Bremer Way Homeowners Gathering - June 27, 2024: Highlights

On June 27, 2024, at 7 PM, the Bremer Way homeowners gathered for a meeting led by Duane, who greeted everyone with enthusiasm and expressed his delight at the strong resident turnout. Duane proposed increasing the frequency of these gatherings to twice a month, or as often as residents desire.

Duane emphasized the importance of adhering to gathering protocols, respecting all opinions, and avoiding finger-pointing. He reminded everyone that as neighbors, we should maintain a supportive and collaborative environment. He clarified that while Board members might attend these gatherings, they do so as residents and not in their official capacity. They are not obligated to answer questions related to Board business during these meetings. Residents were encouraged to contribute to future agendas, define our mission, and establish our goals. These gatherings aim to compile feedback that can be presented to the Board of Directors. Duane provided an overview of the June 17 meeting and addressed several homeowner questions:

• July HOA Payments: Payments should be directed to MGM.
• Bylaws and Meeting Minutes: Questions about the requirement to publish Board meeting minutes were raised, suggesting the need for greater transparency.
• Office Accessibility: Concerns about the seclusion of the office from some residents were acknowledged and noted for Board consideration.

Key Topics and Resident Concerns

Duane reiterated the importance of the collaboration between Homeowners, Management, and the Board, emphasizing T-I-P: Transparency, Information (two-way), and Predictability.

AM vs. PM meetings were brought up again and explained. The management contract called for 12 on-site meeting visits, broken up into 6 pre-planned Board meetings, leaving 6 for special meetings that could be split between AM and PM to accommodate personal schedules.

Questions arose about why MGM would no longer be the management company. Residents were advised to ask MGM directly at the upcoming July 9 meeting to avoid speculation.

The idea of forming a coalition to compile resident concerns and present them to the Board was supported, highlighting the need for organized and formal communication.

Sharper Management Mission Statement:

Comments from Sharper Management’s Mission Statement were shared. Residents felt that the goals were unclear and suggested that Sharper Management should provide a detailed explanation.

A question was raised about whether Sharper Management’s offered legal assistance could replace the current, costly legal services Bremer Way uses.

Many homeowners expressed concern over HOA dues increases that were very high and seemingly unannounced. Another homeowner expressed concern about information they had been told, suggesting that residents were "basically subsidizing" other residents. This issue was cleared up when the group was informed that the arrears were limited to a very small number of units, with the bulk attributed to one unit. Editor's Note: A unit in pending litigation represents approximately ninety thousand dollars, the bulk of which is legal fees, on our collections ledger, leaving approximately twenty thousand dollars in unpaid HOA dues - an all-time low!

Residents expressed confidence in the new president, appreciating her commitment to representing the community's interests. It was suggested that residents gather before Board meetings to organize and formally present their concerns to the Board in actionable format. Duane proposed an agenda for future gatherings but time constraints prevented covering all items. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the Board member's vision for the community, which residents felt should be addressed in the next meeting.

Duane closed the meeting, thanking all attendees for their participation and engagement.