Meeting called to order at 7:36 p.m.

Board members present: Steve Bentley, Maggie Gifford, Samuel Harris, Wanda Harich, and Mel Karlinsky

Motion to approve the Minutes of February 13 and March 14, 2001 passes unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Wanda Harich):

• Wanda will report on various things throughout the meeting

TREASURER’S REPORT (Mel Karlinsky):

• As of March 27, arrears were $2,081. 09. The next dues are not past due until May 1.
• Due to time constraints, Mel would like help looking into options to move money into a CD or a secured Money Market account. We have $132,732.45. We can only assure $100, 000 by FDIC so we need to move approximately $35,000. We already have $51,568.00 at Chevy Chase in a 12-month CD and $51,698.00 at Potomac Valley in a 90-day CD. We are looking for good rates, moderate amount of time. We have talked about doing this for several months and with additional dues coming in, it is important to do it now.
• We have paid the pool and landscaping start up fees and down payment on the playgrounds already.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Casey farm Property – Linda Gore
  Linda wants to ask if Bennington would like to publicize information about the development and encourage residents to be involved if they desire. If they would like to she would be happy to assist the Board in informing the Community. She wondered if this was the Association’s role to take a stand. She went to the Planning Association meeting, she read the materials given out and looked at Highway plans. There are concerns and positives about this plan. Her stand is that each party – developers, City, and neighboring communities- has an interest. She believes that we need to have input as people who will be living nearby this. Wanda said it is difficult for the Board to take a stand because they represent the Community as a whole and the Community does not have a united opinion. The developer, Pete Henry, has already met with the Board. Bennington will try to take part in Pheasant Run’s meeting and, if not, will set up our own meeting with the developer. People are concerned about Traffic, Schools, and Environment.

  May 2 is the Planning Commission meeting for this property to make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council. Traffic – the developer quoted some traffic impact numbers and changes in the intersection at Clopper and Quince Orchard will be made by the state and the developer. There are 3 phases to this project. Phase 2 and phase 3 will not be done unless the Watkins Mill exit actually occurs. One piece of land, owned by McGowan may never be purchased because the owner does not necessarily want to sell. As far as school, the students could go to Brown Station or Thurgood Marshall. Brown Station’s principal said she believes all the students will go to Brown Station. The City says there is plenty of capacity at Brown Station, but with all day kindergarten and the recent lower student to teacher ratios approval, this may not be the case. North Western High School is already being expanded and Quince Orchard has several portables. Environmentally, Phase 2 and 3 entail taking everything out of the McGowan property. Most of the units will be single family, but there are some condominiums and senior housing planned. City wants to make as much tax revenue as possible because this is the last track of available land left. This plan has some pros compared with others that have been presented in recent years (train turn around, apartments). The land will be developed. Bennington’s goal should be to make sure we are getting the best possible development on that property. This development would start with 465 units (365 single family and 100 condos) and expand up to 1000+ dwelling units. The City is not responsible for the schools, Montgomery County is. However, residents should ask the City to consider school impact. Linda Gore will head up scheduling a meeting and printing a flyer up for the neighborhood. Development process - MXD Zones - The Council and the Planning Commission must have a preview before a SDP (Site Development Plan) is done. Linda has a tape of the last meeting. Jennifer Russell heads up the planning commission and Eric Soter is the planner in charge of this particular project. In regard to trees, the City has a regulation that for every tree cut down, a certain number of other trees must be planted and often Bennington gets these trees from reserve.

• Bulk Pick-up sign proposal. Bulk pick-up was a problem this time with residents putting bulk items out early. Several of these residents were turned into the city by neighbors and fined $100. The Administrator proposes placing signs in designated bulk pick-up areas with dates and possibly other general information about pick-up. Patricia will try to obtain recycling and Bulk pick-up booklets for the entire community. If not, we will develop a flyer for the community explaining key information. To be distributed closer to bulk pick-up.
• Maggie Gifford would like Bennington to sponsor the Brown Station Cub Scout group because the schools will no longer be supporting them. The group already meets at the Clubhouses and many of the participants live in Bennington. Currently, the Isaac Walton League is sponsoring the group. If Bennington agrees to sponsor, the group will decide which sponsor to go with. Bennington would be responsible to provide a space (already doing) and appoint a rep (currently Kim Mott from Bennington). No cost involved. Bennington would be covered by Boy Scouts liability insurance. MOTION to sponsor Cub Scouts is made, seconded, and passed.
• Residents from Honey Brook Circle requested trees behind their houses between their homes and the office buildings. Trees are usually planted in the fall. The City will supply the trees if Bennington plants them. We need to know what type of trees the residents want and where they want them. The Board asked these residents to put the plan in writing.
• David Lorms asked why the trees have not been planted behind Goodport Court. The Administrator will call Trudy Schwartz.

OLD BUSINESS:

• ARC
  • Jan 1: Three houses have not completed the work that the Board assigned to be complete by January 1. One of these owners has talked to the Board and has estimates out but the repairs have not been completed. The Administrator will ask Fred Depp if he can complete the repairs.
  • April 15 houses: The Administrator will check these houses just prior to the next Board meeting.
• Playgrounds - Deposit paid. The equipment will take 4-6 weeks to build and will be put in early May
• Basketball Courts - new quotes are being obtained. Work needs to be completed by June 30th to receive the $5000 from the City toward the repair.
• Neighborhood Watch – should the Board look into another chairperson for the Neighborhood Watch committee since the current chairpersons have not worked on this? Give them a deadline and ask for results by then, if not, appoint new chairperson.
• Absentee Owners Delegation of Rights Form. Administrator will send these to absentee owners with a cover letter asking them to fill this out and updated whenever changes occur.
• Parking on Longdraft Road. Administrator will follow up with the City to see if we can obtain special permission to park on Longdraft where there is no cut out (Waiver of Permission).
• Neighborhood Watch- clubhouse inspection will be done by video.
• Goodport Court pathway- we will wait until the residents come to us with a plan.
• Stone and Brick walls – Great Falls will do if Samuel is unable to get an estimate. Oak Shade and Ramsdell brick walls will be replaced entirely. Goodport Lane repaired on corner. Stones wall on Goodport Lane repaired. Wall between Honey Brook and Goodport Court repaired. Price seems high, but no other company has responded to us despite repeated efforts. MOTION made to have Great Falls Stone do the walls, approved pending Samuel’s response.
• Sidewalks/Field drain – Mel will be getting estimates.
• Star Power – will be beginning soon.
• Digital Camera- Gerry investigated the camera and found that it was more expensive than originally anticipated. Cost would be $345. A less expensive camera would have decreased quality. Camera would be used for website, swim team, ARC violations, parking violations. We could use a regular camera and have the prints saved on disk for approximately $10. Digital Cameras would use floppy disks and would not need development, which would save time. MOTION made to purchase a digital camera for $345 plus shipping, seconded and passed. Gerry Bouffard will purchase.
• Handicapped Space wording. The Board asked ARC to create wording for handicapped parking with policy. This stemmed from a case where a resident did not want the handicapped sign in his front yard, as is Bennington’s current policy. Board decided to table this until further notice.
• Administrator will flyer the community about animal control issues.