We’ve compiled a list of some Frequently Asked Questions below. If you’d like to ask your own question, submit a request on your Homeowner Portal, and we’ll get back to you with an answer.
- Who is Hammersmith Management, what do they do, and how do I reach them?
- What is a community association?
- What are the CC&R’S?
- What are the Bylaws?
- What is the Board of Directors?
- What are the primary requirements of the covenants?
- What do I do if I want to report a violation?
- Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
- If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how I can get involved?
- What is my assessment?
- How is the amount of my assessment determined?
- Will my assessment go up?
- What happens if I don’t pay my assessment?
- Do I need approval to do exterior changes?
Q: What is a “management company,” what do they do, and how do I reach them?
A: Hammersmith® was retained by your Board of Directors to oversee the daily management of the Community, to maintain the financial records and to assist the Board in all other business affairs of the Association. The management team consists of a Community Care Department that can assist Homeowners with almost all matters, the accounting department that can help with any questions regarding your account and a credentialed Community Association Manager that will provide professional and quality services to each owner within your community. Hammersmith® can be reached at 719.389.0700 or via your Homeowner Portal.
Q: What is a Community Association?
A: A Community Association is a non-profit corporation registered with the State and managed by a duly elected Board of Directors. Its purpose is to provide a communal basis for preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the Community. A Community Association also provides governance with provision of the legal documents: CC&R’s, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation. The Community Association is financially supported by all members of the Association. Membership is both automatic and mandatory.
A: The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R’s), which are also known as the Declarations, define the bundle of rights each owner in the Community Association must abide to. The CC&R’s are recorded by the County recorder’s office and are included in the title to your property. Failure to abide by the CC&R’s may result in a fines to the Homeowner by the Association.
A: The Bylaws are the adopted guidelines for the administration and management of a Community Association. The Bylaws define the duties of the various offices of the Board of Directors, the terms of the Directors, the membership’s voting rights, required meetings and notices of meetings, and the principal office of the Association, as well as other specific items that are necessary to run the Association as a business.
Q: What is the Board of Directors?
A: The Board of Directors is elected by the Homeowners, or as otherwise specified in your Community Association Bylaws. The Board of Directors’ responsibility is operating the Community Association on behalf of the property owners. The Board of Directors will implement policies, standards, procedures, programs and develop the annual budget for their Community.
Q: What are the primary requirements of the covenants?
A: Many Community Associations have established Rules and Regulations that have been adopted by the Board of Directors. The Rules and Regulations are established to provide direction to the property owners in regard to parking, pets, pool use, etc. Community Associations may also have specific guidelines set up for Architectural Improvements. Architectural Improvements include, but are not limited to: patio covers, decks, landscaping, and exterior color changes. These rules are set up to maintain the aesthetic value and integrity of your Community and to protect the market value of your investment. Violations of these rules may result in action by the Board of Directors, which can include fines assessed to the property owners. In addition, exterior improvements or changes that are completed without prior approval by the Board of Directors or Architectural Committee, may require the property owner to remove or correct the alteration and/or be fined for the violations.
Q: What do I do if I want to report a violation?
A: All violations must be submitted to Hammersmith® in writing. You can submit the violation via mail, email, or through your Homeowner Portal. After you login to the Portal, click the “Submit A New Request” button, and then choose “General Request,” and select “Report A Violation” on the drop down menu. Please note that you will be required to identify your name and address but your personal information will not be released to the Homeowner who you are reporting the violation on.
Q: Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
A: Board meetings are open to all residents of an Association. Notice of the time and place of any regular Board meetings will be noted in the Community Calendar or you can call Hammersmith® at 719.389.0700.
Q: If I want to serve on a Committee, how do I find out what Committees are active and how I can get involved?
A: If you would like to become more involved in your Community and want to volunteer on a Committee, you can log onto your Community Association’s website to find out about the different Committees your Community has organized. Once you have logged into your Association’s website, just click on the “Contacts” tab and select “Board and Committees” on the drop down menu. Please contact the Committee Chair to find out more information regarding volunteer opportunities.
A: All Owners pay the Association “Common Assessment” that is levied against all Flying Horse residential properties, regardless of the individual “Village.” The Common Assessment funds reserves for the long-term maintenance, repair, and replacement of Association Properties throughout the Community. FHHOA operating costs including, but not limited to, administration/management/professional services, utilities (related to irrigation for Association Properties), insurance, weekly trash collection, landscaping and snow removal on the Association Properties, covenant enforcement, and landscaping/architectural review are also funded by the Common Assessment. The Common Assessment is based on the annual Association budget and, when commenced, will be billed quarterly in advance to all Owners.
In accordance with the Declaration and Supplemental Declaration, the Board shall adopt a yearly-proposed Operating and Reserve Replacement Budget and charge a uniform Village Assessment to all applicable Owners to sufficiently fund the Village budget. Villages that require additional budgeted quarterly Assessments (for additional services) and Reserve contributions include: Calistoga, Evergreen, Sonoma, Cortona, Molise, Toscano, Encore (Carriage Homes & Singles), and Siena.
Q: How is the amount of my assessment determined?
A: The Common and Village Assessments is based on the annual Master and Village budget and is billed quarterly in advance to all Owners. The Board adopts a yearly-proposed Operating and Reserve Replacement Budget and charges a uniform Village Assessment to all applicable Owners to sufficiently fund the Master and Village budgets.
A: There is no concrete answer to whether or not your assessment will go up. The Common and Village Assessments is based on the annual Master and Village budget expenses. The Common Assessment funds reserves for the long-term maintenance, repair, and replacement of Association Properties throughout the Community. FHHOA operating costs including, but not limited to administration/management/professional services, utilities (related to irrigation for Association Properties), insurance, weekly trash collection, landscaping and snow removal on the Association Properties, covenant enforcement, and landscaping/architectural review.
Q: What happens if I don’t pay my assessment?
A: Community Associations are dependent upon timely receipt of assessments due from each property owner. Late payments will result in late charges and possibly interest to your account. In addition, the Association has the right to turn over delinquent accounts to the attorney for collection of assessments.
Q: Do I need approval to do exterior changes?
A. Per the Declarations, Section 6.3 Approval Required. “No Improvement shall be placed, erected, installed or permitted to occur or exist on any Lot, nor shall the exterior of any existing Improvements be altered, nor shall any construction be commenced on any Improvements, unless and until the plans and specifications for such Improvements shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Architectural Committee or unless otherwise permitted by the Design Guidelines or applicable Village Design Guidelines, if any.”
You can submit an Architectural (ARC) Request via your Homeowner Portal.