Tree trimming next week

Reston Tree will be in the neighborhood from Tuesday 10/4 through Friday 10/7 doing routine trimming in common areas. Trees to be trimmed were recommended by an arborist and approved by the cluster board. If you would like additional trimming done at your own expense, please contact Reston Tree at restontreeexperts@yahoo.com to arrange. Please note we are not permitted to remove any trees without prior approval by Reston Association, but maintenance trimming is ok.

May board meeting minutes

OAK SPRING CLUSTER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors Meeting

CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM on 18 May 2016.
Following Board members were present:
Keith Whitney (President)
Linda Stevens (Secretary)
Dave Marik (Treasurer)
Michael Millett

Kathy Gately represented Capitol Property Management.

Homeowner in attendance: Lynda McInnis

VERIFICATION OF QUORUM
Quorum verified

MEMBERSHIP FORUM
N/A

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING
The Board reviewed/approved minutes from a Board of Directors meeting held on 17 March 2016.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Kathy Gately provided Board members with an explanation and generally favorable assessment of the 30 April 2016 financial statements.

OLD BUSINESS
Board members discussed the status of 1) pole lights in the Cluster and the fact that several residents used unusually bright (white) bulbs; and 2) Cluster participation in Neighborhood Watch. No action was taken on either issue.

NEW BUSINESS
(Updating Color Palette for Decks)
Reston Association (RA) asked the Board to consider whether Cluster standards should be updated to include a solid stain to allow homeowners to bring their decks into conformance without having to strip the old wood and re-apply a semi-transparent stain. RA provided the application form to be used for an update should the Board decide to request a change.

The Board agreed to an update and approved the addition of a solid stain cedar color to Cluster standards, which already included natural, clear sealant, semi-transparent, and GeoDeck cedar. Kathy Gately will provide RA with a completed application form.

(Visitor Parking Complaint)
A Cluster resident contacted Kathy Gately to report parking violations in a visitor parking area near the center of the Cluster, i.e., residents, rather than visitors, were using visitor parking spaces. Keith Whitney volunteered to monitor/assess vehicular activity in that particular visitor parking area to determine whether vehicles are being left in visitor parking for extended periods of time or/and if residents are using visitor parking spaces on a regular basis. He will report his findings to Kathy Gately, who will arrange to have a towing company put warning tags on illegally-parking vehicles for one week before towing.

(Change in Legal Representation)
Kathy Gately volunteered to follow through on the Board’s interest in a change of legal representation by contacting another legal firm.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board was in Executive Session from 8:04 PM to 8:10 PM.

OPEN SESSION
Board members agreed that a second account discussed during Executive Session will be sent to the Cluster’s attorney.

ADJOURNMENT
The Board of Directors meeting was adjourned at 8:21 PM. The next Board of Directors meeting is tentatively scheduled for 21 July 2016.

Snake safety and awareness

Saw a rat snake in the street at the entrance to our neighborhood while driving home recently. At four feet long or so it was pretty intimidating but harmless.

The only poisonous snakes around here are copperheads, but like most snakes they are very timid and will try to get away.

We do have occasional sightings nearby so please see the following regarding snake safety and awareness:

Seasonal Snake Safety & Awareness Info