The meeting was conducted via videoconference
Board Members Present: Matthew Pilkington, Interim President and Treasurer; Katharine Flanders Mukherji, Vice President and Acting Secretary; Peter Levy; Audrey Weinberger; Michael Tedesco; Rose Firestein; Terra Chalberg
Also in attendance: Kathleen Malara, E.M Holding Corp.; Valdet Boleviq, Superintendent; Mark Levitch, CPA
Preliminary Matters:
The meeting was called to order at 8:07 by Matthew while Kathleen tallied percent ownership present, but a couple of points before a quorum had been reached. All Board members introduced themselves, with name, building and floor, and solicited owners to fill the two slots vacated by one member who had sold his apartment (Andrew) and another who was opting to step down (Cameron).
There was a vote on a duly made motion to waive reading of last year’s minutes.
Matthew provided the usual introduction about not bringing individual unit problems to the meeting but connecting subsequently with management or super, and saving questions for the end of each presentation. There is always a place for new business to be brought up at the end.
Financials: (Accountant Report)
Mark Levich presented the Annual Financial Statement. The hard copies were apparently lost or delayed in the mail, so the report was shared on screen. At the end of last month our cash reserves were down by $150,000 and we had used all liquid funds. The common charge remains unchanged, and the Board had decided not to use our line of credit, which would incur interest, but an assessment of $100,000 takes effect July first. Our accounts payable are up by $25,000, professional fees were up considerably, mostly for engineer fees, insurance fees have skyrocketed 24%, as in most of the US, repairs and maintenance are up (including painting, plastering, and roofing for necessary and urgent repairs. Capital expenditures were also up.
(continued)
Management Report:
The costs have been due to sprinkler, roof, garage, sewer system, facades, and building lobbies, stairs, and hallways. The latter complete a cycle for 120 Boerum, 122 Boerum, 134 Boerum, Garage, and 15 Bergen renovations that took six years because they were concurrent with troubleshooting emergencies connected with roof, leaks, other water issues, common area damages and generally rising costs.
At 8:44 p.m. a quorum of 55.30% was reached
President’s Report
Matthew explained that Miranda Magagnini, volunteering and deputized by the Board, had discovered that our Certiori law firm had been misrepresenting the property, possibly for years, as having an elevator and being a single building comparable to the new condos in the neighborhood. Setting the firm straight about the component parts and lack of elevator in the Skytrack complex, she prepared them for a meeting with the city authorities armed with that information and with photos. We are hopeful that this will yield a lower tax burden for all owners. The Condo thanks Miranda for this enormous service. Matthew also thanked Rose and Val for their gardening work around the premises. The ownership was informed that only bagged garbage should be put into the chutes. Items such as boards, metal bed frames and other long or bulky debris become lodged, rendering the shat inoperable, and their removal is both complex and dangerous. Please contact Val for help with the disposal of oversized items.
New Business
Miranda raised the issue of bringing electricity from the Con Edison street mains directly into each garage unit. At present, the line runs in from 134 Boerum Place and feeds the lighting and the doors. She also requested a regular schedule of maintenance such as steam cleaning the common area carpeting and washing or painting the hallway walls. She asserted that the first floor of 120 had been painted more often than the second and that the latter needs a new paint job. After nearly a decade, all four residential buildings, including roof railings, sidewalk fences, fire escape, and the garage have successively been painted, had stairwells painted and common area flooring repaired or replaced, and total roof replacements. When we embark on a similar sequence it will be necessary to do painting for all, as expected. She further suggested a community- building social event such as a cocktail party, which she offered to host The Board agreed to take her suggestions under advisement.
Voting for Board Members
Matthew and Michael agreed to run again. Anne Gilbert and Long Vu also agreed to run. After all four had been nominated, Kathleen Malara offered a secret ballot to anyone who objected to electing the slate by show of hands. Since no objections were made, the vote by show of hands was held. Without objection the vote was held and carried. Michael, Matthew, Anne and Long were elected to the nine member Skytrack Board of Managers.
Adjournment:
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m., following a duly made motion.