John presented 3 bids for the landscaping of the common areas and the islands. It was decided to accept the bid of Bill's Outdoor Care. Initially the entrances and berms will be mowed on a biweekly basis and the pond areas monthly. Mowing to begin the weekend of May 17th.

It was decided that the cleanup/planting day is to be Saturday June 7th. Karen to call CRW regarding a dumpster. Karen reported 4 homeowners have called to volunteer. See below for more information.

Some members of the Board will try to attend the monthly meetings of the Canton Homeowners Association. This is a forum for all homeowners associations in the area to get together and exchange ideas and association experiences. The meetings are on the 2nd Monday of each month.

Laura reported that the Association checking account through NBD does not charge for our banking services. It was decided to keep the account with NBD. It was decided to have a co-signer for all checks. Rob will be the co-signer.

Karen will prepare a form to aid in the preparation in a subdivision directory.

Karen will get a quote from Frankenmuth Insurance regarding Homeowners Directors and Officers liability insurance.

The board discussed the violations of the Declarations of Covenants and Restrictions. See below for more information.

Soraya will obtain landscaping plans as approved by the township and implemented by Sherr Development. It is our intention to reach an understanding with Sherr Development on what common area landscaping will be replaced, if need be, and a time table on the necessary replacement.

A discussion on possibly asking a homeowners management group to make a presentation to the Board was tabled to the next Board meeting. This would be a purely informational presentation to get an idea for costs and services.

Randy to check with the township treasurer regarding lien procedures and costs for those homeowners who are delinquent in paying their association dues. Dan will draft another letter June 4th requesting payment for those homeowners who have not yet paid their dues by June 4th.

Dan will call the Township regarding cleaning up the Mott Drain on Sheldon Road.

It was discussed that the Association needs a more permanent sign system, similar to others that are seen in the area, to announce Garage Sales, Meetings, Special Events, etc. It will be decided next meeting what type would prove the most functional. Three signs are needed for the entryways.

A newsletter will be prepared containing the minutes of the meeting and any newsworthy items needed to be communicated to the homeowners. Rob will prepare the newsletter.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.

At the next meeting, a budget for 1997 will be prepared.

General News:

Cleanup Day
It was decided that the cleanup/planting day is to be Saturday June 7th. While it is true that we could have hired someone to do all this for us, the Board thought a community event might promote more of a neighborhood ownership; an opportunity to meet and mingle with more of your neighbors. Karen reported 4 homeowners have called to volunteer. Anyone interested, bring your garden tools and meet at the island in the middle of Nowland Drive at 9:00 am.

Dogs
A reminder to all pet owners, when walking your dogs, it is a township ordinance that they must be picked up after. Also, dogs are not permitted to roam free; they must be on a leash within your property or behind an invisible fence. Please be considerate to everyone else.

Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and the Bylaws
The Board would like to remind every homeowner to review their copy of the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and the Bylaws. This document was prepared by the developer in accordance with the township, and agreed to by all homeowners as members of the Nowland Homeowners Association. There have been numerous complaints regarding the violations or neglecting of the Declarations of Covenants to the Board by many of your neighbors. Particular attention should be paid to the sections in Article VI, Restrictions Upon Use. Among the most cited sections for violations in Article VI are highlighted below. Refer to the appropriate sections for the full declaration.

Section 9. Animals
1. Dog pens exceeding 4 feet in height.
2. No landscaping in front of the pens to screen them from the street.

Section 12. Antennas
1. Exterior antennas and dishes are not allowed.

Section 23. Landscaping
1. Each lot must be landscaped within 90 days after initial occupancy in accordance with the approved landscaping plan as approved by the Architectural Review Committee.

Section 28. Mailboxes
1. Separate or additional boxes used solely for the receipt of newspapers are prohibited.
2. All mailboxes must have either a wood or wrought iron post.

These covenants and restrictions were prepared with the concept of keeping the "look and feel" of the subdivision fairly consistent among all homes. Within the next few months, the Board will review the restrictions and inspect the subdivision and notify any homeowner in writing of any violation. If anyone has misplaced their copies of these Covenants and Restrictions and/or Bylaws, notify Rob Garzaniti for a copy.

The Board would also like to remind every homeowner of the existence of the Architectural Review Committee. Please review Article V, Architectural Review. Currently, the committee consists of the Board of Directors.

Mailbox Placement
There have been some questions regarding the placements of the mailboxes. Please check the mailbox map that you received last summer and verify your mailbox is in the correct location.

Additional Items
There have also been comments from some residents asking what is appropriate regarding play structures and basketball poles. There are no Covenants and Restrictions addressing these issues. The Board favors wooden play structures over metal, and basketball poles with clear backboards over solid white backboards. Please call or write Karen with your comments.