These minutes were approved at the June meeting. The minutes from the June meeting will be posted in July.
On April 13, 2010 at 7:35 PM President Doug Boulter called the meeting of the Virginia Hills Citizens Association (VHCA) to order at the Old Virginia Hills School. Although the scheduled speaker was to be Brad Center, Lee District Representative to the Fairfax County School Board, he was unable to attend due to a death in his family.
The minutes of the December 2009 meeting were approved as written by unanimous voice vote.
Officer Reports
Vice President's Report: Because Vice-President Zecca was bringing a matter of new business, his report was postponed to the new business portion of the meeting.
Treasurer's Report: President Boulter reported that the VHCA checking account balance was $5423.29 and that the Dominion Power credit was $12.77. He added that Dick Wright was ending his long tenure as Treasurer.
Membership Report: President Boulter reported that paid membership for this year stood at 89, rather than the usual 180-200, because there is not currently a Membership Director. He added that a solicitation would be sent.
Echo Editor's Report: Editor Doug Boulter reported that the advertising revenues were $377.00. Actual printing costs were $381.52 for a net loss of $4.52.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Lee District Park Field Lighting
Vice President Ralph Zecca reported that Richard Dressner from the Willow Oak Civic Association continued to express their association's ongoing concern about the evening field lights at Lee District REC Center, as well as noise in the evening, adding that Dressner said the park is not well maintained, and that he blamed poor staffing. Zecca said that Willow Oak is requesting that VHCA join an inter-civic association area working group to discuss these matters with officials of the Rec Center and Supervisor Jeff McKay. It was noted that Willow Oak's primary concern is the light issue.
President Boulter noted that only one field is lit at night, that it is close to residents of Willow Oak but distant from VHCA homes. The light casts straight downward, and if all four fields were lit, homes on Dorset Drive would be negatively impacted. Vice President Zecca recommended that VHCA only sit in on meetings of the area working group, with no authorization granted to support any recommendations that may be raised or proposed. The primary question is whether the fields are being utilized, since VHCA doesn't want Willow Oak (which would like to create the group within the next two months) to act as though they can speak on VHCA's behalf.
George Alloway recommended Dick Pro as our representative, and said that if Dick wasn't available that he (George) would volunteer.
A motion was made to send 1-2 people to sit in on meetings of the working group, noting that no association resources were to be committed without express authorization. The motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote.
Elections
President Boulter noted that Dick Wright was stepping down after many years of service as Treasurer, and that Ralph Zecca has offered to be the next President of the Association. Doug Boulter will continue as Editor of The Echo. Doug said that the association needs a Vice President, a Membership Director, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Debbie Bodlander volunteered to serve as Secretary. Doug said that the terms run for two years.
Virginia Hills Sign
President Boulter told the group that the sign's five lights were out, that someone had vandalized the aluminum frames and Plexiglas covers by breaking them. Since there is no way to monitor the sign to prevent future damage, the decision needs to be made whether efforts should continue to try and keep the sign lit. The lighting is old technology, and though one could check to see if something is available, it wouldn't stop potential future vandalism. Vice President Zecca said that if the association doesn't respond, the vandals will feel empowered to do more damage.
A discussion ensued, with participation by George and Lee Ann Alloway, Doug Boulter, Jim Gillespie, Ralph Zecca and Debbie Bodlander, about repair options. Those options included requesting help from the county (which was quashed due to budgetary restrictions), moving the light, placing a second lamp on the pole near the bus stop, and filling the words in with reflective paint. Jim Gillespie said that a note should be placed in The Echo asking for an electrician's help in resolving the matter.
President Boulter asked for a non-binding consensus of the members' desires on whether to spend the money to fix the sign or to let the sign remain dark. The consensus was to let the sign go dark. President Boulter will raise the issue again at the June meeting.
Announcements:
President Boulter reminded the group that the sanitary sewer checks being conducted by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services in the neighborhood were continuing. From the floor, Jim Gillespie outlined the questions being asked of homeowners. These include whether downspouts, sump pumps, and air conditioner drains are being discharged into the sanitary sewer. Doug noted that these were realistic concerns except for the issue of the air conditioning drains. Doug said that Association members want to know what the Department of Public Works seeks to accomplish and that he was looking into the matter.
Echo Editor Doug Boulter said that the expanded article about securing wireless internet would be going out to members on the VHCA e-mail list in the next few days and briefly reviewed what it covered.
Everyone was reminded that June 8 is Republican primary day.
Concerns from the floor: None
Doug announced that the speaker at the June meeting would be Amy Wilson regarding the Telegraph Road exit part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project.
There being no other business, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the business meeting at 8:18 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Bodlander
Acting Secretary