Author: Skytrack

Present: Steve Bruner (Treas.), David Crofton, Steve Dembitzer, Rose Firestein, Peter Levy (Pres.), Elia Malara (Managing Agent), Katharine Mukherji (V. Pres.), Matthew Pilkington (Sec’y), and. José Perez (Super.).

Maintenance Items
Jose Perez was invited by the board to give a run down of maintenance issues.
The boiler was cleaned as part of its annual service by Abilene and Co. The activating motor for the heating water mixer valve was replaced. Water out of the faucets in 120 Boerum should now not be too hot, and the water in 134 Boerum and 15 Bergen should not be too cold. We will switch to oil to test the dual fuel ability of the boiler when the weather becomes warmer. The boiler has been running on natural gas for the winter. The state of the oil tank and the amount of oil in the tank will be checked before the switchover is attempted.

City Fines
Peter Burgess Management received fines for failing to renew the two boilers’ registration with the city in 2004 and 2007. The boiler registration needs to be renewed every 3 years. Peter Burgess Management is somewhat to blame, but our new Managing Agent, Elia Malara said that the city is looking through its files for any overlooked infringements in order to raise revenue. There are 3 outstanding fines that we are questioning for a total of $1250. We also have to decommission our secondary boiler that has been shut down for some time. The city has to sign off on the decommissioned boiler before stating that it does not need to be registered and therefore allowing its removal. Jose has found someone to remove the old boiler post-decommissioning inspection. The board was only recently aware of these issues. EM Holding Co. has registered the boilers so they are currently up to date. In this vein, the Condo. was recently notified that some of the cracks in the pavement have to be repaired around the buildings or we will face other fines.

120 Boerum Place also received a sprinkler violation in Jan 08. Peter Burgess had apparently received the violation and not paid the fine. The fine now has been paid, and Peter Burgess will be asked about the fine oversights. The sprinkler system is tested annually by the Fire Department and monthly by the sprinkler company. It is currently up to date in its tests.

Monthly Charges
Monthly Common Charges to Condo. owners were increased by 3% on Jan 1st 2009. The increase was discussed in previous minutes and at the AGM.

Annual Budget
The financials for 2008 were in order. 2009 budgets, and current arrears were discussed. The Condo. is currently within its 2009 budget. Lower oil, gas, electricity, and water bills have helped.

Amity Street/Court Street Traffic Arrow
Peter Levy has observed that traffic continues to flow illegally and dangerously from Amity Street to Dean Street by means of an illegal left turn. He suggested that a green right-pointing arrow replace the green light on the traffic signal at the end of Amity Street that abuts Court Street. Mr. Levy has pursued various local government officials and is optimistic regarding the outcome.

The next board meeting will be on February 25th. With no other business to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned.

Attending: Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Steve Bruner, Treas., Matthew Pilkington, Sec., Steve Dembitzer, Rose Firestein, David Crofton, Jose Perez (to present Super’s report), and Elia Malara (Managing Agent).
I. Maintenance

There had been a few complaints about heat as it turned on for the season. The boiler is being turned up from 170º F to 180º F. A request was made to move a planter to the entrance of 134. Jose will rearrange the new plantings at 134 Boerum so that one planter would be nearer the door. The board is planning on additional planters and replacing the remaining wooden tubs next year as the budget allows.

The carpets on the first floor of 120 Boerum Pl., and in 134 Boerum Pl. will be shampooed soon.

An exterminator has been hired to visit on a monthly basis to set traps in common areas, for mice, which have been spotted in some of the buildings.

A company approached, asking if we would want to have cell phone transmitters on 120 Boerum Place rooftop. Safety aspects, positioning, and revenue were discussed. Since we have not received an official proposal, no decision was made.

II. Financials

A review of the Condo’s finances showed them to be in order. We have paid back the Line-Of-Credit loan that was used toward the recent renovations to the 2nd and 3rd floor hallways at 120 Boerum.

On January 1st there will be a 3 percent increase in common charges.

3. New Business

Strangers in the Building: Please do not allow any vendors/strangers in the building. If they are not visiting you, please do not allow them in, even if given a plausible excuse. Vendors have been found wandering the building knocking on doors, uninvited.

The next meeting will be on Nov. 19.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm

Attending: Peter Levy, Pres., Katharine Flanders Mukherji, V.P., Steve Bruner, Treas., David Crofton, Rose Firestein, Elia Malara, Managing Agent, Jose Perez, Superintendent (for maintenance report)

I. Maintenance

Repairs were completed on the brick wall of 134 Boerum Place that had been damaged by heavy rains early in the summer. The bricks were pointed and the interior walls have been re-plastered.

The broken door on the roof of 120 Boerum Place has been replaced.

The intercom system was repaired at 120 Boerum Place to fix a faulty wiring problem.

A new Boiler Service Agreement has been approved to ensure our service throughout this coming winter.

Skytrack will be employing a new pest control company starting in October. All common areas will be treated for mice and roaches. The name and contact information for the new pest control company will be provided to all owners as soon as possible. Please note, all unit owners will be responsible for coordinating and paying for the services done to individual units.

Similarly, all owners of the first floor units are responsible for having the check valves attached to their waste lines cleaned and serviced. Skytrack condominium is not responsible for this service.
II. Financials

The transition of financial records from the old managing agency to E. M. Holding Corporation has been completed. All financials are in line with the current Skytrack budget.

Owners are reminded to send their common charges checks to the new management at E.M. Holding Corp., 80 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY 11201.

III. Refurbishment

The 120 Boerum Pl. 2nd and 3rd floor improvements have been completed. A regular scheduled carpet cleaning for these new carpets as well as for all carpets in the Skytrack buildings has been established.

New planters have been installed at the entrance doors of 15 Bergen and 120 Boerum Place as well as along the Dean street side of the building.

IV. Other Business

Per the Department of Buildings regulations, all door mats must be removed from the hallways. They are considered a fire hazard, and must be removed as soon as possible.

Owners are reminded of the new website, www.skytrackcondo.com. Please sign up on the site in order to receive email notifications.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted by David Crofton for Matthew Pilkington, Secretary

A quorum was achieved (61.3% present & by proxy) and the meeting began at 8:00 pm. The board introduced themselves and the group voted to waive the reading of last year’s minutes.

The President’s Report: The first item of business was describing the change of managing agent from Peter Burgess, and introducing Elia Malara of E.M. Holding Corp., 80 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. Tel. (718) 625-4671.

The Financial Report: Mark Levitch, the condominium’s accountant, reviewed the financial records from 2007 and several major expenses, such as plumbing (due to all the repairs and check valve installments caused by sewer back-up) and some one-time expenses (paying Victoria Whitmore $34,214 in 9/2007). With the increase in Common Charges, we expect the 2008 budget to be in line with projected expenses, which have risen in recent years with the increase in fuel and other expenses. An update was provided regarding unit 3C and Common Charges owed. The Board indicated that it had a lien on her residence, which it updates periodically. Several owners expressed concerns over the state of the Unit (electricity turned off by Con Edison, litter, etc.) and the fact that someone is living there who claims that he is not paying rent, but has permission to occupy the apartment. The Board has no way of confirming this because Ms Whitmore is not contactable…even by her attorney.

Refurbishments: We reviewed the refurbishments undertaken, including the entryway on Dean Street, and soon-to-be-completed 2nd and 3rd floors of 120 Boerum Pl. The Board explained its decision to invest more in materials, such as heavy-duty, replaceable, carpet tiles, which cost more initially, but are expected to last longer. We reviewed the rationale for using a designer to have a more unified aesthetic, and for overseeing the work; her costs were reasonable and the budget was carefully reviewed by the Board. We have borrowed $15,000 against the line of credit for this work, having covered the rest of the costs from the operating budget.

The floor was opened for discussion to elicit views about investing in the remaining updates needed (primarily to the service hallways of 120, painting and carpeting 15 Bergen) through borrowing versus waiting to do these until we have more funding. A variety of opinions were expressed, and there was no consensus. Residents of 15 Bergen expressed the immediate need to have a solution to the garbage smell in their building, and this is a priority that is being addressed.

Matthew Pilkington also gave a gardening report, indicating that we have gotten a number of planters for 15 Bergen, 134 and 120 Boerum, which will be filled with evergreens and some annuals over the coming months.

Elections: Two Board member terms were expiring; Cynthia Steele’s, and that of David Crofton, who was appointed as a replacement for Mike Hansen when he left Skytrack. The Board accepted Cynthia Steele’s resignation after several terms of service, including the last as Secretary, and thanked her for her service.

In addition to David Crofton, two residents expressed interest in running for the two slots: Rose Firestein and Levi McConnell. Rose and David were elected, which means that the Board continues to have representation from all buildings. The Board encourages Levi to run in the future, or to get involved in other ways.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm.