ACM July 12, 2023 minutes

Topics: Chicken Club, handling verbal attacks without escalating, improving security in response to storage break-ins

Proposal:  Chicken Club indefinite renewal

Decision:  The Chicken Club will be allowed to use part of the north field, without asking for a renewal each year, until the community decides otherwise.

Present: Eliza (fac), Kay (notes), Lila, Gheybin & Jordan (new owners #24), Vinnie, Kerry, Linda, Joe, Jorge, Robin, Ben, Victor, Mary; Laraine 1st hour.

Wednesday July 12, 2023, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Chicken Club Proposal

Chicken Club would like to have on-going permission to use the space in the north field for chickens without requiring a renewed proposal each year.

Background: This is a revision of the proposal discussed several weeks ago. Chicken Club and North Garden did a joint proposal for a couple of years.  North Garden has become The Farmette Committee.

How do we avoid a repeat of the problems a couple of years ago when the chickens were getting loose?  The club clips the chicken's wings, is more vigilant about keeping the gate closed etc.

How are the chickens taken care of? Each club member has several days a week in which they feed, water, and gather eggs.  The club has never had more than seven members, but would adjust its schedule if that happened.

How does the club pay for feed?  The members take turns buying feed.

Can Management end this use if necessary? Concern about this allowing use in perpetuity.  Any use of community property is subject to change, by a new proposal, when the community consents to it.  The community decides about proposals, including for usage, not Management.

Joe's concern would be relieved by a line being added, "subject to the standard rule for use of community space, that the community can change the usage by  consensus."  Yes.  Amend.

Call for consensus, proposal as amended.  Approved, with Mary standing aside.

Conflict Resolution: Handling Attacks

Instead of resisting, go with the person. React with curiosity. 

Role play: one person says something abrasive; the second has options to be abrasive back, be dismissive, or seek to understand and connect.

Break

Safety & Security

We've had a rash of break-ins to storage units recently.  People have changed the locks, and the thieves sawed through the deadbolt. Now people are putting on latch guards. Backing the vehicle up close to the door makes it hard to open.

Camera that was on c.h. years ago was stolen. 

Vinnie's research:  One step is not a deterrent.  Three or four steps become a deterrent.  Cameras, lights, towing sign, neighborhood watch or "you are being recorded" signs.  An important one step is activity; for instance, a group of several people walking around at 9:00 p.m., talking.  Dogs in the home are a deterrent for that home.  Have the police pull into the parking lot and sit to fill out their reports. Door sensors.

Cameras may be more a psychological than practical deterrent -- the police weren't interested in getting the video when Kay's white truck was stolen.

Our path and parking lots are not well lit.  Each unit has a fairly bright light on the front; if more turned them on at night, that would improve path lighting. OTOH when reflected off snow it can be too much light for good sleep.

Some young ladies in a car may have been casing the place when Jorge had his storage unit open, then a few days later the storage was robbed.  Jorge got a small alarm to put on his storage, with fobs that he and Robin carry to alarm/disarm it.

It's important to make a police report when something happens, to keep the police aware of trouble spots. When they do recover stolen items, an identifiable item having been reported stolen can help prosecution.

Utah allows you to have a picture of your car registration on your phone rather than in your glovebox with your address on.

Committee Reports

Common House. Trying to figure out how to collect donations for the rooms; does someone know how to do Venmo?  Management would have to be involved because it would be paying into the community checking. Need more members. Meet second Tuesday of month.  Request:  Can we get policies posted in the guest rooms and in the kitchen?  Please remember to leave the common house locked even during the day if no one is inside.  Would it help make it happen to have a log that the person on lock-up initials with a time each night?

Landscaping. We need a new convener for the committee. If no one steps up, Maintenance will work on it.

Maintenance.  There will be invites for work parties. If you don't feel able to do the labor, moral support, cheerleading, and refreshments are also appreciated.  We're should be getting bids tomorrow for sprinkler work.  Jorge will email a status update.

Trim warrantee work was done today; Vinnie will send an update.

Tree in front of #17 is causing visible structural damage to the porch.  Bids coming tomorrow.

Announcements

Conflict role play tonight comes from an OSHER course that Linda teaches, "Imaginative Conflict".  Normally $99; Linda will use her pay for scholarships to help people take the course.

Request to get fire pit usable for fall.

July 23 barbecue.  Will have griddle, smoker, and grill, and dietary labels to put on dishes.

Think about:  How do seasonal changes affect community involvement, and what can we do to make it more consistent?