Galaxy Towers Condominium Association
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Of the Board of Directors
May 8, 2003
Directors in Attendance: Absent:
President: Martha Norget
Vice Pres.: Chad Gulrajaney
Secretary: Harlin Blank
Treasurer: Allan Ellinger
Directors
Michael Baruch
Mirna Benitez (arrived 7:46)
Bob Johnston
Joel Price
Jim Stumpf
Also Present:
Susan Fitzpatrick, General Manager
Robert Buckalew, Esq. General Counsel
A meeting of the Board of Directors was held on May 8, 2003 in accordance with the By-laws of the Association. The following business was conducted as indicated:
Call to Order
Open Session 9:35pm:
Mrs. Norget introduced the meeting, and delineated the changes to the agenda.
Resolution 03-05-91
Mr. Ellinger motioned and Mr. Gulrajaney seconded the motion to adopt the minutes as written. Mrs. Norget asked for discussion of the motion. Dr. Baruch inquired of Mr. Buckalew how he could change a vote made in a prior meeting. Mr. Buckalew stated that he was not aware of any means to change a vote that was made in a prior meeting. On the motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted to adopt the minutes of the meeting held on April 24, 2003.
(Benitez, Blank, Ellinger, Gulrajaney, Norget, Price, Stumpf, for; Baruch, against).
The Green Party request for Club Status
Resolution 03-05-92
Mrs. Norget stated that she received a memo from the Recreational Activities Committee setting forth a new Club, the Green Party Club. She explained that the Green Party is a political party whose platform is primarily environmental. Mrs. Norget expressed concern
regarding the apparent trend towards religion and politics that seems to be materializing in the GTCA club/committee structure. Mr. Price voiced agreement, and added that Guttenberg Municipal candidates should be supported by the Galaxy, and that divisiveness should not be tolerated.
On a motion made by Michael Baruch and seconded by Mirna Benitez, the Board voted to sanction the Green Party Club.
(Baruch, Benitez, Blank, Gulrajaney,for; Norget, Price, Stumpf, against; Ellinger, abstained)
Mrs. Norget read a memo from the Recreational Activities Committee Chairpersons that stated that the Friends Network had elected Ms. Pooja Dhawan as the Manager. Mrs. Norget called for a motion to elect Ms. Dhawan as the Manager of the Friends Network. No motion was made. The issue was discontinued.
Resolution 03-05-93
Mrs. Norget read aloud the portion of the letter from the Recreational Activities Chairpersons that set forth the results of the election of the Co-Managers of the Creative Eye Committee. On a motion made by Michael Baruch and seconded by Mirna Benitez, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to elect Rosemary Saurer and Ed Papazian as the Co-Managers of the Creative Eye Club.
Citing his dissatisfaction with behavior exhibited by Mr. Blake, Dr. Baruch made a motion to remove Bond Blake as a Co-Chairperson of the Recreational Activities Committee. Mr. Ellinger seconded the motion. Discussion ensued during which Dr. Baruch and Mr. Ellinger cited examples of Mr. Blake’s purportedly uncooperative behavior, narrow mindedness and imposition of personal views on Committee business. Mrs. Norget expressed her opinion by recommending that a letter be sent to Mr. Blake advising him that his behavior is inappropriate, but giving him
the chance to change the manner in which he carries out his duties, including the cessation of overstepping of bounds and the exceeding of authority. Mr. Blank queried Ms. Norget regarding the substance of a meeting that she had with Bond, in accordance with a prior Board directive to meet with Mr. Blake and ask for his resignation.
Mrs. Norget reported that among the several issues discussed, Mr. Blake had evidently refused to resign as the issue was still before the Board. She stated that Mr. Blake did not recognize that he
had done anything wrong, and had indicated to Mrs. Norget that he believed that he had been carrying out the directives of the Board to the fullest.
The vote was called by the President. The vote was tied, so no action on the motion would be taken.
(Baruch, Blank, Ellinger, Stumpf, for (removal); Benitez, Gulrajaney, Norget, Price, against (removal))
Mr. Price made a motion to send a letter to Mr. Blake on behalf of the Board, advising him that the Board does not condone his recent actions. Mr. Gulrajaney seconded the motion. The vote was called, and again, tied. No action will continue on the motion.
(Benitez, Gulrajaney, Norget, Price, for (letter) Baruch, Blank, Ellinger, Stumpf, against (letter))
Resolution 03-05-93
At the request of the Chairperson of the Seniors and Retirees Committee and on a motion made by Chad Gulrajaney and seconded by Allan Ellinger, the Board voted unanimously to amend Resolution #26 by changing the name of the committee from “The Seniors and Retirees Committee” to “The Seniors Committee.”
Resolution 03-05-94
Mrs. Fitzpatrick explained that the issue had previously come before the Board for discussion purposes, when it became evident that GTCA security employees had been locking and unlocking the mall for the mall owners. She stated that she had stopped the practice due to concerns about liability, but had since realized that it is beneficial to the GTCA to have the security personnel lock/unlock the mall. She further explained that she did not feel that the prior lock/unlock written agreement was sufficient and had asked Mr. Buckalew to review the agreement. Citing the inadequacy of the prior agreement, she concluded by stating that Mr. Buckalew revised the agreement to the benefit of the GTCA.
On a motion made by Allan Ellinger and seconded by Joel Price, the Board voted unanimously to authorize Mrs. Norget to sign the finalized form of contract to be provided by Mr. Buckalew.
Resolution 03-05-95
Mr. Ellinger made a motion to adopt the Resolution regarding the draw downs on the loan. Mr. Gulrajaney seconded the motion. Mrs. Norget then recapitulated for the Board of Directors and the viewers that the final piece of the Loan Facility was the drafting of a specific document setting forth the signatories on the loan draw-down requests. She stated that Mr. Buckalew had drafted an agreement setting forth the requirement that each draw down be signed by three of four Officers of the Association, namely the President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer.
The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously.
Mrs. Fitzpatrick reported:
That the annuals (plants) will be installed at the property the week of May 12, 2003.
That the dirt in the Giant Planters needs to be removed and discarded due to its lack of nutrients capable of sustaining new plant material. She stated that she is in the process of discussing the removal of the dirt by either the landscaper or the contractor who will be handling the waterproofing of the berm.
That Union negotiations are underway and are proceeding according to expectations.
That she had conducted a walk through of the entire property with the site safety consultants. She explained that during the walk through, the need for increased sidewalk bridging and other safety protection became evident. She stated that the site safety consultants that were retained by the GTCA will be drawing specifications for the proper and adequate installation of safety components throughout the property, which will then be put out for bids. For safety reasons, however, she stated that the lawn area on the south side of the indoor pool needs to be closed until the exterior restoration is complete. The Board agreed and directed Mrs. Fitzpatrick to have that area closed.
That several trees in the mini park and their root systems have grown too big, and may begin to cause damage soon. She stated that in the fall it will be necessary to remove those trees and the roots and replant those areas wth smaller trees.
That an investigation had been made into the alleged accident that occurred in Rego Park Queens when a garage collapsed at a building where Quality Building Inc. had been working on a roofing project. Mrs. Fitzpatrick advised the Board of Directors that she had spoken with the Building’s Management, as well as the Architect about the incident, and that both had reported that perhaps the least responsible party for the accident had been the contractor. Mrs. Fitzpatrick reported that an area above the garage had reportedly been overloaded with dirt and snow and had resulted in a partial collapse of the roof over a portion of the garage. She stated that there had been no death or injury reported in the accident.
A letter was read from Walter Gorman’s office with regard to their investigation into the matter which they conducted by contacting the Queens building department. Mr. Gorman’s letter stated the nature of the investigation and then proceeded to propose that the GTCA continue with their decision to use Quality Building, Inc.
Mrs. Fitzpatrick was directed to have the work begin as soon as the contracts are signed.
There being no further business to come before the Open Meeting, the meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 10:45pm