GTIA Board Minutes

Minutes of the Green Trails Improvement Association
Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday August 11, 2009

President, Peter Bakas called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Lisle Village Hall.   Board members present: Peter Bakas, Pat Coughlin-Schillo, Marisa DeAngelis, Rodd Elges, Gerry Jackson, Terri Kolman, Julie LaFond, Les Lavin, Christy McGovern, Michael Olson.  Board members excused: Don Helgeson, Roxanne Nagel.  Board member absent:  Rob Getz, Linda Gilbert, Marg Hough.  Management: Joanne Broda.  Paula Gleason was Recording Secretary.  A quorum was present.

Open Forum
None.

Minutes of the Prior Meeting: 

Minutes of the July meeting were reviewed.

Board Motion:  Julie LaFond moved to approve the July minutes, Terri Kolman seconded.  The motion was passed by unanimous voice vote.

Treasurer's Report

In Don Helgeson’s absence, Peter Bakas reviewed the July Balance Sheet and Income and Expense Statement.  Management will research the best interest rate available to rollover the reserve fund CD coming due this month.

Board Motion:  Marisa DeAngelis motioned to accept the revised check register expenditures of $41,413.46 for August, Rodd Elges seconded. The motion was passed by unanimous voice vote.

Management Report

Telephone log line items were reviewed.

Management noted receipt of three partial payments and two payments in full for delinquent assessments.  Discussion ensued regarding the GTIA $20 Admin Fee on delinquent assessments in relation to an interest-bearing late fee.

Management reported on comments received about plantings at the west sign accent area at Green Trails Drive and Naper; no further work is currently scheduled for this area.

Management stated that seal coating and crack filling are complete.  The overlay project was started and then put on hold due to equipment failure; project will continue once the problem is corrected.  Concrete replacement started on August 10th.

Management noted that the persistent drainage problem at WV1068 and adjoining lots 69, 72 and 73 is now being addressed by the Village of Lisle.  As to the drainage problem in the common area behind Wildwood Court, the Board requested Management to obtain a Gregg Moore proposal on the quantity of dirt required to facilitate filling in the low areas and seeding.

Management and Gregg Moore inspected the Gazebo area and agreed that the out-of-control plant material should be removed.  The Board requested Management to obtain a Gregg Moore proposal for this work and replacement plants for September and additional plants for the spring.

Management distributed two Schwarz Nursery proposals for transplanting pines from the grove and for purchasing/planting evergreens.  Transplanting of 40 evergreens to include root balling, amendment of soil, tree ring, removal of excess soil and turf, would be $3,000 and watering of the transplants at $240.  Purchase and installation of  6-foot evergreens would be $350 each to include 2-year guarantee, soil amendment with peat moss, fertilizer, sulfur and mulch and the trees will be watered if they are planted at the same time as the transplant work is done.  Prices are the same or slightly less than last year.  The consensus of the Board was to proceed with both proposals, with work to commence in September.  The evergreen purchase will include 8 Douglas Fir, 8 Colorado Spruce and 9 Fat Albert Spruce.

Management recently received at least three complaints regarding Park District vendor dump trucks driving on GTIA trails and causing landscape damage. These complaints are now being addressed and corrected by the Park District.

Management noted that there was one new sale in July for the College Green apartment-condo conversion.

Management reported that there were no new sales in July in the Torrey Pines conversion.

Management provided a list of July 2009 newcomers.  Board Directors are encouraged to call on newcomers in their respective areas.   

Finance Committee

In Don Helgeson’s absence, Joe Broda presented the proposed 2010 Budget for review.  Line items were discussed in detail along with ongoing contracts for audit, lawn maintenance and landscape maintenance.  The Finance Committee will make some minor adjustments to the proposed 2010 budget and present those revisions at the next Board meeting.

Maintenance Committee

Les Lavin reported that the Maintenance and Finance Committees met on July 27^th to discuss 2009/2010 maintenance projects and initiate a proposed 2010 budget.  The committee discussed the drainage issues raised at last month’s Board meeting and made recommendations to Management as noted above.  Issue as to whether the second fertilization should be full or partial was resolved; it will be a full fertilization.  Recommendation was made to transplant 40 trees from the pine grove and purchase a quantity of new 6-foot evergreens, as noted above. Samples of brown ends from several pines along College Road were submitted to the Morton Arboretum for analysis and the conclusion was to leave the trees alone, or maybe trim them slightly next week.  Volunteers will meet on Saturday, August 15^th at 9 AM by the Fire Station at College and Green Trails to assess where transplants and new trees should be planted.  

Communications Committee

No report.

Parks Committee

PatCoughlin-Schillo collected the completed park evaluation forms and requested that any outstanding forms be completed and returned to her, with a copy to Management, as soon as possible.  Linda Gilbert is scheduled to attend the August 20th Park District Board meeting.

Nominating Committee

In Rob Getz’ absence, Joe Broda requested that the five board members, whose position will be coming available for the next election, submit a brief bio for publication in the Pathfinder if they intend to run again.

Old Business - New Business

Don Helgeson noted that a discussion by Pace to institute a service for transporting customers to the train station from the St Margaret Mary Church parking lot has been abolished.

Board Member Area Reports

Area H – Pat Coughlin-Schillo reported that in some areas where the concrete trail edge abuts with the grass, bike tires are easily caught in the ridge that forms between the concrete and the grass.

Adjournment

Board Motion: There being no further business, Julie LaFond motioned to adjourn the meeting, Gerry Jackson seconded.  The motion was passed by a unanimous voice vote; the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_____________________________

Paula Gleason, Recording Secretary
Signature on File

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