Woodlands Springs Neighborhood Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
On January 30, 2009, the board proposed some changes to the documents which govern activities in Woodland Springs. As of December 2009, a majority of votes from the residents has yet to be reached. There are 412 homes in Woodland Springs, and we need votes from at least 206 households to pass any changes. Please vote...it only takes a few minutes and it's the only way that we can get things passed. Listed below are pdf files of both the existing and proposed documents.
| By-Laws | Articles of Incorporation |
| Existing | Existing |
| Proposed (Jan 2009) | Proposed (Jan 2009) |
Woodlands Springs Neighborhood Covenants
There are no proposed changes to the Woodland Springs Covenants.
Frequently Asked Questions concerning the proposed changes
It seems like these changes are being made hastily without much homeowner input. Why is this?
Neighborhood interest in updating our documents goes back as far as the 2006 annual meeting where attendees voiced their thoughts on wanting to keep home values strong. Any resident who was interested in providing more input volunteered their time to participate on a subcommittee in the summer of 2007. The board was careful to make this a resident-driven effort. A draft was submitted to the Board in the summer of 2008. The Board made minor modifications and then submitted the documents to an attorney to ensure the documents were compliant with Indiana law and conformed to best practices.
Do the proposed changes in the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws give the Board of Directors too much decision making authority?
Indiana law defines a baseline of oversight that a board of directors must have for an incorporation. In some cases our documents were modified to match those baselines, and in other instances they stayed as is. This provides the board the flexibility needed to make decisions and keep up with the changing times. Remember that board members are elected by residents and our residents should remain active in ensuring they elect board members that share their views and ideas on how to improve the neighborhood.
What happens if a quorum is not present?
The meeting can continue, but no official business or votes may be held.
Is it true that if passed, only 21 homeowners can make any change they want to the neighborhood?
The changes will reduce the number homeowners required to have a quorum and hold an official meeting. Currently, a quorum consists of 50% (or 206) of all households. It has been difficult to get even a quarter of that number at annual or town hall meetings. With the proposed changes, a quorum will consist of at least 40 homes which means that any measure can be acted upon or defeated with a simple majority of that quorum (21). We hope this will increase interest and activism in the neighborhood and bring more residents to these important meetings.
Will the changes to the documents allow entities outside the neighborhood use our amenities?
On a number of occasions, the neighborhood has been approached to rent out the island, pool, tennis court, and clubhouse for single use. The proposed changes will give the board flexibility to contract with individuals or groups outside of the neighborhood. The board members you elect should carefully evaluate the positives and negatives when the opportunity does arise. The board should consider the wear and tear that would occur and how intrusive it would be to the residents. Events such as this could potentially generate revenue that can be directed to the up keep of our assets or possibly reduce member dues.
Do the changes reduce the number of board members?
No. The number of board members will remain at nine. The suggested changes will provide the board the flexibility needed to operate and conduct business in the event all nine positions are not filled, which has been common over the past few years.
Do these documents set requirements for the aesthetics of the neighborhood (uniformity, grounds standards, etc.)?
The Covenants set those standards and is the third document currently under review. The May 30th vote is only for the Articles of Incorporation and the By Laws. The plan is to vote on the Covenants in the Fall of 2009. Just as with the changes to the AOI and By Laws, look for information about the Covenants in upcoming newsletters, on the website, and through various town hall meetings to be planned throughout the summer.
Where can I read the full document with all proposed changes?
See link at top of page.