April 16, 2024
Welcome home to all of our returning snowbirds! Hopefully, the sunny, warmer weather will be following you!
2024/2025 Budget: Mark and his team have been working hard in preparation of a proposed budget for initial review by the Finance Committee prior to presenting a recommendation to the OVCA Board. The major challenges include: (1) Developing a roof replacement program like the Preventative Maintenance model (2) Our property liability insurance premium (3) Balancing payroll requirements considering labor shortages offset with contractual outsourcing services to meet the needs of the Village (4) Annual contractual increase of our cable and Internet services.
The proposed budget is as follows:
2023/2024 HOA Fees Budget: $5,583,490
2024/2025 HOA Fees Budget: $5,801,206
Dollar Increase: $217,716
Percent Increase: 3.9 percent
Mark will discuss more details shortly in his Executive Director’s report, including comments on how we will address last fall’s Reserve Study going forward.
Later tonight, Ken Colman, OVCA treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee, will make a motion to adopt the 2024-2025 budget, which the OVCA Finance Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the OVCA Board. This motion will be followed by Board discussion and a vote on the motion. As President, I feel this budget has been thoughtfully constructed and deals with the challenges we face.
Presuming the 2024/2025 Budget is approved by the Board tonight, it will be posted on the website and printed as an insert in the May 1, 2024, Villager.
The Unit Owner Meeting for this budget is scheduled for May 14, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the North Clubhouse. The Unit Owner rejection vote of the budget is scheduled for May 16, 2024, from 1- 6 p.m. (Only those residents voting “no” on the budget would vote.)
Tax Appeal Update: Last month, Ray Vermette laid out a very detailed and compelling chronology of our clubhouse’s history citing relevant CT General Statutes (section 47-204) ultimately supporting the strength of our lawsuit. We were working with our attorneys in preparation of the scheduled April 18 pretrial. However, late last Thursday our attorneys informed us that the Town’s counsel has requested a continuance because the Town’s assessor is on medical leave. The judge did grant the continuance and the pretrial date has been rescheduled to Aug. 6, 2024. This is a critical milestone that will determine whether a settlement can be reached by both parties, thus avoiding a trial and the costs of a protracted schedule. We will provide further updates appropriately and, again, thank you for your continued support.
By-Laws: The By-Laws Committee will submit proposed revisions to our attorneys by the end of the week. Following the legal review of the revisions, and after any revisions are made, the committee will finalize the red-lined and clean versions of the By-Laws as well as the Summary of Substantive Changes that is being prepared for each article. The proposed revisions will then be submitted to the OVCA officers for review.
While an exact date cannot be identified at this point, it is anticipated that all materials will be made available to the Board two weeks in advance of the first meeting to begin the review of the proposed By-Law revisions.
Meeting with Mayor Laura Hoydick: I have been in contact with the mayor’s office to schedule our annual meeting; an early July date will be established with Town Hall officials.
Buyer’s Fee Implementation Update: So far, we have collected $5,238.52 from three closings. There are a few more units currently in the pipeline, which will close in the next few weeks. These will be posted on the website and be included in the monthly financial statements going forward.
Committee Updates: I would like to thank Joe MacKenna for his work with the Communications Committee. Joe has resigned to pursue other efforts. I would also like to welcome Janet Lisak as a new member of the Communications Committee. Janet dually serves as the District 6 secretary.
Post-March 19, 2024, OVCA Board Meeting: The following email motion made by Myrna Mills Albino, seconded by Frank Spodnick, to accept the recommendation made by the OV Golf Tournament Committee to distribute funds earned at the July 15 OV Golf Tournament was approved as follows:
• 25 percent Sterling House
• 25 percent Center for Family Justice
• 10 percent Alzheimer’s Association
• $500 Rotary Club of Stratford
• $250 Dollcrafters
• Remainder to the beautification of Oronoque Village
OV Golf Tournament July 15, 2024: First, we need to thank Judy Waldeyer for her many years of volunteer service and for making the OV Golf Tournament an annual success prior to COVID.
Today we are very fortunate to have resident Lucy Andrade and our Social Activities Manager Kathy Stevens working with Blackhawk Country Club and leading a team of volunteers who have been hard at work to make the return of the annual tournament an amazing memorable event.
If you would like to volunteer and be part of this team, please contact Lucy at (203) 258-4519 or Kathy at (203) 377-5313, ext. 4.
Budget Vote Approved: A motion was made by Ken Colman and seconded by Dick Steinfeld to approve the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 OVCA Budget for presentation to the Unit owners for ratification in May. The motion passed by a vote of 12 – 2 (D4, D9).
Click here for details on the approved OVCA budget.
Bob Grosso, OVCA President
Please click on the links below to review reports presented during the April 16 OVCA meeting:
Racquet Sports Facilities Committee