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Dave has served on the board for eight years; one as a member, another as vice-president, and the final six as president.
In this capacity, Dave has been present at various community meetings and has diligently represented the interests of the Briar Lake in such venues as the hearings for Godshall Meats factory construction, and those involving the nearby Landmark apartments. His primary goal has been to try to ensure that nothing encroaches on or influences the Briar Lake property in an adverse way.
Other issues of oversight have included working with lawyers in the dispute over who owns Academy Drive (Briar Lake does), bidding on and monitoring the road paving, and upholding the Briar Lake covenants, including disputes between neighbors (which tends to be the “hardest of all”).
In helping to care for Briar Lake property, Dave had principal responsibility in the installation of new cabinets outside the kitchen. In this, and each of Briar Lake’s financial expenditures, he has tried to ensure that projects and responsible spending benefit the majority of the community.
Well done, Dave! Many thanks for your careful service!
Bob has been on the board for 14 years, serving as Treasurer ever since Landmark turned the development over to the board. “I have enjoyed working with other board members and being part of the decision-making process to keep Briar Lake the showcase community that it is,” he reported.
As treasurer, Bob’s accomplishments have supported and enhanced the financial viability of the community, including growing the capital reserve from $9600 to over $400,000; keeping the association fees low compared to other developments; and working with a financial advisor to produce income from CDs and mutual funds of nearly $88,000 for capital reserves.
The more routine and monthly tasks have kept the financial wheels spinning: correcting financial statements from the previous management company, reporting on the finances at monthly board meetings, managing to keep the dues at the current level through 2030, setting up various operating budgets and investments and spreadsheets, satisfying tax obligations, monitoring and approving expenditures, and providing financial information for the audit committee.
Knowing that this is a big job, Bob will work with the new treasurer to assure continuity of financial operations.
Well done, Bob! We appreciate your expertise!
Lynn has served as the board secretary for the past eight years, since 2015. She has particularly enjoyed interacting with Horst and the community—meeting personally with all the newcomers to Briar Lake. In addition to the hospitality, Lynn had made sure all new residents get the current handbook and the directories (listed alphabetically by name and by address).
She enjoys working with data and file management and has turned her attention to our official documents, which she has scanned and digitized into Dropbox for ease with file sharing. This includes all our documents: minutes of board and association meetings; the Declarations, Bylaws, Restrictions, and Amendments; and the original documents transferring from Landmark to Briar Lake. In helping to manage that data, Lynn worked through amending out the terms “leasing and rental” in a multi-level process that wove through a community vote, a presentation to the township, and finally to the County for filing as a part of our Deed.
The duties as Secretary have expanded as various needs arose. In added file and date management tasks, Lynn has traced and recorded the ownership of homes from the original to the present owners (“an interesting project”) kept up with birthday listings, noted emergency contacts, and fielded requests via the website to the board.
Lynn has not just handled requests from the website, but for many years was the major content creator, manager, webmaster, and trouble-shooter for the community’s main information arm—an heroic job!
Well done, Lynn! We are grateful for your wonderful attention to detail!
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE BOARD, YOUR APPLLICATION HAS TO BE SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 27.
The Executive Board of Briar Lake consists of five volunteers who are assisted by a property manager from the Horst Management Company.
Three of the five members will rotate off the Board later this year, so we are in much need of fresh input and involvement from you.
If you are interested in running for a board position, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire that indicates your interest and the gifts you would bring to the board. A letter will be sent to all unit owners with the information regarding your desire to run. At the next election in October, the new board members will be introduced at the annual meeting. This board relies on the experience and expertise of its residents do its work.
The current board members have provided information about what each of them does. (This has been edited for clarity, and doubtless some details are not included.)
PRIOR TO THE ELECTION, THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SENT AGAIN BY EMAIL. Both outgoing and remaining board members will be happy to help new members through their initial learning curve.
All the board members share responsibility in getting bids for work and in the discussion of Briar Lake business.
It would be helpful is the person becoming Treasurer has accounting or finance experience and have a full working knowledge of spreadsheets in order to effectively manage the Association's money.
The duties of the present Treasurer are:
The entire Board has the fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the Association's money is kept safe. Monies should be spent based on what was budgeted. The Treasurer has the responsibility to keep track of spending versus budget. Un-budgeted items should be spent only if they are of an emergency nature.
Time spent by the Treasurer is mostly at the beginning of each month when analyzing the statements and preparing the schedules.
To begin:
Board Minutes
Board & Maintenance Calendars
Home Owner Meetings
Directory
The Directory is in a M/S Word format. There is one in regular print and one in large print. There is also one by street address—this is especially helpful for newcomers. This file needs updating when a home is sold.
The date any changes are made is automatic at the top of the file. Once a change is made, destroy the old directory under the old date.
Also update the Contacts in briarlake815@gmail.com; label as residents, lady’s luncheon, etc. If you want another category, you can set it up. If you are unable to do this, ask the website editors to do it.
The Directory goes to Drop Box month when analyzing the statements and preparing the schedules.
The board meets monthly; meetings are generally about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Board members are assigned to a specific area of need, such as maintenance of the grounds, the clubhouse, snow removal or the lake, and they will do the research and connection with bids for work that may need to be done. But the entire board has the responsibility for these things and they work cooperatively to get it done.
It is advisable for anyone running for office to read the documents that are given at the time one closes on their home. They are the Declarations, Bylaws, Restrictions. Also helpful to have full knowledge, would be to read all the minutes.
Anyone who would like this information can request it from the website or from Lynn Welge (current secretary). Each position has different needs at different times of the month.
NOTE: The Briar Lake bylaws (Article IV) permit the Board to add an assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, or "other" in order to facilitate and fulfill their duties. Those added persons would not be board members, but would report to the person they assist. The current openings on the Board are for the core officers only. The Board had advertised earlier in the year for an assistant treasurer; but no plan, provision, or decision has been made to recruit an assistant secretary.
Horst is a resource. They provide sources for obtaining bids, print the checks, and provide the financials. They deal with the board, not the individual homeowner with the exception of street lighting problems. The treasurer deals with our property manager with regard to the financial side; the secretary for other issues.
FLYING LOBSTER TAILS & OTHER INSECTS
The 2 butterflies were trying to mate, but I couldn't get a clear picture of the act.
So "close" will have to do. (8/14/23)
Just a reminder, that Saturday, September 16 is our community yard sale for anyone interested. I will advertise it in the Merchandiser for the Lebanon and Myerstown area, but feel free to advertise anywhere else or put out signs. I’m advertising a start time of either 6 am or 7 am and you can close down whatever works best for you. Hope you all do well.
Please contact Lori Miller with any questions.
Fall Pet Portrait Day
Event by Jordan Leigh Photography and Brandts Mill
September 23, 2023
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brandts Mill
630 N 9th Street
Lebanon, PA
Come Join us for Fall Pet Portraits at Brandt's Mill!
No appointment Needed!
$33 For a 5x7 Print, $43 for a High resolution digital image,
and $60 for both!
Fall Barn Sale
Event by Carriage House Style
Friday, September 29, 2023
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
689 Whitman Road
Lebanon, PA
Shop our 150 year old family barn where you will find a little something for everyone created by over 40 curated local makers - vintage and reimagined home decor, hand-painted furniture, handmade jewelry, homemade baked goods, vintage clothes, hand-poured soy candles and artisanal gifts.
Looking for a custom piece of furniture? Check our the "pick and paint" area. Pick a piece, pick a color and The Farm Chix will paint it!
Thank you to The Farm Chix for hosting this event for the 3rd year and to Wander Awhile Style for making it beautiful!
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