that Worker’s
Compensation Insurance has increased due to some injuries,
so Harbor Ridge is now paying a deductible to lower premium
costs. Maintenance fees are increasing to $397.00 per week
of ownership.
Joan brought up the
issue about considering a pet allowance policy. The resort
has a policy in place to charge an owner if a guest brings a
pet. The resort has the right to evict the guest. Licensed
service animals are permitted without fee under ADA
regulations.
John Hanson made a
motion to accept the 2008 budget as presented. John
Buschmann seconded the motion, and budget passed
unanimously.
There will be a special
assessment of $100 per week of ownership to improve the cash
flow position. The due date is May 15, 2008. John Hanson
made a motion to accept the special assessment as
presented. Jerry Williams seconded the motion, and the
motion passed.
Anita Raymond wanted to
know if the resort had a wish list. Management noted that
some wish list items were on the bottom of the proposed
budget. Anita requested a lower railing on the decks.
Management stated the railings cannot be modified due to
building code regulations. Dianne Lytle suggested higher
chairs as a solution. John Buschmann requested that
management encourage the Island Explorer to pick up guests
staying at Harbor Ridge.
The Connellys requested
that Vacation Guard be discussed. Vacation Guard offers
trip cancellation insurance specifically to timeshare
owners. The company appears to offer more benefits for
multiple week owners for both exchanging and staying at
their home resorts. Owner getaways are now being offered
from December to the beginning of April at $95.00 per night,
$125.00 for two nights, and $50.00 for each additional
night.
John Hanson made a
motion to adjourn the meeting, and Bob Raymond seconded the
motion. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.
Minutes of Special Meeting of Members
President,
Tim Letourneau called the 2006 annual meeting to order at 10
am. The Executive Members introduced were: Joan Giroux,
Jerry Williams, Jim Murphy. Jan Franz arrived after having a
fractured wrist cast. Managers Margaret Austin and Annette
Bartlett were introduced along with Ken Ogden, the
Maintenance Supervisor. The budget for 2007 approved by the
Executive Board at their September meeting was discussed in
detail. Margaret Austin went over the line items on the
budget. The President explained the structural damage that
had been discovered this past year and the plans to make the
necessary repairs staying within the approved budget. Both
Margaret and Annette went over the work and improvements
completed over the past year including the internet access
to all townhouses. At this time the small problems with the
access are being worked out.
Carson Wood
spoke on the importance of repairs as soon as possible to
alleviate further problems. He also brought up the subject
of completing all repairs needed by securing a loan so as
not to deplete the required reserve account.
Dr. Neubauer
and Mr. Murphy remarked the resort always looks very well
maintained and for this reason the owners are able to
receive excellent exchanges within the Interval
International system or enjoy the comfort of their home
resort when they are at Harbor Ridge. Harbor Ridge was the
first and only five star Interval rated resort for thirteen
years in Maine. In 2005 Rangeley Lake Resort was awarded
the five star distinction.
The
President then called for a motion to ratify the 2007 Annual
Budget. Board Member Jim Murphy asked if the required
number of proxies had been returned and referred to the
Public Offering Statement. In past years, a quorum was
present with votes cast by proxy, by attending members, and
by the developers. The Executive Board, after much
discussion, continued the meeting to January 6, 2006 at 10
am. at Harbor Ridge.
The staff
will need to send notice of the January 6th
meeting to the owners along with a proxy and then follow up
to insure the proxies are received by the January 6th
meeting.
At 11:05 am
the meeting was continued.
Joan Giroux
Secretary,
Harbor Ridge Condominium Association
HARBOR RIDGE
CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 6, 2007
ANNUAL MEETING CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 2, 2006.
Continuation of the Annual Meeting of December 2, 2006 due
to lack of sufficient Proxies for a quorum meeting to be
called to enact the Annual HRCA Budget.
Meeting called to order by President Joan Giroux @
approximately 10:00AM on
January 6, 2007 as a continuation of the meeting held on
December 2, 2006 to
Enact the budget. Opening comments by President Giroux.
Board Members present were; Tim Letourneau, Jerry Williams,
Janet Franz and Jim Murphy. Staff Members present were;
Margaret Austin, Manager, Annett Bartlett,
Assistant Manager and Maintenance Supervisor - Ken.
Numerous owners were present as indicated by the Sign-in
document and presence.
Pres. Joan indicated that the additional cost for the Proxy
mailing was approximately
$1,400.
Various questions were asked:
*Reason for the cost of high bank charges? Use of
debit/credit cards by occupants.
*Taxes paid by HRCA? Town is on a July-June fiscal year and
HRCA is on a
Jan-Dec. Taxes are paid upon receipt of funds from owners.
*Internet Income? Small amount to date but was placed in the
wrong account - to
be corrected.
*Can HRCA collect additional fees for use of credit cards?
No, illegal. HRCA
is charged .25 cents per transaction by the financing
agency. Different accounts
have different fees. HRCA did discontinue use of American
Express due to the
cost of usage. Services fees could be charged but it would
have to be charged to
all owners - not done.
*Is insurance cost down? Yes. Several vendors actively
soliciting HRCA for the
account. Still in discussion.
*Is the cost of this meeting included in the budget? Not
specifically. Will have to
be incorporated somewhere.
Ready to vote the Budget? Yes.
Motion/Seconded.-Members present. Voted- Unam. No's-None.
Abstain-None.
Any other Business to come before the meeting?
*May the budget for the current and past year be both shown
on a spread-sheet type
of format per the line item. Janet commented that future
analysis would try to be
done in that format.
*Are there empty units during the winter months? Yes, there
is a slow period but
based on the most recent couple of weeks it was great.
Maintenance is completed
-2-
during the slower period.
During the Christmas/New Years period there were people from
various foreign
Countries including Japan, Germany and others.
Pres. Joan asked where the owners present were from.
Augusta, Holden, Auburn,
Haynes, Pittsfield, Steuben, Bangor, Orono, Gardiner, Old
Town.
*Use of E-Mail addresses. Could be done but people change
e-mail so often it
doesn't always work well.
*What is the total number of owners - 2,400+-.
*Sale of Time Shares. Many are sold by the individuals.
Usually sold at 45/50
percent of the original purchase price. HRCA also handles
the transfer of
ownership at approximately$200-400 cost. Usually outside
sales require 500-700
up-from fee and then they do not sell and the owner has
already paid the fee.
Not a recommended method. Can find owners on the web site.
Harborridge.com.
*What about In Season. HRCA does not participate with them
any longer.
*Hard to always get what one wants for location and date.
Suggest placing
request on the waiting list well in advance and not to get
discouraged.
*Trip Insurance. Does not need to be purchased from Interval
International.
Can be purchased from Vacation Guard for much less, if
desired. If purchased
thru HRCA then the referral comes back to HRCA. Done on line
only.
Motion to adjourn. Seconded. Voted.
Jim Murphy, Secretary
