December 8, 2006

Dear Neighbors,

Twenty homeowners, eleven FMB members, blew in on high winds for the FMB meeting on a cold, sunny, blustery Saturday, December 2nd. Whereas the meeting lasted three hours, most of it addressed the budget for calendar year 2007. As seen in President Terry Milligan's annual letter dated December 7th, the budget rose less than five percent, eighty percent of that number attributable to the rise in insurance costs. The remaining one percent increase is attributable to factors out of the board's control. The FMB toiled diligently and arduously to keep the increase low.

Reports

1. Our Treasurer reported that Sea Pines has a "little bit of a surplus for this year", thereby respectfully avoiding accounting jargon.
2. The Bluff Committee has been working with an engineer to finalize our proposed changes to view corridors. The committee is on budget for this year after having worked also with an arborist and an expert from the Audubon Society. This committee is finalizing the Notice of Intent for delivery to Brewster's Conservation Commission, hoping to obtain a hearing by mid-January and a satisfactory Order of Conditions by Spring. Bob Wiesel and Steve Koppel have led the effort, with Dave Sullivan and Jim Dalton assisting.
3. The Grounds Committee works continuously throughout the year, regularly touring the grounds and meeting twice a month. Most of us see their efforts in the form of responses to requests for variances and for issues related to removal of trees about to fall onto a roof. But their work is considerably more demanding and forward looking as indicated by the following functions addressed at this meeting.
   • The Grounds Committee is working on a survey of the pool area and we expect a report late this winter on proposals regarding changes to the areas outside and inside the fence around the pool area.
   • The last year of the five-year landscaping program is beginning. The current effort is aimed at Grove Lane and the area around the Clubhouse. The cycle begins anew in 2008 with a return to Landing Lane; expenditures should decline in proportion to the success of the initial program.
   • The FMB recognizes the need for professional input for an updated evaluation of the long term program for the capital reserve fund at Sea Pines. The objective is to determine not only what we want by what point in time, but also to obtain an estimate of related costs. The committee will undertake a preliminary search for engineers to survey the property. The committee will request a statement of qualifications from several engineering firms in line with specific queries dealing with experience and methodologies used for their projects. These firms will then be interviewed. Afterwards, we will send a request for a commercial proposal.
4. Mercantile's management services have been retained for 2007-2008. Craig's firm has served Sea Pines for 16 years, a period over which Craig has performed well, in addition to having gained in physical stature and losing a mustache. (Craig, is it true that experience is something you do not get until just after you need it?)
5. Some owners have raised again a concern with security. This was considered in the budget context and no budget allocation was made. Before establishing a line item, the FMB needs to know whether and to what extent there is a problem with unauthorized people accessing the pool and our beach. After considerable discussion, the Board rejected anecdotal information as sufficient to justify expenditures and also did not succeed in developing a method for answering this question.
6. There is no new information regarding the various legal matters. The Land Court is scheduled to address the abutter matter in Boston on January 8-9.

Reminders

1. The FMB set meeting dates for the period through the date of the Annual meeting. The FMB generally meets at 8:30 on the last Saturday of the month. The new dates are January 27, February 24 [might be cancelled if no pressing issues exist], March 31, April 28 and May 26. The annual meeting will be held on May 27, at a time and place to be announced.
2. If everything seems to be going well then you have missed something.

I offer Seasons Greetings and wish everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year.

For the FMB,

Jim Dalton


Community Notes

• Craig McGowan of Mercantile was present and contributed significantly to our deliberations, as usual. By the way, Craig had an emergency appendectomy this week.
• And on the issue of physical repair, I have only limited information about changes in the health of homeowners. But there were a few observances at the meeting.
• George Pierce looked fine!
• And his admiration for Marjorie was manifested once again in his recognition of her presence at another meeting - and he patiently taught all present how to spell her first name.
• Olwen Saint's excellent performance with the minutes at the November meeting caused Vera Fields to (figuratively) "sprint" to regain her health, after several surgeries for circulation in her legs, in order to return as Clerk.
• Frank Pease received "attaboys" for his decision to have knee replacement; this decision must have caused a reincarnation as he arrived at the meeting in splendid attire. Responding to plaudits aimed at Frank, Betty remarked that "If you want a rainbow, you got to put up with the rain."