Letter From the President - Jan. 2003

Dear Neighbors,

In the past I have used this forum to announce events, recognize contributions, entertain and hopefully inspire. Although your DTCA Board has been busy planning exciting Spring, Summer and Fall events (in addition to the business part of our positions!), I’d like to use this forum this time to address an important topic. Sorry if it is not exciting! Be sure to read about all of our plans in the rest of the newsletter and mark you calendar today.

At the General Membership meeting in September of 2002 a discussion and a non-binding vote was taken concerning amending the by-laws. The intent of that Board was to further define the term “member.” Currently our by-laws simply state that each member (1 per household) receives the right to vote at General Membership Meetings if they have paid their dues and live in Delaware Trails.

When our by-laws were adopted in the 1950’s all of the residents in Delaware Trails were the homeowners. Concern has surfaced in recent years that the number of DTCA residents who rent and do not own their home has increased. Currently that number is approximately 19 homes or 10% and growing yearly.

Therefore, the 2001-2002 Board wanted to add the requirement that a member was a homeowner who lived in the home. The proposed change was based on the fact that homeowners who live in their homes have a greater financial interest in the neighborhood than a renter of a home.

If this amendment was added, votes on the election of board members, dues amounts and amending the by-laws could only be counted if the member: 1.) was current with their dues, 2.) lived in Delaware Trails, and 3.) owned the home in which they resided.

The intent was not to exclude residents who rent their home. They will always be included in every benefit DTCA offers: neighborhood get-togethers, crime watch, snow removal, dumpster days, garage sales, communications, neighborhood beautification projects, etc. The intent was to give residents with the greatest financial interest in the neighborhood - homeowners who live in their homes - the voting rights to elect the board of directors who direct the finances of the association.

Your 2002-2003 DTCA Board of Directors have decided not to schedule a vote on this matter at our March 11, 2003 General Membership Meeting. Instead we have decided to implement a “best practices” guidelines to follow at General Membership Meetings. The following are those guidelines:

1. Upon entering the meeting, residents who have paid the current year’s dues will be issued a certificate signed and dated by the Vice-President.
2. Only one certificate will be issued for each address in Delaware Trails.
3. The decision on issuing certificates will be based on the Treasure’s list of dues paid during that fiscal year, cross-referenced with the Communications Director current mailing list.
4. If dues have not been paid, the Treasurer may accept payment and issue the certificate at that time.
5. Attendance at meeting is open to any resident of Delaware Trails regardless of issuance of certificate.
6. Floor votes, motions and/or nominations will only be recognized and/or counted by members raising their certificate.
7. If a ballot vote is expected, the certificate will have a ballot attached and it must accompany the ballot at the time of collection to be valid.