July 2025 Minutes

BRIARWOOD HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION 

BOARD MEETING 

June 10, 2025 

Minutes - 20250610 FINAL.pdf

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1. Call to Order – 6pm, by Board President Mike Karagoulis 

2. Roll Call 

Directors Present: M. Karagoulis, L. Page, C. Heise, J. Rypkema, B. Howser Directors Online: J. Zwier, T. Warren-Yehuda, S. Eisner, P. Daniels  Directors Absent: None 

Guests Present: Mark and Michelle Szidik, Amy Adolph 

Guests Online: Chrislyn Particka 

3. Approval of Minutes 

The minutes of the 5/13/25 meeting were approved, but will require the newly approved  ACCE documents be embedded, in their final form. 

Motion to approve - JZ=1, PD=2; APPROVED 9-0 

4. Board Assignment Updates 

The Board Assignments Table was updated to remove two outgoing board members and add in their replacements. After adjustments were made discussion was closed. Motion to approve – MK=1, PD=2; APPROVED 9-0 

5. Guest Comments 

Amy Adolph requested a formal internal audit of the HOA's procedural integrity, recommending this audit should address inappropriate communications and policy enforcement. 

Chrislyn Particka expressed concern about a board member setting foot on her property without permission, followed by an apology that was taken as inadequate. 

Michelle Szidik expressed concerned about the board trespass allegations, and how board members treat neighbors. 

Mark Szidek expressed concern in opposition to the fence documents adopted by the board at the May 2025 meeting. 

(The board is reviewing these concerns and will follow up as appropriate).

6. Officer Reports 

A. Treasurer – L Page 

L. Page submitted two Treasurer's Reports for the June Meeting: BHOA Income  Statement_May 2025 and Treasurer's Summary Report_06.10.25 with the notation that Sisu  did not submit a mowing bill in May. 

Motion to approve June 10 Treasurer’s Report. LP=1, JZ=2: APPROVED 9-0 

B. President – M Karagoulis 

A point of order regarding the member request to add member comments verbatim to  meeting minutes: 

This would be a departure from our longstanding practice of keeping highly summarized  meeting minutes, an industry standard. 

Changing this practice would require an approved motion of the board. Nonetheless all  member comments are important and carefully reviewed by the board as appropriate. 

7. Indemnification Agreement Update 

Lynne Page - no report. Item moved to July 

8. Committee Reports 

A. Maintenance – Pat Daniels 

Groundskeeping contract with SISU is ending due to the owner shutting down the business. We wrote up a more specific task description and would like to try out different competitors  for a time before pursuing a long term contract. 

A motion was made to allow maintenance committee discretion to hire temporary  groundskeepers and evaluate their performance and cost, before another long term  contract is made. MK=1, LP=2; APPROVED 8-1 

Lawn Tech chemical treatments – first of 3 sprays scheduled for 1^st week of June 

Soil erosion along the Smith creek – County Drain Commission will determine if the erosion  is within the county easement along the creek. Jim Rypkema to email Pat Lindeman and copy Carla Clos. 

Briarwood Pond – The undersized circulation pump is operational, while the full size  replacement pump awaits order fulfillment. 

A new Metronet Fiber Cable box in the Recreation Park is still lying on a bush, unmounted to the nearby utility pole. Pat Daniels following up for the HOA. 

Proposal to Repair fences on HOA common properties: 

3 Specific locations have old fencing in need of repair: North end of Belding/Binghampton  Footpath, Hemmingway Footpath into Nature Park, East lot line of Nature Park A motion was made to add $6400 to 2025 maintenance budget for this purpose. PD=1, JR=2; APPROVED 9-0

Items Pat is investigating: 

- Brick Signs at our two Okemos Road entrances need mortar and brick repairs. - 2022 proposal for improved signage posted around the Rec Park is being updated. 

B. Architectural Control and Covenant Enforcement Committee 

Topic for discussion and action at July meeting: Solar Panel Policy 

- Chairman Sascha Eisner emailed a draft Solar Panel Policy for review, which requires adoption by Sept 2025. 

30 Day Summary of Property Change Applications - 

Type	Rec’d	Status	Reason	# Days
Fence	5/11	Denied	Incomplete	10
Fence	5/27	Denied	Pond	4
Fence	6/5	Under Review
Fence	6/5	Under Review
Solar Panels	6/4	Under Review
Play Structure	6/6	Approved		4

Sascha Eisner requested a future opportunity to respond to contentious debate about recently approved ACCE documents. He believes many issues are misperceived due to revision history or misreading of the documents. Dialog must be two way or the misunderstandings will continue. 

C. Nominations – Jim Rypkema – no report 

D. Publicity – Pat Daniels 

Newsletter has a new publication timeline for July. 

Pat proposed setting up a BHOA Board Page on FaceBook allowing for official Board Posts. Directory subcommittee is planning to meet. 

Welcoming subcommittee has an updated list of new members to greet. 

Publicity related account access is being transitioned to Chanin, the new committee chair. 

E. Events – Jean Zwier 

Successful Yard Sale!  

About 40 homes involved (30 signed up). Member Michelle Szidik created an online map, thank you.  

Special trash pickup had 18 registered participants.  

Special thanks to Chanin, who placed ads and did various social media promotions, and Pat Daniels for organizing food truck and ice cream truck during the event. 

Several lessons learned for next time.

9. Old Business - None 

10. New Business 

M. Karagoulis proposes that we think up positive ideas to inspire members to maintain and elevate the curb appeal of their homes. Even small improvements add to the tangible value of our real estate. Newsletter ideas? Share Best Practices? House of the Month articles? 

Adjournment at 7:41 

BHOA Calendar 

7/8/25 – Monthly Board Meeting (6:00 p.m.): Okemos Library Events Room 8/5/25 – National Night Out / Ice Cream Social (4-7 p.m.)