2019 AGM Minutes

ASOCIACIÓN DE VECINOS - SIERRA DE ALTEA

C.I.F. G53784336

Sierra De Altea, Avenida Principal 20A

03599 Altea La Vella

Alicante. Spain

https://avsa.tigbos.com

email:avsavecinos@gmail.com

Minutes of Annual General Meeting

at Casa Cultura Altea la Vella 21st November 2019.

The Meeting took place at the Casa Cultura in Altea la Vella at 6:45 pm. attended by the Directors

of the Board of the Asociación:

Wolfgang Fischer (President), Antonio Perez Albiñana (Vice President), Richard Kent (Treasurer),

Annette Eberhardt (NHW), Ismael Fernandez, Anne Vandeborne, Boudewijn Overduijn, Willem van

Oorde, Francisco Jerry Gomis, ToniCanet, Lisa Andretti.

Members of the Asociación attending the meeting:

Elizabeth Kent, Gerrit Jan Smitskamp, Yvonne Gieskamp, Egbert Gieskes, Irene Gieskes, Terry

Miles, Marilyn Miles, , John Hoen, Steve Moores, Marylin Miles, Terrance Miles, Valentin

Barrioseta, Steven Fricker, Caroline Fricker, Liv Reine Ellefsen, Ma Pilar Martinez, Els Fassbender,

Angela Herran, Jurgen Langer, Roswitha Langer, Erwin Schaefer, Sieglinder Schaefer, Sonata

Lungmuss, Harald Stamm.

Invited Guests from other local Vecinos:

Erik Paulsen, Pedro Ferrer, Kees Hilgers, Jose-Maria Izquierdo

The meeting was conducted in English and partially in Spanish.

Welcome and introduction by the President

The President, Wolfgang Fischer, welcomed the Association members and guests attending the

meeting. He thanked the Board for their work over the past year. He presented the agenda for the

current meeting and briefly outlined each of the 9 points to be covered.

Item 1) Approval of Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 22nd November 2018 were approved unanimously

and signed by the President Wolfgang Fischer and Vice President Antonio Perez Albiñana.

Item 2) Report on Membership.

Anne Vanderborne, the membership secretary, reported that Association membership now stands

at 292 and that we are still the largest Association of vecinos in Altea. She again reiterated the

necessity for clear communication from the members when changing physical address, leaving the

urbanisation or changing e-mail addresses. She also reminded the attendees that spouses,

partners, children over 16 and adults living permanently at the residence are also entitled to

become members.

Item 3) Treasurers report

Richard Kent gave a detailed breakdown of the Accounts for the Year and explained each of the

line items. The Accounts were subsequently approved.

Summary of Income & Expenditure: 1st Oct 2018 – 30th Sept 2019

Income: Capital Expenditure:

Buzon income

5,080.00 New Buzon Lights 0.00

Buzon Key-Money

690.00 New Buzon Door 0.00

Bank Interest 0.0 Buzon Changes 0.00

Party Receipts 380.00 Total 0.00

Total 6,150.00

Current Expenditure:

Gestor (Alcaraz) 998.25

Containers 30.00

Buzon Cleaning 400.00

AGM (food/drink) 380.00

Summer Party 3,564.85

Water testing 121.00

Bank Charges 124.59

Misc. Expenses 267.78

. 5,886.47

Total Income: 6,150.00 Total Expenditure: 5,886.47

Increase in Funds (expenditure minus income): 263.53

Accounts Summary:

Bank balance plus cash in hand as at 30 Sept 2018: 5,055.52

Transfer from deposit to current account 6,000.00

Minus expenditure over income for the year 263.53

Total per Books of Account 5,369.05

Current Bank Account: 4,805.42

Cash in hand: 563.80

Total cash at bank and in hand:

5,369.22

Deposit Bank Account: 17,000.00

A summary of the budget/forecast for the following year was also presented:

Income:

185 boxes * 30

5,550.00

Expenditure: Gestor

998.25

Maint. Buzones

450.00

AGM

400.00

Summer Party

3,200.00

Bank

130.00

Miscellaneous

350.00

5,528.25

Surplus

21.75

The treasurer also made the following observations:

The green container initiative was halted during the period

There is no more free banking. Total available funds of 23k is a healthy sum.

Foreseen capital expenditure will be a new lighting system for the buzones room. We are

waiting for a quote.

Question from a member regarding the future application of the 17 k of funds: The response

was that the Vecinos is a charitable organization and, as such, cannot act as a profit-making

organization. It has always been the intention of the Board to maintain the reserves for

extraordinary events – for instance, legal fees. Member’s suggestions for sensible usage of the

funds would be considered. A suggestion from the floor regarding the engagement of a security

company for the area was rejected on grounds of excessive expense. Furthermore, this is the

remit of the local police. The same question was raised at the 2018 AGM

Question from a member regarding correlation between the level of income, number of

members and the number of buzones. It was explained that there was no correlation, since one

buzon could be utilized by several household members etc. Currently only 185 – out of a total of

300 buzones are rented. It was considered necessary to maintain a healthy number of spare

boxes. The treasurer requested that further questions regarding this topic be deferred to later.

Item 4) Neighbourhood Watch.

Annette notified the members that there had been no major changes from the previous year.

Indeed, there had been fewer break-ins reported.

The security cameras were still operational, and footage was retained by the Police for one week.

Members were welcome to review the footage at the Police Station.

Police continued to patrol the area in privately marked vehicles – especially at night - and,

furthermore, carried out additional “rounds” during meetings of the Association (eg AGM and

Annual Party).

There are new flyers (brochure) that can be collected at the entrance.

New Neighbourhood watch signs had been made by the Town Hall and were already installed.

Up to 02. August, 4 alerts were noted - this is 4 less than in the previous year.

Annette reminded the members of the importance of notifying the Police immediately of any

suspicious events that they witness. She emphasised the importance of not personally

touching/investigating anything. This should be left for the Police. Dialling 112 or 965480525 or

personally going to the Police station to notify them of any suspicious activity, are the

recommended courses of action. Simultaneously Annette should be informed at

aeberhardtaltea@gmail.com.

Annette reminded the Members that the Vecinos webpage contained a section that gave examples

of wording in Spanish to be used to describe the various kinds of suspicious activities.

Annette reemphasised that members should not intervene personally in checking out suspicious

activities.

Annette, furthermore, advised that members should take the same action in case of any

suspicious cyber activities - eg - extreme spam mail.

She specifically requested that, in the case of a break-in, the method of entry be noted and

reported.

Finally, she advised members to be extra vigilant during the Xmas period.

A member asked about the number of CCTV cameras and whether we should have a list of all

cameras in the neighbourhood. NO was the answer. One is not allowed to take photos of cars

involved in suspicious activities, illegal dumping etc. However, one is allowed to make a note of

the number plate.

A question regarding a local App - and why is it not possible to link the activities of the App to the

official neighbourhood Watch system. Answer being that there is only one official medium that is

recognised by the Police.

Item 5) President's Report on activities during the past year

The President used a Power Point presentation to highlight the current and future issues

concerning the Association. There were several meetings with the Town hall during the year

A summary of topics and results are;

Green waste - new location in the village –containers placed in car park behind the bank on

every second and fourth Friday of the month. Important to make use of it, otherwise

Ayuntamiento might cancel the service.

Illegal waste disposal (eg all non- green waste) - Town Hall will place Notices and fine up to

30.000- if caught dumping waste. If you call 966881903 they will collect free of charge.

Street Cleaning - continuing problem; streets cleaned irregularly and insufficiently. Town

Hall has promised 2 Full time employees for the task.

Instancias: three main issues: Fire, Water, State of Roads. The Valencia Government have

prescribed a set of rules, values to be followed by the local authorities. Currently only 38 out of

157 Town Halls have adopted the policies. Pressure needs to be maintained in respect of water

quality/supply, street maintenance, fire prevention - eg make sure trees exposed to electricity

lines etc are cut back.

As far as street repairs are concerned, small jobs are carried out reasonably quickly; larger

maintenance/repair/replacement works take a long time – or never happen.

Traffic on N322 Altea: this should be less heavy post Jan 2020, as the Autopista section will

become toll free.

Grant from Town Hall for small projects. The Town Hall will release Euro 100,000- per annum

in total for small individual project. Proposals should be submitted on the official website -

www.altea.participa.es – up to October 28th.

Workshop for foreigners: these are a useful and practical way to learn about how things work

whilst residing in Altea - for instance, how to apply for a NIE number, how the police operate,

how the health system works and how the political party system works etc. Altea website has

more information.

In addition, the Town hall can be reached/communicated with via its Facebook page – One

can also post relevant photos on the site.

Marylin Miles referred to a further relevant site; Terry Miles will add it to the Vecinos webpage.

Summer Party - this year held at Melton and another successful evening. Thanks given to

the prize donors. Next year might be held at Meliton or the Golf Club.

Vecinos Website - many thanks to Terry Miles for maintaining the site. Members should send

Terry any relevant, newsworthy items which he can include on the site.

Item 6) 2020 Planning/Goals:

We intend to keep pressure up regarding Instancias - road repairs etc.

Members new complaints should only be lodged via the official vecinos email address.

Summer Party 2020 will be panned

Any suggestions/ assistance always welcome from members.

Questions from the floor:

Water Quality testing. A sample had been given to an independent tester. Quality found to be

good. A full report can be seen on website. Testing is carried out regularly. If uncertain, one can

go to the Town Hall and/or go to Aporbersa.

Road cleaning seems to be a major issue for many residents. Already a subject of Instancias.

Pot holes - if an accident occurs, resulting from a pot hole, can the Town Hall be sued? The

answere is “No”.

Postal Service - one member complained that she received 5 months of post on ONE day -

even posted with “tracking” not delivered. Richard Kent requested that this issue be dealt with

off-line.

President and VP of Altea Golf Club “reintroduced” the Golf Club – now named Altea Golf Club.

New web site, fitness centre, restaurant, party facilities. One goal is to make the Club into a form

of community centre.

Item 7) New Board

Proposed new board was presented. Major changes: Ismael Fernandez Garcia becomes

President, as well as retaining Secretary position, in place of Wolfgang Fischer, who takes on the

role of managing the Instancias. Boudewijn Oberduin becomes VP, in addition to being responsible

for Newsletters. Antonio Perez Albinana becomes a Vocal member,

relinquishing his post as VP, on account of language (English widely spoken at Board meetings).

The board is always welcoming new Vocal members.

A unanimous “thank you” was extended by all those attending the meeting to the retiring

President in particular, as well as his fellow Board members, for their exemplary work during the

year.

The new Board members and respective duty allocations were unanimously approved by the

members.

The new President formally closed the meeting and invited the members to a tapas and wine.

Directors:

President

Ismael Fernandez Garcia (ES)

Vice President

Boudewijn Overduin(NL)

Secretary

Ismael Fernandez Garcia (ES)

Treasurer

Richard Kent (GB)

NHW coordinator

Annette Eberhardt (D)

Members

Anne Vandeborne (B)

Minutes

Lisa Andretti (GB)

Instancias

Wolfgang Fischer (D)

Newsletters

Boudewijn Overduin (NL)

Vocal

Francisco Javier Gomis Devesa (ES)

Vocal

Toni Canet (ES)

Vocal

Antonio Perez Albinana (ES)

WAVO 07/12/2019