Author: Skytrack

Board Meeting Minutes May 25th, 2011

Attending:  Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Treas. Matthew Pilkington, Sec. Levi McConnell, Rose Firestein, Terra Chalberg, Jose Perez (to present Super’s report), John Carluccio, and Elia Malara (Managing Agent).

 

I.   Maintenance

 

§   120 Boerum      The cornice was repaired and painted.

      • The front and back staircases have been redone satisfactorily.
      • Dean Street recycling areas on the 2nd and 3rd floors were upgraded with carpeting.
      • Bannisters were repainted.
      • Jose removed the wet paint that was tracked up the front stairs.
      • New signs to be affixed over recycling areas.

§   Do not leave heavy bags of used potting soil for Jose or Patrick to remove.  Ask Jose what to do with you leftover or discarded potting soil.

§   Our work on the dividing wall between 15 Bergen and 17 Bergen is finished satisfactorily.

§   Some of the aging decks have been replaced, with more to come.

§   An architect and Engineer will be inspecting the bridge between 120 Boerum and 15 Bergen.

§   Building to address water getting in-between 15 Bergen and the Montessori School – Management to investigate and possibly re-flash.

§   Matthew Pilkington suggested that the tiles in the entry of 120 Boerum should be scrubbed.

§   Aging recycling cans to be replaced with a two-bin “console” system.

 

NOTE TO RESIDENTS: Please use the recycling bins for paper and plastics correctly and responsibly. Please rinse-clean any items that may contain traces of food, so we do not create an insect/rodent problem.

 

Also, PLEASE be vigilant in watching for any bedbugs in your unit, or in any common area.  Please report anything you see to Jose immediately.

 

 

II.   Financials

The financial situation of Skytrack Condo was reviewed and continues to be in order.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40pm.

 

The annual meeting is to be held on June 1st at 8:00 pm in the Montessori School.

 

The next Skytrack Condo Board Meeting is scheduled for Wed., June 22.

 

 

NOTICE OF MEETING OF SKYTRACK CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Dear Unit Owner:

 

Pursuant to Article 111, Sections 1 and 4 of the By-Laws of Skytrack Condominium, the board of managers is providing notice of the annual meeting of Skytrack Condominium Association.  Business will include an election to the board of managers, a report on financial status, and other important business concerning the future of the condominium.

 

This meeting is to be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Montessori School located at 7-9 Bergen Street, immediately adjacent to 15 Bergen Street.  Please arrive and sign in between 7:45 and 8 pm so that the meeting can start on time.

 

There are two Board terms expiring this year.  Anyone who wants to run should drop a note to that effect in any of the lobby boxes for the Board of Managers.

 

If you are unable to attend in person, please delegate a representative to vote in your place by proxy.  A quorum of 50% of the ownership in person or by proxy is necessary for transaction of business. A form of proxy is being distributed to each unit for this purpose .

Sincerely,

 

 

Levi McConnell, Secretary

Skytrack Condominium Association

 

 

Skytrack Board Meeting Wednesday, 4/27/2011

Present: Peter Levy, Pres.; Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V. Pres.; Matthew Pilkington, Treas.; Rose Firestein, Terra Chalberg, John Carluccio; Elia Malara, Managing.Agt.; Jose Peres, Superintendent.
Maintenance
The superintendent made his report: The front and back stair bannisters, undersides, and risers have been painted.  Flooring will follow soon.
The gap between the wall of 15 Bergen and 17 Bergen Street is in the process of being sealed and the coping repaired.  After this exterior work is finished, the interior apartment walls affected by the leaks from this outer wall will be repaired.
Replacement of two decks on 1Q is beginning and will be followed over the next few months with several other deck replacements.
Financials
Everything is in order.
The Annual Owners Meeting will be held on Wed., June 1st at 8:00 PM.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.  The next meeting will be held on May 26th.
Respectfully submitted,
Katharine Flanders Mukherji
substituting for Levi Mc Connell, Secretary


Board Meeting Minutes, March 23rd, 2011

Attending:  Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Sec. Levi McConnell, Rose Firestein,

Terra Chalberg, Jose Perez (to present Super’s report), and Elia Malara (Managing Agent).

 

I.   Maintenance

§   Jose’s new shower body works properly, and he is very satisfied with it.

 

§   The coping on the roof at 120 Boerum has been repaired, and now Leon will be repairing a few leftover issues in the affected apartment.

 

§   The cornice on the roof at 120 Boerum Place is to be repaired in April.

 

§   When 17 Bergen was reconstructed, part of the adjoining wall between the new building and 15 Bergen was removed, and now some water/moisture issues are affecting a unit within 15 Bergen, as well as 17 Bergen.  We are encouraging the owners of 17 Bergen to have the problem rectified and the gap between the walls sealed against further moisture issues.  We will have the newly exposed portion of our wall pointed and sealed.

 

§   Stairwells at 120 Boerum are being worked on this April, including new floor coverings in the hallways near the recycling cans, as well as the stairs and landings.

 

§   Several failing door springs have been replaced, and the front door at 120 Boerum has been upgraded with a new egress handle.

 

§   More pigeon spikes are to come to the roof coping at 120 Boerum, over the front-most courtyard.  The spikes in the middle courtyard seem to have worked well enough to reduce the problems we were experiencing.

 

§   Several roofs are slated to be re-sealed over the next few months.

 

§   The ashtray cans in the stairwell at 120 Boerum will be removed, as smoking is not permitted in any indoor common area of the Skytrack buildings.

 

NOTE: Please be mindful and considerate of those living in Skytrack condo units when you or your guests are in the hallways. Excessive noise from cell-phone conversations, loud talking, children running, etc. can be quite loud inside the actual apartments, and should be kept to a minimum.

 

As always, it is against Skytrack Condo rules to smoke in any common area.

II.   Financials

The financial situation of Skytrack Condo was reviewed and continues to be in order. The board is pleased to report that there will be no increase in Common Charges for the remainder of 2011.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.

The next Skytrack Condo Board Meeting is scheduled for 7:30 pm, April 27th.

All residents are encouraged to register on the Skytrack website: www.skytrackcondo.com

 

Board Meeting Minutes, January 26th, 2011

Attending:  Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Matthew Pilkington, Treas.,

Sec. Levi McConnell, John Carluccio, Jose Perez (to present Super’s report), and Elia Malara (Managing Agent).

I.   Maintenance

§   Water leak in Unit # 3C was due to the renovations being done in 3C’s kitchen area.  Contractor will work with Unit #2C tenants to rectify any damage done to their ceiling.

§   Pam Miller, at 134 Boerum Pl. Unit 6, has repeatedly reported to Jose that the unit is “too cold.”  Jose is monitoring the temperatures in the unit.

§   Jose has had a leak in his own unit’s ceiling, due to a leak on the ”L” line of 120 Boerum, and will begin exploratory measures to identify the source.

§   The board also is going to get a quote from Leon to replace the non-functioning shower body in Jose’s apt.

§   Leon will also get the Board a proposal to repaint the water-damaged wall at 15 Bergen, Unit #2R.  We will address the problem first, then deal with Terra’s interior repair (if any) afterward.

§   The cornice work on the Dean Street side was completed satisfactorily.

§   We have received an estimate to re-do the stairs of the Dean Street entrance, as well as the Boerum Place entry.  This includes new step coverings, and new carpet in the hallways around the recycling bins for Floors 2 and 3, to match existing carpet tiles in main hallways.  This work is slated to begin in April, once the messy Winter season is over.

§   The board is also looking into new recycling cans to replace the old ones, as well as new engraved or framed signage.

§   Elia is to replace the broken industrial vacuum cleaner.

II.   Financials

The financial situation of Unit #3C has been rectified.  The unit has been sold and the Condominium has received the arrears and legal fees, which it was due.  The debt has been satisfied.

All other financials are in order.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm.

The next Skytrack Condo Board Meeting is scheduled for 7:30 pm, February 23rd.

Get news and info. about Skytrack quickly, register at www.skytrackcondo.com

Board Meeting Minutes 12/1/10

Present: Jose Perez, Elia Malara, Peter Levy, Katharine Flanders Mukherji, Rose Firestein, Matthew Pilkington, Terra Chalberg, John Carluccio

Jose made his maintenance report:

The courtyard installation of spikes in our pigeon abatement effort has been completed.  One nesting place below an air conditioner has yet to be blocked. Painting of deck railings is complete, except for two outside of second floor apartments.  Two additional roof drain diversions are complete, and it remains to be seen whether the combined measures taken over the past few years will totally eliminate basement flooding during high intensity rainstorms, when the city’s sewer main cannot carry the water away fast enough.  If further measures are required, because the city continues to refuse to install larger mains, the window well water on Dean Street and on Boerum Place will have to be diverted in some way as well.  A number of complicated solutions were discussed.  Two old roof decks over 122 Boerum Pl were lifted to enable the roofer to do roof repairs and leak prevention beneath them.  New decks will be installed there in the Spring.  New lights are being installed in the garage and the sensor has been adjusted for faster response upon entry.

When 17 Bergen renovated and took down part of their old building sharing a wall with ours, they exposed one of 15 Bergen’s walls.  Their renovation did not seal the newly exposed section of their wall and left flapping coping, which they promised they would repair in the summer of 2010.  They are now experiencing leaks and want us to repair our wall.  We will do this when they repair the coping.  After our pointing is complete, they will need to seal the place where the two buildings meet.

We plan to continue the upgrade of 120 Boerum Place by renovating the recycling area on the 2nd and 3rd floors, to match their hallways.  Bids are being sought for this work, and for a possible resurfacing of the landings and stairs.

A banister is repeatedly being ripped out of place on the Boerum Place flight of steps between the 1st to the 2nd floor.  Please do not abuse the banisters.  They are meant for holding and no other purpose.

Matthew Pilkington is replacing a half-dead tree outside 134 Boerum Place.

Financials were reviewed and found to be in order. Treasurer Matthew Pilkington, managing agent Elia Malara, and Mark Levitch will work together soon to craft next year’s budget.

The Board would like to wish you happy and healthy holidays.  Please remember that this is the time of year to reward Jose and Patrick for their excellent work.  Remember, also, that in bringing holiday trees in and out, cleaning up the dropped needles in the hallway and lobby is the owner’s responsibility and should not be left to the employees. José will have oversize plastic bags available for tree transportation.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.. Next meeting January 26th.

Board Meeting Minutes, October 27, 2010

Present: Peter Levy, Pres; Katharine Flanders Mukherji, VP; Matthew Pilkington, treasurer; Tara Chalberg; John Carluccio; Rose Firestein; Elia Malara, managing agt.; Jose Perez, superintendant

I. Maintenance

1. Sprinklers in common areas have been painted red, as required by the city.  Deck railings were painted blue.

2. Jerry Lugg, plumber, effected two roof drain diversions, one in the E line and one at 1Q.  This should help in sewer backup abatement efforts, since basement apartments continue to be flooded during torrential rainstorms.  It is requested that owners not use plumbing during such rain falls, since there is no place for our effluent to go but into your neighbors’ plumbing fixtures.  A discussion continues about other ways to contain storm water, including a semi-permeable courtyard surface, a green roof, re-piping the pit drains, and possibly hiring an engineer consultant.  A member of the DEP came after the last storm, had the storm drains cleaned, and spoke with Jose and Jerry about our request that the city increase the size of it’s sewage main beneath Boerum Place.  A request has been submitted to study that main with a special camera during subsequent storms.

3. A contractor, with the low bid for pigeon abatement, will begin work soon in the courtyards.  Scaffolding will have to be erected in order to reach the 40 foot high beams where the birds perch.  An effort will be made to talk to neighboring building owners about eliminating nesting areas in vines and standing water.

4. Leaks into several apartments on the upper floors have been traced to broken terra cotta caps at the top of the Dean Street wall, brick facade pointing failures near the third floor on Dean Street, and parapet wall cracks. The roof cornice is also in need of repair.  A pointing, repair, and painting job for all of these roof structures will be costly and will be undertaken as soon as possible.

5. A leak at 134 Boerum has been traced to a clogged drain beneath a deck.  The damage will be repaired.  Owners are reminded that when a roof drain is below the deck for which they have exclusive use, they are responsible for keeping it clean.  Owners who fail to keep drains clear will be liable for fines.

6. A few of the oldest and most damaged decks will be replaced in the Spring

7. Roof leaks on the 122 Boerum Pl. building are to be repaired.

8. A request has been made to step up water bug extermination efforts in the common areas around and below the Dean Street door and recycling closet.  This will be done.

9. Matthew Pilkington reported on his voluntary efforts at continued beautification of the property with plantings.  He plans to replace one tree that is not thriving.

10. The carpets on the first floor of 120 Boerum Pl. have been professionally shampooed.

11. Katharine spoke to the NYSC management about keeping their sidewalks clean, so that the leaves don’t blow onto our swept sidewalk.  They have promised to see to this.

II. Financials

The financials were reviewed and found in order.

Owners are reminded that intercom repairs are their own responsibility, unless the problem is in the outside and inside lobby boxes or the wiring serving the whole building.  The water meter is functioning and bills have come in within budget.  In addition to working weekends, Patrick has added two days assisting Jose.  This frees Jose to work with contractors and to embark on extra projects.

Because of November and December late month holidays, the next meeting will be held on Wed. Dec 1.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm

Policy – Skytrack Condominium

A majority of the Board of Managers of Skytrack Condominium adopts the following policy as of October 15, 2010:

WHEREAS Skytrack Condominium (“Condominium”) has an existing policy that it is financially responsible for the extermination of vermin (rodents, insects and similar animal pests) in the common areas of the Condominium’s buildings and that individual unit owners are financially responsible for extermination of vermin in individual units; and

WHEREAS the City of New York is experiencing an apparently unprecedented bedbug infestation; and

WHEREAS bedbug infestations are both easily spread from apartment to apartment within a building and difficult to eradicate; and

WHEREAS the Board of Managers seeks to encourage the owners of units in the Skytrack Condominium to address possible bedbug infestations quickly, thereby effectively eliminating the insect’s spread within a building, it is now

ESTABLISHED by the affirmative votes of a majority of the Board of Managers of the Skytrack Condominium that hereafter, and until modified or rescinded by said Board of Managers, the policy of the Skytrack Condominium is as follows:

1.  Except as provided by numbered paragraphs two and three set out below, the policy of the Skytrack Condominium continues to be that it is financially responsible for the extermination of vermin in the common areas of the Condominium’s buildings and that individual unit owners are financially responsible for extermination of vermin in individual units; and

2.  Upon notification of the Superintendent of the Skytrack Condominium that bedbugs may be present in any building or portion of a building of the Skytrack Condominium, including an individual unit, by the owner of any unit within such building or such owner’s tenant or the Condominium staff, the Skytrack Condominium shall arrange and be financially responsible for having the possible bedbug infestation investigated to determine whether it exists, which investigation shall be made by professional exterminators or others the Board of Managers considers as having the necessary expertise to ascertain the presence of bedbugs at a location.  A unit owner may arrange for such an investigation of his/her own unit, and the Skytrack Condominium will be financially responsible for such individually arranged investigation only if the Condominium’s Superintendent approves the company or person who will undertake such investigation and such approval is obtained before the unit owner orders or contracts for such investigation.  Skytrack Condominium’s financial responsibility for an approved, owner-arranged investigation shall not exceed the cost of such investigation had the Condominium arranged for the investigation with the vendor it routinely engages for such investigations; and

3.  Skytrack Condominium will be financially responsible for the eradication of bedbugs, as with all other vermin, in the common areas of the Condominium’s buildings when bedbugs are detected in such areas, but it shall not be financially responsible for any aspect of the eradication of bedbugs, or any other vermin, in any individual unit or groups of units in the Condominium; and

4.  This policy supplants and replaces any previous policy, whether written, unwritten, formal or informal based on precedent, that pertains to the subject matter of this policy adopted by the Board of Managers on September 22, 2010.

Dated:  Brooklyn, New York

October 15, 2010

Board of Managers of Skytrack Condominium

By: Peter J. Levy, as President of the Board of

Managers of Skytrack Condominium

Board Meeting Minutes, September 22, 2010

Attending:  Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Matthew Pilkington, Treas., Levi McConnell, Sec’y., Rose Firestein, John Carluccio, Terra Chalberg, Jose Perez (to present Super’s report), and Elia Malara (Managing Agent).,

I. Maintenance

  • The painting of the track should be completed by the end of this week.
  • The painters are to paint all of the railings on the individual decks next, at an additional cost of $4,200 (for 21 decks).
  • Planters on Dean St. will be moved a bit closer to the building.
  • Peter to supply the rules for residents using outside contractors to Jose to give to tenants as needed.
  • Abiline to service the boiler. Was filled with water on 9/22.
  • 134 Boerum Pl. roof leak in Rose’s unit to be inspected by Jose and Leon, focusing on the deck area.
  • General painting and touch-ups on walls and trim to be completed by Jose.
  • Garbage can area was repaired.
  • Garage lights and motion detection was completed, but sensitivity needs to be checked and increased on the pedestrian entry, as well as possibly the roll-up garage door.
  • The board voted to install anti-pigeon/bird spikes on the I-beams over the courtyard areas, due to the increased bird population around the building.  A nearby, newly-introduced source of fresh water below the balcony of an adjacent building (not part of Skytrack Condo) seems to be factoring in to this increase.  If board member Levi McConnell can find a suitable and effective alternative to spikes, the board will consider.  Otherwise, spike installation will proceed as currently planned.
  • The loose telephone and cable television wires which pass through roof areas of 120 Boerum and even hang down into the interior courtyard area near the L line are to be fixed to the building in a more permanent manner, by the telephone and cable companies.  Jose and Eli to quarterback that effort.
  • All common area sprinkler pipes to be painted red by order of the Fire Department.  We received a bid of $3,000 for this work, which is acceptable.
  • Skytrack has a new hi-tech water meter.
  • Skybridge: Eli to move forward with trying to find a suitable material to weld to the sides of the bridge. Levi recommended a material like that used for the flooring of the track itself.
  • Due to the sudden increase New York City bedbug infestations, the board is planning steps to help educate residents of Skytrack Condo on ways to decrease chances of bringing these unwanted pests home.

II. Financials

The financials were reviewed and found in order.

Our newest water bill is for $7,335.07, covering from 2/8/2010 to 9/10/2010, which is considerably lower than previous bills.

III. Board Positions

Levi was voted in as Secretary, and Matthew as Treasurer, starting with this meeting.  Katharine remains as Vice President, and Peter as President.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm