2024 HOA Election
HOA Annual Meeting – Tuesday, November 12th
Save the date! November 12th, 2024
TrailMark Residents, the annual TrailMark HOA Meeting and Budget Ratification Meeting will be held to discuss the budgets for 2025 on Tuesday, November 12th. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm at Falcon Bluffs Middle School, 8449 S Garrison Street in Littleton. If you want to know where your fees are being spent and managed, please attend the meeting.
Call for Proxies
To have a quorum (required for the HOA meeting) necessary for ratification we need representation by proxy of a minimum of 82 households! You will receive, in the mail, notice of this meeting with a proxy form and ballot which may be turned in at the annual meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, please return your proxy and ballot by mail.
Every year the HOA struggles to get enough proxies back to meet the quorum requirements set forth in the Governing Documents. If a quorum is not reached, the meeting must be rescheduled and costs the HOA a lot of money as all of the items must be mailed again and additional meetings must be called. Please send back your proxy when you receive it in the mail. Be sure to indicate who you are assigning your proxy to. Do not leave the proxy blank. You may still complete the proxy for quorum only. This means that nobody gets to vote on your behalf, but that your proxy counts towards the quorum requirement for the meeting. If you would like to ensure someone votes on your behalf, you can either assign your vote to a Board member or to someone else in the community. Don’t leave it blank! If you think your neighbor already sent it, they probably didn’t! So please, if you are not going to attend the meeting, send your proxy back. Thank you!
Call for Candidates
The Annual Meeting also means that Board elections are coming up. Please contact the Property Manager at Westwind Management Group (https://www.trailmark.org/management-company.html) if you are interested in running for a position on the Board of Directors. The deadline for bios to be included in the mailed packets was September 10th. People can still submit their interest for inclusion on the ballot but it will not include a bio. More information about Board duties is included in the newsletter and on the website, and will be included with the items mailed to you and posted on the TrailMark website prior to the meeting.
Election Season
As election season is upon us, it is time to remind TrailMark homeowners and residents of TrailMark’s signage rules: TrailMark Homeowners Association cannot prohibit the placement of political signs on property which is owned by a resident of the HOA or in the window of a unit. A political sign is defined as a sign that carries a message intended to influence the outcome of an election, including supporting or opposing the election of a candidate, the recall of a public official, or the passage of a ballot issue.
Any political sign shall not be on display earlier than 45 days before an election and shall be removed no later than 7 days after an election. The political sign may be no larger than thirty-six by forty-eight inches in size. Each home or unit may only have one (1) sign per political office or ballot issue that is contested in an upcoming election.
Please adhere to these rules to avoid a covenant violation.
Reference: CCIOA (C.R.S 38-33.3106.5(1)(C)) – (Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act)
Common Questions about running for the Board of Directors for the TrailMark Homeowners Association
Q: What are my duties on the Board?
A: The Board is responsible for maintaining and honoring the Declarations, Bylaws, and Design Review Guidelines of the community. The Board reviews/approves all contracts for work done in the common area. The Board receives emails from residents who voice concerns, complaints and/or ideas. The Board is responsible for holding homeowners accountable to the standards set in the covenants. The Board is responsible for the financial state of the Association in which they set dues, approve all invoices, and maintain a balanced budget. The Board is ultimately responsible for the trash contract, social events, maintenance and upkeep of Association property, and all things administrative (insurance, reserve study, etc.). Each Board member is assigned a committee for which they are the liaison between the Board and that committee. In this capacity, the Board member attends committee meetings and advises the Board on on-going committee activities. The Board currently meets every other month, in the odd number months, on the evening of the 2nd Tuesday.
Q: What are the qualifications for being on the Board?
A: As outlined in the Association Bylaws: “A Director may be any natural person and need not be an Owner of a Lot within the Community Area; provided, however, that upon the expiration of the Declarant’s Control Period, at least a majority of the Directors shall be Owners…” It is important to keep in mind that the qualifications to be a Director and the qualifications to vote vary. To cast a vote for Association issues, the Lot for which the vote is being cast must be in good standing, that is, no outstanding fines or dues are allowed, in order to vote.
Q: How much time does it take to be on the Board?
A: Typically, Board members spend about 1-10 hours each week dealing with HOA items: emails; phone calls; visits from neighbors; reviewing and overseeing contracts; performing site visits; attending various meetings with agencies such as City of Littleton, JEFFCO, SSPR and/or fielding and responding to issues presented by these entities; provides guidance to our committees; etc. During the week when there is a Board meeting, the time spent on HOA issues is approximately 15-20 hours to facilitate meeting preparation and meeting attendance.
Q: How long is my term on the Board? And are there term limits?
A: Terms are 2-years in length. This is to ensure not all five Board members change at once, to allow consistency in governance. There are no term limits for how many times a person can sit on the Board.
2024 HOA Board of Directors election, candidate platforms
September 24, 2024
Dear TrailMark Residents,
As many of you know, we are hitting that time of year where we are having another HOA Board of Directors election. The Board advertised the call for candidates in July 2024. This year, we have 3 seats up for election. You will get to vote for your choice of 3 of the candidates.
Five of our fellow neighbors have thrown their self-nominations into the ring to be considered as HOA Board of Directors. If elected, candidates will serve on the volunteer HOA Board from November 2024 to November 2026. Below are the platforms of the five potential candidates who are running for the 3 open seats on the HOA Board of Directors.
Westwind Management will be mailing our Annual Meeting packets to each home on or around October 1st, 2024. When you receive your Annual Meeting packet, we need residents to fill out the blue proxy and the pink HOA Board of Directors ballot and mail it back to Westwind Management. Mailed proxies and ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 11th, 2024. Only one proxy and one ballot is allowed to be submitted per address! (Please visit the “HOA Annual Meeting” page for an explanation about proxies.)
If you normally submit your proxy and ballot at our November Annual Meeting, you are still permitted to bring your (Blue) proxy and (Pink) ballot to the November 12th HOA Meeting. To make counting the proxies and ballots more efficient, the Board and Management company suggest that you mail your proxy and ballot to Westwind Management by November 4th, 2024 so it will be received by 5:00 pm on November 11th.
Below are your 2024 HOA Board of Directors candidate platforms, in alphabetical order by first name.
DAVE (DAVID) SOULE
For the past 5 years, I have had the privilege of being a resident and homeowner in TrailMark, and I have cherished every moment in this unique and beautiful community. My wife and I, high school sweethearts, recently celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary. We are blessed with three grown children and five wonderful grandchildren, who are spread out across Colorado, Tennessee, and California. I proudly served our country in the US Navy in a naval air patrol squadron, and I am now retired after a 47- year career as an engineer with a Fortune 200 company, where I worked on motion control sealing systems for aerospace, medical and automotive applications. Earlier this year, I stepped in to fill a vacancy at TrailMark HOA Board when a previous member relocated out of state. I have found this role both challenging and rewarding, and I am eager to continue serving to ensure that our neighborhood remains one of the most desirable places to live in Colorado. My extensive life experience positions me well for this volunteer role, and I’m committed to maintaining the high standard that makes our community special. I am always open to hear diverse perspectives on the issues that affect us all. I ask for your vote to help preserve the paradise we all call “home.”
JR HOFFSCHNEIDER
I have 15+ years in a variety of management positions in different industries. Currently in charge of creating budgets and schedules for construction projects valued up to $15 million dollars. I would like to join the Board of Directors To provide a fresh perspective and give back to the community we have lived in for the last 8 years.
PHIL KINNEY
Four years as a member of the TrailMark HOA Board of Directors. I have an MBA from Duke University. I am an original Homeowner of the TrailMark Community (20+ years). I would like to be on the Board because I find working with the TrailMark Board of Directors to be personally rewarding and has educated me as to the requirements of a well-run Board. The Board of Directors makes sure that all covenants are adhered to and therefore maintains a beautiful and valuable asset. Our covenants keep the value of everyone’s assets.
TONYA SLOAN
I am the current Secretary of the HOA Board and would like to run for re-election for the next term. We have lived in the TrailMark community for 4 years and love the community, environment, neighbors, and people. I have served on the HOA Board for the last two years and feel I have just gotten started. The current Board members work together very well, and we are making a lot of progress on keeping our community beautiful and modern. I would like to continue my work on the Board and am seeking your vote to make this a reality. My professional background is establishing policies, business practices and processes that build efficiency and consistency. In my role I must maintain an open and collaborative mind and know that my skills are benefiting the community. In my personal life I like to do anything outdoors and love visiting with my neighbors on a regular basis. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to the many years we will reside in the community.
TRACY SCHERR
I have a bachelor’s degree in science and communication. I am a University of Florida Graduate, Dean’s list. I am a Project Manager with over 20 years of experience. I would like to be on the board of Directors to ensure that HOA always has the best interest of the community in mind. Honestly, transparency and to ensure well collectively do what is best for the entire Community as a whole.
Please watch for your Annual Meeting packet to arrive in your mailbox in early October.
Campaign season is now officially under way. Good luck to all five candidates!
Sincerely,
Ken Colaizzi, President
TrailMark HOA
Littleton, CO 80127
president@trailmark.org
https://www.trailmark.org
PLEASE NOTE:
The Annual Meeting is coming up in November. We need people to return the proxies that are mailed to them, so please be on the lookout for a mailing with the meeting notice, 2025 budget, and proxy.
HOA Board of Directors Calling for Candidates
July 11, 2024
Dear TrailMark Residents,
Each year our HOA Board of Directors has an annual election. This coming November, there will be three (3) HOA Board of Director positions up for election. Currently, the seats of Treasurer Phil Kinney, Secretary Tonya Sloan, and Member At Large Dave Soule are up for election. Phil, Tonya, and Dave do have the option of filling out a Self-Nomination Form and running for another two-year term.
Ken Colaizzi’s (President) and Arwen Vaughan’s (Vice President) terms do not expire until November 2025.
Our Board would like to encourage other interested residents who would like to volunteer their time to consider running for the HOA Board. If you are interested, please fill out the Self-Nomination form and either scan it and email it back to TrailMark@westwindmanagement.com or mail it to:
TrailMark HOA
C/O Westwind Management Group
27 Inverness Drive East
Englewood, CO 80112
As mentioned at our July 2024 HOA meeting, all self-nomination forms are due to Westwind Management by end of the day September 10th, 2024. Turning in your self-nomination form by September 10th will guarantee that your candidate platform will be included in the Annual Meeting mail-out in October as well as your name being on the HOA Board of Directors ballot.
Our Bylaws also permit residents to self-nominate themselves at the Annual meeting, pursuant to meeting the noted qualifications.
TrailMark’s Second Amended Bylaws, posted on TrailMark.org, clearly define the Qualifications of Directors in section 5.3:
“A director may be re-elected and there shall be no limit on the number of terms a Director may serve. In order to be eligible for election and/or appointment to the Board of Directors, an Owner must be in good standing with the Association. Good standing means, without limitation, free from any outstanding balance owed to the Association and free from any infractions with the Association.”
If you are elected, you will participate in 6 bi-monthly HOA meetings (usually two hours long), as well as 5 bi-monthly work sessions at Westwind Management. You will also help with various committee events. All positions are volunteer and usually consume about 2-5 hours a week with emails and/or phone calls amongst Board Members, the management company, vendors, committee members and homeowners.
Once the votes have been certified and counted at the Annual HOA meeting on November 12th, the Board will then have a brief meeting to decide who will be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member at Large for 2024-2025.
Being an HOA Board member is rewarding as you are able to assist your neighborhood with enforcing its covenants, beautification of our neighborhood, assisting fellow neighbors to follow the HOA process, and helping maintain our property values. If you meet the above criteria, and can dedicate your time to TrailMark, then we strongly encourage you to complete your self-nomination form and run for the TrailMark HOA Board of Directors.
Respectfully,
Ken Colaizzi, President
TrailMark HOA
Littleton, CO 80127
president@trailmark.org
https://www.trailmark.org