Hampton Meadows News 3rd QTR 2017 Vol 3

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1 Hampton Meadows News 3rd QTR 2017 Vol 3 ******Great News!!!****** Below is an update of where Hampton Meadows HOA is on assessments as of 08/25/2017. Thanks to all that have paid assessments. HOA Member Status Apr 7 Apr 21 May 21 Aug 25 Late at least $150 current season 61% 39% 34% 22% Late at least $150 two or more seasons 12% 12% 12% 11% We are really rocking now!! Do you want to go Green? Choose to receive e-statements by e- mail instead of paper notices, Save all of us, the HM HOA, from paying for these statements. Login to the CMA Website: website//home.asp Inside this issue CCR Neighborhood Policy... 2 Block Captains... 3 Annual Dues... 4 NEXTDoor... 4 Meeting Agenda... 5 HOA Board Duties.6-9 Important Dates 09/14 Qtrly HOA Meeting 12/21 Qtrly HOA Meeting Please log in and go to your "My Profile" page to opt in for e-statements. Hampton Meadows needs YOU!!!. We have some ways that all HM homeowners can get involved. Here are the existing subcommittees along. Big thanks to the homeowners who are serving and please say you will join them. HM needs everyone s help as we make our community better. PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY JOINING A COMMITTEE, TODAY!!!! Landscape Committee Common Areas - Still need 2 more homeowners Neighborhood Social Committee Still need 3 more homeowners Architectural Committee - Still need 2more homeowners Block Captains - Still need at least 6 (need to have 2 on Parakeet)

2 IN AND AROUND DESOTO Every Tuesday: 4pm 8pm Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas Job Search Assistance Representatives from Workforce Solutions will be available in the front lobby for one-on-one consultations. DeSoto Arts Live Art & Music Festival featuring Midnight Star Sept 30th: 12pm 10pm ************HOA POLICY************* Our Neighborhood has not had repercussions concerning violations to our CCR's so needs a lot of cleanups. Our CCR's allow us to create a list of fines per violations and below is a list of violations. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. We will get this finalized and seek the advice of the HOA Lawyer as necessary. The payment of a fine does not grant a variance for the violation, nor does it enable an owner to allow the violation to remain unabated. All violations must be corrected in a manner satisfactory to the Association. If there is a subsequent violation of the same rule, the fine amount may double with each subsequent violation. Category 1: $25 Yard waste, Trash and/or Trash cans left in the public view other than designated pick-up days per CCR s. Yard Maintenance (flower beds, edging, trees, lawn, shrubs, etc.) Mildew on Property (siding, brick, windows, driveway, entryway) Blocking the sidewalk Other minor violations determined by the Board of Directors. Category 2: $50 Modification, addition or alteration made to property without prior written approval from Architectural Review Committee of the Association when approval is required. Home repairs needed (rotting wood, sagging gutters, damaged garage doors, peeling/cracking front doors, missing or damaged fence slats, other repairs as determined by the Board of Directors.) Improper storage (boats, vehicles, trailers, etc.) (Must be stored out of public view) Oversized or commercial vehicles parked on the street Other major violations determined by the Board of Directors. Category 3: $250 Damaging common property. (Landscaping, irrigation, signage, etc.) Other severe violations endangering or damaging Hampton Meadows property as determined by the Board of Directors. Additional notes: One Warning will be given to the homeowner stating the timeframe a violation should be rectified before a fine will be assigned. DeSoto Night Out - Sponsored by the DeSoto Police Department Oct 3rd: 6:30pm Civic Center The goal of a homeowner s association is the preservation of property values. An HOA does this by enforcing its governing covenants. An HOA works to ensure all properties are attractive and consistent with each other. Without covenant enforcement, one home left unkempt, can lower the property value of the entire neighborhood. Reminder we have a meeting On September 14, 2017 if you have questions or concerns. Go to and view overall calendar for up to date information. ************HOA POLICY*************

3 Hampton Meadows Block Captains Committee Thanks to all the Current Members: Tonya Rose Gloria Jernigan Andre Wilson Pierette Parker Events Held Desoto Night Out Tues, Aug 1st Block Captains act as the association s liaison for their immediate neighbors. The key persons in any Neighborhood Watch group are the Block Captains. You are an integral component to keeping the block actively involved in crime prevention efforts as well as the important process of information exchange between neighbors.. Want to join this committee? the HOA with the Block you will be covering

4 Hampton Meadows Homeowners Information E-Book Did you know that there is a customized online resource for your community, providing information that owners most request: User-friendly magazine format (viewable on desktop and tablet) which answers frequently asked questions about HOA living. Online tutorial videos for owners (these can be accessed from the website and from an e -booklet page also). Readily accessible online forms The ability to easily find current, association-specific information, such as design guidelines and community rules. New owners in your community will have access to this information as soon as they register for a login. They will receive a welcomeletter from our Customer Care team which will assist them with registration. To view the informational e-booklet, please log in as a registered owner on or the CMA association domain name. Select Information Booklet under the Homeowner Connection menu. ANNUAL HOA DUES Annual Dues. Have not paid, or Don t know where/how you should pay? CMA Corporate Office 1800 Preston Park Blvd. Suite 101 Plano, TX Ph or Fax: Website: uploaddocs/cma/website//home.asp NEXTDoor If you haven t heard, there is an app called NextDoor, which is private social network for you, your neighbors and our community. It s the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world and best of all it s free. We have created a Hampton Meadows HOA group to allow our residents to communicate with each other in a group forum and for the HOA board to communicate with you. Just go to Code: BZDMTZ

5 OTHER WAYS TO GET IN- VOLVED IN THE CITY of DESOTO ADOPT A STREET PROGRAM Keep our right-of-ways and neighborhoods clean and beautiful. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM This program helps prepare for any type of disaster that may occur in the future. DESOTO CIVIC ACADEMY This is a series of sessions designed to teach Desoto citizens about their government. EYES AND EARS PROGRAM The "Eyes and Ears" Program was initiated so neighborhood groups could assist with identifying code violations. What to know more, check out The City of Desoto -to-be-involved Hampton Meadows 2017 officers President: Pierette Parker Treasurer: Kathleen May Secretary: James Minor hamptonmeadowshoa2012@gmail.com Upcoming HOA meeting Sept Desoto Civic Center (More details and documents visit ) Agenda Topics Guest Speaker Approval of previous meeting minutes Treasurer s Report Old Business Committee Reports - Thanks to all that are serving Architectural Committee Landscape Committee Neighborhood Social Committee - Angela Hubbard Block Captains Committee New Business Desoto Night Out Elections December Christmas Décor/Gathering Open Forum - Homeowners Everyone loves raffles, Right? Here is your chance to win! We are raffling 50$ off your dues. What s the catch, you ask? Just two steps: 1. Sign up to NextDoor go to Code: BZDMTZ and provide the following: Or Name, Address, and Contact phone 1. Provide the following to the HOA hamptonmeadowshoa2012@gmail.com : and Name, Address, and Contact phone 2. Attend the next HOA meeting where you must be present to win the drawing Disclaimers: - You must be current on all dues as of 2017 to be eligible to win. If you are already signed up on Nextdoor you only have step 2 to complete. - Request for information will bring homeowners in compliance with CCR Article XI section 11.7 Registration with the Association

6 The president of an association is vested with all the powers generally given to the chief executive officer of a corporation. While specific by-law provisions may vary the president s duties, it is generally presumed that he or she will preside at all meetings of the board and the membership. The president will execute contracts, orders and other documents in the name of the association as its agent. When signing documents, the president should indicate the capacity in which he or she is signing in order to avoid any personal liability since the president s signature, under most circumstances, will bind the association under a doctrine of inherent powers. The president also assumes general charge of the day-to-day administration of the association and has the authority to order specific actions in furtherance of the board s policies. The president serves as spokesman for the board of directors in most matters relating to general association business. Like all officers of the association, the president has an affirmative duty to carry out the responsibilities of the office in the best interests of the association. Unless otherwise specified in governing documents, the president serves at the will of the board of directors and can be removed with or without cause at any time by a majority of the full board. The secretary of the association is responsible for keeping and maintaining a record of all meetings of the board and the membership and is the custodian for most of the official records of the association. The position of secretary is not simply a clerical position. In some cases, the secretary may not actually keep the minutes of the meetings, but will be responsible for obtaining someone who will do so as a recorder or assistant secretary. As the custodian for the minutes and other official records of the association, the secretary is responsible for insuring access to those records by the members of the association and their authorized representatives.

7 Cont The treasurer is the custodian of the funds, securities and financial records of the association. When the association has a manager or management company that actually handles the funds on a daily basis, the treasurer s duties will include overseeing the appropriate people to insure that the financial records and reports are properly kept and maintained. Unless the by-laws otherwise specify, the treasurer is responsible for coordinating the development of the proposed annual budget and for preparing and giving the annual financial report on the financial status of the association. The treasurer does not have the authority to bind the association or the board of directors in dealings with third parties unless the board has provided express authority for the treasurer to do so. As with the association s secretary, the treasurer does not have to perform the day-to-day record keeping functions of the association when this responsibility is transferred to a management company, but the treasurer will ultimately be responsible for insuring that the financial records of the association have been maintained properly in accordance with sound accounting practices. The association acts through its officers and agents. The board of directors makes the policies for the association, but the officers and agents carry out these policies and administrative functions for the community. Some of the officers are clerical while others carry out substantive functions based on policies established by the board of directors. All of the officers have an affirmative obligation to act with utmost good faith towards the association and cannot deal in the funds or the property of the association to their own self advantage. Each association typically has a president, secretary, and treasurer and may have one or more vice presidents. However, an association may officially conduct its business with fewer officers than these, depending upon the laws of a given state. The members of the board of directors and each officer of the association have a fiduciary relationship with the members of the association. This fiduciary relationship imposes obligations of trust and confidence in favor of the corporation and its members. It requires the members of the board to act in good faith and in the best interests of the members of the association. It means that board members must exercise due care

8 cont and diligence when acting for the community, and it requires them to act within the scope of their authority. The fact that the association is a not-for-profit corporation, or that the members of the board are volunteers and unpaid, does not relieve them from the high standards of trust and responsibility that the fiduciary relationship requires. When a member accepts a position on the board of directors, he or she is presumed to have knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of a board member. Board members cannot be excused from improper action on the grounds of ignorance or inexperience and liability of board members for negligence and mismanagement exists in favor of the association and the property owners. Each board member must recognize the fiduciary relationship and the responsibilities that the board has to the association and each of its members. The board s duties must be performed with the care and responsibility that an ordinary prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances, and the ultimate responsibilities of these unique positions cannot be delegated to a manager, a management company or other third party. Acting through the board as a whole, a board member should: Enforce the documents Establish sound fiscal policies and maintain accurate records Develop a workable budget, keeping in mind the needs, requirements and expectations of the community Establish reserve funds Act on budget items and determine assessment rates Collect assessments Establish, publicize, and enforce rules and penalties Authorize legal action against owners who do not comply with the rules Review local laws before passing rules or sending bylaws to membership for approval Appoint committees and delegate authority to them Select an attorney, an auditor, insurance agent and other professionals for the association Provide adequate insurance coverage, as required by the bylaws and local governmental agencies

9 Inform board members of all business items that require their vote Inform members of important board decisions and transactions See that the association is protected for the acts of all parties with fiscal responsibilities Attend and participate at meetings Operating a homeowner association carries with it many of the very same duties and responsibilities as overseeing any other business. Serving as a board member is a valuable and rewarding experience that should be undertaken by those who see it as an opportunity to serve their fellow neighbors while protecting and enhancing the assets of the community. It is serious business, but also a task worth doing well in order to safeguard the investments of all.