An Open Letter to my Fellow RA Trustees,

 

In the recent Radburn Association bulletin, I gave notice of my intent to make motions at

our upcoming voting meeting on Monday, April 16th. It is in everyone's interest that I

give you the motions before the meeting, and outline my case for them.

On financial decision making

 

When I became a trustee last year, I read the Radburn Association by laws in their

entirety. I was surprised to discover there was absolutely no guidance in our bylaws on

how we make decisions to spend the community's assessments. Since then, I have

seen that we make spending decisions, both large and small, in an ad hoc manner,

without anything beyond precedent to guide us. I feel that our board would benefit from

creating a formal structure for future spending decisions. It should also be noted that

having a protocol for these decisions protects the board members by creating a

consistent and codified process. For these reasons,

 

I move that we call upon our RA Financial Committee to develop and recommend

financial bylaws. Topics the committee should consider include, but are not limited to,

how, by whom, and when decisions are made, in relation to the size, urgency, and

impact of the expenditure. The Finance Committee should report on their progress by

the Summer 2012 Voting Meeting, and have proposals ready for a vote by the full RA

board of trustees by the Fall 2012 Voting Meeting.

 

On Architectural Guidelines

The community has been assured that the RA trustees will hold Landmark to building a

project that is consistent with the Radburn style of architecture, and more specifically,

that the project would adhere to the Radburn Architectural Guidelines. These are the

same guidelines that each and every homeowner in Radburn is required to adhere to.

The developer has already been given an exemption to two of our guidelines in the

contract of sale. As this process moves forward, I have observed that Landmark has

shown disregard for some other guidelines, and seems to view approval by our

Architectural Committee as an afterthought. For these reasons,

 

I move that the RA Architectural Committee ensure that the design proposals submitted

by Landmark are in complete compliance with the Radburn Architectural Guidelines,

excepting only the two contractually specified exemptions already granted.

 

I welcome a dialogue with my fellow trustees, and am amenable to helpful suggestions.

It is my hope that the RA Board of Trustees will be allowed to vote on these motions

without being held up by parliamentary maneuvers. In the end, for better or worse, I

reserve the right enjoyed by every trustee to bring motions before the Board.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Marshall Chandler

Cc: Radburn Community at Large

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DALY FIELD UPDATE, April 6, 2012 

Dear Neighbors,

 

The hottest ticket in town recently was for a seat at the Fair Lawn Council Chambers.  Landmark Development began detailed presentations on their plans for a high intensity project on Daly Field and Hayward Property.  This is the parkland along Plaza Road, between Fair Lawn Avenue and Berdan Avenue.

 

The first hearing was on March 26th, during which citizens learned what format will be used by the Planning Board.  It began with a presentation by Eric Keller, an engineer for the developer.  He made a lengthy presentation of their plans.  After this, citizens were allowed a turn at the microphone.  The format required by the Planning Board limits citizens to directly questioning the Landmark representative, and making brief comments on his responses to the Board.  The questions are limited to areas presented so far,  which included landscaping, lighting, infrastructure, and site plan.

 

The line formed quickly, and there were plenty of questions.  Among the concerns expressed were:

 

•  Storm water management, and its potential impact on existing homes nearby

•  The safety of the planned storm detention basin, which is planned to be a ten foot deep pit, with vertical walls surrounded by a four foot fence

•  Soundproofing for units along the railroad, for which no provision has been planned

•  Continuity of the landscaping with the surrounding neighborhoods

•  Maintenance of the landscaping

•  Handling of garbage pickup

•  Landmark's request for design waivers and building code variances, which can impact both the safety and appearance of the project

 

The meeting ended before all the questioners got their turn at the mike, but this was just the first in a series of presentations, and the Planning Board assured that all questioners would get their turn. 

 

The next meeting will be at 7:30pm on Monday April 9th.  Future meetings will address other issues, including pollution, traffic, and schools.  The location will be the Fair Lawn Borough Hall at 8-01 Fair Lawn Avenue.  An engaged citizen is the foundation upon which our country was built.  Be one.  See you there.

 

All the best,

Marshall Chandler, President, Radburn Citizen's Association

 

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Landmark's Landscaping Plan - Overhead Development View

Download printable copy here.

 

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December 7, 2011

 

Dear Neighbors,

 

I sent you a letter in early October about the fact that Landmark Homes was nearly two years delinquent to our Borough on their taxes for the Hayward property.  It was hoped that the Radburn board of trustees would want to get to the bottom of this and find out what this could mean for the development deal that has been underway since 2004.  Please take a few minutes to read my entire letter.

 

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Dear Neighbors,

 

It is my duty, as President of the Radburn Citizens' Association, to share some news with you.  This is about Landmark, the developer with whom the Board of Trustees signed a contract to sell Daly Field for high density development. Read the entire bulletin.

 

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Landmark Appears Before Planning Board

Trustees Approve New Development Contract 8-1

The Radburn Board of Trustees voted 8-1 to approved a revised contract for the sale of Daly Field to Landmark L.L.C. on Monday night. The only vote against approval was cast by Citizens' Associatiion President Art Murray. The trustees voting to give the developer up to four more years to close the deal for a minimum of 165 units on Daly Field and the adjacent Hayward property were: Lou Weiss, Marion Paganello, Sue Mecky, George Brouca, Aleece Nolan, Lisa Meltzer-Press, Annabel Schlair and Christine Nunn. Read more about the meeting as reported by Fair Lawn Patch.

In April 2008 a judge ordered the Radburn Association to conform to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which requires detailed disclosure of finances to residents. None of the information provided by the Radburn Association currently is in conformity with GAAP. In fact, the trustees of the Radburn Association have gone to court to appeal a judge's decision that requires the Radburn Association to make financial disclosures in accordance with GAAP, even as they say they are developing such a policy.

Full financial disclosure plays a role in the price Radburn homeowners may receive when selling their homes.Just what are these principles and what will Radburn need to do to come into compliance?

View the analysis by Certified Public Accountant Gary Konecky.

CA Committee Offers Election Reform Proposals

The Citizens' Association elections reform committee in August, 2006 submitted proposals to the Trustees for modifying Radburn's nomination and election procedures. A special meting to discuss these proposals took place on July 19, 2006. The proposals were delivered to the trustees for review in mid-August, 2006, but to date have not received a response.

Radburn Election Proposal 1 Radburn Election Proposal 2

Radburn Election Proposal 3 Radburn Election Proposal 4

View Curent Radburn Association Bylaws

View Current Radburn Association Certificate of Incorporation

Daly Field Contract Available for Review

We have obtained a copy of the contract for the sale of Daly Field from The Radburn Association to Landmark Companies L.L.C. Unfortunately, virtually all of the relevant terms of the contract, such as the purchase price, the contingency dates, and the zoning contingencies, have been blacked out ("redacted," in legal parlance).We are working on getting an unedited version of the contract, so stay tuned. Thanks to Donal A. Meyers for obtaining this copy.

View the Daly Field contract.

CPA Analysis of Radburn Association Finances

After reviewing recent tax returns and public statements from officers of The Radburn Association, Certified Public Accountant Gary Konecky has concluded that the RA has been engaged in "massive" deficit spending, and apparently lacks adequate Trustee oversight of management and significant expenditures. Konecky believes that these factors indicate material weakness in the RA's internal control, which is classified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Professional Standards as a reportable condition. Fraud risk factors, as defined in these standards, appear to be present in the RA's operations, according to Konecky.

View Gary Konecky's analysis of the Board of Trustees 2006 Public Budget Meeting.

View Gary Konecky's professional analysis of the 2006 Radburn budget as presented to citizens in December.

View Gary Konecky's follow-up report as presented to citizens in February.

View Gary Konecky's follow-up report for May, including reference documents.

Read Gary Konecky's open letter to the Radburn Board of Trustees.

Radburn Association Audit

The Radburn Association commissioned an audit of its finances for 2005, which was concluded in the fall of 2006. As a result of the accountants' suggestions, the Radburn Association announced on November 30, 2006 that it now intends to:
1. Update written job descriptions for the three full time employees and annually review
their performance.
2. Create passwords for all computers.
3. Formally approve annually the Managers employment contract, including related
benefits.
4. Establish a threshold amount for approval of contracts with vendors.
5. Memorialize the Finance Committee's oversight responsibilities.
6. In addition to the current practice of distribution to all Trustees of monthly financials
including a cash flow statement, provide to all Trustees the monthly list of bills paid that
is currently distributed to the Officers.

Radburn tax returns available: If you'd like a copy of The Radburn Association's tax returns for any year from 2000 to 2005, please send a request with your telephone number to letters@radburncitizens.org. These returns are available to the public because the RA is a not-for-profit corporation

All About the Radburn Citizens' Association

The purposes of the Citizens' Association are (a) To serve as an open forum to give opportunity for the consideration and discussion of matters of public interest (b) To act as an agency for the presentation to the Radburn Association and to other public or private bodies, of community opinion arrived through public discussion and other appropriate means. (c) To provide a common meeting place for the members. (d) to foster the development of community life and a realization of its benefits and responsibilities. (e) To cooperate with other organizations in the furtherance of the above purposes for the welfare of Radburn and the entire community of Fair Lawn. View the Citizens' Association's constitution, by-laws and more...