Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1223643
6 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2020 Thank you for your service, Len By Sharon Bond As we approach the election of new Board members, it is time to pause and reflect on the tenure of our outgoing Board president, Len Tavernetti. Len has served our community as the President of the Board for the past four years. This was a very busy time in Four Seasons. A new committee was established to work on community planning and the transition from having the builder in our community. K. Hovnanian left Jan. 15, so we are truly on our own. Len has been the steady hand guiding us through all of the changes. Len has lived in Four Seasons since 2006 and had served on several committees including the Rules and Regulations Committee and the Landscape Committee. He also served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Water Conservation. In 2016, he joined the Board and was elected President, so he has a long history of service to the community. As he prepares to retire from the Board, Len took time to reflect on his tenure: "Up until the last half of 2016, K. Hovnanian controlled the Board of Directors with four members. The homeowners had three members. In July 2016, K. Hovnanian had to give up one seat on the Board as it was 10 years from the start of building (laid out in the Governing Documents of Four Seasons) so elected homeowners were finally able to take control of the Board. "At that point, we were recovering from the real estate slowdown. Half of the proposed houses had been built. Most of the processes and regulations in place had been developed for a small population. Looking toward the future, the Board made a commitment to expand our communication capability. That's when the HOA took over the website and improved it. We also started the Daily Report. "Another challenge was preparing to take over the entire HOA as K. Hovnanian was approaching buildout. We were now in a position to work with them as equals. Another priority was increasing accessibility for handicapped residents above ADA requirements, e.g. access to the trails and retrofitting The Lodge and other building restrooms with automatic doors. "By 2017, new homeowners were a decade younger than the 'pioneers,' with different concerns, issues, and capabilities. Change is always difficult, yet we had to make changes to bring the community together. We are still making changes and I'm sure future boards will continue to make changes. "One of the biggest changes was the opening of the Windmill Bridge in June 2018. This completed the circle of Four Seasons Circle and has helped bring the community together. The Board also added two committees – Safety and Community Planning and Transition (now just Community Planning). In addition, we added a Community Ambassador to bring us into the greater Beaumont community. "The areas the Board is now addressing include changing the social relationships that were developed when we were a much smaller community and would invite outside guests to our functions and events. With a population of just under 4,000 at buildout, we will need to replace outside guests as regular visitors with our new homeowners who are part of the HOA. "The acquisition of the Conservancy is approaching. While many homeowners may have assumed it was already part of our community, only one quarter of it is actually owned by the HOA. The other three quarters is planned to be transferred to us before the end of 2020, as soon as the legal details are ironed out. "For the Board, in April we will have four new members – one will fill the last position presently filled by K. Hovnanian, the other positions will replace John, Ed, and me. The new Board members will need time to learn all the legal and financial responsibilities that are incumbent upon Board members. Knowing what their obligations are may, at times, prevent them from doing what is most popular. "I would like to conclude by saying that I've enjoyed serving, especially with the people on the Board, the committees, and FirstService."