The overall tone of the meeting, held July 29th at Eastbridge Presbyterian Church, was friendly and constructive. Residents generally seemed pleased with the neighborhood, the Board and management.

Elections were held to fill two open seats on the nine-member Board. Robin Richardson was re-elected to another term while newcomer Rebekah Whichard won the seat formerly occupied by Kevin Brady, who resigned last month for personal reasons.

Board terms are for three years. Office positions for the 2008-09 year will be decided by vote at the next regular board meeting. The results of that meeting will be posted on this Web site.

Highlights from the Annual meeting:

• In his State of the Neighborhood report, POA President William Ray Jr. said the community was in excellent overall shape and that residents had a lot to be thankful for. The new Wal-Mart and other developments that have sprung up around us this past year make Ivy Hall a better place to live, he said.
• Ray said our recently renovated entrance, particularly the installation of palm trees, has been well received by residents and the community. He credited board member Martine Wolfe-Miller for spearheading the renovation. He said the board plans to install some additional lighting in the island soon.
• Speeding, Ray said, continues to be a problem in the neighborhood. He said the board plans to once again explore the possibility of getting speed humps installed on our roads.
• Stephanie Patel of Odessa Management, the company that manages our neighborhood, presented budget statements and said we're in good financial shape even though a handful of residents still haven't paid their fees for this year.
• Patel said residents by and large were complying with the neighborhood's  covenant enforcement policy. She said the most common offenses were parking in the street, unsightly yards, and in-view garbage cans. She reminded residents that all violation notices were appealable.
• Ray, who his a real estate agent, said home sales have slowed considerably in Ivy Hall but that home values have remained fairly steady.
• A resident asked if inspection reports by Odessa could be published on the Web site without citing specific addresses. Ray said the board would look into it.
• Our neighborhood drainage ponds are doing well, according to the pond specialist who inspects and treats them twice a month.
• Property owners were reminded that they are responsible for maintaining their mailboxes (click here for repainting information); mowing their grass all the way to the water's edge if their home backs up to a pond; mowing and edging the grass between the sidewalk and the curb if their home has a sidewalk in front of it; installing fences with the "nice" side facing out; and, most importantly, submitting an ARC form before doing any changes to the exterior of their home or property.
• Sheila Anderson, chairman of our Welcoming Committee, said residents are encouraged to let her know when newcomers move into the neighborhood.  Anyone interested in helping greet new property owners are asked to contact Sheila at 216-6974.
• The Board is always looking for volunteers to help make Ivy Hall a better place. Please contact us if you want to help. THANK YOU!