The Copperfield Community needs residents to get involved and participate in their Property Owners Association.  Serving on the Board of Directors or on the Architectural Review Committee does not require any special skills or knowledge and does not involve a large time commitment. All that is required is a willingness to help out in the management of our community.  Copperfield POA employs Space Coast Management to perform needed administrative functions under the direction of the Board.  

We would like to encourage all residents to attend an upcoming Board meeting. The meetings are very informal and usually only last an hour. Come to a meeting, meet Board and Architectural Review Committee members and get involved in the Copperfield Community. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00PM at the Health Center of Merritt Island in the training room.

The following appeared in the December 26, 2010 Florida Today newspaper in the Condominium Q & A column and has been reproduced with permission from the authors Becker and Poliakoff, Attorneys at Law. This article points out why residents should get involved in their Property Owners Association.

Community service has changed in the era of shared ownership communities (condos, co-ops and HOAs). Today, being neighborly is not what it used to be. It’s actually is a lot more. 

In the old days it was often enough to lend our neighbor a cup of sugar, or to make sure you return their lawn mower. 
But when you own property together with all of your neighbors, there are a lot of extra responsibilities. 

For example, someone has to serve on the board. It's a very difficult job, and it's not a great way to make friends, but it's a requirement of shared ownership. In addition, shared ownership works best when owners are extremely active attending meetings, voicing their opinions and just generally keeping watch over their community. So if you think that you can buy a condo or a home in an HOA and just sit back and relax, think about this - who is it who is going to do all the  work? Are you just going to let it sit on your neighbors' shoulders? If so, then it's not really fair to complain when they make a decision you're not happy about. 

Instead, you should view your community association as a kind of a church group or 
a PTA. 

You may elect representatives to make the big decisions, but without the active input of the rest of the community, their decisions will be insulated at best and outright mistakes at the worst. 

Community associations can do a lot of great things for a neighborhood, but it takes the involvement of as many owners as possible to make it run properly. The best communities already know what it takes; the worst are falling apart from lack of interest. 

Hope to see you at an upcoming Board meeting.

Will Leister has stepped down as Chairman of the Architectural Review Committee. He will also no longer be a member of the ARC but has agreed to stay on as a consultant to assist the ARC members. Will has been the Chairman of the ARC since its formation and Copperfield 
 

would not be what it is today without his leadership. Thank you Will for your years of service to our community. 
Lynn Riley is now the Chairperson for the committee.  If you need an Architectural Review Application or have questions concerning the application process, give Lynn a call at 454-2481.

Anytime a resident desires to make changes to the outside of their home, whether it’s painting, tree removal, landscaping, fencing, addition of pool or pool screening, roof replacement, etc., they must first request approval from the Architectural Review Committee .  

Also, please remember that any structure that is not a part of the house, whether temporary or permanent, playground, camper, etc. must not extend above a 6 foot fence so as not to be visible from the street or neighbors yards.
 
An Architectural Review Application (ARA)  must be completed and submitted along with appropriate plans, drawing, and color samples, etc., to the ARC for review and approval before work proceeds. The ARC has an “On the Spot Approval” process established to expedite this procedure. If you have questions about this process, need an Architectural Review Application, need an “On the Spot Approval”, would like to discuss your project with the Architectural Review Committee or would like to volunteer to serve on the ARC, please contact  Lynn Riley at 454-2481.

There are a few other reminders we would like to bring to your attention that will make living in the Copperfield Community more pleasant for all the residents.
 

1. The MAXIMUM speed limit in Copperfield is 25 MPH. Our streets are narrow and children do ride their bikes, etc. in the streets. Do your part and observe the speed limit and keep our community streets safe. 
2. Please do not leave your unattended vehicles blocking the sidewalk. This forces walkers, joggers and parents pushing strollers to walk into the street.
3. Avoid parking your vehicle directly opposite your neighbors on the other side of the street. This makes it difficult or impossible for emergency vehicles, trash and greens collection trucks and other large vehicle to pass safely. When possible, please park your vehicles in your driveway.
4. We have many dog owners in the community. It is your responsibility to keep your dog on a leash when not in your fenced yard. When you walk your pets, don’t forget to clean up after them.
5. Trash, recycling and greens containers should be removed as soon as possible and stored in a location not visible from the streets.

Jim Cooper   Chris Brogan
Alma McBride
Blaise Simone
Ray McDermott 
March 2011