We met at the Lancaster County library at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2018.

Attending were Steve Donofrio (lot 1), David Tabor and Carol Vaughn (lot 5), and Roger and Elizabeth Gruben (lot 6). With three lots represented and proxy ballots in hand for lots 2, 3, 4, and 7, we had a quorum.

President Roger Gruben opened the meeting and we addressed the three topics described in the meeting notice sent to all property owners:
    1.  Architectural committee vacancy
    2.  Amendments to the bylaws
    3.  Financial report and budget

Architectural Committee
We had one nomination for the architectural committee position vacated by the departure of Ken Benza: Elizabeth Gruben. She was elected unanimously by all voting.

Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 6 of the original bylaws states that the bylaws may be amended with the approval of 75% of class A voters. Six lots voted to approve the amendments and one lot voted to reject, so the amendments are approved. A clean copy of the amended bylaws is attached to this email, and will be posted to the HPCA web page.

Financial Report & Budget
Treasurer and VP Steve Donofrio briefly discussed the final 2017 financial report. We ended the year with a checking account balance of $3084.75. This surplus allows us to hold the annual assessment for 2018 to $250 per lot, in spite of a budgeted deficit of $2,235 for 2018.

President Roger Gruben described planned changes for 2018. The most significant change for 2018 is an additional $2,400 to pay for grass cutting. This replaces the free grass cutting that has been provided by volunteer residents in 2017 and prior years.

The planned transition of around 2 acres of the common area to a managed meadow accounted for most of the other spending changes. Bush-hogging will drop from $500 to $150. We have budgeted $250 for seeds and small plants to help establish the managed meadow. The Grubens will provide volunteer labor, and we hope that other property owners will participate when they can. Bette Gruben is also talking with people in the state Master Naturalist program and local chapters of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Audubon Society for possible donations of labor, plants, and seeds.

In the context of the 2018 budget, Steve Donofrio mentioned that he and John Mann had discussed the need to prune some trees in the common area. We agreed that we should be able to do this with volunteer labor from property owners. and discussed holding a neighborhood pruning party on a weekend in March. We will send out more information later in February.

Having completed the three tasks specified for the special meeting, we adjourned.