Burke Centre Conservancy - Pay Online (2024)

General Information:

The developers of Burke Centre organized the community based on areas of similar size and style units by the same builder. Each area of similar size and design residences (i.e., small single family houses, townhouses, large single family houses, condominiums, duplexes, apartments, etc.) is called a CLUSTER. The Clusters are, in turn, organized into Neighborhoods, which are essentially based on the geography of the community.

In what Cluster do I live?

There are five Neighborhoods: the COMMONS (6 Clusters/959 residences); the LANDINGS (11 Clusters/1,399 residents); the OAKS (16 Clusters/1,221 residences); the PONDS (14 Clusters/1,096 residences); and the WOODS (18 Clusters/1,187 residences).

Each Neighborhood has one Trustee and two Trustees are elected At-Large. The Trustees and Cluster Committees are elected by the community every two years. Note: All other Burke Centre committees and task forces are appointed by the Board on an as-needed basis.

In summary, Cluster Committees represent a specific area within their Burke Centre neighborhood. Each Cluster focuses on its own unique needs and issues. Cluster members communicate information to one another, attend Neighborhood Council meetings, hold social gatherings, develop street improvements, organize cleanups, etc. There are 65 clusters within Burke Centre.

BACKGROUND:

TheCluster is the basic building block of the Conservancy and the cornerstone ofBurke Centre’s management structure.Bothowners and renters in good standing are eligible to serve on clustercommittees.

OVERVIEW:

-Volunteersrepresent their specific area within Burke Centre at Neighborhood CouncilMeetings.

-Developannual cluster budgets.

-Communicatewith cluster members.

-Advisethe Board of Trustees on cluster and Conservancy matters.

-ReviewARB Applications.

-BeautificationProjects

-NeighborhoodWatch/National Night Out

DETAILEDRESPONSIBILITIES:

Representingthe interests of the Cluster through representation on the Neighborhood Counciland in other Conservancy fora, as appropriate.

I.Appointing Cluster representatives to and monitoring Cluster participation inthe various Burke Centre committees.

II.Disseminating Cluster and Conservancy information to Cluster residents in atimely manner.

III.Coordinating the election of Cluster Committee members as part of the annualConservancy-wide election.

IV.Representing the Cluster in the Conservancy’s annual budget process. Reviewingthe annual budget information package provided by the Conservancy’s FinanceDepartment, and making appropriate cluster budget recommendations to the Boardof Trustees.

V.Ensuring adequate Cluster reserve contributions for the maintenance of privatestreets, cluster sidewalks and curb gutters, cluster capital structures, andcluster signs.

VI.Maintaining the Cluster’s open space and common areas.

VII.Maintaining the cluster’s discretionary account, as appropriate. Determiningannual cluster member contributions, and authorizing appropriate expenditures.

VIII.Providing recommendations to the Conservancy’s Architectural Review Board (ARB)on ARB applications submitted by cluster residents.

IX.Preparing, coordinating, and submitting Cluster ARB applications or proposedCluster Supplemental Architectural Standards, as required or desired.

ORGANIZATION:

Membership. The Cluster Committeeconsists of a minimum of three cluster members elected every two years as part of theConservancy-wide election, or subsequently appointed by the Board of Trustees.

Shouldless than three Cluster Committee members be elected or appointed, they willserve in a caretaker status until such time as the requisite number ofcommittee members are elected or appointed.

Officers.TheCluster Committee shall elect one of its members as the Chairperson and shallelect other officers, as appropriate. The election of officers must be heldwithin 21 days of the establishment of the Cluster Committee. The Chairpersonshall notify the Conservancy’s Administration Office of the election of ClusterCommittee officers within 31 days of the establishment of the ClusterCommittee.

-Chairperson: The Chairperson is responsible forcoordinating and supervising Cluster Committee activities and meetings toensure that committee responsibilities are successfully met. The Chairperson orVice-Chairperson, if elected and so authorized, shall serve as the cluster’srepresentative on the Neighborhood Council.

-Vice-Chairperson: A Cluster Committee membermay be elected as Vice-Chairperson, to act as Chairperson in his/her absenceand/or to represent the Chairperson in Conservancy fora.

-Architectural Representative: The ClusterArchitectural Representative (CAR) is the cluster’s point of contact with theArchitectural Review Board (ARB) Staff and the ARB. The CAR reviews ARBapplications submitted by cluster residents and provides the cluster’srecommendation to the ARB.

-Other Officers: Based on cluster needs, aCluster Committee may elect other officers, such as Secretary, Treasurer,Social Director, etc.

Caretakers: Except where limitedby specific provisions in this document or other Conservancy policies,Caretakers shall have the same responsibilities as a Cluster Chairperson.

Meetings: Regular meetings ofthe full Cluster Committee shall be held not less than quarterly. Othermeetings may be called by the Cluster Chairperson or upon request of any twoCluster Committee members.

AUTHORIZATIONFOR EXPENDITURE OF CLUSTER FUNDS:

Requestsfor the withdrawal and/or expenditure of cluster funds must approved by theCluster Committee Chairperson and at least one other Cluster Committee member,and submitted to the Conservancy’s Financial Administrator. Requests will bemade in accordance with approved Conservancy financial policies and procedures.For Clusters without a Cluster Committee, requests must be approved by theCluster Caretaker and the Neighborhood Trustee, or in cases where there is noCluster Committee and no Caretaker, by the Neighborhood Trustee and an At-LargeTrustee.

CLUSTERBUDGET:

Amajor component of the annual Conservancy budget comes from the compilation ofCluster budgets detailing the specific financial requirements of each of the 65separate Burke Centre Clusters. Each cluster budget is crafted to meet thespecific needs of the individual cluster, and is unique to that cluster.Annually, Cluster budget worksheets will be submitted to the Conservancy inaccordance with published budget guidance. Cluster Committee members mustapprove cluster budget worksheets prior to submission to the Conservancy. ForClusters without a Cluster Committee, worksheets must be approved by theCluster Caretaker and the Neighborhood Trustee, or in cases where there is noCluster Committee and no Caretaker, by the Neighborhood Trustee and an At-LargeTrustee.

VOTINGPROCEDURES:

Dulyelected or appointed Cluster Committee members are the voting members of theCluster Committee, with each member having one vote. Cluster Committees mayestablish cluster-specific voting procedures.

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