The official Minutes to the 4/22/04 meeting were reviewed and approved.

The budget was reviewed and discussed.  Bill Smith, Board President, has worked with Harmony Management to analyze the budget.  Bill reported that the budget for 2004 is a good budget, but very thin.  Given ad-hoc expenses not budgeted, such as tree pruning in the community entrance area, the demands on the Contingency Fund are not completely offset by normal twice-yearly contributions to the fund.  Also one line item in the Operational Budget, cable TV, is over budget because Bright House put through a rate increase of about $1 per month per home.  The Board will hold a special working session to discuss and formulate appropriate next steps, which might include raising association fees or special assessments -- neither of which is desirable.

Peg Mazza reported that the annual Ladies Tea, held last Sunday, was a success.  Approximately 35 women attended, and 15 others sent their regrets that they could not attend.  Click here to see photos of the Ladies Tea.

This month's Architectural Review items were mentioned:

• New landscaping was approved for Don & Pat Whitesel.
• New walkway and flag pole was approved for Len and Kathy Lesjak.
• New fence was approved for Keith and Jody Gabel.
• New fence and privacy screen was approved for George Sinclair and John Whidden.

Status was reported on this month's action items:

• The storm drain odor on 91st St. was diminished significantly after the County flushed the drain.  Beverly McCain was delighted with the change.
• The car parked at the end of 93rd St. is no longer a problem.
• Action has been taken by the residents to address the lawn deficiencies at a home in Phase 2.
• The Lake Doctor treated the retention ponds, which turned green as a result of a lack of rain.
• The Fidler's Green homeowner who put a swing set on Hawthorn Park common property has a plan to rectify the situation.  Harmony Management will send an official letter to document their encroachment and waive us of liability.
• The common area maintenance concern raised by Nikitas Petrakopoulos on the northern boundary of the community is believed to be resolved.

Some new business items came up:

• Art Stadlin reported that the Hawthorn Park web site added Ladies Tea photos, the resident Call Guide, and the Hawthorn Herald advertising.  We now have 24 homes (26-percent) on the Hawthorn Park e-mail list.
• Vince Meli provided a status report on the Matching Funds Project.  If approved by Manatee County, $4,458 will be spent on common area landscaping, entrance way tree lighting, and concrete benches.  Of this amount, the County would pay $2,229.  Jerry Lemerise of Harmony Management told us that the County should make their project funding decisions by the end of July and Mike Hogan told us the work will need to be completed before the next fiscal year begins, 10/1/2004.
• George Sinclair showed a prototype of the advertisement page that will go into the Hawthorn Herald.  The fees charged to advertisers will add about $400 to our operational budget.  Anyone with a business to advertise should call George, Kathy Lesjak, or Art Stadlin.
• Art Stadlin mentioned the desire to removed the Stop Sign on 12th Ave. since it is a through street.  The Board agreed that it should be removed if the County will allow it.  Art to discuss with Len Lesjak, who has already been working this issue with the County.
• George Sinclair said there has been odor from the pepper tree burning on the old horse farm to our west.  In addition there are neighbor concerns that the embers from the open fires might land on pool cage screens and melt through.  It appears all adjacent property owners received a yellow notice about the burning, with a phone number for questions.  Bill Smith agreed to contact them to understand the precautions they will be taking during the burn process.

The meeting was adjourned about 8:15pm.