We recently wrote about the capricious notice from our Taylor Morrison-run HOA here at Bridgeberry. (herein simply referred to as TM for the sake of brevity). Yesterday (from the time of this writing) we received an email from Nick Ruden, Community Manager – Elite Management Professionals. Elite Management Professionals is the contracted management firm that is charged with operating the HOA for Bridgeberry, chosen by TM as Bridgeberry is still a developer-run HOA.
The email now invites 3 owner members of our community to serve on a 2023 Budget Committee. The purpose of which is defined in Nick’s email quoted below:
Good afternoon Bridgeberry owners,
The Board of Directors and property management company have heard from members of the Bridgeberry community regarding the assessment increase announcement. Because this proposed increase is significant, the HOA is seeking to form a 3-person “2023 Annual Budget Committee.” The purpose of this committee is for members of the HOA to evaluate the financial health of the HOA and to propose a budget strategy for the Bridgeberry HOA going forward.
If this is a committee in which you would like to serve, please fill it out and return the attached committee application form to me. The Board will then select 3 homeowners to serve on this committee. The Board is ideally looking for individuals with professional financial/accounting experience.
Once the members of the 2023 Annual Budget Committee are selected, a meeting between me, the Committee members, and a Board representative will be scheduled to take place in October to review and discuss all documentation related to the HOA’s multi-year forecasted income and expenses. We will then provide the community with the outcome of the meeting.
If interested, your completed application form is due back to me on or before Wednesday, October 5th, 2022 at 5pm.
Regards,
Nick Ruden
Community Manager
Elite Management Professionals, AAMC
4112 Blue Ridge Road Suite 100
Raleigh NC 27612
Phone – 919-233-7660 x 218
Fax – 919-233-7661
This email confirms that TM heard our concern as homeowners, and is taking a first step in the right direction. We would have liked this to have been the first step they made, instead of hitting us all with the letter we received about the increase. At any rate, this first step is a step in the right direction. We are seeking 3 members of our community to serve on this committee on behalf of all Bridgeberry home owners.
If I may interject my own sentiment here, I hope my fellow Bridgeberry neighbors who end up serving on this committee, propose ways to REDUCE cost footprint – to reform Bridgeberry’s current cost footprint (which seems excessive currently) to a more cost-lean and cost efficient set of choices for the Board to consider and hopefully implement. I do believe we can “trim the fat”.
We will update this story as it continues to develop. Stay tuned and check back often. Comments welcome below.
Just want to say thank you to John for all his hard work here. Clearly we’ve been heard, now we stay tuned to see how sincere TM is in incorporating the home owner voice in their decisions
A letter with an increase is also used as a tool to encourage participation in the HOA Committees and Board.
Please note that by-laws allow for up to 5-member BOD while TM holds control. There are only 3 Directors currently, all appointed by TM. We should push to have two Homeowners voted onto board. We need 10% representation for motion.